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HARDBOUND 
AT  THE 


UNIVERSITY  OF 
TORONTO  PRESS 


_ : 


THE 


itbrarg  Companion; 

OR, 

THE  YOUNG  MAN'S  GUIDE, 

AND 

THE  OLD   MAN'S  COMFORT, 

IN  THE 

CHOICE    OF  A   LIBRARY 


BY   THE 


•C*        ^e>Jrk 

REV.  1TR  DIBDIN,  F.  R.  S.,  A.  S. 


LONDON  :  PRINTED  FOR 

HARDING,  TRIPHOOK,  AND  LEPARD,  FINSBURY-SQUARE  ; 
AND  J.  MAJOR,  FLEET-STREET. 

MDCCCXXIV. 


MCOL,  PRINTER,  SUCCESSOR  TO  W.  BULMER  AND  CO. 


TO 

MR.  THOMAS  PAYNE, 

BOOKSELLER, 
THIS  WORK  IS  INSCRIBED 

WITH  EVERY  SENTIMENT 
OF  RESPECT  AND  ESTEEM, 

BY  HIS  FAITHFUL 
AND  HUMBLE  SERVANT, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


THE 


PREFACE 


IT  will  be  obvious,  from  the  slightest  glance  at  the 
ensuing  pages,  that  it  has  been  the  object  of  their 
author  to  present  a  great  quantity  of  useful  informa- 
tion within  a  reasonable  compass.  A  work  which, 
like  the  present,  aspires  to  be  a  Guide  to  Youth  and 
a  Comfort  to  Old  Age,  should  be  rendered  at  once 
commodious  in  form  and  moderate  in  price  ;  and 
considering  the  extent  and  variety  of  the  subjects 
here  treated,  it  is  presumed  that  both  these  points  will 
be  found  to  have  been  accomplished  in  the  volume 
now  in  the  hands  of  the  Public. 

But  a  consideration  of  much  greater  importance 
has  influenced  me  on  the  present  occasion.  From  the 
beginning  to  the  end,  I  have  never  lost  sight  of  what 
I  considered  to  be  the  MOST  MATERIAL  OBJECT  to  be 
gained  from  a  publication  of  this  nature  ;  namely,  the 
imparting  of  a  moral  feeling  to  the  gratification  of  a 
literary  taste.  Let  us  consider  the  subject  dispassion- 
ately. Great  Britain  is  the  most  wealthy,  and,  poli- 
tically speaking,  perhaps  the  most  powerful  kingdom 
upon  earth.  Considered  in  a  domestic  point  of  view, 
here  are  thousands  of  large  and  affluent  families  ;  and 

b 


ii  PREFACE. 

education,  both  in  Public  Schools  and  at  our  two  Uni- 
versities, necessarily  assumes  an  expensive  form.  No 
liberal-minded  parent  grudges  the  devotion  of  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  his  income  to  the  maintenance 
of  his  family.  But  even  wealth  and  personal  influence 
cannot  procure  immediate  admission  into  our  Uni- 
versities ;  where  the  number  of  applicants  exceeds  the 
means  of  accommodation  at  least  in  a  two-fold  de- 
gree. 

It  follows  therefore,  that  of  the  rising  generation,  a 
large  proportion,  inheriting  a  considerable  property, 
and  educated  in  the  most  accomplished  manner,  com- 
mence their  career  in  life  with  the  means  and  oppor- 
tunities of  gratifying  their  tastes  and  passions  in  a 
thousand  diverse,  and  at  times  contradictory,  pursuits. 
To  SUCH,  in  particular,  whether  emerging  from  the 
cloisters  of  a  college,  or  from  the  upper  form  of  a 
public  school,  this  LIBRARY  COMPANION  will  be  found 
of  more  consequence  than  may  be  at  first  imagined  : 
for  I  am  greatly  deceived  if  experience  does  not  prove 
that  much  more  than  half  of  the  misery  which  is 
abroad  in  the  world,  in  the  higher  classes  of  soci'  ij , 
has  arisen  from  the  mischievous  application  of  super- 
fluous wealth.  I  address  myself  therefore  immediately, 
directly,  and  honestly,  to  the  YOUNG  MAN,  in  whose 
hands  such  means  may  be  deposited,  to  devote  them 
to  the  gratification  of  a  legitimate  taste  in  the  -ulti- 
vation  of  Literature;  and  as  this  object  cannot  be 
accomplished  without  the  acquisition  of  a  Li  \ARY, 
of  greater  or  less  extent,  I  venture  to  indulge  a 
humble  hope  that  THIS  GUIDE,  in  the  choice  of  such 


PREFACE.  iii 

i  Library,  may  be  found,  as  far  as  it  extends,*  useful 
md  accurate.     The  objects,  to  be  attained  in  such  a 

*  A  list  of  the  table  of  Contents,  immediately  following  the  pre- 
.ice,  will  shew  what  is  to  be  found  in  "  the  Library  Companion," 
xf  I  had  taken  up  other  subjects,  it  is  clear  that,  to  be  treated  in  a 
satisfactory  manner,  they  would  have  enlarged  this  work  to  at  least 
double  its  size.  But  it  may  be  here  right  to  remark,  that,  in  TOPO- 
GRAPHY, nothing  could  be  added  to  the  satisfactory  and  indispensable 
work  of  MR.  UPCOTT  upon  that  subject,  published  in  three  well 
arranged  and  well  printed  octavo  volumes  j  but  of  which  I  learn 
with  regret  that  the  impression  is  limited,  and  not  likely  to  be 
renewed.  The  lover  and  collector  of  COUNTY  HISTORIES,  (of  which 
\ass  of  readers  the  number  is  very  considerable)  has  only  to  avail 

mself  of  this  work,  and  he  will  find  all  his  wants  supplied  ...  in  a 
Bibliographical  point  of  view. 

For  HERALDIC  RESEARCHES,  I  was  compelled  to  decline  the  kind 
offer  of  Mr.  Richard  Thomson  (whose  pursuits  so  decidedly  qualified 
him  for  the  task)  to  furnish  me  with  a  dozen  or  twenty  pages  upon 
that  subject ;  since  I  considered  Mr.  MOULE'S  Bibliotheca  Heraldica, 
1822,  8vo.  admirably  well  calculated  to  satisfy  every  enquiry.  For 
the  FINE  ARTS,  the  very  curious  Catalogue  of  the  Books  on  Art,  and  on 
Antiquity,  in  the  possession  of  Count  Cicognara,  (published  in  the  Italian 
lang  lage)  1821, 8vo.  2  vols.  might  have  furnished  me  with  many  use- 
fr1  v'nts  ;  but  the  task  seemed  to  grow  upon,  and  to  perplex,  me  as  I 
cons  tared  it.  Of  all  others,  it  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  departments 
to  execute  in  a  bibliographical  manner.  In  the  mean  while,  it  is  pleas- 
ing to  observe  that  no  stimulants  are  necessary  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  this  department  of  Taste ;  and  that  publications  of  every 
description,  in  which  the  art  is  good,  never  fail  of  patronage.  I 
might  have  descanted  copiously  and  warmly  upon  the  Views  of  the 
South-fi  astern  Coast  of  England,  executed  by  Messrs.  Cooks  and  others 
from  th^lmagical  pencil  of  Mr.  Turner ;  but  such  an  eulogy  were 
uselessqjrThe  publication  cannot  keep  pace  with  the  eager  demands 
of  the  Subscribers.  The  ILLUSTRIOUS  PORTRAITS  now  in  a  course  of 
publication,  by  the  Publishers  of  this  work,  are  properly  noticed  in 


iv  PREFACE. 

pursuit,  are  of  a  most  important  and  substantial 
character.  Religion,  patriotism,  public  and  private 
happiness,  pure  and  fixed  principles  of  taste,  intellec- 
tual refinement,  of  the  most  exalted  kind,  in  its  pre- 
sent and  future  results,  are  all  involved  in  a  sedulous 
and  straight-forward  cultivation  of  the  pursuit  in 
question.  I  forbear  fortifying  these  remarks  by  the 
authorities  of  ancient  and  modern  writers  of  acknow- 
ledged celebrity,  From  Cicero  to  Richard  of  Bury, 
the  stream  of  such  authorities  is  uniformly  bright  and 

the  department  of  "  Biography,  Memoirs,  Anecdotes,"  at  page  503, 
post.  Yet,  while  on  this  department  of  art,  let  a  hearty  tribute  of 
commendation  be  bestowed  on  the  miniature  engravings,  in  the  line 
manner,  of  Mr.  Walmsley's  Physiognomical  Portraits.  They  are  now 
completed  ;  and  the  works  of  nearly  all  the  most  distinguished  Artists 
of  the  day  will  be  found  to  be  incorporated  in  it. 

But  that  the  subject  may  not  be  WHOLLY  overlooked,  let  me  recom- 
mend to  those,  who  have  the  means  of  gratifying  themselves  with  a 
copy  of  it,  the  Histoire  de  V  Art  par  les  Monumens,  &c.  of  AGINCOURT 
SEHOUX,  1820 ;  in  six  folio  volumes  -,  and  containing  not  fewer  than 
325  plates  of  every  description.  A  well  bound  copy  of  this  work  is 
worth  301.  A  noble  concomitant  to  it,  is  the  Storia  della  Scultura,  be. 
of  LEOPOLD  CICOGNARA,  1813-1818  ;  in  3  folio  volumes,  containing 
181  copper  plates.  A  handsomely  bound  copy  is  worth  15Z.  There 
were  only  20  copies  worked  off  on  fine  vellum  paper,  which  are  very 
scarce.  Italy  boasts  of  few  living  COGNOSCENTI  of  greater  eminence 
than  the  author  of  this  magnificent  work. 

As  to  ANTIQUITIES,  the  department  is  so  copious  that  it  will  be 
obvious  it  could  not  be  included,  with  other  subjects,  in  the  compass 
of  an  octavo  volume.  Had  I  entered  upon  that  department,  my  at- 
tention must  have  been  drawn  in  the  first  instance  to  press  strongly 
upon  the  consideration  of  both  "  the  YOUNG"  and  "  THE  OLD,"  the 
beautiful,  and  indeed  captivating  performance,  which  has  just  appeared 


PREFACE.  v 

strong  ;*  and  callous  must  be  the  heart,  or  obtuse  the 
intellect,  of  that  Young  Man,  upon  whom  such  autho- 
rities make  no  impression. 

The  days  of  Youth,  so  devoted,  lead  to  the  com- 
forts of  OLD  AGE.  To  the  more  advanced  in  life, 
therefore,  an  appeal  is  made  with  the  greater  confi- 
dence ;  inasmuch  as  memory  will  be  refreshed,  and 

under  the  title  of  The  Monumental  Remains  of  Noble  and  Eminent  Per- 
sons, comprising  The  Sepulchral  Antiquities  of  Great  Britain ;  with  histo- 
rical and  biographical  Illustrations.  The  engravings,  in  the  line  man- 
ner, are  from  the  faithful  pencil,  and  in  part  from  the  burin,  of  Mr. 
BLORE  5  and  more  brilliant,  or  rather  characteristic  performances, 
have  never  yet  been  witnessed.  The  proof  impressions,  on  India  paper, 
have  a  fascinating  effect  3  but  the  critical  antiquary  will  be  equally 
well  pleased  with  the  ordinary  copies.  This  work  is  also  as  reason- 
able in  price  as  it  is  rich  in  embellishments  j  and  the  text  is  exe- 
cuted with  equal  neatness  and  care. 

*  The  whole  of  the  first  book  of  Morhof  s  Polyhistor  Literarius  is 
more  or  less  occupied  with  references  to  such  authorities ;  which, 
to  repeat  at  second  hand,  might  subject  me  to  the  charge  of  affecta- 
tion. But  in  regard  to  that  division  of  the  work,  appropriated  to 
DIVINITY  and  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY,  and  about  the  favourable 
reception  of  which  I  am  necessarily  the  most  anxious,  it  may  in  seve- 
ral instances  be  urged  that  many  works  of  piety  and  moral  worth 
have  been  omitted,  and  that  a  preference  has  been  given  to  those 
writings  which  are  considered  to  savour  more  strongly  of  the  ortho- 
doxy  of  the  BRITISH  CHURCH.  But  this  is  only  a  confined,  and  in 
truth,  a  partial  view  of  the  whole  question  :  for  the  point  at  issue  is, 
what  is  the  probable  aggregate  good  of  the  writings  of  those  Divines, 
of  whom,  in  the  following  pages,  such  honourable  mention  has  been 
made  ?  The  wayward,  the  prejudiced,  and  the  bigotted,  may  draw 
what  inferences  they  please.  I  contend  that,  from  THOSE  writings, 
"  the  learned  (in  the  language  of  Lactantius*)  may  be  directed  to  true 


*  Divin.  Instit.  Lib.  I.  Edit.  Du  Fresnoy ;  1748,  vol.  i.  p.  3. 


vi  PREFACE. 

experience  confirmed,,  by  a  reference  to  the  pages  of 
this  "  Library  Companion."  There  are  many,  doubt- 
less, of  such  experienced  Readers,,  whose  extensive 
reading,  and  whose  copious  Libraries,  will  furnish 
them  with  the  means  of  supplying  many  omissions, 
and  of  illustrating  many  remarks :  but,  in  a  work  of 
this  nature,  the  difficulty  has  been  rather  to  compress, 
than  to  enlarge,  the  several  subjects  which  presented 
themselves.  To  the  well  read  young  Man — be  he 
enthusiastic  in  the  cause,  or  well-versed  in  the  myste- 
ries, of  BIBLIOMANIA,  or  not — and  to  the  OLD,  of 
whatever  denomination — it  may  be  fairly  stated,  that 
the  work  before  them  is  replete  with  curious  and 
diversified  intelligence ;  gleaned  with  unceasing  in- 
dustry, and  embodied  with  no  ordinary  care.  Indeed, 
with  perfect  confidence  may  it  be  stated,  that  no  single 
volume  in  our  language  contains  such  a  record  of  so 
many  rare,  precious,  and  instructive  volumes.  The 

wisdom,  and  the  unlearned  to  true  religion."  And  farther,  that,  from 
the  SAME  writings,  the  intrepid  Christian  may  speak  in  the  energetic 
language  of  the  same  polished  author  ..."  Da  mihi  virum,  (for  the 
most  successful  translation  would  somewhat  weaken  the  passage) 
qui  sit  iracundus.,  maledicus,  effrsenatus  :  paucissimis  Dei  verbis 

tarn  placidum,  quam  ovem  reddam. 

Da  cupidum,  avarum,  tenacem  3  jam  tibi  eum  liberalem  dabo,  et  pecu- 
niam  suam  plenis  manibus  largientem.  Da  timidum  doloris  ac  mor- 
tis, jam  cruces,  et  ignes,  et  taurum  contemnet."  &c.  Div.  Inst.  Lib.  III. 
On  this,  and  on  every  similar  occasion,  I  exclaim  with  honest  CHIL- 
LINGWORTH— "  it  is  Truth  I  plead  for ;  which  is  so  strong  an  argu- 
ment for  itself,  that  it  needs  only  light  to  discover  it.  Whereas  it 
concerns  falshood  and  error  to  use  disguise  and  shadowings,  and  all 
the  fetches  of  art  and  sophistry."  Works,  1742,  Fol.  Ded.  to  Ch.  II. 


PREFACE.  vii 

fault  is  my  own,  if  the  method  of  conveying  that 
instruction  be  not  clear  and  satisfactory. 

There  is  one  point  of  view  in  which  the  advantage 
of  a  work  of  this  nature  may  be  noticed,  however 
slightly :  especially  as,  in  the  present  instance,  it  may 
be  illustrated  by  an  example  of  no  mean  authority. 
From  the  several  departments  of  a  volume  of  THIS 
kind,  the  reader  may  select  what  will  be  useful  for  the 
several  objects  of  his  pursuit :  what  is  fitting  for  his 
town,  and  what  for  his  country,  residence:  what 
should  be  the  light  troops,  as  it  were,  to  attend  him 
on  a  journey;  and  what  the  heavier  or  household 
troops  to  remain  at  head  quarters.  I  have  alluded  to 
"  an  example  of  no  mean  authority,"  as  confirmative 
of  the  advantage  of  such  a  plan.  That  example  is  his 
late  Majesty  GEORGE  III. :  who  could  not  only  boast 
of  the  finest  private  library  (of  his  own  collecting)  in 
Europe,  but  who  was  himself  no  inconsiderable  bibli- 
ographer. In  the  year  1795,  when  his  Majesty  was 
about  to  visit  Weymouth — and  wished  to  have  what 
he  called  "  a  closet  library, "  for  a  watering  place — he 
wrote  to  his  Bookseller  for  the  following  works. 
The  list  was  written  by  him  from  memory ;  and  I 
will  fairly  put  it  to  the  well  read  bibliographer  and 
philologist,  whether  it  be  capable  of  much  improve- 
ment? It  is  as  follows — copied  from  the  original 
document  in  the  King's  own  hand  ivriting  : 

The  Holy  Bible  ;  2  vols.  8vo.  Cambridge. 

New  Whole  Duty  of  Man,  8vo. 

The  Annual  Register,  25  vols.  8vo. 

The  History  of  England,  by  Rapin,  <21  vols.  Svo.  1757. 

Ele"mens  de  1'Histoire  de  France,  par  Millot,  3  vols.  jL2mo.  1770. 


viii  PREFACE. 

Siecle  de  Louis  XIV.  par  Voltaire,  12mo. 

XV.  par  Voltaire,  12mo. 

Commentaries  on  the  Laws  of  England,  by  William  Blackstone, 
4  vols.  8vo.,  newest  edition. 

The  Justice  of  Peace,  and  Parish  Officer,  by  R.  Burn,  4  vols.  8vo. 

An  Abridgement  of  Samuel  Johnson's  Dictionary,  2  vols.  8vo. 

Dictionnaire  Fran£ois  &  Anglois,  par  M.  A.  Boyer,  8vo. 

The  Works  of  the  English  Poets,  by  Sam.  Johnson,  68  vols.  12ino. 

A  Collection  of  Poems,  by  Dodsley,  Pearch  and  Mendez,  1 1  vols- 
12mo. 

A  Select  Collection  of  Poems,  by  J.  Nichols,  8  vols.  12mo. 

Shakespeare's  Plays,  by  Steevens. 

CEuvres  de  Destouches,  5  vols.  12mo. 

The  Works  of  Sir  William  Temple,  4  vols.  8vo. 

The  Miscellaneous  Works  of  Addison,  4  vols.  8vo. 

The  Works  of  Jonathan  Swift,  24  vols.  12mo. 

Thus,  to  revert  to  the  position  with  which  this 
branch  of  our  enquiries  set  out,  the  purchasers  of  this 
Work  (who  may  not  probably  be  so  well  versed  in 
selecting  "  a  closet  library"  as  his  late  Majesty)  may 
have  it  in  their  power  to  compress  or  enlarge  their 
libraries,  on  any  scale  which  may  seem  most  conve- 
nient and  advisable. 

I  now  come  to  a  more  particular  account  of  the  na- 
ture of  the  work  itself.  Referring  to  the  note,  in  a 
preceding  page  (iii.)  as  to  the  inevitable  Omissions, 
be  it  permitted  me  here  to  say  a  word  as  to  its  abso- 
lute Contents.  There  are  two  collateral  branches, 
inevitably  growing  out  of  a  work  of  this  nature,  which 
require  more  skill  in  the  treatment  than  I  am  con- 
scious of  having  exhibited.  These  are,  Extracts  and 
Anecdotes.  A  bibliographer  should  not  only  know 


PREFACE.  ix 

the  dates  and  conditions  of  books,  but  he  should 
know  some  little  of  their  internal  character,  and  of 
the  histories  of  their  authors.  In  regard  to  the  former, 
it  will  be  seen  that  those  passages  have  been  ex- 
tracted which  are  not  only  exclusively  professional* 
but  which  are  supposed  to  be  replete  with  original 
and  interesting  matter.  The  volumes  from  which 
they  are  taken  are  also  of  unusual  occurrence.  But 
in  spite  of  these  claims  to  approbation,  I  fear  that  the 
SERMONS  of  the  Old  English  Divines  may  have  been  a 
little  too  freely  dealt  with :  and  that  even  this  "  mentis 
gratissimus  error"  cannot  be  received  as  an  apology. 

A  more  difficult  temptation  to  resist,  was  that  of 
Anecdote:  —  the  most  delightful,  and  at  times  the 
most  instructive,  department  of  literary  research. 
But  it  has  been  sparingly  introduced.  Slight  sketches 
are  given  of  a  few  of  the  more  prominent  characters 
of  former  and  modern  times,-f*  in  order  to  enliven  the 

*  The  extracts  from  the  Sermons  of  LATIMER,  Fox,  DRANT,  and 
EDGEWORTH,  extend  from  page  66  to  83  ;  but  they  are  replete  with 
both  curious  and  edifying  matter.  Previous  to  which  the  reader  may 
examine  a  short  but  noble  passage  from  BARNES,  (page  27)  and  a 
very  singular  extract  from  a  work  called  Grounds  and  Occasions  of  the 
Contempt  of  the  Clergy  and  Religion  enquired  into,  167O,  8vo. :  p.  57-8. 
For  other  extracts,  the  reprint  (in  three  pages  only)  of  that  extraor- 
dinary Dialogue  between  Bishop  GARDINER  and  Judge  HAiLES,in  the 
time  of  Queen  Mary,  is  the  longest  to  be  qualified  by  an  apology  -} 
while,  on  literary  and  philological  subjects,  the  extract  from  Hearne 
and  from  the  Itinerary  of  Fynes  Moryson  (page  227  and  page  433) 
are  alone  of  a  length  to  need  excuse. 

t  Of  PERSONALANECDOTES  and  CRIT  iciSM,the  chief  may  relate  to  the 
articles Mezerai  (p.  291),  Bayle,  (p.  484)  Amyot  (p.499)Fugger  (p. 495) 


x  PREFACE. 

unavoidable  dryness  of  bibliographical  detail ;  and 
many  living  Characters  are  frequently  mentioned,  to 
whom,  in  this  place,  any  allusion  would  be  premature 
if  not  indecorous. 

To  critics,  of  every  denomination,  I  am  anxious  to 
address  myself  as  not  being  desirous  of  shunning 
merited  castigation  for  frequent  and  palpable  errors. 
But,  on  the  other  hand,  if  the  omission  of  much  that 
might  be  deemed  essential  for  introduction,  be 
pointed  out  and  condemned,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  much  has  been  collected  and  brought  together 
from  numerous,  and  at  times  discordant,  sources: 
and  that  the  LIBRARY  COMPANION,  with  its  present 
contents,  might  have  been  easily  dilated  into  three 
respectable  volumes.  And  here,  let  me  be  allowed  to 
anticipate  an  objection  which  may  be  made,  from  the 
apparent  vanity  of  such  frequent  references  to  my 
own  publications.  The  truth  is,  in  the  first  place, 
that  an  author  has  a  right  to  make  use  of  his  own 
property  as  he  may  think  proper :  but,  in  the  second 
place,  having  devoted  so  many  years  to  the  study, 
and  published  so  many  works  on  the  subject,  of  BIB- 
LIOGRAPHY, it  were  barely  possible  to  avoid  noticing 
rare,  curious,  and  valuable  books,  which  had  not  been 
described,  with  more  or  less  minuteness,  in  the  publi- 
cations referred  to.  In  no  instance  however,  have  I 
made  such  reference,  where  I  was  conscious  of  having 
it  in  my  power  to  direct  the  reader  to  a  more  copious 

Dr.  Johnson  (pp.  510,  523)  Strype  (page  516)  Robert  Burton  (page  599) 
Addison  (page  603)  Swift,  De  Foe  (page  606)— and  to  the  most  emi- 
nent of  living  Poets. 


PREFACE.  xi 

or  accurate  detail.  This  avowal,  fairly  and  honestly 
made,  will,  it  is  hoped,  justify,  as  well  as  account  for, 
the  frequent  references  to  the  Bibliomania,  Bibliogra- 
phical Decameron,  Typographical  Antiquities,  and 
Bibliotheca  Spenceriana.  The  age  of  "  Commenda- 
tory Prefixes  "  is  past.  The  Muse  of  a  friend  is  no 
longer  invoked  to  throw  her  protecting  arms  round 
the  labours  of  an  author ;  *  who  is  now  doomed  to 
stand  or  fall  by  the  intrinsic  merit,  or  the  insufficiency, 
of  the  performance  which  he  submits  to  the  world  at 
large. 

*  The  fashion  of  prefixing  commendatory  verses  to  publications  of 
any  note,  obtained  till  as  late  as  the  end  of  the  reign  of  George  II. — • 
if  not  later.  During  the  seventeenth  century  these  verses  were  in  high 
vogue  :  but  among  them,  my  reading  has  furnished  me  with  none  so 
truly  quaint  and  original  as  the  following — prefixed  to  tf  Solomonis 
riAN  APETO2  r  or  a  Commentarie  upon  the  Book  of  Proverbs,  Ecclesiastes, 
and  the  Song  of  Songs !  By  JOHN  TRAPP,  M.  A.  Pastor  of  Weston  upon 
Avon  in  Glocestershire,  1650,  4to."  [The  Author  was  the  Father  of  the 
well  known  Translator  of  Virgil.] 

On  the  Books  of  Solomon  opened  by  Master  Trapp. 

I  stood  in  Solomon's  Porch  before, 
Unable  to  unlock  the  doore, 
And  view  the  glory  that  within 
Rather  than  live  I  would  have  seen. 

Now  in  his  Temple  walk  I  can, 
And  hear  my  Maker  talk  with  man, 
And  clearly  understand  his  mind  ; 
Though  mysteries,  no  mists,  I  find. 

The  Holy  of  Holies  open  lies, 
No  longer  kept  from  common  eyes. 
Each  Starre  may  now  an  Eagle  be, 
And  freely  up  to  Phoebus  flee. 


xii  PREFACE. 

But  in  the  anticipation  of  a  favourable  or  unfavour- 
able issue,  from  such  a  formidable  tribunal,  it  is  im- 
possible for  that  author  not  to  feel  something  like 
anxiety,  in  spite  even  of  the  approbation  which  may 
have  attended  his  previous  labours.  The  growth  of 
knowledge  is  daily  increasing  in  rapidity  and  strength. 
In  this  wonderful  country,  it  is  barely  possible  for 
those,  who  lead  a  quiet  and  uniform  life  far  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  hum  of  our  great  Metropolis,  to  form 
a  correct  notion  of  the  various  channels  by  which 
knowledge  is  so  swiftly  and  so  widely  diffused ;  and  it 
is  not  the  least  instructive  feature  in  the  HISTORY  OF 
BOOKS,  to  be  apprised  of  the  expenses  incurred,  and 
hazards  run,  in  the  establishment  of  a  popular  and 
useful  work.  The  gift  of  speech  and  the  gift  of  know- 
ledge should  seem  to  be  almost  simultaneous.  There 
are  at  this  moment  before  me,  the  CATALOGUES  of 
SCHOOL  BOOKS  circulated  by  the  two  greatest  Pub- 
lishers in  England.  I  mean  the  catalogue  of  Messrs. 
Longman,  Hurst,  Rees,  and  Co.  and  that  of  Messrs. 
G.  and  W.  B.  Whittaker.  The  most  superficial  view 
of  the  contents  of  these  Catalogues,  shews  the  extraor- 
dinary and  advantageous  variety  of  instruction  which 
they  con  tain.  Science,  Arts,  Trade,  Manners,  Customs 
• — something  of  every  thing,  and  of  the  very  best  kind 
— will  be  found  in  each  ;  and  little  does  the  studious, 
or  fanciful,  or  classical  Writer  imagine,  that,  while 

If  you  would  know  how  in  I  gat, 
I  passed  through  the  Beautifull  Gate; 
"nils  Dorc  of  Trapp,  or  this  Trap-  dor e. 
Trapp,  Trapp  !— but  GOD  I  must  adore, 


PREFACE.  xiii 

months  and  years  are  consumed  in  the  composition 
of  a  Work,  of  which  the  success  is  doubtful,  and  the 
remuneration  remote,  some  of  the  authors,  whose  pro- 
ductions are  found  in  the  catalogues  just  mentioned, 
bring  a  never  failing  golden  harvest  to  their  Pro- 
prietors. The  names  of  LINDLEY  MURRAY  and  PIN- 
NOCK  *  may,  in  this  point  of  view,  almost  vie  with 
that  of  the  AUTHOR  of  WAVERLY. 

*  First,  for  the ' '  Catalogues  of  School  Books  "  published  by  the  above- 
mentioned  Booksellers.  They  are  of  about  the  same  extent  with 
each  other.  In  that  of  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  the  following  are 
the  names  which  appear  to  be  of  the  greatest  importance.  Adam, 
Aikin,  Barbauld,  Bingley,  Blair,  (Rev.  D.J  Bonnycastle,  Carey,  Gregory, 
Hornsey,  Hort,  Howard,  Hutton,  Joyce,  Mavor,  Molineux,  Murray, 
(Lindley)  Pinkerton,  Robinson,  Shepherd,  (with  Joyce  and  Lant)  Smith, 
Taylor  (Mrs.}  Trimmer,  Valpy,  Vyse,  Walker,  Wanostrocht,  and  Wat- 
kins.  I  mention  only  those  authors  of  a  comparatively  modern  date ; 
and  omit  the  countless  impressions,  in  every  variety  of  form  and 
price,  of  the  English  Classics,  of  a  longer  established  reputation. 
The  names  of  Goldsmith  and  Watts  alone  furnish  a  little  library  of 
amusing  and  instructive  information. 

But  of  authors  of  modern  celebrity  in  this  copious  list,  none  appear 
to  have  been  so  fruitful,  and  to  have  produced  works  of  which  the 
sale  has  been  so  eminently  prosperous,  as  Mr.  LINDLEY  MURRAY.  His 
English  Grammar  (including  all  the  publications  connected  with  it) 
is  a  work  of  which  it  would  be  better  to  speak  of  editions  of  lens  of 
thousands  of  copies,  than  of  a  few  solitary  thousands.  His  Power  of 
Religion  on  the  Mind  and  his  Spelling  Book  are  the  next  publications  of 
numerical,  as  well  as  intrinsic,  importance  ;  and  both  abroad  and  at 
home  the  sale  is  wonderfully  extensive  and  successful. 

In  the  Catalogue  of  Messrs.  Whittaker  the  names  of  Millar t 
Pawley,  Roberts,  Stackhouse,  and  Wyld,  are  distinguished  as  authors  of 
ATLASES  on  different  scales  j  and  relating  to  different  countries.  The 
sale  of  these  works  is  perhaps  greater  than  can  be  readily  conceived. 


xiv  PREFACE. 

The  diffusion  of  knowledge  for  adult  readers,  has  of 
late  years,  or  rather  very  recently,  been  equally  rapid 
and  efficient.  The  time  is  in  the  remembrance  of 
every  man  of  forty-five,  when  we  were  well  content 
to  wait  for  monthly  contributions,  in  the  shape  of 
Magazines,  to  our  stock  of  knowledge.  That  time  is 
gone  by,  perhaps  never  to  return.  There  is,  at  pre- 

But  let  me  go  at  once  to  the  name  of  PINNOCK.  The  publications 
under  the  title  of  Pinnoek's  Catechisms  comprise  not  fewer  than 
SIXTY  FOUR  in  number.  They  are  arranged  in  alphabetical  order  j 
beginning  with  Agriculture  and  ending  with  Universal  History.  They 
comprise  a  great  variety  of  subject  of  literature  and  science  5  and 
besides  these,  there  are  the  County  Histories,  and  the  Histories  of 
England,  Greece,  and  other  Countries,  by  the  same  hand.  Of  the  same 
Author's  Catechism  of  the  Bible  and  Gospel  Histories,  one  impression  has 
reached  SEVENTY  THOUSAND  copies  5  but  the  price  of  the  work  is 
necessarily  low  :  and  I  believe  I  am  not  exaggerating  the  fact,  when 
I  state  that  the  exclusive  copy  right  of  the  whole  of  these  Catechisms 
has  not  been  secured  to  the  Proprietors  under  the  sum  of  THIRTY 
THOUSAND  POUNDS.  Let  the  reflecting  reader  consider,  from  the  data 
here  laid  down,  what  is  the  quantity  of  instruction  which  is  daily  in 
circulation  among  the  infantine  world  ;  or  among  those  who  have 
scarcely  reached  their  sixth  year  ?  Fifty  years  ago  there  was 
hardly  any  pabulum  of  the  kind  j  or  that  pabulum  was  exclusively 
distributed,  from  the  repository  of  our  old  acquaintance  Dan  New- 
bury,  in  St.  Paul's  Church-yard.* 

But  in  this  record  of  the  rapid  and  general  diffusion  of  KNOW- 
LEDGE for  the  appetites  of  all  ages  and  sexes,  let  me  not  omit  to 


*The  coincidence  is  not  a  little  singular,  —but  the  name  of  Thomas  Newbery  is 
attached  to  one  of  the  rarest  little  poetical  volumes,  composed  for  CHILDREN,  of 
which  we  have  any  knowledge.  It  was  printed  in  1563,  4to.  under  this  title  :  "  ^4 
Bodke  in  English  Metre  called  Dives  Pragmaticics,  or  the  Great  Marchantman — very 
preatie  for  Children  to  rede.  Lord  Spencer  is  in  possession  of  this  unique  treasure, 
which  I  purchased  for  his  Lordship  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  library  for  30/. 


PREFACE.  xv 

sent,  such  an  hunger  and  thirst  after  information, 
that  the  reading  man  looks  towards  his  weekly  Jour- 
nal, or  Register,  or  Chronicle,  with  the  same  eager- 
ness and  certainty  that  he  used  to  anticipate  his 
monthly  supplies  of  mental  food.  Hence  he  hails  his 
Literary  Gazette,  or  Literary  Chronicle,  or  Somerset 
House  Gazette] — to  which  may  be  probably  added 
one  or  two  of  the  many  two-penny  publications  that 
are  also  weekly  distributed,  and  of  which  the  aggre- 
gate total  is  scarcely  to  be  credited.  *  Nor  is  it  the 

make  commendable  mention  of  what  I  should  call  the  pocket  editions 
of  our  best  writers  in  poetry  and  prose,  so  assiduously,  so  neatly,  and 
so  reasonably,  put  forth  by  Messrs.  SUTTABY,  EVANCE,  and  Fox.  No 
author,  contained  in  the  bulkiest  dimensions,  exceeds  the  price  of  5s. 
per  volume  j  and  there  is  none,  as  far  as  I  can  discover  from  the  list 
of  the  authors  published,  which  a  female  need  fear  of  being  found 
upon  her  toilette  or  boudoir  table.  The  typographical  execution 
of  these  small  duodecimo  volumes  is  delightful,  and  the  engraved 
frontispieces  are  very  respectable.  Thousands  of  copies  are  circulated 
abroad  3  especially  in  America.  Within  these  last  twenty  years, 
SEVEN  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  volumes  of  the  whole,  collectively,  have 
been  dispersed  at  home  and  abroad,  averaging  35,000  copies  per 
annum.  Upon  such  a  vast  scale  does  knowledge,  of  every  kind, 
travel. 

*  I  had  hoped  to  have  been  able  to  give  a  pretty  correct  ac- 
count of  these  "  twopenny  publications,"  but  have  been  unexpectedly 
disappointed.  The  fact  is,  however,  that  upwards  of  ONE  HUNDRED 
THOUSAND  of  them  are  circulated  per  week ;  among  which,  the  Mecha- 
nic s  Magazine,  the  Mirror,  tlie  Lancet,  and  the  Chemist,  take  the  lead. 
Of  thejirst  of  these,  alone,  I  learn  that  jifteen  thousand  copies  are  dis- 
tributed. To  shew  the  avidity  with  which  knowledge  of  all  kinds, 
and  sometimes  of  the  best  kind,  is  sought  after,  a  friend  informs  me 
that  Perinant's  London  is  now  to  be  purchased  on  the  same  cheap  terms 


xvi  PREFACE. 

least  recommendable  quality  of  such  reasonably 
priced  publications,  that  the  matter  contained  in  them 
is,  generally,  as  correct  as  their  exterior  forms  are 
attractive  from  good  paper  and  printing.  In  the  mean 
while,  it  is  consoling  to  think  that  such  numerous 
and  useful  works  keep  down  the  currency  of  the 
wretched  blasphemy  and  absurdity  which  find  refuge 
only  in  the  premises  of  Mr.  Carlile. 

But  that  literary  tastes  and  longings  of  every  de- 
cription,  may  be  gratified,  there  has  recently  appeared 
a  Review,  which  is  published  every  two  months,  under 
the  title  of  the  Universal  ;*  while  Knighfs  Quarterly 
Magazine,  the  Westminster  Review.,  and  the  Cambridge 

Is  it  chimerical  to  suppose  that  Bacons  Abridgement  (of  the  Law)  and 
Comyris  Digest  will  be  forthwith  produced  in  the  same  manner  ? 

*  The  plan  of  this  Review  is  excellent.  It  gives,  after  the  sober  and 
sensible  plan  of  the  Old  and  New  Memoirs  of  Literature,  published  about 
a  century  ago,  a  brief  analysis,  with  a  few  pertinent  remarks,  of  each 
article  :  so  as  to  leave  the  reader,  generally,  to  draw  his  own  con- 
clusions from  the  facts  adduced.  The  second  (and  last  published) 
number  is  now  before  me.  There  are  XXVI  articles  in  it  of  com- 
parative elaborate  execution,  followed  by  a  great  number  of  brief 
notices  of  domestic  and  foreign  literature  j  which  latter  are  essentially 
useful :  for  one  of  the  principal  objects,  in  such  periodical  publica- 
tions, is,  to  give  the  reader  intelligence  of  what  is  actually  going  on 
in  the  literary  world.  Among  the  larger  articles,  at  page  239  of 
this  number,  is  a  review  of  the  Deformed  Transformed  of  Lord  Byron,. 
The  preliminary  remarks  are  penned  with  great  vigour  and  unsparing 
severity  against  the  immoral  and  unpatriotic  cast  of  the  later  effu- 
sions of  that  Noble  Lord  : — and  with  justice.*  In  the  department 


*  I  have  not  long  risen  from  the  perusal  of  another  Review  of  the  same  poem  in 
the  Edinburgh  Magazine  and  Literary  Miscellany,  for  March,  1824  ;  of  which  the  in- 


PREFACE.  xvii 

Quarterly  Review  make  their  appearance  once  in 
three  months,,  after  the  manner  of  the  Edinburgh  and 
Quarterly  Reviews.  Mine  is  not  the  province  to  pass 
critical  opinions  upon  the  respective  merits  of  these 
more  recent  Magazines  and  Reviews.  It  is  sufficient 
for  the  purposes  of  this  Preface,  that  such  publica- 
tions are  here  recorded.*  But  while  upon  this  theme, 

of  Poetry,  in  the  ensuing-  pages,  I  have  freely  passed  those  sentiments 
upon  Lord  Byron's  muse  which  seem  to  be  dictated  by  the  honestest 
view  of  the  subject. 

*  Of  the  sales  of  the  more  recent  Magazines  and  Reviews  above 
mentioned,  I  am  unable  to  say  any  thing.  They  are  all  starting 
with  the  vigour  and  buoyancy  of  "  fresh  and  four-year  old  "  literary 
Coursers.  Of  the  Edinburgh  and  Quarterly  Reviews,  I  should  appre- 
hend tire  minimum  to  be  9000,  and  the  maximum  to  be  12,OOO,  copies 
of  each  new  number.  In  the  history  of  Literature,  the  subscription- 
book  of  Mr.  Murray  (for  my  residence  necessarily  makes  me  unac- 
quainted with  that  of  the  publisher  of  the  Edinburgh  Review)  would 
cut  a  splendid  figure  :  and  the  ease  and  dexterity  with  which  each 
number  is  divided  into  allotments,  and  distributed  according  to  the 
copies  subscribed  for  (the  payment  being  PROMPT,)  by  the  several 
great  bookselling  houses,  would  astonish  a  looker  on  ...  At  sun-  rise, 
the  QUARTERLY  TREE  reaches  to  the  sky  — 

(Exiit  ad  coelum  ramis  felicibus  arbor) 
At  sun  set,  it  is  levelled  to  the  earth  .  .  . 

OJ-  irso-Scn??  iroLs 


and  every  man  hugs  his  log  (alias,  number)  with  eager  and  un  dimi- 
nished delight.  What  a  SUB-NOTE  might  be  here  appended,  as  to  the 
sensations  which  certain  numbers,  of  either  of  these  Reviews,  are  known 
to  have  sometimes  produced  ?  For  periodical  reading,  these  Jour- 

troductory  remarks  are  equally  distinguished  for  their  propriety  and  ability  of  exe  - 
cution.  In  short,  to  think  and  to  speak  otherwise,  were  a  species  of  stultification. 

C 


xviii  PREFACE. 

let  me  be  permitted  to  make  honourable  mention  of 
a  periodical  publication  of  a  peculiar  character — 
under  the  title  of  the  Retrospective  Review*  —  to 
which,  as  the  ensuing  pages  demonstrate,  my  obliga- 
tions have  been  frequent  and  great.  Thus  the  reader 
may  remark,  how  varied  and  wonderful  is  the  perio- 
dical diffusion  of  knowledge,  of  every  description,,  in 
this  wealthy  and  energetic  country. 

But  a  review  of  the  causes  of  the  progress  of  litera- 
ture in  general,  does  not  exclude  the  notice  of  the 
state  of  Bibliography-}-,  or  (if  the  reader  so  please  to 

nals  may  be  considered  as  the  venison  and  turtle  dishes  of  the  literary 
Epicure.  J  I  found  them  as  such,  at  Munich  and  Vienna,  some  six 
years  ago 

*  Will  the  editor  of  this  Review  forgive  the  suggestion,  whether 
the  articles  be,  occasionally,  sufficiently  RETROspective  ?  and  whe- 
ther they  be  not  occasionally  a  little  too  long  ? 

t  In  publications  on  BIBLIOGRAPHY,  there  is  nothing  of  very 
recent  occurrence  to  notice,  except  it  be  the  two  beautifully  printed 
volumes  of  Mr.  JOHNSON'S  Typographic  or  the  Printer's  Instructor, 


t  Of  MAGAZINES,  the  Gentleman's,  the  New  Monthly,  the  London,  Blackwood's,  and 
the  Edinburgh,  have  the  greatest  sale.  Each  of  these  has  its  admirers  and  sworn 
champions  of  defence  : — and  long  may  this  bloodless  warfare,  or  literary  excita- 
bility, last !  I  cannot  presume  to  weigh  the  respective  merits  of  these  Magazines 
in  my  own  critical  scales  of  justice ;  but  I  may  be  allowed  to  notice  the  matter- 
of-fact  simplicity,  antiquarian  lore,  and  topographical  embellishments  of  the  first— 
the  polish,  delicacy,  and  occasional  felicitous  humour,  of  the  second — the  neat- 
ness, variety,  and  usefulness  of  the  third— the  spirited,  cart  and  tierce,  cut  and 
thrust,  character  of  the  fourth—  ("  Tros  Tyriusve  . . .  nullo  discrimine  agetur,") 
and  the  vigour,  sense,  and  well-digested  intelligence,  of  the  fifth.  The  amount  of 
all  this,  is,  that  throughout  the  Empire  of  GREAT  BRITAIN,  there  is,  weekly  and 
monthly,  such  a  mass  of  intelligence — in  the  shape  of  wit,  humour,  narrative,  and 
reflection — imparted,  that  one  is  equally  surprised  at  the  unfailing  number  of 
readers  as  well  as  of  writers.  A  country,  in  SUCH  a  state,  has  reason  to  be  proud 
of  its  bibliomania ral  pre-eminence. 


PREFACE.  xix 

designate  it)  of  the  BIBLIOMANIA,  in  particular.  With 
joy  and  triumph  have  I  witnessed  the  close  of  the 
Book-campaign  of  the  past  season.  It  has  turned  out 
to  be  what  every  lover  of  his  country's  literary  repu- 
tation could  wish.  The  gloom  which,  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  last  season,  darkened  the  countenances, 
not  only  of  many  worthy  members  of  the  3dIo^Butgf)C 
CUlfi,  but  of  a  great  number  of  distinguished  Collec- 

with  wood- cut  portraits  of  several  English  Printers.  This  ingenious 
work  is  dedicated  to  the  ROXBURGHE  CLUB  -,  and  the  wood-cut  em- 
bellishments, prefixed  as  frontispieces,  are  of  a  most  brilliant  and 
pleasing  description.  One  of  these  contains  the  arms  of  the  several 
members  of  the  Club  very  happily  conceived  and  executed  :  but  they 
have  all  equal  merit.  I  learn,  also,  that  Mr.  Edward  Poole  is  occupied 
with  the  History  of  the  ELZEVIR  PRESS,  including  a  great  portion  of 
the  literary  history  of  that  Augustan  age  of  literature  in  Holland. 
It  will  be  much  more  copious  than  the  French  work  (occasionally 
referred  to  in  the  ensuing  pages)  upon  the  same  subject. 

But  in  Bibliography,  let  me  not  forget  the  notice  and  commenda- 
tion of  that  wonderful  work  of  the  late  Dr.  WATT,  called  Biblio- 
theca  Britannica.  It  is  now  complete,  in  two  quarto  volumes,  each 
about  the  size  of  Ainsworth's  Dictionary,  at  61.  6s.  per  volume. 
Such  a  concentration  of  labour  was  hardly  ever  beheld ;  but  the  au- 
thors, Father  and  Son,  both  FELL  VICTIMS  to  their  zeal.  The  first 
volume  contains  the  names  of  authors,  alphabetically  arranged  5  the 
second,  the  several  works  under  their  classes,  or  general  names, 
thus:  "Angling,"  "Bible,"  "Cookery,"  &c.  To  say  that  such  a 
work,  on  so  stupendous  a  scale,  should  be  faultless,  would  be  equally 
rash  and  ridiculous.  On  the  contrary,  it  contains  numerous  errors, 
and  must  not  be  unlimitedly  confided  in.  But  its  uses  and  advan- 
tages are  manifest  and  indispensable  :  and  it  should  never  fail  to  be 
a  LIBRARY  COMPANION  in  all  Collections  of  extent  or  importance. 
The  history  of  the  completion  of  this  great  labour  is  among  the  most 
curious  on  record, 


xx  PREFACE. 

tors  of  libraries,  has  vanished.  The  sun  shine  of  good 
humour,  content,  bright  hopes,  and  cheering  prospects, 
has  succeeded.  The  reader  has  already  anticipated 
the  ground  or  cause  of  these  remarks.  The  sale  of 
the  library  of  the  late  lamented  SIR  M.  M.  SYKES, 
Bart,  was  conducted,  and  closed,  in  a  manner  the 
most  unexpectedly  gratifying.  While,  at  the  west 
end  of  the  town,  the  Boohs  of  the  same  Baronet  were 
dispersed  at  splendid  prices  beneath  the  auspices  of 
Mr.  Evans,*  towards  the  east  end  of  the  town  (in 
Wellington-street,  under  the  hammer  of  Mr.  Sotheby) 
his  prints,  of  every  description,  brought  excessive 
prices :  and  300  guineas  for  an  impression  from  a 
Niello,  and  89/  for  a  couple  of  British  Portraits,  in 
one  plate/f-  are  achievements  of  unprecedented  gal- 

*  Specimens  of  the  prices  of  a  few  of  the  rarer  articles,  in  ENG- 
LISH POETRY,  will  be  found  in  the  SUPPLEMENT,  at  p.  84 1  post.  The 
manner  in  which  the  Catalogue  of  this  splendid  library  is  executed, 
is  extremely  creditable  to  the  author  of  it,  and  the  three  GREAT  GUNS 
of  the  Collection  may  be  described  in  the  Livy  of  1469,  the  Greek 
Testament  of  Erasmus  of  1519,  (each  UPON  VELLUM)  and  the  Deed  of 
Divorce  between  Henry  VIII.  and  Anne  of  Cleves.  The  gain  upon 
the  two  latter  articles  made  up  for  the  loss  on  the  first.  The  first  is 
now  with  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  j  the  second  is  in  the  archiepiscopal 
library  at  Lambeth,  (purchased  by  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury) and  the  third  is  in  the  State  Paper  Office.  Could  the  two 
latter  be  better  placed  ?  It  remains  to  observe  what  will  be  the 
ultimate  destination  of  the  first. 

f  It  was  the  portraits  of  James  I.  and  Prince  Henry,  each  on 
horseback,  engraved  by  Vaughan.  The  condition  was  most  beautiful. 
The  impression  of  the  Niello  had  been  obtained  from  W.  Y.  Ottley, 
Esq.  and  is  engraved  at  p.  304  of  his  History  and  Engraving.  Sir 
Mark  gave  only  150/.  for  it. 


PREFACE.  xxi 

lantry  and  liberality  of  feeling.  The  total  or  grand 
amount  of  the  two  sales,  united,  amounted  to36,000/. 
Who  therefore  shall  say  that  property  is  misplaced  in 
collecting  together  such  objects  r  If  the  question 
arise,  what  was  given  for  such  a  property  ?  a  prompt 
and  satisfactory  answer  is  at  hand :  less  was  given  than 
the  produce  here  recorded. 

But  this  state  of  bibliographical  prosperity  is  not 
confined  to  the  Metropolis.  I  continue  to  hear  and  to 
receive  the  most  flattering  accounts  from  all  parts  of 
the  country.  A  re-action  is  taking  place.  Circulating 
libraries  are  enlarged  and  multiplied.  The  surplusage 
of  wealth,  in  these  "  piping  times  of  peace,"  finds  a 
vent  in  the  channel  of  book-purchasing.  Noblemen 
and  Gentlemen  begin  to  think  (as  the  old  monkish  wri- 
ters thought  and  have  expressed  it)  that  a  "  mansion 
without  a  library  is  like  a  castle  without  an  armoury" 
— and  accordingly,  halt  where  you  will,  you  are  sure, 
on  a  little  gossip  with  the  humblest  provincial  book- 
vendor,  to  glean  intelligence  of  "  some  famous  library 
in  the  neighbourhood" — and  if  none  of  these  equal 
that  at  Eshton  Hall.,  or  at  Yarmouth,*  they  may  be 

*  These  selections  are  made  without  a  wish  to  institute  invidious 
comparisons ;  but  the  Catalogue  of  the  library  at  Eshton  Hail,  the 
property  of  Miss  CUKRER,  (see  page  832  post)  is  at  this  moment 
before  ine;  as  I  am  favoured  with  one  of  the  36  copies  only  of  it 
which  were  printed.  It  is  carefully  and  unostentatiously  executed  by 
Mr.  Triphook.  The  collection  in  all  its  branches  (but  especially  in 
British  History)  does  great  credit  to  its  amiable  and  sensible  owner. 
With  the  library  of  my  friend  DAWSON  TURNER,  Esq.  of  Yarmouth  I 
am  intimately  acquainted.  The  Fine  Arts  and  Botany  are  its  stronger 
and  more  prominent  features.  The  collection  is  select  and  costlv.  Of 


xxii  PREFACE. 

yet  deserving  of  examination,  and  their  owner  may 
receive  a  passing  tribute  of  respect.  My  gratification 
is  well  nigli  unbounded  to  learn  that  the  name  of 
WATT,  at  Aston  House,  near  Birmingham,  is  coupled 
with  that  of  the  "  000&  01&  catl£e;"  and  I  may  yet  live 
to  witness  it  as  great  in  BOOKS,  as  in  MECHANICS. 
Meanwhile  I  have  the  additional  gratification  of 
learning,  that  the  number  of  Travellers  dispersed  all 
over  the  country,  from  the  great  houses  in  Paternoster 
Row,  is  nearly  doubled ;  and  that  three  orders  are 
now  received  where  one  formerly  was  scarcely  given. 

the  AUTOGRAPHIC  treasures  in  it,  more  than  a  slight  notice  is  taken  in  a 
subsequent  page.  I  could  easily  have  added  to  the  number  of  these 
rural  examples  of  the  BIBLIOMANIA  ;  and  my  friend  Mr.  Broadley,  (late 
of  Kirk  Ella,  near  Hull)  may  probably  scold  me  for  the  omission  of 
his  enviable  book-treasures  :  while  Mr.  Archdeacon  Wrangham  tells 
me  that  he  is  constantly  revelling  in  the  midst  of  15,000  tomes  (at 
Hunmanby  in  Yorkshire)  of  endless  variety  and  never  failing  amuse- 
ment. Long  may  he  enjoy  this  revelry.  Close  to  London,  again,  I 
could  mention  friends  who  spare  no  cost  in  securing,  nor  pains  in 
making  acquaintance  with,  their  book-treasures.  The  exquisite 
paintings  of  LENTULUS  lose  nothing  of  their  lustre  or  value  by  the 
neighbourhood  of  a  library  (on  the  basement  floor,)  of  tasteful 
structure,  and  replete  with  volumes  in  which  Piranesi,  and  Bartoli, 
and  Hollar,  and  Bartolozzi,  and  Morghen,  display  their  peculiar 
and  unrivalled  powers.  Nor  are  philology  and  the  sciences  wanting. 
In  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  this  Tusculum,  is  another 
cabinet,  on  a  smaller  scale,  and  with  fewer  treasures.  But  here  are 
early  and  powerful  specimens  of  the  pencil  of  Turner,  Wilkie,  and 
Callcott,  with  no  mean  sprinkling  of  LARGE  PAPER  tomes  of  modern 
authors  of  established  celebrity.  These  be  the  boast  of  NESTORIUS  ; 
and  his  quincunxes  and  espaliers,  clipt  yew  hedges  and  velvet  lawns, 
affordhim  recreation  and  food  for  thought . .  as  he  meditates  on  DEATH, 


PREFACE.  xxiii 

In  again  reverting  to  the  work  before  the  reader, 
I  conclude  this  preface  with  the  exercise  of  the  plea- 
sureable  task  of  acknowledging  obligations  received. 
My  friend  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bliss,  of  the  Bodleian  Library, 
has  enabled  me  to  enrich  these  pages  not  only  by  the 
examination  of  many  treasures  in  that  wonderful 
repository,  but  by  the  loan  of  the  first  volume  of  his 
work  (not  yet  published)  of  the  Reliquiae  Hearniance. 
The  pages  of  his  Athena?  Oxonienses*  have  been  also 
at  times  singularly  useful.  For  the  unwearied  ser- 
vices of  Thomas  Amyot,  Esq.  in  enlarging  and  cor- 
recting many  of  these  sheets  by  the  aid  of  his  own 
choice  library,  and  numerous  bibliographical  memo- 
randa, I  cannot  be  sufficiently  thankful.  The  library 
of  the  Right  Honourable  Thomas  Grenville  has  been 
on  this,  as  on  every  other  occasion,  thrown  open  to 
my  researches  in  the  readiest  and  most  liberal  man- 
ner ;  and  to  the  treasures  contained  in  it  I  am  chiefly 
indebted  for  the  account  of  the  rarer  volumes  to  be 

Somewhat  nearer  home,  is  another  library,  sweetly  disposed,  and 
judiciously  furnished  j  of  which  its  excellent  owner  thus  wrote  to 
me,  on  breaking  up  his  establishment  to  come  to  town  for  the  last 
winter  season  :  <e  We  go  to  town  this  day  se'nnight  for  the  season.  I 
shall  leave  MY  LIBRARY  with  great  regret.  Its  cheerful  character,  its 
soft  and  quiet  scenery  from  the  lawn  in  front,  its  comfortable  and 
social  aspect,  its  manageable  and  not  overwhelming  size,  its  compa- 
nionable and  inexhaustible  sources  of  amusement  and  delight,  make 
me  cling  to  it  with  the  fondness  of  grateful  affection  and  attachment." 
These  COMFORTS  are  to  be  found  at  Edmonton.  For  other  libraries  of 
large  extent,  and  remote  situation,  search  well  the  index  of  this 
work. 

*  For  a  character  of  this  work,  see  p.  507- S  post, 


xxiv  PREFACE. 

found  under  the  head  of  the  History  of  Ireland.  The 
owner  of  that  library  will  therefore  be  here  pleased  to 
accept  my  best  thanks.  My  acknowledgments  are 
also  due  to  Frederic  Barnard.,  Esq.  for  free  access  to 
the  Royal  Library  at  Buckingham  House :  the  facility 
and  liberality  of  accommodation,  in  that  magnificent 
and  truly  regal  collection,  can  be  appreciated  only  by 
those  who  have  experienced  it.  The  unrivalled  trea- 
sures at  Althorp  and  at  Spencer  House  have  been 
submitted  to  my  free  inspection  with  the  usual  libe- 
rality and  kindness  of  their  Noble  Owner :  while  the 
richly  furnished  libraries  of  my  intimate  friends 
George  Hibbert,  Esq.  Richard  Heber,  Esq.  Francis 
Freeling,  Esq.  Francis  Douce,  Esq.  and  Robert  Lang, 
Esq.  have  supplied  me  with  materials  of  which  the 
value  will  be  evident  from  a  perusal  of  the  ensuing 
pages.  On  all  sides,  and  in  the  most  unqualified 
manner,  the  kindest  aids  were  offered  me  ;  and  if  the 
fruits  of  such  friendly  assistance  are  not  seen  in  the 
work  before  the  reader,  the  fault  is  in  him  to  whom 
they  were  tendered. 

In  the  last  place,  something  like  an  acknowledg- 
ment remains  due  to  those  respectable  BOOKSELLERS, 
by  means  of  whose  copious  catalogues  something  like 
a  fixed  or  rational  price  has  been  attached  to  the 
numerous  works  contained  in  these  pages.  The  pre- 
sent is  peculiarly  the  age  of  bibliopolistic  adventure 
and  enterprise.  There  is  no  nation  in  Europe  which 
can  boast  of  such  an  extensive  diffusion  of  knowledge 
by  means  of  well-executed  Catalogues  ;  and  it  is  with- 
out any  invidious  distinction  that  I  notice  those  of 


PREFACE.  xxv 

Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  Longman  and  Co.  J.  and  A. 
Arch,  Rivington  and  Cochran,  Ogle,  Duncan  and  Ogle, 
Triphook,  Thorpe,  and  Bohn.*  But,  with  every  atten- 
tion to  fix  a  fair  and  authorized  price  upon  such  works 
of  intrinsic  merit,  of  which  the  marketable  value  was 

*  Since  the  commencement  of  this  work,  Messrs.  PAYNE  and  Foss 
have  published  a  catalogue  of  5872  articles  or  books,  in  foreign  lan- 
guages exclusively.  My  principal  references  have  been  to  the  pre- 
ceding catalogue  of  last  year,  in  which  English  works  also  appear. 
Both  catalogues  are  preciously  furnished,  and  the  prices  are  reasona- 
ble. I  have  smiled,  in  common  with  many  friends,  to  observe  rare  and 
curious  volumes  selling  for  large  sums  at  auctions,  when  sometimes 
better  copies  of  them  may  be  obtained  in  that  incomparable  reposi- 
tory in  Pall-Mail  at  two-thirds  of  the  price.  Whoever  wants  a  clas- 
sical Jitting  out  must  betake  himself  to  this  repository.  The  various 
catalogues  or  portions  of  them,  according  to  the  sizes  of  the  volumes, 
which  have  issued  from  the  house  of  Messrs.  LONGMAN,  HURST,  REES, 
and  Co.  for  the  last  three  years,  contain  scarcely  fewer  than  17000 
articles  -,  while,  of  modern  articles,  the  same  House  has,  of  each, 
from  one  to  ten  thousand  copies.  This  latter  necessarily  includes  the 
wonderful  stock  of  Elementary  works  alluded  to  at  p.  xiii.  ante.  To 
the  Bibliotheca  Anglo-Poetica,  or  A  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  a  rare  and 
rich  Collection  of  Early  English  Poetry,  published  by  the  same  House  in 
1815,  under  the  care  of  the  late  Mr.  Griffiths,  the  ensuing  pages,  in 
the  department  of  <f  English  Poetry,"  contain  frequent  and  appo- 
site references.  The  rarest  article  in  this  catalogue  (Chester's  Loves 
Martyr,  or  Rosalins  Complaint,  1601,  4to.)  marked  at  50/.  and  pur- 
chased by  the  late  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes  Bart,  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  that 
Baronet's  library  for  641. 

The  catalogue  of  Messrs.  J.  and  A.  ARCH  is  on  a  smaller  scale  -, 
but  it  exhibits  both  valuable  and  rare  works,  and  my  references  to  it 
have  not  been  unsparing.  Indeed  I  consider  the  situation  of  these 
respectable  booksellers,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  Metropolis,  as  most 
fortunate  on  many  accounts  : — for  the  periodical  circulation  of  their 
Catalogues  may  have  a  salutary  effect  in  counteracting  manias  of  a 


xxvi  PREFACE. 

ascertainable,  I  fear  that,  in  some  few  instances,  the 
collector  may  be  disappointed  in  his  calculations.     It 

different  description.  I  do  not  indeed  quite  despair  of  seeing  groups 
of  philologists  and  critics  collected  in  the  Royal  Exchange,  beneath 
the  statue  of  Edward  IV,  (when  Printing  and  the  Bibliomania  were 
first  conjointly  introduced  into  this  country)  and  counteracting,  by 
their  book- speculations,  the  direful  ravages  of  the  Scrip  and  Consols 
manias.  The  catalogue  of  Messrs.  RIVINGTON  AND  COCHRAN,  which 
is  chiefly  theological,  contains  not  fewer  than  17,328  articles.  The 
arrangement  is  good :  the  works  submitted  to  sale  are  rich  in  all 
classes,  especially  in  theology  and  oriental  literature,  while  the 
printing  and  paper  are  alike  inviting.  There  is  a  sort  of  episcopalian 
air  about  this  volume  . . .  within  and  without.  But  here  it  behoves 
me  to  make  honourable  mention  of  that  curious  catalogue  (now  be- 
come a  rare  book)  of  Theology  and  Oriental  Literature,  published  by 
Messrs.  OGLE,  DUNCAN  AND  Co.,  and  containing  upwards  of  12OOO 
articles  of  Divinity.  I  am  not  compelled  to  subscribe  to  the  critical 
canons  occasionally  attached  to  these  articles  j  but  I  can  never  be 
backward  in  acknowledging  the  obligation  which  the  CLERICAL 
WORLD  is  under  (from  this  desirable  volume)  to  its  respectable  pub- 
lishers. The  catalogues  of  Mr.  TRIPHOOK  are,  many  of  them,  of  ab- 
solute necessity  to  the  Collector  3  since  the  titles  and  colophons  are 
printed  at  length  with  great  accuracy  ',  and  I  may  fairly  say,  that,  in 
few  places  of  sale  have  I  seen  SUCH  copies  of  Old  English  Philology  as 
in  Mr.  Triphook's  repository.  The  collection  of  Mr.  TriphoOk  is 
now  merged  in  that  of  his  partners,  whose  names  appear  in  the 
TITLE  PAGE  of  this  work  5  and  it  may  be  triumphantly  affirmed,  that 
the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  HARDING,  TRIPHOOK,  and  LEPARD,  takes 
precedence  of  ALL  on  the  score  of  numbers :  for  not  fewer  than 
twenty-seven  thousand  and  fifty-seven  articles  form  the  grand  total  of 
works,  in  the  course  of  sale,  at  the  TEMPLE  OF  THE  MUSES  !  Apollo 
and  the  Nine  were  never  kept  in  such  a  constant  state  of  activity,  as 
these  spirited  Bibliopolists  keep  them — equally  to  the  surprise  and 
advantage  of  the  lettered  world. 

Mr.  THORPE  is  indeed  a  man  of  might.   His  achievements  at  Book- 


PREFACE.  xxvii 

should  however  be  always  borne  in  mind  that  the  con- 
dition  of  a  book  will  materially  regulate  its  price. 
It  remains  therefore,  only  to  indulge  a  rational  but 

sales  are  occasionally  described  in  the  ensuing  pages.  It  is  his  Cata- 
logues of  which  I  am  here  to  treat.  They  are  of  never  ceasing  produc- 
tion :  thronged  with  the  treasuses  which  he  has  gallantly  borne  off,  at 
the  point  of  his  lance,  in  many  a  hard  day's  fight,  in  the  Pall-Mali  and 
Waterloo  Place  arenas.  But  these  conquests  are  no  sooner  obtained, 
than  the  public  receives  an  account  of  them  j  and  during  the  last 
year  only,  his  Catalogues,  in  three  parts,  now  before  me,  comprise 
not  fewer  than  SEVENTEEN  THOUSAND  NINE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  NINE 
articles.  What  a  scale  of  buying  and  selling  does  this  fact  alone 
evince  !  But  in  this  present  year,  two  Parts  have  already  appeared, 
containing  upwards  of  12,000  articles.  Nor  is  this  all.  On  the  24th 
day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1823,  there  appeared  the 
most  marvellous  phenomenon  ever  witnessed  in  the  annals  of  BIBLIO- 
POLISM.  The  Times  Newspaper  had  four  of  the  five  columns  of  its 
last  page  occupied  by  an  ADVERTISEMENT  of  Mr.  Thorpe,  containing 
the  Hid  Part  of  his  Catalogue  for  that  year.  On  a  moderate  compu- 
tation, this  Advertisement  comprised  eleven  hundred  and  twenty  lines. 
The  effect  was  extraordinary.  Many  wondered,  and  some  remon- 
strated :  but  Mr.  Thorpe  was  Master  of  his  own  mint,  and  he  never 
mentions  the  circumstance  but  with  perfect  confidence,  and  even 
gaiety  of  heart,  at  its  success  ! 

If  Mr.  BOHN  be  the  last,  he  is  not  the  least,  of  enterprising  and 
successful  Bibliopolists.  His  Catalogue,  in  two  parts,  contains  not 
fewer  than  14,614  articles.  These  articles  are  chiefly  books  in 
foreign  languages  :  and  Mr.  Bonn's  knowledge  of  the  German  lan- 
guage has  enabled  him  to  translate  Fuhrmanns  work  on  the  Greek 
and  Latin  Classics  with  considerable  advantage.  But  bibliographers 
and  critics  have  been  liberally  consulted  ;  and  in  the  department  of 
Philology  and  Miscellanies,  there  are  some  volumes  worth  the  cunning 
investigation  of  lovers  of  literary  rarities.  The  whole  catalogue  is  a 
proof  of  unwearied  diligence  in  description,  and  commendable  taste 
in  collection. 


xxviii  PREFACE. 

an  ardent  hope,  that  the  work  now  before  the  reader, 
and  intended  as  a  Guide  to  the  Young  and  a  Comfort 
to  the  Old,  may  be  crowned  with  that  success,  which 
has  been  sought  for  in  a  most  anxious  and  unceas- 
ing examination  of  materials  for  the  last  two  years ; 
and  of  which  nearly  as  much  has  been  kept  back  as 
brought  forward.  For  a  toil  of  this  nature,  I  can 
most  unfeignedly  avow  that  no  pecuniary  reward  is 
likely  to  be  commensurate.  Every  thing  that  a  libe- 
ral spirit  could  devise,  on  the  part  of  my  Publishers, 
has  been  promptly  conceded  ;  but  I  look  for  eventual 
and  substantial  remuneration  only  in  the  generous 
sympathies  of  the  "  YOUNG,"  and  the  well-weighed 
approbation  of  the  "  OLD." 


THOMAS  FROGNALL  DIBDIN. 


Wyndham  Place, 
Aug.  2,  1824. 


***  I  just  learn  that  the  Diary  of  SAMUEL  PEPYS  (see  the  Index  of 
this  Work)  is  nearly  completed  at  press.  It  will  contain  about  ten  or 
a  dozen  well  executed  portraits  5  and  the  work,  in  two  quarto  volumes, 
will  be  doubtless  a  popular  companion  to  Evelyns  Memoirs. 


SYNOPTICAL  TABLE  OF  SUBJECTS 
AND  AUTHORS. 


INTRODUCTION,  pages  1,2. 
DIVINITY,  3— -128. 
BIBLES,  6—37- 
Polyglot,  6—10. 

Complutensian,  6.     Brian  Walton's,  7- 
Plantin's  and  Butter's,  9. 
Reineccius'  and  Bagster's>  10. 

Latin,  11 — 17- 

Editio  Princeps,  or  Mazarine,  11. 

Poster's  (Bamberg),  13. 

Fust's  and  Schoiffer's  (Mentz),  14,  15. 

Fontibus  ex  Hebrseis,  15. 

Fontibus  ex  Graecis,  15. 

Pagninus',  Sabatier's,  and  the  Aldine,  16. 

German,  18. 

Mentelin's  and  Luther's,  18. 

Italian,  18,  20. 

Malherbi's  -3   Bruccioli's,  and  Diodati's,  19. 

Martini's,  20. 
Hebrew,  20—23. 

Kimchi's  Psalter,  Jarchi's  Pentateuch,  20. 

Soncino  Bible,  21,  829. 

Bamberg,  Stephens,  22. 

Michaelis',  Houbigant's,  Kennicott's,  23. 

Jahn's,  Leusden's,  Boothroyd's,  24. 

Greek,  24,  26. 

Erasmus,  Aldine  Septuagint,  Zanetti's,Bos, 
Holmes' s,  25. 


xxx  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

DIVINITY. — BIBLES. 
French,  26. 

Lempereur's,     Protestant  Version,   Thou- 

louse,  26. 
English,  27 — 37. 

Tyndall's,  29. 
Coverdale's,  30. 

Matthewe's,    Taverner's,     Cranmer's,    the 
Bishops,  Grafton's,  Whitchurch's,  Day's, 
Redman's,  the  Scotch,  31.  Geneva,  829. 
King  James's,  32. 
Baskett's,  Field's,  Hayes's,  33. 
Patrick's,  Lowth's,  Whitby's,  D'Oyly's  and 

Mant's,  Wilson's,  36. 
Dr.  Henry's,  Dr.  Gill's,  37. 
TESTAMENTS, 

Greek,  38—40. 

Complutensian,  Erasmus,    Stephen's,    the 
Elzevirs,  Bengel's,    Wetstein's,    Gries- 
bach's,  38,  39. 
PRAYER-BOOKS,  40—46.     830. 

First  Impressions,  1549,  42. 
Whitchurch's,  Marbecke's  Barkerville's,  43. 
Jarvis's,Reeves's,Oxford  and  Cambridge,44. 
Abridgement,  45. 

FATHERS  AND  COMMENTATORS,  46 — 48. 
Greek,  47. 

Origen,  S.Chrysostom,  Cotelerius  Coll.  47. 
Latin,  47. 

Tertullian,  Lactantius,  Austin,  47.  Jerom, 

830. 

OLD  ENGLISH  DIVINES,  49 — 59 
Taylor,  491,  53,  831. 
Baxter,  50. 

Barrow,  Pearson,  Usher,  51,  830. 
Chillingworth,  Mede,  Tillotson,  52. 
Bishop  Hall,  55. 
W.  Penn,  56. 
Lightfoot,  830, 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.       xxxi 

DIVINITY. 

LATE  ENGLISH  DIVINES,  60 — 66. 
Leslie,  61. 

Dr.  Clarke,  Bishop  Bull,  62. 
Bishop  Lowth,  63. 
Dr.  Doddridge,  64. 
Dr.  Watt's,  Dr.  Macknight,  65. 
OLD  SERMONS,  66—83. 
Latimer's,  66. 
Fox's,  73. 
Drant's,75. 
Edgeworth's,  81. 
MODERN  SERMONS,  84 — 90. 

Gisborne's,  86.     Bampton  Lect.  831 
Hall's,  Forster's,  Jay's,  87. 
SUMMARY  OF  FOREIGN  DIVINES,  89 — 95. 

Erasmus,  90. 
French,  91—95. 

Bossuet,  &1. 
Massillon,  92. 
Bourdaloue,  93. 
Saurin,  94. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY,  96 — 120. 
French,  97—99. 

Mabillon's,  Ste.  Marine's,  97- 
Longueval's  Le  Conte's,  Gesta  Dei  per 

Francos,  98. 
Fleury's,  99. 
Tillemont's,  101. 
Italian,  100—103. 

Baronius,  101,  102. 
Bzovius,  102. 
Acta  Sanctorum,  103. 
English,  103—120. 

Venerable  Bede's,  104. 
Fox's,  105,  832. 
Parker's,  107. 
Dugdale's,  109. 
Fuller's,  Collier's,  111. 


xxxii  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY. 

Bingham's,  Cave's,  112. 
H.  Wharton's,  113. 
Burnet's,  114. 
Dodd's,  115. 
Jortin's,  116, 
Strype's,  117- 
Mosheim's,  118. 
Wordsworth's,  119. 
Spelman's  and  Wilkiri's,  120. 
MANUALS  OF  DEVOTION,  120 — 128. 
Thomas  a  Kempis,  121. 
Monument  of  Matrons,  123. 
Collections  of  Prayers,  127. 
Bishop  Kenn's  Divine  Love,  128. 
HISTORY,  129 — 364. 
HISTORICAL  CATALOGUES,  129 — 131. 

Meuselius,  Le  Long,  129. 

ESSAYS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  HISTORY,  AND  UNIVERSAL 
HISTORIES,  130—131, 

Du   Fresnoy's,    Du   Pin's,    Bolingbroke's, 

Boone's,  130. 
Ancient    and   Modern   Universal   History, 

Calmet's,  131. 
Millet's,  Anquetil's,  132. 
Grecian,  131 — 135. 
Ancient  Writers,  131 — 135. 
Herodotus,  132. 
Thucydides,  133. 
Pausanias,  Xenophon,  134. 
Diodorus  Siculus,  135. 
Modern  Writers,  135,  136. 

Barthelemy's  Anacharsis,  135. 
Mitford,  Potter,  Gronovius,  136. 
Roman,  136—139. 
Ancient  Writers,  136 — 138. 

Dion  Cassius,  Dionysius  Halicarnassensis, 

Livy,  136. 

Appian,  Polybius,  Tacitus,  Caesar,  Sallust, 
Velleius  Paterculus,  Haurisius*  Collec- 
tion, Graevius,  137. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.  xxxiii 

H  ISTORY  . — ROMAN. 

Byzantine  and  Turkish  Histories,  138. 
Modern  Writers,  138,  139. 

Muratori's  Scriptores,  and  Italian  Collec- 
tions, 139. 
OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,  140— C288. 

Historians   contained    in   the  Recueil  des 
Historiens  des  Gaules,  140,  141. 

Saxon  Chronicle,  141. 

Asserius,  Walsingham,  142. 

Archbishop  Parker,  143. 

Geoffrey  of  Monmouth,  144. 

Gildas,  William  of  Newbury,  145. 

Sir  Henry  Savile's  Scriptores,  146. 

William  of  Malmesbury,  147. 

Henry  of  Huntingdon,  Ingulphus,  148. 

Camden's  Anglica,  &c.,  Duchesne's  Scrip- 
tores,  150. 

Maseres'  Selections  from  Duchesne,  151. 

Twysden's  Scriptores,  152. 

Gale's  Scriptores,  153. 

Annals  of  Waverley,  154. 

Spark  e's  Scriptores,  155. 

Bertram's  Scriptores,  156. 

Eadmer,  157. 

Matthew  of  Westminster,  Florence  of  Wor- 
cester, Matthew  Paris,  158. 

Froissart's  Chronicles,  160,  166,  832. 

Monstrelet's  ditto,  166. 

Bouchard,  Comines,  167. 

Caxton's  Chronicle,  169. 

Polychronicon,  172. 

Arnold's  Chronicle,  174. 

Fabian's  Chronicle,  175. 

Rastell's  Pastime  of  People,  178. 

Godet's  Chronicle,  179. 

Hardyng's  Chronicle,  180. 

Kelton's  Chronicle,  Languett's  Ditto,  Chro- 
nicle of  Kings,  181. 
d 


xxxiv  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

HISTORY — OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

Carion's  Chronicle,  Grafton's  Abridgement, 

Stowe's  Summarie,  Jaggard's  Chronicle, 

182. 

Hall's  Chronicle,  Grafton's  ditto,  184. 
Hollinshed's  Chronicle,  185. 
Stowe's  and  Howe's  Chronicles,  186, 187. 
Vicars's  Parliamentary  Chronicle,  188. 
Heath's  Chronicle,  189. 
Baker's  Chronicle,  190. 
Strutt's  Chronicle,  194. 
History  of  England,  195—237- 
Polydore  Vergil's,  195. 
Speed's,  196. 
Martyn's,  Slatyer's,  198. 
Daniel's,  199. 
Duchesne's,  Larry's,  20O. 
Milton's,  Whitelock's  Memorials,  201. 
Brady's,  202. 
Tyrrell' s,  2O3. 
Bishop  Kennet's,  205. 

(North's  Examen  of,  206. 
Echard's,  207. 

Sandford's  Genealogical  History,  208. 
Lord  Clarendon's,  209. 
Rapin's,  212,  832. 
Hearne's  Historical  Works,  214,  232. 

Vide  General  Index. 
Sammes's  Britannia,  232. 
Lewis's  History,  Carte's  ditto,  233. 
Ralph's,  Hume's,  234. 
Smollet's,  Dr.  Henry's,  235. 
J.  P.  Andrews,  Sharon  Turner's,  236. 
Lingard's,  Bertrand  de  Moleville's,  237. 
History  of  Ireland,  238,  260. 

Lives  of  St.  Patrick,  238. 

of  St.  Brandon  and  St.  Rumold,  239. 

Messingham's  Florilegium,  Colgaris  Triadis 

Thaumaturgae,  240. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.  xxxr 

HISTORY. — OF  IRELAND. 

Vallega's  Lives  of  Saints,  Giraldus  Cam- 

brensis,  Stanihurst's,  241. 
O'Sullivan's,  Paraineticorum,  &c.    Analecta 

Sacra,  &c.  242. 

Lombardus's,  Hanmer's,  Campion's,  Spen- 
ser's, Stafford's  Hib.  Pacata,  243. 
Carve's  Works,  244. 
Lynch's  Works,  245. 
Caron,  Walsh,  246. 
Sirinius,  Belin,  247- 
Camden,  Baxter,  Lord  Castlehaven,  Sir  John 

Davis,  248. 
Unkind  Deserter,  Cox,  Capell,  O'Flaherty, 

249. 

Keating,  Macmation,  Ware,  250. 
Musgrave,  De  Burgo,  O'Halloran,  Colonel 

De  Vallaneey»251,  833. 
Leland,  Plowden,  Gordon,  Wakefield,  Bar- 

nabe  Riche,  252. 

Ireland's  Jubilee,  Teares  of  Ireland,   253, 
833. 

Massacres  in  Savoy  and  Ireland,  254,  255. 
Dr.  O'Connor's  Scriptores,  258,  260. 
History  of  Scotland,  261—273. 

Chronicles  of  Holy-Rood  and  Mailros,  Bar- 

bour's  Bruce,  Fordun,  262. 
Andrew  of  Wyntown,   Hector  Boece,  263. 
Scotish  Black  Acts,  264. 
Buchanan,  Paten,  265,  834. 
Tracts  relating  to  Queen  Mary,  266. 
Lesley,  Monipennie,  268. 
Hume,    Melvil,    Spotiswood,    Middleton, 

Drumond,  269. 

Mackenzie's,  Dr.  Abercromby,  270. 
Anderson,  Lindesay,  Maitland's,  Robertson, 

Guthrie,  Dalrymple,  271. 
Pinkerton,  Laing,  M'Crie,  272. 
Dr.  Cook,  G.  Chalmers,  273. 


xxxvi  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY,  274 — 288. 
Wales,  274,  275. 

Lloyd,  Enderbie,  Warrington,  274. 

Robert,  Dr.  Meyrick,  Pennant,  275. 
Acts  of  Parliament,  275 — 277. 

Caxton's,  W.  de  Worde's,  Pynson's,  275. 

Rotuli  Parliamentoruin,  Parliamentary  De- 
bates and  Trials,  Taxatio  Ecclesiastica, 
Valor  Ecclesiasticus,  Rotuli  et  Acta  Par- 
liamentorum  Scotiae,  276. 

Domesday  Book,  Statutes  at  large,  2/7. 
Records  and  State  Papers,  277 — 284. 

Prynne's  Collection,  277 — 280. 

May's  History  of  the  Long  Parliament,  28O. 

Rushworth,  281. 

Rymer's  Fcedera,  282. 

Spelman,  Digges,  D'Ewes,  Nalson,  Bishop 
Burnet,  283. 

Somers's  Tracts,  284. 
Miscellaneous,  285,  288. 

Harleian  Miscellany,  285. 

Harrington's  Nugae,  Madox,  286. 

Winwood,  Forbes,  Thurloe's  Papers,  Straf- 
forde  ditto,  Burghley  ditto,  Clarendon 
ditto,  Sydney  ditto,  287. 

Hardwicke  ditto,  Carlton's  ditto,  Macpher- 

son's  ditto,  Lodge's  Illustrations,  288. 
HISTORY  OF  FRANCE,  289 — 299.    See  also  p.  834. 

Bouquet's  Recueil,  289. 

Duchesne's  Scriptores,  Collection  Univer- 
selle  des  Memoires,  De  Breguigny,  Du- 
pleix,  29O. 

Mezerai,  291. 

Daniel,  Lombard,  Henault,  293. 

Velly,Villaret,  Gamier,  David,  Montfaucon, 
294. 

Anquetil,  Desodoards,  Millot,  Collection 
Universelle  des  Memoires,  295. 

Castlenau,  De  Thou,  296. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.  xxxvii 

HISTORY — OF  FRANCE. 

Le  Long,  Davila,  297*. 
Sismondi  298. 

Meuselius,  Fontetae,  (Catalogues),  299. 
HISTORY  OF  SPAIN,  300 — 312.    See  also  p.  835. 

Antonio,  Casirio,  Rodericus  Sanctius,  301. 
Belus,  Schott,  302. 
Chronicles,  302 — 306. 

Guzman's,  De  Ayala's,  302. 

Rey  Pedro's,  Rey  Rodrigo's,  the  Cid's,  Juan 

II.'s,  Alonzo  and  Sancho's,   Alonzo    XI. 

303, 
Hernandez  de  Cordova's,   G.  de  Mendoza's, 

M.  Silva,  D.  de  Valera's,  304, 
Chronica  de  los  Reyes  Hernando  y  Ysabel, 

Carbonell's,  Beuter's,  Marineo,  305. 
F.  de  O  Campo's,  M.  de  Cordova's,  Vasaeus, 

Garibay's,  J.  de  Bleda's,  306. 
D.  H.  De  Mendoza,  307. 
Mariana,  308. 
J.  de  Ferreras,  309. 
Masdeu,  Murphy,  31O. 
Bourke,  Townsend,  Southey,  311. 
Captain  Batty,  E.  H.  Locker,  312. 
HISTORY  OF  PORTUGAL,  313 — 317.     See  also  p.  836. 
Southey,  Machado,  313. 
De  Brito,  A.  andF.  Brandao,  314,  315. 
R.  de  Jesus,  E  dos  Santos,  315. 
De  la  Clede,  A.  C.  de  Souza,  316. 
J.  C.  de  Serra,  317. 
HISTORY  OF  ITALY,  318—327. 

Muratori's  Scriptores,  319. 

Machiavelli,  322. 

Guicciardini,  323. 

Fenton's  Translation  of  ditto,    Shepherd's 

Poggio,  Histories  of  Florence,  324. 
Bossi,  Sismondi,  Ginguene,  Denina,  Deso- 

doards,  325. 
Eustace,  Forsyth,  Hakewill,  Capt.  Batty, 


xxxviil  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

Houel,  Laborde,  326. 
HISTORY  OF  GERMANY,  328 — 337. 

Dr.  Robertson,  Views  on  the  Rhine,  329. 
Schardius,  Meibomius,  Freyherus,  Struvius, 
Pistorius,     Schoettgenius,     Menckenius, 
Reuberus,  331. 

Barre,  de   Laveaux,   Schmidt,    Haeberlin, 
Senkenberg,   FreVon,    Fez,   Bell.    Pray, 
332. 
Calles,  Kraft,  Archdeacon  Coxe,  Kollarius, 

333. 

Gerbert,  334. 
Bavarian    Monuments,    Offelius,    Raderus, 

Aldzreiter,  Brunner,  Wagelinus,  335. 
Serrarius,  Leibnitz'  Scriptores,  Gibbon,  336. 
Additions  and  Revisions,  337. 

NORTHERN  HISTORIES,  338 — 364.    See  also  p.  836. 
Iceland,  338. 

Mackenzie,  338. 
Greenland,  338. 

Gambold's  Translation  of  Crantz,  338. 
Arctic  Regions,  339 — 341. 
Franklin,  Parry,  340. 
Scoresby,  Barrow,  Ross,  341. 
General  History,  341,  344. 

Olaus  Magnus,  Snorro,  342. 
Krantzius,Gaguinus,  Prsetorius,  Bullett,343. 
Modern  Universal  History,  Stritterus,  Schil- 

ter,  Massenius,  344. 
Denmark,  344—348. 

Saxo  Grammaticus,  344. 
Olaus  Wormius,  Torfseus,  345. 
Bartholin,  346. 

Randulfus,Resenius,Mallet,Langebeck,347. 
Dr.  Thorkelin,  348. 
Norway,  348—350. 

Capell  Brooke,  VonBuch,   Snorro  Sturle- 

son,  349. 
C.  Calleville,  Pontoppidan,  350. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.  xxxix 

NORTHERN  HISTORIES. 

Sweden,  35O— 356. 

Regnorum  Suecia,  Suecia  Antiqua,  Messe- 

nius,  Loccenius,  Eric  Olaus,  351. 
Erlandus,  Scheffer,  Verelius,  Saga,  352. 
Peringskiold,    Lives    of   Queen  Christine, 

Ditto  of  Gustavus,  Puffendorff,  353. 
Vertot,  Voltaire,  Nordberg,  354. 
Rudbeck,  355. 
Russia,  357—364. 

Baron  Herberstein,   Muscovitarum  Rerum 

Scriptores,  Lasitzki,  Ulfeldius,  357. 
D'Anville,Castelnau,  Le  Clerc,  Korbius,  358. 
Lord  Whitworth,   General  Manstein,  Bell, 

Archdeacon  Coxe,  Dr.  Clarke,  Raymond, 

Vsevolojskys,  359. 
Voltaire,    Sunnanois,  De   Halem,    Castera, 

Masson,  Tooke,  362. 
Pallas,  David,  Breton,  Hempel,  Houbigant, 

363,  364. 

VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS,  365 — 478. 
CATALOGUES,  368,  369. 
Murray,  368. 

Bekman,  B.  de  la  Richarderie,  369. 
COLLECTIONS,  389,  390. 

Portuguese  Voyages,    Columbus,  Americus 

Vesputius,  369. 
Ramusio,  370. 
De  Bry's,  371,  375,  836. 
Hakluyt's,  377- 
Coryate,  380. 
Purchas',  381. 
Linschoten's,  383. 
Smith's,  384. 
Thevenot's,  386. 
Gottfried's  (Adelinus'),  387. 
Churchill's,  Harris's,  Harleian,  Astley's,388. 
Bibliotheque  Port,  des  Voyages,  Pinkerton's, 

Sir  R,  K.  Porter's,  Kerr's,  389,  39O. 


xl  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS,  391,  40O. 

Drake's,  391. 

Dampier's  392. 

Anson's,  393. 

Byron's,  Cook's,  395,  397- 

Vancouver's,  396. 

O.  de  Cevallos',  Pigafetta's,  Carreri's,  398. 

Perouse's,  Labillardiere,    D'Entrecasteaux, 
Marchand,  399. 

Krusenstern,  Burney,  40O. 
ASIA,  401—436. 

Minor  Greek  Geographers,  401. 

Tudela,  402. 

Marco  Polo,  403. 

Sir  John  Mandeville,  404. 

Mendez  Pinto,  405. 

Pyrard,  406. 

Barros,  407. 

De  Sousa,  Castanheda,  Guzman,  Hawkins, 
Roe,  4O8. 

Bernier,  Tavernier,  Thevenot,  Chardin,  409, 
Hindoostan,  41O — 414. 

Raynal,  410. 

Acten  der  Daenischen  Mission,  Dapper,  R. 
de  Hooge,  Tiefenthaler,  411. 

Valentyn,  Asiatic  Researches,  412. 

Sir  W.   Jones,   Dr.  Buchanan,  Malcolm, 

413. 
Thibet,  414—415. 

Turner,  Davies,  and  Saunders. 
Nepaul,4l5,  416. 

Colonel  Kirkpatrick,  415. 
Caubul,  416. 

Elphinstone,  416. 
Persia,  416 — 419. 

Viaggi  fatti  da  Vinetia,  Sherley,  416. 

Herbert,  Chardin,  Jonas  Hanway,  417. 

Morier,  Malcolm,  Ouseley,  Porter,  418. 

D'Anville,  Major  Rennell,  419. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.  xli 

CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS— ASIA. 

Holy  Land  and  Turkey,  420—424. 

Breydenbach,    N.   Huen,    Chateaubriand, 
Mariti,  420. 

Sandys,  Pococke,  421. 

Wood,  Chandler,  Kinneir,  Burckhardt,  De 
la  Mottraye,  D'Arevieux,  Russell,  422. 

Volney,  Maundrell,  Lebrun,  423. 

Tournefort,  D'Ohsson,  424. 
Arabia,  424. 

Niebuhr,  424. 
East  Indies,  China,  Japan,  425^-429. 

Major  Symes,  425. 

Barrow,  Staunton,  Lord  Amherst,  Captain 
Hall,  Du  Halde,  426. 

Mailla,De  Guignes,  Sonnerat,  Kaempfer,427. 

Charlevoix,  Nieuhoff,  Van  Braam,  428. 

Dalrymple,  Lithgow,   L.   de   Goux,   Sto- 
kove,  429. 

Jesuits  Voyages,  430. 
Borneo,  New  Guinea,  New  Holland,  fyc.  430. 

Knox,  Dr.  Davy,  Capt.  Flinders,  431. 
European  Route  to  England,  431 — 436. 

Nicolay,  431, 

Knolles,  432. 

F.  Moryson,  Lord  Mountjoy,  433 — 435. 

Messrs.Kingsbury's  Oriental  Catalogue,  435. 
AFRICA,  437—454. 

Gibbon,  Edrisi,  Abulfeda,  Abdollatiph,  438. 

Leo  Africanus,  Marmol,  Cadamosto,  439. 

Gosselin,  440. 
Egypt,  441—444. 

Pococke,  Norden,  441. 

Savary,  Denon,  442. 

Description  d'Egypte,  Sonnini,   Hamilton, 

Legh,  Belzoni,  443. 
Ethiopia  (Nubia,  Abissinia),  444 — 446. 

Ludolfus,  444. 

Tellez  and  Almeida,   Burckhardt,   Father 


xlii  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS — AFRICA. 

Lobo,  Bruce,  445. 
Salt,  447. 
Barbary  States,  446—449. 

Waddington  and  Hanbury,  Torrez,  Hoeda, 

447. 
Mendezes,  Dr.  Shaw,  De  la  Chenier,  Porret, 

Jackson,  All  Bey,  Capt,  Lyon,  448. 
M.  Park,  Browne,  449. 
Horneman,  J.  Riley,  Adams,  the  African 

Association,  45O. 
Southern  Africa,  450—454, 

Odoardo  Lopez,  Capt.  Tuckey,  450» 
Cavazzi,  Labat,  Lindsay,  Matthews,  Win- 

terbottom,  Beaver,  Meredith,  451 
Bowdich,    Vaillant,    Sparrmann,    Fercival, 

Lichtenstein,  Barrow,  452. 
Burchell,  453,  454. 
AMERICA,  455—478. 

Kennett's  American  Library,  455. 
American  Atlas,  456. 

Ancient  Travellers,  8;c.  457—459.     See  p.  837. 
Algerius,  G.  H.  Oviedo,  L.  de  Gomara,  457. 
Las  Casas,  458. 

J.  G.  de  Sepulveda,  A.  de  Herrera,  459. 
General  Historians,  460—464. 

Torquemada,  Ogilby,  Coreal,  Lafiteau,  460. 
Charlevoix,  Wilson,  Ulloa,  Dr.  Robertson, 

461. 

Account  of  the  Amazon  River,  Nodal,  462. 
FernandoCortez,Barcias'sHistoriadores,463. 
Frampton,  Tracts  on  Virginia,  464. 
North  America,  462—467- 
Kalm,  464. 

Rogers,  Wynne,  Adair,  465. 
Capt.  Carver,  G.  Chalmers,  Rochefoucault- 

Liancourt,  466. 

Bryan  Edwards,  Sir  Hans  Sloane,Long>  467. 
South  America,  468 — 478. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AU  THORS.  xliii 

VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS — AMERICA. 
Ulloa,  468. 

Hans  Staden,  ,f.  de  Lery,  Barlaeus,  469. 
Rocha  Pitta,  Lindley,  47O. 
Southey,  471. 

Mawe,  Humboldt,  472—475. 
Peruvian  Chronicles,  475,  476. 

F.  de  Kerez,  P.  C.  de  Leon's,  475. 
Antwerp,  Historic,  Zaratez,  Fernandez',  G. 

de  la  Vega's,  476. 
Losano,  Tears  of  the  Indians,  477. 
World  in  Miniature,  478. 
BIOGRAPHY,  479 — 563. 

MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES,  479 — 557- 
Biographical  Dictionaries,  482 — 488. 

Hoffman's,   Moreri's  Dictionnaire  de  Tre- 

voux,  483. 
Bayle's,  484. 

Chaufepie's,  P.  Marchand's,  485. 
Brucker's,  Ladvocat's,  Chaudon's,  and  De- 

landine's,  486. 
Biographic  Universelle,  Jocher's,  Adelung's, 

and  Rotermund's  General,  Historical,  and 

Critical  Dictionary,  487. 
British  Biography,  Biographia  Britannica, 

Chalmers's  General  Biography,  488. 
Greek  and  Roman  Biographers,  489 — 491. 
Plutarch,  489. 

D.  Laertius,  C.  Nepos,  Suetonius,  491. 
General  Collections  of  Lives,  492 — 505. 
Theod.  Beza,  Boissard,  492. 
Vasari,  493. 
Holland,  494. 
Fugger  Fuggerorum,  495. 
Thevet,  496. 
Bullart,  Perault,  497. 
Foppens,  Dr.  Birch,  Freher,  498. 
T.  Hoffmann,  500. 
The  Holbein  Portraits,  501,  502. 


xliv  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

BIOGRAPHY. 

Lodge's  Illustrious  Personages,  502,  503. 
Bodies  of  National  Biography,  505 — 509. 

Leland,  Bale,  505. 

Pits,  Fuller,  Nicolson,  506. 

Dr.  Mackenzie,  Anthony  a  Wood,  507. 

Tanner,  Berkenhout,  Granger,  508. 
Separate  Memoirs  or  Classes,  509—538. 

Grove's  Wolsey,  Johnson's  Poets,  Macdi- 
armid's  Statesmen,  509,  837. 

Roper's  Sir  T.  More,  513. 

Bacon's  Henry  VII.,  Herbert's  Henry  VIII. 
I.  Walton's  Lives,  515. 

Strype's  Lives,  Knight's  Colet  and  Erasmus, 
517. 

Jortin's  Erasmus,  Lewis's  Lives,  518. 

Fiddes's  Cardinal  Wolsey,  519. 

Middleton's  Cicero,  North's  Lives,  520. 

Collins's  Collection,  Harris's  Regal  Biogra- 
phies, 521. 

Lowth's  Wykeham,  522. 

Warton's  Sir  T.  Pope,  Robertson's  Charles 
V.,  523. 

Boswell  s  Johnson,  524. 

Roscoe's  Lives,  525—528. 

Shepherd's  Poggio,  Greswell's  Lives,  Be- 
rington's  Literary  History,  Gibbon's  Auto- 
biography, 529. 

Archdeacon  Coxe's  Lives,  531. 

Hayley's  Cowper,  532. 

Chandler's  Waynflete,  534. 

Churton's  Dean  Nowell,  535. 

Do.    Founders  of  Brazen  Nose,  536. 

Zouche's  Sir  Philip  Sydney,  Black's  Tasso, 
Southey's  Nelson,  536. 

Southey's  Wesley,  537. 
Memoirs  and  Anecdotes  of  Distinguished  Persons  and 

their  Times,  538-557. 
French,  538-548. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.  xlv 

Brantome's,  538. 
MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES. 
Sully' s,  540, 
Cardinals  Richelieu,  Retz,  and  Mazarine, 

541. 
Mesdames  Motteville,  Montpensier,  de  Ma- 

zarin,  de  Maintenon,  542. 
Duchesne  de  Longueville,  Mad.  de  Caylus, 
Queen  Margaret,  Louis  XIII.  XIV.  XV. 
Due  d'Orleans,  Henry  IV.  543. 
Bassompierre,  D'Estrades,  Conde,  Lomenie, 

Villeroy,  Berwick,  Rochefoucault,  544. 
Memoires  Particuliers,  Grammont's,  545. 
Niceron,  Memoires  Historiques,  547* 
Madame  D'Espignay,  548. 
English,  549—557. 

Colonel  Hutchinson,  Evelyn,  549. 
Ballard,  Memoirs  of  Learned  Ladies,  552. 
Watson's  Earls  of  Warren  and  Surrey,  553, 

554. 

Anderson's  House  of  Yvery,  555. 
Hollis  and  Disney,  Nichols's  Bowyer,  555. 
Additions,  557,  562. 

Perefixe's  Henri  IV.,  Margaret  de   Valois, 

557' 

Cibber's  Apology,  Wren's  Parentalia,  558. 
Life  of  Lord  Herbert  of  Cherbury,  559. 
Life  of  Cellini,  Mason's  Life  of  Gray,  Life 

of  Gilbert  Wakefield,  560. 
Spence's  Anecdotes,  562. 
PHILOLOGY  AND  BELLES  LETTRES,  563,  612. 
GRAMMARIANS,  563,  571. 
English,  ibid. 

Stanb ridge,  I.  de  Garlandia,Whittinton,  564. 

Lillye,  565. 

Eleven  Grammars,  Linacre,  566. 

Bishop  Tonstall,  567. 

Horman,  Palsgrave,  568. 

Minor  Grammatical  Works,  569. 


xlvi  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

PHILOLOGY  AND  BELLES  LETTRES. 

Ortus  Vocabulornm,  Promptorius  Puerorum, 

Book  for  Travellers,  570. 
GRECIAN  PHILOLOGISTS,  571 — 577. 

Plato,  572. 

Aristotle,  573. 

Xenophon,  574. 

Plutarch,  575. 

^Esop,  576. 

Athenajus,  577. 

Lucian,  837. 
ROMAN  PHILOLOGISTS,  578 — 58O. 

Cicero,  578. 

Seneca,  Boetius,  580. 

Apuleius,  Aulus  Gellius,  Pliny,  581. 

Petronius  Arbiter,  Quintilian,  582. 

Plautus  and  Terence,  838. 
ENGLISH  PHILOLOGISTS,  581. 
Bartholomaeus,  583. 
Reynard  the  Fox,  584. 
Alain  Chartier,  Cato,  SirT.  Elyot,  585. 
Roger  Ascham,  Sir  A.  Fitzherbert,  587. 
Sir  T.  Wilson,  588. 

William  Thomas,  Abraham  Fraunce,  589. 
Robert  Greene,  591. 
Thomas  Nash,  593. 
Gabriel  Harvey,  Thomas  Dekker,  594. 
George  Whetstone,  595. 
Stubbes,  Braithwait,  Peacham,  596. 
Merriments,  598. 
Markham,  Burton,  599. 
Cornwallyes,  Howell,  601. 
Sir  William  Temple,  602. 
Dryden,  Addison,  6O3. 

Swift,  605.     Steele,  British  Essayists,  606. 
De  Foe,  607. 
Dr.  Johnson,  60S. 
Bacon,  Boyle,  Locke,  610. 
Newton,  Milton,  611. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.  xlvii 

POETRY,  613—773. 

GREEK  POETS,  614—624. 

Homer,  614—619. 

Hesiod,  618. 

Theocritus,  62O. 

Pindar,  621. 

Anacreon,  622. 

Callimachus,  623. 

Apollonius  Rhodius,  Bion,  Moschus,  626. 

^Eschylus,  Sophocles,  Euripides,  839. 
LATIN  POETS,  625 — 643. 

Classification,  625. 
First  Class,  626—635. 

Virgil,  626—628. 

Lucretius,  Ovid,  629. 

Juvenal  and  Persius,  631. 

Martial,  633. 

Horace,  634—635. 
Second  Class,  636—643. 

Lucan,  636. 

Statius,  637. 

Silius  Italicus,  639. 

Claudian,  640. 

Catullus,  Tibullus,  Propertius,  641. 

Tibullus,  642. 

Valerius  Flaccus,  Manilius,  643. 
ENGLISH  POETS,  644 — 749. 
Ancient,  644—726. 

Old  English  Poetry  and  prices  at  Mr.  Bind- 
ley's  sale,644— 648.  At  SirMark  Sykes's, 
841. 

Castell  of  Labour,  Prophecye  of  Merlin, 
kynge  Apollyn  of  Thyre,  Mirrour  of  the 
Churche,  Lover  and  Jaye,  649. 

Spectacle  of  Louers,  Complaynte  of  a 
Lover's  Life,  Chaunce  of  the  Dolourous 
Lover,  Conusaunce  d' Amours,  65O. 

Four  Leaves  of  True  love,  Hearte  throughe 


xlviii  SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

ENGLISH  POETS. 

perced,  Ould  facioned  Love,  Too  soon 
Maryed,Too  late  Maryed,  Evyll  Maryage, 
651. 

Fyftene  Joyes  of  Maryage,  Skelton,  652. 

Lydgate,  Castle  of  Pleasure,  Temple  of  Bras, 


Treatyse  of  a  Galaunt,  655. 

W.  Walter,  Robyn  Hode,  656. 

Friar  and  Boye,  Cryste  Cros  me  Spede,  657. 

Life  of  S.  Werburge,  J.  Splynter,  658. 

Christmas  Carols,  659,  661. 

Toye's  Ballads,  662. 

Governayle  of  Helthe,  663. 

Poetry  printed  by  W.  de  Worde,  665. 

Chaucer,  668,  677. 

Poetry  printed  by  Caxton,  669. 

Lydgate,  677- 

Skelton,  678,  681  . 

S.  Hawes,  679,  681. 

Earl  of  Surrey  and  Sir  T.  Wyatt,  682,  683. 

Mirrour  of  Magistrates,  685. 

Churchyard,  686. 

Tubervile,  Googe,  688. 

Paradise  of  Dainty  Devices,  69O. 

Breton,  Kendall,   Robinson,   The   Phoenix 

Nest,  691. 
England's   Parnassus,   England's   Helicon, 

Belvidere,  692. 
Spenser,  693—695. 
Shakspeare's  Sonnets,  695. 
Gascoigne,  696. 
Fulwell,  697. 
Bishop  Hall,  Breton,  698. 
Dr.  Lodge,  Mario  w,  699. 
Munday,  700. 

Chester,  Chute,  Herbert,  701  . 
Herrick,  702. 
Rowlands,  703. 


OF  SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS. 

ENGLISH  POETS. 

Southwell,  Du  Bartas,  704. 

Milton,  697,  710. 

Davies,  71O. 

Wither,  Lovelace,  711. 

Crashaw,  Jordan,  712. 

Carew,  713. 

Daniel,  Drayton,  715. 

Randolph,  Cartwright,  717- 

Drummond,  Taylor,  719. 

Delia,  Dolarney,  Chute,  Hannay,  Davison, 
Heath,  Massacre  of  Money,  Scourge  of 
Venus,  Bold,  720. 

Cowley,  715,  721. 

Denham,  721,  722. 

Donne,  Butler,  722,  724. 

Waller,  723,  724. 

Fugitive  Poetry,  725. 

Dryden,  726. 
Modern  Authors,  727—736. 

Prior,  727. 

Pope,  728— 731. 

Gray,  Thomson,  732. 

Collins,  Churchill,  733. 

Young,  734. 

Akenside,  Beattie,  Goldsmith,  Covvper,  735. 
Living  Authors,  737 — 747- 

Southey,  737- 

Wordsworth,  Rogers,  738. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  739. 

Moore,  741. 

Crabbe,  Milman,  742. 

Lord  Byron,  743—746. 

Sotheby,  Bowles,  Montgomery,  747- 
Collections  of  Poets,  747—749. 

Dr.  Aikin's,  A.  Chalmers', 747- 

Davenport's,  Cook's,  Bell's,  Barbauld's  No- 
velists, 749. 
ITALIAN  POETS,  750—763. 


SYNOPTICAL  TABLE 

ITALIAN  POETS. 

Foscolo's  expected  edition  of,  750. 
Dante,  751—754. 
Petrarch,  755. 
Ariosto,  756. 
Tasso,  760. 

Translations  of  ditto,  761—763. 
FRENCH  POETS,  764—773. 

Analyses  and  Collections,  764,  765. 

Brunet's,   Goujet's,  La  Croix  du  Maine's* 

764. 

Raynouard's,  Barbazan's,  D'Aussy's,  765. 
De  Meun,  Marot,  Malherbe,  765. 
La  Fontaine,  766. 
Corneille,  Racine,  767- 
Moliere,  767,  768. 
Boileau,  768,  769. 
Voltaire,  770. 

I.  B.  Rousseau,  Gresset,  Delille,  773. 
THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA,  774 — 824. 
MYSTERIES,  775—779. 

Mr.  Lang's  French  Mysteries,  775. 
Mr.  Markland's  Chester,  ditto,  778. 
Mr.  Sharp's  Coventry  ditto,  778,  779. 
COLLECTIONS,  &c.  OF  OLD  PLAYS,  780 — 782. 
Hawkins',  Dodsley's,  Baldwin's,  780. 
Roxburghe  Reprints,  781. 
Miller's  Collection,  781. 
Baker's  Biographia  Dramatica,  782. 
ANCIENT  DRAMATISTS,  782—823. 
Bale,  782. 

Sackville,  Still,  Gascoigne,  Peele,  783. 
Old  Plays  in  the  Malone  library,  784—790. 
Lyly,  788. 
Marlow,  789. 
Shakspeare,  791,  818. 
Ben  Jonson,  819, 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Ford,  820,821 
Massinger,  Shirley,  821,  822. 


OF    SUBJECTS  AND  AUTHORS.       U 

ANCIENT  DRAMATISTS. 

Otway,  822,  823. 
MODERN  DRAMATISTS,  823. 
Sheridan,  823. 
Inchbald's  Theatre.,  824. 
SUPPLEMENT,  827. 


Preparing  for  Publication,  A  new  Edition  of  an 
INTRODUCTION 

TO  THE  KNOWLEDGE  OF 
RARE  AND  VALUABLE  EDITIONS 

OF  THE 

GREEK  AND  LATIN  CLASSICS, 

BY  THE 

REV.  THOMAS  FROGNALL  DIBDIN, 
F.R.S.   F.A.S. 

The  Fourth  Edition. 

The  new  Matter  acquired  by  the  accession  of  Materials  during 
the  period  of  Sixteen  Years,  since  the  Work  was  last  printed,  will 
extend  it  to  Two  large  octavo  volumes. 


*#*  A  few  Copies  will  be  struck  off  upon  LARGE  PAPER  to  arrange  with 
the  other  Works  of  the  Author  j  and,  in  consequence  of  the  claims  for 
Large  Paper  Copies  of  the  LIBRARY  COMPANION  having  greatly  exceeded 
the  number  printed,  to  the  consequent  disappointment  of  such  as  have 
neglected  to  make  early  application,  the  Publishers  earnestly  request  those 
Persons  who  wish  to  possess  Large  Paper  Copies  of  the  INTRODUCTION  TO 
THE  CLASSICS,  to  signify  the  same  to  them  in  writing,  and  to  take  an 
Acknowledgment  of  the  receipt  of  the  Order,  without  which  they  will  not 
hold  themselves  engaged  to  supply  any  claims  that  may  be  made  at  the  time 
ef  Publication. 

Finsbury -square, 
August  7, 1824. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IT  is  upwards  of  four  years,  since,  on  quitting  the  ancient  city 
of  Ratisbon,  (in  the  way  to  Nuremberg)  I  paused  upon  the 
summit  of  a  high  hill,  about  a  short  English  mile  from  thence, 
which  commands  a  beautiful  view  of  the  course  of  the  Danube. 
As  the  traveller  quits  this  hill,  in  the  same  route,,  he  takes  a  final 
leave  of  the  same  river:  but  if  he  have  any  sensibilities  which 
are  likely  to  be  awakened  by  a  view  of  Nature,  in  one  of  her  most 
interesting  forms,  he  will  not  fail  to  cast  a  fond  and  frequent  look 
upon  the  view  in  question  :  which  is  at  once  fertile,  varied,  and 
picturesque. 

I  spent  a  short  twenty  minutes  upon  the  summit  of  this  hill ; 
and  requested  the  postillion  to  make  me  acquainted  with  the 
names  of  the  different  little  villages  and  chateaus  with  which  the 
banks  of  the  Danube  are,  in  this  neighbourhood,  so  plentifully 
studded  :  while,  to  the  right,  the  massive  fragments  of  antiquity, 
together  with  the  turrets  and  towers,  of  RATISBON,  rose  with  a 
grand  and  contrasting  effect.  I  seemed  to  rejoice  in  the  prospect 
before  me ;  and  wished  for  a  farm  upon  this  sweep  of  meadow, 
or  a  villa  upon  that  undulating  summit.  The  grapes  were  now 
ripening  apace ;  and  the  joys  of  the  coming  vintage  seemed  to 
give  to  every  object  a  ruddier  hue,  and  to  animate  every  Rustic 
with  a  livelier  flow  of  spirits.  I  was  revelling  in  the  picture  of 
abundance  which  my  fancy  readily  drew,  when  the  explanation 
of  the  postillion,  conveyed  through  the  servant  who  attended 
me,  cast  a  melancholy  tone  of  colouring  over  this  scene  of  pros- 

B 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

pective  happiness.  "  The  River,  Sir,"  (observed  the  interpreter) 
"  frequently  overflows  its  banks,  and  destroys  the  labours  of  the 
husbandman :  the  houses  are  sometimes  swept  away  in  the  course 
of  the  inundation  :  the  cattle  perish  ;  and  the  vine  is  rooted  up  by 
the  rushing  waters.  Yonder  scene,  now  so  pleasing  from  the 
certain  prospect  of  an  abundant  harvest,  is  frequently  visited  by 
desolation  and  affliction  —  while  the  walls  and  ramparts  of  the 
CITY  protect  the  inhabitants  from  the  wide  waste  of  deluge  by 
which  the  country  is  overwhelmed.1" 

This  brief  but  impressive  dialogue  had  nearly  escaped  my 
recollection  . .  till,  of  Jate,  and  especially  at  the  PRESENT  MOMENT, 
it  presented  itself  to  me  in  a  variety  of  ways.  In  sitting  down  to 
the  composition  of  this  Work,  in  which  my  principal  object  is  to 
be  of  USE  to  my  countrymen — if  not  to  the  readers  of  other 
countries,  I  could  not  but  reflect  how  forcibly  the  picture  of 
nature,  as  seen  at  Ratisbon,  was  emblematical  of  that  of  HUMAN 
EXISTENCE.  For,  first,  we  may  consider  the  principles,  passions, 
and  prejudices  of  mankind  as  represented  by  the  course  of  the 
Danube.  When  kept  within  bounds,  that  river  brings  fertility 
and  abundance ;  when  it  overflows  its  banks,  ruin  and  desolation 
too  frequently  ensue.  The  inference  is  obvious.  Secondly,  as 
the  strong  walls  and  ramparts  of  Ratisbon  protect  its  inhabitants 
from  the  ill  effects  of  the  flooding  of  the  river,  so  the  sound 
instruction  and  good  advice,  instilled  into  the  minds  of  young 
people — and  not  lost  sight  of  by  such  as  are  "  of  riper  years" — 
generally  protect  them  from  that  most  dreadful  of  all  human 
visitations,  the  inundation  of  vicious  thoughts  and  immoral 
habits.  As  are  the  walls  of  Ratisbon  against  the  evil  effects  of 
the  overflowing  Danube,  so  are  GOOD  BOOKS  against  the  influence 
of  pernicious  writings. 


THE 


Htbrarp  Companion, 


DIVINITY. 

THE  source  of  all  moral  excellence  must  be  sought 
for  in  the  truths  and  consolations  of  RELIGION. 
Hence  I  devote  the  first  chapter  of  this  Sifitarp  Com- 
panion to  a  brief  account  of  such  works,  as,  among 
others,  may  be  of  service  to  the  Young,  and  of  comfort 
to  the  Old,  in  their  choice  of  publications  relating 
to  the  INSPIRED  WRITINGS. 

A  word  or  two,  however,  by  way  of  preliminary 
observation.  I  must  suppose  my  "  Young  Collector" 
to  have  received  a  classical,  or  competent  education  ; 
whether  followed  up  by  "  University  Instruction,"  is 
a  matter  upon  which  I  cannot  venture  to  speak  deci- 
dedly—  although,  questionless,  if  it  be  so,  the  better 
for  himself.  Yet  it  may  be  observed  that  several 
of  our  famous  Collectors  have  never  heard  the  echo  of 
their  footsteps  within  the  cloisters  of  a  college.  Pre- 
ferable to  either  a  classical  education,  or  the  instrucr 


4  DIVINITY 

tions  of  a  University,  is  the  possession  of  a  sound 
conscience  and  right  judgment  in  all  things ;  and 
though  this  latter  observation  may  be  considered  as 
begging  the  question,  yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  we 
frequently  witness  their  good  effects,  without  stop- 
ping to  enquire  how  they  were  attained,  and  without 
disbelieving  that  they  may  be  easy  of  attainment.  It  is 
fitting,  however,  that  I  should  caution  such  Collector, 
in  the  very  outset  of  his  book-career,  not  to  be  led 
away  by  any  of  those  meteor-like  manias  which  some- 
times possess  very  intelligent  men,  and  bring  disgrace 
upon  the  good  old  cause  of  BIBLIOPHILISM.  Especially 
let  him  beware  of  confining  himself  exclusively,  or 
imperatively — of  sacrificing  all  his  time  and  attention 
— his  rest,  and  as  it  were,  comfort  of  mind  —  to  one 
distinguishing,  or  capricious,  branch  of  collection  more 
than  another :  because  the  most  prudent  of  men  can 
scarcely  refrain  from  committing  many  errors  in  the 
indulgence  of  such  a  passion.  All  violent  impulses,  of 
whatever  kind,  are  necessarily  short-lived.  Let  both 
the  student  and  collector  regulate  his  passions  as 
soberly  as  possible ;  but  such  regulation  by  no  means 
implies  coldness  or  indifference.  Let  zeal  never 
slacken  — but  let  judgment  always  step  in  to  modify 
it :  and  when  a  very  choice,  or  curious,  or  supposed 
unique,  article  presents  itself,  let  the  courage  only  be 
screwed  to  its  sticking  place,  so  as  not  to  fear  even 
the  competitorship  of  *****  in  the  acquisi- 
tion of  it !  I  am  the  more  anxious  respecting  this 
branch  of  the  subject,  because,  as  on  the  one  hand  I 
do  not  like  to  see  a  generous  young  character  on  a 
sudden  frozen  into  parsimony,  bordering  upon  avarice ; 
so,  on  the  other,  I  am  exceedingly  desirous  that  all 
book-pursuits  should  have  a  consistent  and  satisfac- 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS.  5 

tory  result  :  that  there  should  be  no  shifting  and 
changing,  and  "  bringing  to  market  "  those  fruits 
which  are  only,  as  it  were,  of  yesterday's  gathering. 

There  is  nothing  that  brings  down  heavier  and 
juster  censure  upon  a  Young  Collector,  than  this  early 
and  precipitate  separation  from  such  companions  of 
his  private  hours  ;  who  appear  to  have  been  invited 
into  his  study  to-day,  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  be 
turned  out  of  doors  to-morrow.  Consider  well  —  and 
weigh  the  probable  advantages  and  disadvantages  of 
your  choice,  maturely—  before  you  purchase;  but, 
having  purchased,  as  the  result  of  such  conviction,  be 
kind  and  courteous  towards  those  whom  you  have 
thus  admitted  to  be  your  Cabinet  Counsellors  :  for, 
(as  old  Richard  de  Bury  says)  "  they  will  instruct 
you  without  harshness,  and  correct  you  without 
stripes."*  I  have  known  many  instances  of  extreme 
folly  on  this  score  ;  and  have  seen  shelves  covered,  this 
season,  with  CHRONICLES,  —  which,  during  the  next, 
have  been  filled  by  DEKKERS,  GREENES,  and  HAR- 
and,  still  more  ruthless  act!  have  found  old 


*  Concerning  this  favourite  author,  consult  the  Bibliomania  and 
Bibliographical  Decameron.  A  pleasing  and  instructive  picture  of 
LIBRARY  COMFORTS  is  drawn  in  Mr.  D'  Israeli's  Literary  (Character, 
vol.  ii.  ch.  xxi.  If  I  could  envy  any  man,  or  men,  their  past  lives, 
it  were  GROLIER,  PEIRESC,  and  DE  THOU. 

f  To  which  add,  the  works  of  TOM  NASH.  These  were  celebrated 
writers  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  ;  and  wrote  pieces  of  drollery,  satire, 
and  lampoon.  Harvey  was  the  bitter  opponent  of  Nash.  At  the 
sales  of  Pearson,  Steevens,  Reed  and  Bindley,  some  of  these  pieces 
brought  inordinate  prices  j  but  at  that  of  the  late  Mr.  Perry,  these 
prices  were  considerably  diminished.  Respecting  the  authors,  con- 
sult Berkenhout's  Biographica  Literaria,  Beloes  Anecdotes  of  Lite- 
rature, D'  Israelis  Calamities  of  Authors;  and,  for  the  editions  of  some 
of  their  works,  the  British  Bibliographer,  and  Watt's  Biograpkia 
Britannica.  Several  very  uncommon  pieces  of  Dekker  will  be  found 


6  DIVINITY. 

Roger  Ascham's  prophecy  abundantly  fulfilled — by 
the  dispersion  of  BIBLES  for  the  admission  of  RO- 
MANCES.* These  are  mischievous  results,  and  should 
be  avoided. 

Without  further  preface,  therefore,  I  proceed  to  the 
recommendation  of  those  books  in  which  the  WORD  of 
GOD,  or  the  Sacred  Text,  is  contained  with  every  pos- 
sible advantage  bestowed  upon  it  from  the  piety, 
learning,  and  research  of  man.  Of  course,  I  speak  of 
Editions  of  the  BIBLE.  And  first  of 


POLYGLOT  BIBLES. 

These  have  been  always  considered  as  the  founda- 
tion stones  of  a  theological  collection  ;  but  the  ordi- 
nary Collector  will  do  well  to  rest  satisfied  with  the 
possession  of  two,  out  of  the  four,  of  such  publications 
of  Holy  Writ :  namely,  with  the  Jirst  Polyglot  Bible, 
published  at  Cicala,  in  1514-22;  6  vols.  folio;  and 
with  the  fourth,  published  at  London  in  1657,  in  the 

in  the  "  Catalogue  of  the  singular  and  curious  Library  of  Sir  Robert 
Gordon,  of  Gordonstoun"  sold  by  auction  by  Mr.  Cochrane  in  1816  : 
see  nos.  771-777.  Mr.  Heber  possesses,  I  believe,  the  most  com- 
plete collection  of  the  works  of  this  coarse,  but  clever,  writer. 

*  Ascham's  words  are  these  : —  "  I  know  when  God's  Bible  was 
banished  the  court,  and  La  Morte  $  Arthur  e  received  into  the  Prince's 
chamber."  The  worthy  Ascham  is  most  vehement  against  this 
Romance,  which  has  lately  been  twice  reprinted  in  a  duodecimo 
form,  with  cuts.  Of  this  reprint,  all  the  exceptionable  passages 
are  omitted  in  one  edition  j  in  the  other  they  are  retained :  —  and, 
shame  to  say  !  this  latter  is  the  more  saleable  impression.  A  little 
before,  Ascham  says,  "  Ten  Sermons  at  Paule's  Crosse  do  not  so 
much  good  for  moving  men  to  true  doctrine,  as  one  of  those  books 
do  harm,  with  inticing  men  to  ill  living."  Schoolmaster ;  by  Bennett, 
4to.  p.  253-4. 


POLYGLOT  BIBLES.  7 

same  number  of  volumes,  of  which  the  famous  BRIAN 
WALTON  was  the  principal  editor.*     The  Lexicon  of 

*  Of  the  Polyglot  of  CARDINAL  XIMENES,  there  are  three  copies 
printed  UPON  VELLUM  :  one  is  in  the  Vatican,  and  one  was  formerly  in 
the  library  of  the  Capuchins  of  Montefiascone :  the  third,  formerly 
belonging  to  the  Cardinal  himself,  and  which  was  more  recently  in 
the  collections  of  Pinelli  and  Count  Macarthy,  is  now  in  the  library 
of  George  Hibbert,  Esq.  of  Portland  Place.  Mr.  Hibbert  has  dis- 
possessed it  of  the  comparatively  unappropriate  binding  in  which  it 
was  clothed  by  De  Rome,  when  in  possession  of  the  Count,  and  has 
clad  it  in  a  magnificent  vestment  of  dark  blue  morocco,  under  the 
skilful  hands  of  C.  Lewis.  It  is  barely  possible  to  view  these 
volumes  without  feeling  a  justifiable  pride  that  they  are  the  property 
of  an  Englishman.  I  should  apprehend  that  the  finest  paper  copy  in 
the  world,  is  that  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris.  It  had  belonged  to 
Henri  II.  and  Diane  de  Poictiers. 

Of  the  Polyglot  of  WALTON,  the  LARGE  PAPER  copies  are  so  rare, 
that  I  have  no  recollection  of  the  sale  of  one  within  the  last  twenty 
or  even  thirty  years.  But  yet  scarcer  than  these,  is  the  large  paper  of 
the  Lexicon  of  Castell.  The  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  this 
matchless  work  is  ably  given  by  my  friend  the  Rev.  Mr.  Todd,  in 
his  Memoirs  of  the  Life  and  Writings  of  the  Right  Rev.  Brian  Walton. 
1821.  8vo.  2  vols.  It  is  scarcely  a  twelvemonth  ago,  since  I  saw,  at 
Mr.  Lawford's,  in  Squibb's  passage,  a  copy  of  the  ordinary  paper  of 
Walton's  Polyglot,  with  two  or  three  extra  heads,  containing  an 
original,  circular  Letter,  prefixed,  exhorting  the  public  to  an  encou- 
ragement of  the  work,  (see  Todd's  Mem.  of  Walton,  vol.  i.  p.  49.) 
and  signed  by  Walton,  and  other  learned  men.  I  think  five  guineas 
were  demanded  for  this  particular,  and  not  incurious,  document; 
and  thirty  guineas  for  the  copy  of  the  work  exclusively.  Mr. 
Payne  in  his  last  catalogue  marks  a  fine  copy  at  the  same  price. 
So  does  Mr.  Bohn.  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  mark  a  copy  at 
e£21. :  Cat.  1822,  no.  5777-  Messrs.  Rivington  and  Cochran,  at  the 
moment  of  penning  this,  justly  boast  of  possessing  not  fewer  than 
eight  copies  of  this  Polyglot  of  Walton;  a  thing  perhaps  unparal- 
lelled  in  the  annals  of  bibliopolism.  Mr.  Thorpe,  in  a  recent  cata- 
logue, marks  a  copy,  containing  BOTH  THE  PREFACEsf  (the  royal  and 


t  A  copy,  more  than  perfect,  necessarily  supposes  another  copy  less  than  perfect. 


S  DIVINITY. 

Caatelt  is  an  indispensable  accompaniment  of  the  lat- 
ter work. 

And  let  him,  if  this  cannot  be  obtained  in  its  original 
and  entire  form,  content  himself  with  Michaelis's 
improved  edition  of  the  Syriac  and  Hebrew  portions 
of  it,  put  forth  in  1788,  in  2  folio  volumes,  which  may 
be  procured  for  somewhere  about  £2.  Yet  if,  from 
motives  of  economy,  or  a  want  of  opportunity,  or  of 

the  republican),  at  a£45:  "  a  remarkably  fine  copy,  very  strong,  and 
neatly  bound  in  russia."  But  such  a  copy  is  not  unique.  Mr.  Hibbert 
has  a  similar  one,  with  the  Original  Dedication,  and  the  rare  addition 
of  the  ' '  original  Advertisement ; "  as  copied  by  Mr.  Todd,  vol.  i.  p.  68. 
The  rage  for  republican  copies  has  a  good  deal,  if  not  entirely,  sub- 
sided j  and  I  suspect  that  copies  of  this  description  are  as  common 
as  those  called  royal  copies.  Even  in  the  solitude  of  Worlingham, 
(the  seat  of  the  late  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq.  in  Suffolk)  I  discovered  a 
republican  copy,  bound  in  blue  morocco,  and  ruled  with  red  lines ; 
which  had  once  belonged  to  "  P.  de  Cardonnel."  The  DEDICATION 
to  King  Charles  II.  is  the  really  rare  thing  to  possess ;  and  yet,  what 
will  be  the  surprise  of  the  reader  to  learn,  that  this  bibliographical 
keimelion,  wanting  in  most  of  the  large  paper  copies,  is  to  be  found  in  a 
copy,  on  small  paper,  in  the  library  of  Bamburgh  Castle  in  Nor- 
thumberland'? *  I  am  indebted  to  my  young  and  ardent  book-loving 
friend  Mr.  W.  C.  Trevelyan  (of  University  College,  Oxford)  for  this, 
and  many  other  curious  pieces  of  bibliographical-intelligence.  I  dis- 
covered, abroad,  two  copies  with  this  original  Dedication  :  one  at 
Stuttgart,  and  the  other  in  the  library  of  the  Arsenal  at  Paris. 


Nor  is  it  probable  that  the  imperfect  copy  should  be  also  the  property  of  the  Owner 
of  the  perfect  copy  —  for  who,  in  the  possession  of  his  senses,  would  inflict  such  pun- 
ishment upon  so  valuable  a  work  as  that  of  the  Polyglot  of  Walton,  for  the  mere 
capricious  purpose  of  having  another  copy  more  than  perfect  ?  Be  this  as  it  may,  it 
is  certain  that,  in  the  library  of  Salisbury  Cathedral,  there  is  a  copy  of  this  very 
Polyglot,  with  the  portrait,  frontispiece,  preface,  and  prolegomena,  CLEAN  CUTAWAY. 
Such  a  frightful  act  of  book-spoliation  is,  fortunately,  rarely  to  be  witnessed.  It  seems 
however  not  to  have  been  of  recent  perpetration. 

*  This  library,  a  most  curious  and  valuable  one,  and  of  which  there  is  a  printed 
catalogue  in.  4to.  was  bequeathed  to  the  Castle  by  the  late  Dr.  John  Sharp,  a  pre- 
bendary of  Durham,  Archdeacon  of  Northumberland,  &c.  &c.  He  died  in  1792. 
He  was  a  magnificent  character  in  every  thing  he  did.  But  of  him,  hereafter. 


POLYGLOT  BIBLES.  9 

curiosity,  neither  of  the  foregoing  Polyglot  Bibles  be 
attainable,*  I  esteem  him  neither  an  incurious  nor  an 
unhappy  Collector  who  shall  have  possessed  himself 

*  Of  course  I  pass  by  the  Polyglot  Bibles  of  PLANTIN,  HUTTER, 
LE  JAY,  £c.,  as  these  are  now  considered  to  be  purely  secondary,  if 
not  almost  entirely  useless.  But  it  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  learn, 
that  there  did  exist,  and  yet  does  exist,  a  copy  of  Plantin's  exquisitely 
printed  Polyglot,  UPON  VELLUM,  in  the  library  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy, 
at  Turin.  This  copy  was  described  by  the  Marquis  Scipio  Maffei, 
in  his  account  of  that  library,  in  a  letter  to  Apostolo  Zeno.  He 
described  it  as  in  eleven  volumes  5  with  the  following  inscription,  in 
letters  of  gold,  upon  the  cover  of  the  first  volume :  "  Emanueli 
Sabaud.  Dud.  Biblior.  exemplar  purum  xi.  torn,  in  Membr.  Philippus 
II.  Hispan.  Rex  Cognato  ac^Fratrichariss.  sacrum  munus.  MDLXXIII." 
Mem.  of  Literature,  vol.  v.  p.  393.  Another  vellum  copy  is  mention- 
ed in  the  Bibliog.  Decameron^  vol.  ii.  154.  The  Polyglot  of  Hutter, 
published  in  1599,  in  six  folio  volumes,  demands  a  more  particular 
detail.  I  have  already  (Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.i.  p.  31-3)  noticed 
the  contents,  and  the  rarity,  of  a  perfect  copy  of  this  singular  work ; 
and  Mr.  Bohn,  the  bookseller,  availing  himself  of  the  authorities  I 
before  referred  to,  naturally  and  pardonably,  exults  in  the  possession 
o;  (f  an  uncommonly  beautiful  copy,  elegantly  bound  in  vellum 
complete  in  every  particular" — which,  in  his  last  catalogue  of  1820., 
no.  4397,  he  marks  at  e£35.  As  an  apparent  justification,  Mr.  Bohn 
adds  that  tf  there  does  not  appear  to  exist  a  single  complete  copy  in 
any  of  the  foreign  public  libraries  j  and  in  England,  the  one  now 
submitted  is  decidedly  UNIQUE."  These  are  rather  bold  words  to 
make  public.  No  one,  nor  one  score  of  men,  can  know  what  is, 
or  is  not,  in  all  the  foreign  public  libraries  j  and  I  make  little  doubt 
that  Passau,  Bamberg,  Wurtzberg,  and  Nuremberg  each  contains 
a  perfect  copy  of  old  Elias  Hutter's  many-tongued  labours.  In  one 
of  the  places  (I  think  it  was  at  Bamberg  or  Wurtzberg)  I  was  told, 
on  quitting  Nuremberg,  that  there  was  a  church  (of  course  not  ap- 
plied to  purposes  of  divine  worship)  WHOLLY  FILLED  WITH  BOOKS — 
even  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  roof ;  and  was  not  Hutter's  Polyglot 
in  all  probability  among  them? 

Nor  can  it  with  safety  be  said  what  is,  or  is  not,  in  the  numerous 
and  richly  stored  libraries  of  England.  When  Hutter  put  forth  his 
Polyglot,  it  was  the  dawn  of  biblical  criticism  in  our  country ;  and 


10  DIVINITY. 

of  the  four -ton  gued  Bible*  of  Reineccius,  published  at 
Leipsic  in  1750,  in  3  folio  volumes.  But  it  is  due  to 
the  enterpising  spirit  of  Mr.  Bagster,  the  bookseller, 
as  well  as  to  that  of  his  learned  coadjutors,  to  notice 
the  commodious  and  highly  useful  Polyglot  Bible, 
which  has  been  recently  published  by  him— in  a  variety 
of  forms—in  the  Hebrew,  Hebrew-Samaritan,  Greek, 
Latin  Vulgate,  Syriac,  and  English  texts. t 

Of  Bibles  published  in  a  separate  language,  I  shall 
proceed  to  give  a  list,  in  the  order  in  which  they 
appeared  in  print. 

many  would  have  been  eager  to  possess  his  work.  We  had  mighty 
men,  in  every  way,  even  at  that  time,  engaged  in  the  study  and  dis- 
semination of  the  SACRED  TEXT.  The  mid-day  effulgence  of  such 
labours  appeared  in  the  Polyglot  of  Brian  Walton.  Mr.  Bohn 
marks  a  copy  of  the  Paris  Polyglot  of  1649,  at  £9,1.  Let  "  the 
young  "  and  ' '  the  old  "  beware  how  they  purchase  a  copy  at  Paris, 
either  in  the  Boulevards  or  Quai  des  Augustins,  for  one  half  of  that 
sum — if  it  be  to  be  imported  into  England  ! 

*  Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin,  and  German :  the  Hebrew  has  Schmid's 
Latin  version — the  Greek  is  from  Grabe's  edition  of  the  Alexandrine 
MS.  and  the  German  is  from  the  last  revision  of  Luther's  text  by 
Luther  himself  in  1544-5. 

f  A  great  number  of  copies  of  this  Bible — printed  with  stereotype 
plates,  —  was  destroyed  in  a  fire  which  consumed  the  whole  of  Mr. 
Bagster's  premises  in  Paternoster- row  in  the  year  1822.  The  plates, 
however,  were  preserved.  A  good  account  of  the  plan  of  this  Poly- 
glot may  be  seen  in  Mr.  Todd's  Biography  of  Walton,  vol.  i.  335-9. 
At  the  same  time  was  published  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, in  eight  languages,  to  be  sold  and  bound  up  with  this  Polyglot : 
in  the  same  variety  of  forms. 


11 

BIBLES  IN  THE  LATIN 
AND  OTHER  LANGUAGES. 

I  must  begin  by  advising,  upon  this  and  every  other 
department  of  literature,  whether  sacred  or  profane, 
that  the  Collector  always  procure,  when  practicable, 
the  FIRST  EDITION  of  every  work  of  importance  and 
popularity.  But  it  will  frequently  happen  that,  of 
some  works,  even  of  the  highest  importance,  there  will 
be  strong  doubts  about  its  first  appearance  in  print ; 
and  when,  in  the  absence  of  a  positive  date,  we  are 
compelled  to  judge  of  its  priority  from  collateral  cir- 
cumstances. Thus,  in  the  very  department  at  present 
under  consideration,  we  have  only  collateral,  but  most 
indisputable,  evidence  of  the  earliest  edition  of  the 
SACRED  TEXT — not  only  in  the  Latin,  but  in  any  other, 
language.  That  first  edition  is  assuredly  the  impres- 
sion printed  in  a  large,  square,  gothic  type,  of  which 
I  have  already  published  a  fac-simile,*  and  which 
distinguishes  this  Bible,  vulgarly  called  the  Mazarine 
Bible^  on  account  of  a  copy  of  it  being  found  by  De 
Bure  in  the  library  of  the  famous  Cardinal  Mazarin, 
betterknown  as  the  Bibliotheque  des  Quatre  Nations  J 
attached  to  the  Institute  of  France.  The  "  collateral 
but  indisputable  evidence"  is  this.  The  edition  is 
destitute  of  a  printed  date.  Some,  in  consequence, 
supposed  it  to  be  as  old  as  the  year  1440 ;  and  others, 

*  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  i.  p.  3-6. 

f  The  bibliographical  history  of  this  Bible  may  be  said  to  be  well 
nigh  exhausted  in  a  Disquisition  published  upon  it  in  Mr.  Valpy's 
Classical  Journal,  vol.  iv.  p.  471-484. 

%  See  this  identical  copy  described  in  the  Bibliographical  Tour, 
vol.  ii.  p.  364-5. 


12  DIVINITY. 

1450.  At  length  two  copies  were  found  in  the  Royal 
Library  of  France  ;  one  upon  paper,  the  other  UPON 
VELLUM  :  *  upon  the  margin  of  the  paper  copy  was  an 
inscription,  in  the  hand  writing  of  the  time,  purporting 
that  copy  to  have  been  "  illuminated,  bound,  and  per- 
fected by  Henry  Cremer,  vicar  of  the  Collegiate 
Church  of  St.  Stephen  of  Mentz,  in  the  year  1456,  on 
the  feast  of  the  Assumption  of  the  glorious  Virgin 
Mary" 

From  this  evidence,  it  is  clear  that  the  Bible  in 
question  was  printed  in  the  year  1456 ;  and  it  is  pro- 
bable that  it  was  printed  in  the  preceding  year.  It  is 
possible  even  that  it  may  have  been  printed  in  1450. 
Indeed,  from  the  testimony  of  Ulric  Zel,  detailed  in 
the  Cologne  Chronicle  of  1499/t*  it  is  most  probable 
that  this  was  the  very  Bible  which  they  began  to  print 
"  in  the  Jubilee  year  of  1450."  At  least,  there  is  no 
other  ancient  Bible  which  so  completely  answers  to 
the  description  therein  given,  as  the  present.  It  fol- 
lows, therefore,  that  this  is  not  only  the  first  edition  of 
the  Sacred  Text,  in  ANY  language,  but  that  it  is  the 
VERy  FIRST  BOOK  printed  with  metal  types.  Those, 
who  have  not  seen  it,  can  form  little  notion  of  the 
beauty  and  regularity  of  the  press  work,  and  of  the 
magnificent  appearance  of  the  volumes.  They  exhibit 
a  masterpiece  of  art,  and  a  miracle  in  their  way ; 
shewing  that  the  infancy  and  maturity  of  the  art  of 
printing  were  almost  simultaneous.  I  am  both  prompt 
and  proud  to  record,  that  no  country  in  the  world 

*  Both  these  copies  are  noticed  in  the  Tour,  vol.  ii.  p.  253-5. 

f  This  is  a  very  uncommon  book — even  in  Germany.  An  accouut 
of  it,  together  with  a  translation  of  the  passage  relating  to  the  above 
Bible,  will  be  found  in  theBibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  iii,  p.  281-4. 


LATIN  BIBLES.  13 

contains  more,  if  so  many  copies,,  of  it  —  as  our  own: 
while  that,  UPON  VELLUM,  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
George  Nicol,  bookseller  to  his  late  Majesty,  is  the 
admiration  and  envy  of  Collectors.* 

In  purchasing  this  impression,  the  Collector  is  quite 
sure  to  have  the  Editio  Princeps  of  the  Sacred  Text 
in  the  Latin  tongue.  The  version  is  the  VULGATE,  or 
that  of  which  St.  Jerom  is  allowed  to  be  the  author. 
Of  the  most  ancient,  or  Italic  version,  this  is  not  the 
place  to  say  any  thing.  A  fine  copy  of  this  first  im- 
pression of  the  Vulgate  Text  may  be  worth  a  hundred 
guineas ;  but  it  has  been  recently  pushed  to  sixty 
guineas  beyond  that  sum.t  A  yet  rarer  Bible  than  the 
Mazarine  —  and  published  indisputably  before  that 
with  the  printed  date  of  1462 — is  the  one,  executed 
in  a  yet  larger  character  than  the  preceding,  which  is 
supposed  to  have  been  printed  by  PFISTER  at  Bamberg 
about  the  year  1460.  I  have  before  entered  so  fully 
into  the  bibliographical  history  of  this  exceedingly  rare 
impression,  ^  adding  a  fae-simile  of  the  commence- 

*  It  may  surprise  foreigners,  and  even  Mr.  Ebert,  of  Dresden,  him- 
self, that  I  should  call  this  book  by  no  means  of  the  first  degree  of 
rarity.  A  copy,  upon  paper,  will  be  found  in  the  Bodleian  library ; 
and  in  the  private  collections  of  the  King,  the  Duke  of  Sussex,  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire,  Earl  Spencer,  Sir  G.  Shuckboro',  Sir  M.  M. 
Sykes,  Mr.  G.  Hibbert,  Mr.  Fuller,  and  Mr.  John  Lloyd :  UPON 
VELLUM,  it  will  be  found  in  the  library  of  the  Rt.  Hon.  T.  Grenville 
(from  the  Macarthy  collection)  and  in  that  of  Mr.  G.  Nicol.  But 
none  of  these  copies,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  contain  the  two 
leaves  of  a  table,  or  rubrics,  which  are  noticed  in  the  Public  Library 
at  Munich  :  see  Jowr,  vol.  iii.  p.  28?.  It  is  rather  surprising  to  find 
no  copy  of  this  important  edition  in  the  British  Museum.  The  fac- 
similes of  the  type  of  this  Bible,  in  Masch,  scarcely  deserve  that  de- 
signation. 

f  The  copy  belonging  to  the  late  Mr.  James  Perry  was  purchased 
by  His  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Sussex  for  16O  guineas. 

J  Bibl  Spenceriana,  vol.  i.  p.  7-1O.  With  the  exception  of  a  second 


14  DIVINITY. 

ment  of  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis,  that  nothing 
further  upon  the  subject  is  necessary  to  be  here  ad- 
vanced :  except  that,  we  may  be  quite  confident  of 
the  date  of  this  Bible  being  1461,  at  latest — from  a 
coeval  inscription,  in  the  same  numbers,  in  a  copy  of 
it  which  belonged  to  Lord  Oxford,  and  which  is  now 
in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris.* 

I  now  come  to  the  mention  of  the  favourite  early 
impression  of  the  Bible,  among  collectors,  with  the 
first  PRINTED  DATE  subjoined.  I  mean,  the  edition 
put  forth  by  Fust  and  Sckoiffher  at  Mentz,  in  the  year 
1462.  This  edition  exhibits  a  matchless  effort  of  the 
art  of  printing  ;  and  is,  with  one  slight  exception,  the 
earliest  specimen  of  those  printers'  largest  secretary 
gothic  type.  It  is  usually  found  UPON  VELLUM  ;  and  I 
think  I  may  venture  to  say  that  I  have  seen,  abroad 
and  at  home,  nearer  thirty  than  twenty  copies  of 
it.  Upon  paper,  it  is  of  rarer  occurrence  ;  but  a  fine 
copy  upon  vellum  is  worth  at  least  double  one  upon 
paper.  The  Collector  may  fearlessly  advance  a  hun- 
dred guineas  for  a  fine  and  perfect  membranaceous 
copy.t  From  the  year  1462  to  the  end  of  the  Fif- 

copy,  in  the  Royal  Library,  I  know  of  no  other  copy  of  this  very 
rare  impression  in  the  country. 

*  Tour,  vol.  ii.  p.  255. 

f  Among  the  finest  copies  of  this  celebrated  Bible  UPON  VELLUM 
• — I  speak  ocly  of  such  as  I  have  seen — are  those  in  the  Cracherode, 
Spencer,  Cassano  (the  Spencer-duplicate),  Sykes,  Hibbert,  Lloyd, 
and  Watson  Taylor  Collections.  The  Cracherode  copy  is  in  the 
British  Museum.  Lord  Spencer's  is  very  large,  but  not  so  white 
as  was  the  Duke  di  Cassano's  copy — purchased  by  his  Lordship,  and 
sold  at  the  memorable  sale  of  his  duplicates  in  1821.  Messrs.  Payne 
and  Foss  were  the  purchasers  of  this  copy,  and  I  find  it  marked  by 
them  at  the  reasonable  sum  of  «£l30.  in  their  catalogue  of  1822,  no. 
4708,  Mr.  John  Lloyd  is  in  possession  of  Mr.  Edwards's  copy,  and 


LATIN  BIBLES.  15 

teenth  Century,  the  editions  of  the  Latin  Bible  may  be 
considered,  literally,  as  innumerable  ;  and,  generally 
speaking,  only  a  repetition  of  the  same  text.  I  there- 
fore do  not  recommend  a  useless  and  interminable 
labour  in  collecting  editions  merely  because  they 
happen  to  be  printed  before  the  year  1470  or  1480 : 
but  two  exceptions  may  be  made  in  a  pursuit  of  this 
kind.  First,  although  these  earlier  editions  are  en- 
tirely divested  of  critical  annotations,,  and  the  text  of 
one  year  seems  to  be  only  a  reimpression  of  that  of 
the  preceding  year,  yet  it  may  be  as  well  to  collect 
such  impressions  of  the  same  text  asjirst  appeared  in 
the  several  'countries  in  Europe.*  And,  secondly,  it 
is  almost  essential  to  the  character  of  a  well-chosen 
biblical  collection  to  have  thejirst  Latin  version  from 
the  Hebrew  Text — and  a  first  similar  version  from 
the  Greek  Text ;  each  in  contradistinction  to  the 
Latin  Vulgate.  These  impressions  are  called  "  Fon- 
tibus  ex  Greeds  "  and  "  Fontibus  ex  Hebrceis. "  The 
former  first  appeared  in  1479  ;  the  latter  in  1696. 

To  give  an  account  of  the  various  critical  editions 
of  the  Latin  Vulgate  in  the  Sixteenth  and  following 
centuries,  would  alone  fill  a  large  octavo  volume. 
Passing  by  the  editions  of  Pagninus  and  Servetus 
(the  latter  under  the  name  of  Villanovanus)  I  shall 
introduce  the  biblical  Collector  at  once  to  those  of 

Mr.  Watson  Taylor  may  well  rejoice  in  being  the  owner  of  that 
which  had  belonged  to  Gaignat,  and  afterwards  to  Count  Macarthy. 
All  these  BIBLICAL  GEMS,  as  well  as  those  in  the  Marlborough  and 
Pembroke  libraries,  are  upon  vellum.  The  Duke  of  Devonshire 
possesses  a  copy,  which  had  belonged  to  the  late  Bishop  of  Ely,  upon 
paper.  A  similar  copy  is  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  and  another  in 
that  at  Blickling  in  Suffolk.  This  latter  was  Marchand's. 

*  As  thus :  at  Mentz,  1455  -,  at  Bamberg,  1461  j  at  Rome,  1471 j 
Venice,  1476;  Naples,  1476;  in  Bohemia,  1488  -,  in  Poland,  1563; 


16  DIVINITY. 

datable,  and  thedldine  editions  of  1590  and  1592;  the 
admirable  critical  labours  of  Le  Clerc,  in  the  edition 
of  1735,  7  vols.  folio;  and  the  yet  more  curious  and 
probably  more  important  impression  of  Sabatier,  in 
1743,  3  volumes  folio.*  In  our  own  country,  we  have 

in  Iceland,  1551  ;  in  Russia,  1581  ;  in  France,  1475 ;  in  Holland, 
1477;  in  England,  1535;  in  Spain,  1477- 

*  See  the  JEdes  Althorpiance,  vol.  i.  p.  49.  Lord  Spencer  possesses 
a  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  the  version  of  Pagninus  (from  the  Hebrew 
and  Greekoriginal  texts)  of  the  date  of  1528, 4to.,  which  had  belonged 
to  Melanchthon,  and  which  has  a  passage,  in  the  fly-leaf,  (from 
Gregory  Nazianzen) — in  the  hand  writing  of  that  celebrated  reformer, 
thus  :  f{  Yloiv  TO  xoclopQovpisvov  Trotpcx,  fleou  Ifi,  SeSorai  §g  TO/J  xaAouj&evoif 
xa»  «7a;  veuoixri :  scriptu  manu  Philippi."  The  reader  may  consult 
Mr.  Townley's  Illustrations  of  Biblical  Literature,  vol.  ii.  p.  215, 
&c.  Of  the  Bible  of  Servetus,  a  ((  fine  copy  in  blue  turkey "  is 
marked  at  s£4.  4s.  in  Mr.  Triphook's  Catalogue  of  1817.  But  see 
Old  Memoirs  of  Literature,  vol.  iv.  p.  329.  The  Aldine  editions  of 
1590  and  1592,  in  folio,  are  called  after  the  name  of  Pope  Sixtus  V. 
and  were  supposed  to  exhibit  the  STANDARD  VULGATE  TEXT.  They 
are  chiefly  estimable  on  large  paper ;  in  which  state  they  still  lift  up 
their  heads.  At  the  sale  of  the  library  of  the  Marquis  of  Lansdown, 
in  18O6,  a  copy  of  this  kind  was  omitted  to  be  so  designated  ;  and  the 
late  Dr.  Gosset  bought  it,  for  his  friend  (the  late)  Mr.  Taylor,  for 
about  10s.  6d.  The  Doctor  had  too  keen  an  eye  to  let  such  a  treasure 
escape.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Taylor,  in  1821,  his  books  were  sold 
by  auction,  and  this  very  copy  was  again  described  as  of  the  ordi- 
nary paper.  In  consequence,  it  was  purchased  for  a  comparative 
trifle  by  Mr.  I.  Payne,  and  now  adorns  the  library  of  SirM.  M.  Sykes, 
at  a  price  about  sixty  times  beyond  the  first  purchase.  The  Duke  of 
Grafton's  copy,  of  the  same  kind,  properly  designated,  was  sold  for 
a£38.  At  Chatsworth,  the  Bible  of  1 590  is  upon  small  paper,  and 
rather  an  indifferent  copy  :  but  of  that  of  1592  there  is  a  fine  large 
paper  copy,  bound  in  blue  morocco.  At  Althorp,  there  is  a  fine  copy 
of  each  upon  large  paper:  see  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  i.  p.  52  -, — and 
consult  p.  55  for  an  account  of  Sabatier's  edition,  above  lauded. 

t  Melanchthon  appears  to  have  quoted  from  memory — as  he  has  omitted  the  article 
TQIS  before  ovra.  The  passage  occurs  in  the  xxxist  Oration.  Ed.  1609  j  vol.  i. 
p.  504. 


LATIN  BIBLES.  17 

no  edition  which  may  vie  with  the  beautiful  one  printed 
by  Didot  in  1785,  2  vols.  4to.,  and  dedicated  to  the 
French  Church.  I  have  purposely  avoided  the  mention 
of  very  many  curious,  beautiful,  and  much  sought- 
after  impressions  of  the  Latin  Vulgate,  in  various 
forms,  and  various  types  —  which  have  been  put  forth 
by  the  Stephens,  Gryphii,  Elzevirs*  and  other  conti- 
nental printers  ;  nor  will  I  stop  to  enquire  whether,  or 
not,  there  be  a  copy  of  what  is  called  Cardinal  Rich- 
lieu  s  Bible  (of  1656,  8vo.)  printed  UPON  VELLUM — as 
there  would  be  no  limits  to  the  notices,  and  anecdotes 
which  might  be  engrafted  upon  this  fruitful  branch  of 
our  enquiries. f  It  is  sufficient  that,  in  what  has  been 
laid  down  as  certain  data  to  act  upon,  neither  the 
Reader  nor  the  Collector  will  find  his  labour,  or  his 
money,  ill  bestowed  in  forming  his  judgment  accord- 
ingly. 

Father  Bukintop  published  an  explanation  of  ambiguous  expressions 
and  doubtful  readings  in  this  Vulgate  Bible  of  1590,  at  Cologne,  in 
1710,  4to. 

*  Most  of  these  will  be  found  noticed  in  the  pages  of  the  work  last 
referred  to.  It  may,  however,  seem  surprising  that,  in  the  work 
recently  published  upon  the  Elzevir  press  (Essai  Eibliographique  sur 
les  Editions  des  Elzevirs)  at  Paris,  1822,  Svo.  no  notice  should  be 
taken  of  the  magnificent  folio  impression  of  the  French  Bible  by 
Louis  and  Daniel  Elzevir,  in  1669,  2  vols.  folio.  Perhaps  the  finest 
copy  of  this  book  in  the  world,  is  in  the  Althorp  Library.  It  is  on 
large  paper,  and  had  been  Lamoignon's.  But  it  is  not  very  rare  upon 
large  paper;  and  a  copy  of  this  kind  will  be  found  in  the  library  at 
Worlingham,  (see  p  8,)  very  fair,  and  fine.  Abroad,  it  is  rather  of 
common  occurrence,  in  most  public  libraries. 

f  I  may  here  however  remark,  that  the  Edinburgh  edition  of  the 
English  Bible,  of  1811,  12mo.,  is,  when  found  upon  LARGE  PAPER, 
a  much  more  beautiful  book  than  the  above  vaunted  diamond  letter 
Bible  of  Richlieu.  But  those  will  be  fortunate  who  get  this  Edin- 
burgh edition  upon  large  paper,  as  only  twenty- five  copies  were 
printed.  Earl  Spencer's  copy  was  obtained  of  Mr.  Triphook. 

C 


18  DIVINITY. 

The  earliest  printed  version  of  the  Scriptures,  after 
that  of  the  Latin,  was  the  GERMAN  version;  of  which 
the  two  first  editions  were  published  without  dates. 
Of  these,  the  impression  supposed  to  be  by  Mentelin 
is  anterior  to  the  other.  They  have  both  been  before 
particularly  described  by  me.  On  the  possession  of 
the  one  or  the  other  of  these  impressions,  let  the  Col- 
lector go  immediately  to  the  supposed  best  edition  of 
Luther's  version,  in  1541  ;  considering  the  interme- 
diate impressions  as  rather  curious  than  necessary — 
not  but  what  the  possession  of  the  FIRST  editions*  of 
such  an  extraordinary  writer  as  Luther  will  always 
compensate  for  the  trouble  or  delay  that  may  attend 
their  acquisition. 

After  the  German  versions  of  the  Scriptures,  ap- 
peared those  of  the  ITALIAN,  within  probably  a  very 
few  years  of  each  other.  I  am  strenuous  and  earnest 

*  It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  ascertain  with  precision  the  date  of 
the  first  impression  of  Luther's  text  5  but  I  presume  that,  whatever 
be  the  earliest  date  of  the  New  Testament,  the  Old  Testament  did 
not  appear  before  1524 :  see  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  i.  p.  58 :  and 
Bibliog.  Decameron,  vol.  i.  p.  164.  In  the  latter  authority  will  be 
found  some  particulars  about  the  earlier  Bibles,  and  of  that  of  1541. 
Mr.  Townley  has  availed  himself  of  the  authorities  there  referred  to, 
and  adds  (what  is  singular  enough)  from  Adler's  Biblioth.  Bibl.  p.  12, 
that,  in  a  copy  of  Luther's  Bible  of  1545  appear  some  ms.  notes  of 
the  same  Reformers  who  had  written  in  the  extraordinary  copy  of  the 
above  edition  of  1541,  which  now  graces  the  shelves  of  Mr.  G.  Hib- 
bert's  library.  Illustrations  of  Biblical  Literature,  vol.  ii.  p.  282. 
Perhaps  there  is  hardly  an  impression  of  Luther's  version,  but  of 
which  some  few  copies  may  not  be  found  printed  UPON  VELLUM.  I 
observe  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament,  printed  in  this  manner  at 
Augsburg,  in  1535,  Svo.  2  vols.,  marked  at  £5.  in  black  morocco 
binding,  in  Mr.  Triphook's  Catalogue  of  1815.  This  was  the  copy 
which  is  now  in  Lord  Spencer's  collection.  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  i. 
page  117. 


ITALIAN  BIBLES.  19 

about  the  recommendation  of  one  or  the  other  of  these 
early  versions  ;  not  so  much  on  account  of  their  rarity, 
which  is  great — especially  when  in  a  fine  condition — 
as  that  they  will  afford  an  additional  proof  (if  any 
were  wanting)  of  the  suavity  and  perfection  of  the 
Italian  language  at  the  period  when  these  impressions 
were  executed.  The  translator  was  MALHERBI,*  who 
deserves  as  well  of  sacred  literature,  as  Boccaccio 
does  of  the  belles-lettres.  In  the  sixteenth  and  seven- 
teenth centuries,  the  Collector  will  rest  satisfied  with 
the  best  editions  of  the  versions  and  commentaries  of 
BRUCCIOLI,  1546,  fol.  3  vols. :  and  DIODATI,  1607,  fol.; 

*  This  requires  qualification  5  for  it  is,  and  is  not,  true.  There 
were  three  editions  of  the  Italian  version  of  the  Bible  put  forth  in  the 
same  year,  viz.  in  1471.  The  version  published  in  October,  at  Rome, 
is  not  the  same  as  are  those  which  were  published  in  August  and 
September,  at  Venice.  The  text  of  the  two  latter  was  by  Nicolo  di 
Malherbi,  or  Malermi,  a  Benedictin  Monk,  and  abbot  of  St.  Michael 
de  Lemo.  The  author  of  the  text  of  the  Roman  edition  is  not,  I 
believe,  very  accurately  known.  Consult  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol. 
i.  p.  63-7  j  where  will  also  be  found  a  specimen  of  this  Roman  text. 
Of  the  two  Venetian  editions,  that  of  August  is  much  the  rarer.  A 
copy  of  it  is  described  in  the  Mdes  dlthorpiance,  vol.  ii.  p.  44. :  but 
in  the  collection  of  Count  Melzi,  at  Milan,  there  is  a  magnificent 
copy  UPON  VELLUM  —  which  may  be  ranked  among  the  scarcest  and 
most  desirable  books  in  the  world.  And  yet,  were  the  paper  copy  at 
Stuttgart  perfect,  his  Majesty  of  Wirtemberg  need  not  breathe  one 
sigh  for  the  possession  even  of  this  membranaceous  treasure.  The 
praises  of  Malermi,  the  translator,  are  thus  chanted  at  the  end  of  the 
colophon  of  this  August  edition,  printed  by  V,  de  Spira  : 

O  interprete  uiril  che  per  diuino 
inzegno  credo  che  tu  il  translatasti 
non  mai  diuiso  al  testual  chamino 
Ormai  ciaschun  aquesti  gientil  pasti 
se  po  inuitar  di  la  sacra  scriptura 
per  chui  il  ben  sale  et  gli  uicii  sou  guasti 
Oosci  ealendo  a  la  diuina  altura. 


20  DIVINITY. 

and  in  the  eighteenth  century,  with  that  of  MARTINI, 
1776,  in  23  vols.  8vo. 

Pursuing  the  chronological  order,  I  must  now  make 
mention  of  a  few  impressions  of  the  Bible  in  the 
HEBREW  LANGUAGE,  of  which  the  earliest  of  any  por- 
tion appeared  in  1477,  in  a  quarto  edition  of  the 
Psalter  with  the  commentary  of  Kimchi.*  About  five 
years  afterwards,  an  edition  of  the  Pentateuch  with 
the  commentary  of  Solomon  Jarchi,  was  put  forth  at 
Bologna,  in  a  handsome  folio  volume  ;f  and  this  was 

*  This  is  considered  to  be  the  FIRST  BOOK  printed  in  the  Hebrew 
language :  a  specimen  of  Hebrew  characters  (evidently  cut  in  wood) 
may  be  seen,  as  published  two  years  before,  in  the  work  of  Petrus 
Niger  Contra  Judceos,  printed  by  Fyner,  at  Eislingen,  on  consulting 
the  BibL  Spencer,  vol.  iii.  p.  432-3.  The  only  copy  of  this  rare  Psalter 
noticed  by  Brunet  is  that  in  the  Crevenna  collection — now,  I  believe, 
in  the  Auctarium  of  the  Bodleian  library.  Mr.  Home,  in  his  truly 
valuable  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  vol.  ii. 
p.  118,  appears  to  borrow  his  description  of  this  Psalter  from  Masch, 
vol.  i.  p.  142  :  who,  in  turn,  seems  to  rely  upon  De  Rossi.  This 
Psalter  was  reprinted  at  Naples  in  1487,  folio. 

f  That  is,  in  the  year  1482.  Lord  Spencer,  who  has  recently 
enriched  his  library  with  many  choice  specimens  of  early  Hebrew 
printing,  is  in  possession  of  a  magnificent  copy  of  this  edition  of  the 
Pentateuch,  printed  UPON  VELLUM,  and  bound  in  blue  morocco  by 
C.  Lewis.  It  was  purchased  of  Mr.  Baynes,  bookseller,  for  £18.  185  j 
but  on  its  being  found  to  be  imperfect,  from  collation  with  a  perfect 
copy  in  the  RatclifFe  library  at  Oxford,  the  price  was  diminished  j 
<and  the  imperfections  (2  leaves)  were  supplied  by  a  fac-simile,  by 
Mr.  Harris,  executed  in  a  manner  so  completely  satisfactory  as 
almost  to  deceive  the  most  experienced  eye.  See  the  JEdes  Althorp- 
iante,  vol.  ii.  p.  316-8  :  where  a  full  description  of  the  volume  may 
be  found.  But  a  tale  of  bibliomaniacal  melancholy  belongs  to  this 
sumptuous  book.  It  had  been  purchased  abroad  by  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes, 
Bart. ;  and  was  consigned,  with  many  other  precious  books,  so  pur- 
chased, to  the  port  of  Hull,  in  Yorkshire.  The  freight  was  paid. 
Unluckily,  the  direction  (upon  a  card)  had  been  rubbed  off.  The 


HEBREW  BIBLES.  21 

succeeded  by  separate  impressions  of  remaining  por- 
tions of  the  Sacred  Text  in  1486  and  1487;  till  at 
length  the  whole  Bible  appeared  in  one  distinct  pub- 
lication at  Soncino  in  the  year  1488.*  It  is  unneces- 
sary to  enumerate  the  remaining  impressions  in  the 
fifteenth  century ;  as  Masch  and  De  Rossi  haxe  ex- 
hausted the  subject  in  their  several  valuable  publica- 
tions :  only  it  may  be  permitted  me  to  observe,  that, 
of  all  the  impressions  here  briefly  noticed,  that  of 

consignee  of  the  case  of  books  being  unknown,  Government  stepped 
in  and  claimed  the  precious  cargo  for  payment  of  duties.  The  books 
were  in  consequence  sold  by  public  auction  at  the  Custom  House  j 
and  Mr.  Baynes,  almost  by  mere  chance,  became  the  purchaser  of 
this  and  of  several  other  similar  treasures,  at  comparatively  moderate 
prices.  It  would  be  distressing  to  make  mention,  however  slightly, 
of  a  few  of  these  "other  treasures:"  but  when  Sir  Mark  Sykes 
arrived  in  London,  about  a  twelvemonth  after  the  sale  in  question,  he 
learnt  and  bore  the  particulars  of  this  sad  story  with  the  heroism  of  a 
true  Roxburghe-Club  Knight.  Note  : — I  have  erroneously  said,  in  the 
authority  last  referred  to,  that  Mr.  Ogle  was  the  purchaser  from 
whom  Lord  Spencer  obtained  the  copy.  It  was  Mr.  Baynes. 

*  Masch  has  exhausted  the  bibliographical  history  of  this  wonder- 
fully rare  book :  of  which,  I  believe,  there  are  only  the  two  copies, 
(above  mentioned,)  in  England  :  but  neither  of  them  are  upon  vellum. 
Two  copies  are  mentioned  by  Masch  as  being  at  Rome,  and  one  in  the 
Laurentian  library  at  Florence.  Tychsenius,,  in  his  Tentamen  (a  sort  of 
critical  reply  to  the  '  Dissertatio '  of  Kennicott)  accuses  this  first 
edition  of  containing  many  grievous  errors  of  omission  and  commis- 
sion— from  which  Masch  judiciously  infers  that  we  must  maintain  a 
sort  of  medium  in  our  judgments  upon  it :  neither  to  prize  it  too, 
highly  or  too  low — "  for  that,  like  almost  all  Greek  and  Latin 
books,  of  early  printing,  it  has  its  advantages  and  defects."  Bibl. 
Sacra,  Part  I.  p.  5-7-  This  edition  seems  so  have  been  reprinted  at 
Brescia,  in  8vo.,  1494  ;  but  "  who  is  the  happy  man  "  to  be  congra- 
tulated on  the  acquisition  of  this  reprint  ?  Masch' s  account  of  it 
must  put  the  curious,  in  early  Hebrew  lore,  into  a  perfect  state  of 
delirium.  Well  might  the  late  Bishop  of  Ely  often  exclaim,  "  these 
early  Brescia  books  are  of  the  extremes!  rarity  and  value  1" 


22  DIVINITY. 

Soncino  is  by  far  the  scarcest,  and  perhaps  most  valu- 
able. I  believe  there  are  only  two  copies  known  to 
exist  in  this  country ;  of  which  that  in  the  Bodleian 
library  was  the  Crevenna  copy,  as  described  by  Brunet. 
The  second  is  in  the  library  of  Exeter  college,  Oxford. 
No  copy  of  it  is  known  in  France  ;  so  that  I  saw  and 
described,  with  no  ordinary  sensations  of  gratifica- 
tion, the  copy  which  adorns  the  shelves  of  the  Imperial 
library  at  Vienna.* 

The  great  Star  of  Hebrew  printers  in  the  sixteenth 
century  was  Daniel  Bomberg,  a  native  of  Antwerp, 
and  resident  of  Venice.  His  editions  of  the  Bible, 
with  the  Targums  and  Rabbinical  Commentaries,  are 
considered  to  be  of  great  intrinsic  value  ;  especially  his 
third  edition  of  1547-9,  in  four  folio  volumes/-}-  But 
let  the  Stephens  come  in  for  their  due  share  of  praise ; 
and  especially  the  famous  R.  Stephen,  father  of  the 

*  See  the  Tour,  vol.  iii.  p.  486-8.  The  copy  there  described  "  had 
had  a  journey  to  Paris,  and  gained  a  coat  of  blue  morocco  by  the 
trip."  It  is  a  clean  and  beautiful  copy,  but  rather  cropt  in  the 
binding. 

f  Mr.  Townley,  in  his  Illustrations  of  Biblical  Literature,  vol.  iL 
p,  467,  has  given  a  short  but  animated  and  interesting  account  of 
the  above  early  te  Star  of  Hebrew  printers. "  Bomberg's  first  edi- 
tion was  in  1518  j  but  afterwards,  much  improved,  in  1525,  in  four 
folio  volumes.  "  A  still  more  ample  and  complete  edition  was 
printed  by  him  in  1547-9,  four  vols.  folio,  under  the  inspection  of 
Cornelius  Adelkind,  another  erudite  Jew,  with  a  curious  preface  by 
the  editor  of  the  edition  of  1525  —  Jacob  ben  Chain  —  of  which  a 
Latin  translation  is  given  in  Kennicott's  Dissertation,  on  the  state  of 
the  printed  Hebrew  text,  1759,  8vo.  pp.  229-244.  Dr.  Adam  Clarke 
(Gen.  Pref.  to  Comment,  p.  iv.)  characterises  this  edition,  of  1547,  as 
the  most  useful,  the  most  correct,  and  the  most  valuable  Hebrew 
Bible  ever  published."  Townley.  It  seems  to  have  been  overlooked 
by  Brunet.  A  copy  of  it  is  marked  in  Messrs.  Ogle  and  Duncan's  last 
catalogue  (no.  2189)  at  14  L  14s. ,  in  russia. 


HEBREW  BIBLES.  23 

learned  Lexicographer,  who,  in  his  quarto  and  duo- 
decimo impressions  of  the  Hebrew  Bible,  presented  the 
theological  world  with  welcome  gifts.* 

I  pass  over  those  impressions  of  the  Hebrew  text 
which  appeared  in  the  several  Polyglots  of  the  six- 
teenth and  seventeenth  centuries,  and  conclude  this 
summary  list  with  the  recommendation  of  three,  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  which  are  entitled  to  distin- 
guished praise  :  that  of  Michaelis  of  1720,  in  two  vols. 
4  to.  :  of  Houbigant,  of  1753,  in  four  vols.  folio  ;  and 
especially  that  of  the  immortal  Kennicott  of  1776,  in 
two  folio  volumes,  pronounced  to  be,  by  one  of  the 
most  wary  of  German  critics,  "  a  first  rate,  and  even 
unique  ornament  of  a  theological  collection."  But  yet 
I  will  not  quarrel  with  that  student  or  collector,  be 
he  young  or  old,  who  shall  be  disposed  to  add  to  the 
foregoing  the  quarto  impression  of  the  recent  labours. 


*  The  dates  and  forms  of  the  Stephanine  Hebrew  Bibles,  above 
alluded  to,  are  these  :  in  1543.,  4to.  in  two  or  three  volumes  -—  with 
points  :  and  in  the  following  year  in  seven  or  eight  volumes,  sexto- 
decimo. Of  the  former,  or  quarto  impression,  I  find  a  "  fine  copy, 
in  morocco,  gilt  leaves,  ruled,"  marked  at  Si  3s.  in  Mr.  Payne's  last 
catalogue,  no.  4803.  Of  the  latter,  "  a  copy  in  fine  condition, 
bound  by  Roger  Payne,  in  blue  morocco,  with  gilt  leaves,"  is  marked 
at  41.  16s.  by  Mr.  Triphook,  in  his  catalogue  for  1819,  no.  1503. 
De  Bure  and  Brunet  have  dwelt  with  commendable  complacency 
upon  the  beautiful  execution  of  these  covetable  volumes,  in  both 
forms. 

f  I  will  mention  the  current  prices  for  which  these  editions  may  be 
obtained.  Michaelis  may  be  bought  for  about  ll.  15s.  ;  but,  on  large 
paper,  in  4to.  the  catalogues  of  Mr.  Payne  and  Mr.  Ogle  concur  in  affix- 
ing double  that  price.  A  copy  of  the  latter  kind  is  described  in  the  JEdes 
Althorp.  vol.  i.  p.  41.  Houbigant's  Hebrew  Bible  is  the  dearest  of 
any.  It  has  been  known  to  bring  12  1.  12s.,  even  at  an  auction  •, 
which  should  seem  to  justify  Messrs.  Payne  andFoss  in  marking  "  a. 
new  and  very  neat  "  copy  of  it  at  14Z.  14$. 


24  DIVINITY. 

Considering  the  number  of  Greek  works  which 
appeared  towards  the  latter  end  of  the  fifteenth,  and 
the  very  commencement  of  the  sixteenth,  century,  it 
may  be  thought  rather  a  matter  of  surprise  that  no 
GREEK  version  of  the  Scriptures  was  published  till 
nearly  the  Japse  of  the  first  twenty  years  in  the  latter 
century.  But  so  it  is.  If  we  except  the  Greek  New 
Testament  of  Erasmus,  and  of  the  Complutensian 
Polyglot  Bible,  each  in  the  year  1516,*  the  Sacred 

Of  Kennicott's  edition,  I  believe  no  copy  is  known  to  exist  upon 
large  paper.  It  may  be  obtained  in  sound  condition,  and  according 
to  the  binding,  from  7 1.  Is.  to  IQl.  10s.  Whoever  chooses  to  see  the 
merits  and  demerits  (the  latter  word,  however,  hardly  deserving  of  a 
place  here)  of  the  labours  of  Kennicott  fairly  appreciated,  may  con- 
sult Bishop  Marsh's  XI th  Lecture  ;  but  Kennicott's  own  Dissertation 
upon  the  state  of  the  Hebrew  text,  with  his  annual  accounts,  are  a 
fund  of  theological  learning.  To  these  may  be  added  the  pam- 
phlets of  Gifford  and  King,  and  the  letters  of  the  Abbe  de  *  *  *  * 
as  well  as  Kennicott's  remarks  on  Select  Passages,  &c.,  and  eight 
Sermons,  1787,  8vo.  See  Thorpe's  cat.  1822,  nos  13019-13029. 
Of  Jahrfs  edition,  in  four  Svo  volumes,  a  sewed  copy  is  marked  at 
2/.  12s.  6d.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Ogle,  Duncan,  and  Co. 
Lord  Spencer  possesses  it  upon  LARGE  PAPER.  It  was  edited  and  re- 
published  by  Prey  in  1812,  Svo.  two  vol.  But  do  not  let  me  forget 
to  entice  "  the  young"  Collector  to  give  Leusdens  beautiful  little 
edition,  in  1701,  crown  Svo.  a  place  in  his  travelling  trunk.  Nor, 
aspiring  to  the  more  solid  and  essential  purposes  of  information, 
should  Mr.  Boothroyds  cheap  and  admirable  edition  of  the  Hebrew 
Bible — without  points — and  accompanied  by  critical  and  explanatory 
notes  in  the  English  language  —  in  two  4to.  volumes,  in  1816— be 
omitted  to  be  strongly  recommended  to  the  diligent  and  truth  search- 
ing student.  Mr.  Home  has  dilated  somewhat  upon  the  utility  of 
this  edition.  Introduction,  &c.  vol.  ii.  p.  130. 

*  It  is  not  often  that  the  New  Testament,  alone,  of  Cardinal 
Ximenes'  Polyglot  is  found  upon  sale.  I  once,  however,  had  a  copy 
of  it,  with  the  edges  almost  uncut :  and  in  Mr.  Payne's  last  catalogue, 
(no.  4719)  will  be  found  a  "  very  fine  copy,  in  blue  morocco  bind- 
jng,  gilt  leaves,"  marked  at  10/.  10*.  Such  a  sum  maybe  worse 


GREEK  BIBLES.  25 

text  was  unknown  as  printed  in  the  Greek  language 
till  the  appearance  of  the  Septuagint  of  Aldus,  or 
rather  of  Andreas  Asulanus,  in  1518,  folio ;  a  noble 
effort  of  the  Aldine  press,  and  a  great  acquisition  to 
the  cause  of  sacred  literature.  There  are  copies  of  this 
handsome  book  upon  thick  paper,  but  none  upon 
LARGE  paper ;  and  one  copy  only,  UPON  VELLUM,  is 
recorded  by  Ilenouard,  which  is  in  the  Vatican  library. 
As  to  critical  editions  of  the  Greek  Bible,  and  more 
especially  of  the  Old  Testament,  I  recommend  those 
ofZanetti,  1586,  folio  ;  Grabe,  1707,  folio  ;  Bos,  1709, 
4to. ;  and  Holmes,  1797  ; — the  latter  now  in  the  course 
of  publication.*  Of  all  these,  that  of  the  late  Dr. 

devoted.  To  the  best  of  my  recollection,  there  is  no  copy  of  the 
first  edition  of  Erasmus  UPON  VELLUM  :  of  the  second,  there  are,  I 
think,  three  copies  of  such  description.  One  is  at  Basle,  the  other  is 
in  the  library  of  York  Minster,  and  a  third  (recently  obtained)  is  the 
property  of  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes,  Bart.  This  third  copy  wants  the  second 
volume,  which  has  the  Latin  annotations  ;  but  the  Sacred  Text  is 
complete.  It  is  in  pristine  binding  and  pristine  condition  :  quite  beau- 
tiful. What  is  singular,  it  had  lain  twenty  years  upon  the  shelves  of 
a  Leipsic  bookseller,  unpurchased  —  till  Sir  Mark,  in  his  late  tour 
upon  the  Continent,  secured  it  for  the  very  moderate  sum  of  2OZ. 
This  may  be  considered  as  a  consoling  set  off  against  the  vexation  re- 
corded at  page  2 1 ,  ante. 

*  The  reader  may  be  pleased  to  consult  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics, 
vol.  i.  p.  36,  for  an  account  of  the  comparative  critical  worth  of 
these  editions.  Beautiful  copies  of  each  will  be  found  in  the  AL- 
THORP  collection  5  and  especially  of  that  truly  splendid  impression 
put  forth  by  Zanetti,  under  the  editorial  care  of  Cardinal  Caraffa,  in 
1586.  I  may  here  just  make  brief  mention  of  the  fine  Latin  Bible, 
printed  under  the  same  Cardinal's  auspices,  in  1588,  as  a  companion 
to  the  preceding  —  if  it  be  only  to  notice  the  beautiful  copy  of  it  in 
the  library  at  Chatsworth,  in  red  morocco,  which  had  belonged  to 
DE  THOU.  It  is  not,  however,  on  large  paper,  nor  do  I  remember 
any  copies  that  are.  The  edition  of  Holmes  was  omitted  to  be 
noticed  in  the  work  just  referred  to.  There  have  been  about  eigh- 
teen parts,  at  1 1.  Is.  each  part,  already  published  :  forming  three 


26  DIVINITY. 

Holmes  is  doubtless  the  most  critical  and  valuable,  as 
well  as  the  most  elaborate.  But  the  want  of  a  pocket 
Greek  Bible,  with  the  text  of  Bos  or  of  Breitinger,  *  is 
yet  a  desideratum  ;  unless  we  except  what  has  recently 
appeared  as  a  portion  of  Mr.  Bagster's  Polyglot  Bible 
~and  a  yet  more  recent  impression,  executed  at  Glas- 
gow, "  Typis  Academicis  ;"  a  beautiful  little  church- 
pew  or  pocket  companion. 

The  Bible  did  not  appear  in  the  French  language 
till  the  year  1530  ;f  although,  about  twenty  or  thirty 
years  before,  there  might  have  been  portions  incorpo- 
rated into  a  work  called  La  Bible  Historiee.  But  the 
first  French  Protestant  Version  was  not  published  till 
1535,  the  very  year  in  which  appeared  our  own  first 
version  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  I  confess  that 
I  am  anxious  that  a  copy  of  each  of  these  well-printed, 
and  by  no  means  high  priced,  volumes  —  may  adorn 
the  shelves  of  a  well-chosen  library.  As  to  subsequent 
impressions  in  the  same  tongue,  and  with  the  Roman 
Catholic  text,  the  studious  may  rest  well  contented 
with  the  excellent  edition,  in  French  and  Latin,  pub- 
lished at  Toulouse  in  1779,  8vo.  in  nineteen  vols. ;  and 
of  which  a  beautiful  reprint  is  now  in  the  course  of 

volumes  in  folio.  See  Bishop  Marsh's  Xllth.  Lecture,  for  a  character 
of  this  publication. 

*  Of  the  edition  of  Breitinger,  which  is  careful  and  correct,  a  copy 
was  sold  at  the  sale  of  the  late  Dr.  Gosset's  library,  (A.  D.  1813,  no. 
741)  with  the  ms.  notes  of  Caesar  de  Missy,  for  41.  Us. 

f  By  Martin  Lempereur,  in  folio.  I  should  rather  have  said,  that 
the  first  French  edition  of  the  Old  Testament  appeared  in  1523, 12mo. 
and  of  the  New,  in  1477*  or  thereabouts.  See  the  authorities  in  the 
JEdes  Althorp.  vol;  i.  p.  57.  Of  the  above  edition,  printed  at  Ant- 
werp, in  folio,  I  find  a  ' '  neat  copy  "  marked  at  9,1.  2s.  in  Mr.  Trip- 
hook's  catalogue  of  1808  5  and  a  copy  of  an  edition  in  the  following 
year,  printed  at  Lyons,  in  folio,  marked  at  the  same  price.  I  never 
saw  this  latter  edition.  Martin  Lempereur  republished  his  Bible  of 


ENGLISH  BIBLES.  27 

publication.*  I  consider  this  latter  production  as 
an  almost  sine  qud  non  in  a  library  more  especially 
theological. 

It  is  with  feelings  of  no  ordinary  gratification  that 
I  now  come  to  the  mention  of  our  own  printed  ver- 
sion of  the  SACRED  TEXT;  and  if  I  am  here  rather 
more  diffuse  than  in  the  enumeration  of  the  foregoing 
versions.  I  hope  to  be  readily  pardoned.  First  and 
foremost,  let  "  the  Young  Man/' — especially  if  he  be 
destined  for  holy  orders, — get  possession  of  every  au- 
thentic piece  from  the  pens  of  TYNDAL  and  COVER- 
DALE  ;-f"  whether  they  exhibit,  or  not,  the  previous 

1530,  in  1538 ;  and  if  I  were  called  upon  to  mention,  from  memory, 
the  finest  copy  of  this  latter  Bible  ever  seen  by  me,  I  should  say  it 
was  in  the  library  at  Worlingham,  in  Suffolk  :  see  p;  8,  ante.  This 
copy  is  in  fine  original  stamped  calf  binding,  clean  and  sound 
throughout :  and  is  surely  upon  large  paper,  if  large  paper  there 
be! 

*  I  sincerely  hope  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant,  when  the  quarto 
Bible  of  Drs.  D'Oyly  and  Mant  may  be  reprinted  in  six  or  eight 
goodly  octavo  tomes,  of  respectable  execution,  to  range  with  the 
above  mentioned  edition,  or  with  similar  sized  impressions  of  the 
works  of  our  eminent  Divines.  What  a  comfort  it  was  to  the  pro- 
fession of  the  LAW,  when  Bacon  and  Comyns  made  their  appearance 
in  royal  octavos ! 

f  I  am  not  sure  whether  the  names  of  FRITH  and  BARNES  ought 
not  to  be  added  to  the  above.  Indeed  the  works  of  Tyndal,  Frith, 
and  Barnes,  were  published  together  in  one  folio  volume  in  1573  : 
see  Typog.  Antiquities,  vol.  iv.  p.  430.  I  possess  copious  MS.  ex- 
tracts from  this  precious  volume  5  and  once  possessed  a  fresh  and 
fair  copy  of  it,  divided  into  two  parts,  and  bound  in  old  yellow  mo- 
rocco, which  was  obtained  from  Mr.  R.  Triphook.  But  from  the 
extracts  which  remain,  I  cannot  refrain  from  giving  the  reader  the 
following  specimen  of  BARNES  — from  his  ee  Articles  condemned  for 
Heresie."  The  concluding  sentence  is  glorious  ! 

<f  The  Bishop  of  London,  that  was  then  called  TUNSTALL,  after 
my  departure  out  of  prison,  said  unto  a  substantial  man,  that  I  was 


28  DIVINITY. 

labours  of  Wicliffe.  Champions,  as  the  two  former 
were,  of  our  early  church,  during  the  more  critical 
period  of  her  struggles  with  the  see  of  Rome,  they  yet 
stand  out  .  .  as  "  burning  and  shining  lights".  .  whose 
radiance  ought  to  illuminate  our  understandings,  and 
whose  warmth  ought  to  penetrate  our  hearts.  But 
for  THEM  and  THEIR  LABOURS,  the  examples  of  Cran- 
mer  and  Latimer  had  been  unproductive  of  a  glori- 
ous issue.  The  seed,  sown  by  their  editions  of  the 
sacred  text,  was  watered  with  the  blood  of  our  first 
Martyrs  ;  and  has  hence  grown  up  into  a  goodly  tree, 
whose  boughs  have  overspread  the  land,  and  whose 
fruit  hath  nourished  the  fainting  soul.  Let  such 
names,  among  ourselves,  be  held  in  the  same  reve- 
rence and  respect  as  are  those  of  LUTHER  and  ME- 
LANCHTHON  among  our  neighbours  ! 

To  come  to  particulars.     The  New  Testament  was 

not  dead  (for  I  dare  say  his  conscience  did  not  reckon  me  such  an 
heretic  that  I  would  have  killed  myself,  as  the  voice  went  -,  but  yet 
would  he  have  done  it  gladly  of  his  charity)  but  I  was  (said  he)  in 
Amsterdam ;  where  I  had  never  been  in  my  life  (as  God  knoweth, 
nor  yet  in  the  country  this  x  years) — and  certain  men  did  there 
speak  with  me  (said  he) — and  he  fained  certain  words  that  they 
should  say  to  me,  and  I  to  them  j  and  added  thereunto,  that  my 
Lord  Cardinal  [WOLSEY]  would  have  me  again,  or  it  should  cost 
him  a  great  sum  of  money — how  much,  I  do  not  clearly  remember.  I 
have  marvel  that  niy  Lord  is  not  ashamed,  thus  shamefully,  and  thus 
lordly,  to  lye,  although  he  might  do  it  by  authority.  And  when  my 
Lord  Cardinal  and  he  would  spend  so  much  money  to  have  me  again, 
I  have  great  marvel  of  it.  What  can  they  make  of  me  ?  I  am  a  simple 
poor  wretch,  and  worth  no  man's  money  in  the  world  (saving  their's) 
—not  the  tenth  penny  that  they  will  give  for  me.  And  to  burn  me., 
or  to  destroy  me,  cannot  so  greatly  profit  them :  for  when  I  am 
dead,  the  sun  and  the  moon,  the  stars  and  the  elements,  water  and 
fire,  yea,  and  also  stones,  shall  defend  this  cause  against  them.,  rather 

than  THE  VERITY  SHOULD   PERISH1."  p.  215. 

The  following  is  from  his  "  Priests  may  lawfully  marry  Wives:" — 


ENGLISH  BIBLES.  29 

first  published,  without  a  data,  but  about  the  year  1526, 
in  a  duodecimo  volume.  Having  before  *  described  the 
most  perfect,  but  not,  as  hitherto  supposed,  the  only, 
copy,  of  this  inestimable  volume,  it  remains  to  add, 
that,  about  four  years  afterwards  (1530)  appeared  the 
Pentateuch  in  the  same  form — reprinted  in  1534-f~  as 
an  attempt,  or  prelude,  as  it  were,  to  an  edition  of  the 
entire  sacred  text,  comprehending  both  Testaments. 
The  completion  of  this  arduous  task  was  reserved  for 

te  Upon  a  day  St.  Gregory  sent  unto  his  ponds  for  fish,  and  in  the 
nets  that  they  fished  withall,  were  brought  up  above  six  thousand 
young  children's  heads :  the  which  thing,  when  St.  Gregory  saw, 
struck  him  sore  to  the  heart — and  he  was  very  heavy  of  that  sight — 
and  perceived  anon,  that  his  decree  that  he  made  for  priests  chas- 
tity, was  the  occasion  of  this  great  murder — in  that  the  priests  could 
not  live  sole,  nor  yet  they  durst  not  avow  their  children,  for  fear  of 
the  decree.  And  so  for  safeguard  of  their  honesty,  they  fell  into  a 
fearful  abominable  sin  to  kill  their  own  children."  p.  328. 

*  Bibliographical  Decameron,  vol.  i.  p.  173-4.  Dr.  Cotton  has 
found  a  portion  of  a  second  copy  of  this  first  edition,  in  the  library 
of  St.  Paul's  cathedral,  which  was  lettered  "  Lant's  Testament ;"  and 
of  which  the  leaves  were  misplaced  in  the  binding.  This  book  I  have 
examined ;  and,  as  the  reader  will  suppose,  with  no  small  satisfaction — 
as  the  copy,  although  imperfect,  (beginning  with  sign.  A  v)  is  fair 
and  sound.  But  my  satisfaction  would  have  been  greater,  if  the 
monitory  MS.  note,  prefixed  by  Dr.  Cotton,  had  been  attended  to. 
Such  a  volume  should  be  rebound  with  every  degree  of  care  and 
beauty.  It  is  at  present  in  a  most  sorry  state :  a  state,  I  will  be  bound 
to  say,  unknown  to  the  Dean  and  Chapter.  Not  many  feet  from  this 
precious  little  volume,  there  stands  a  rare  impression  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament, translated  into  Dutch,  and  printed  at  Antwerp  in  1553, 
12mo.  with  neat  little  wood  cuts,  and  a  fine  head  of  our  Saviour  in 
the  frontispiece.  As  a  specimen  of  printing,  this  book  is  peculiarly 
beautiful. 

f  In  the  library  of  St.  Paul's  cathedral,  there  is  a  beautiful  and 
genuine  copy  of  this  second  edition  of  Tindal's  version  of  the  Peota- 
teueh,  in  original  calf  binding,  with  stamped  arabesque  borders  and 
heads. 


SO  DIVINITY. 

Miles  Coverdale,  and  the  impression  appeared  in  1535, 
in  a  folio  volume,  printed  in  double  columns,  in  a 
foreign  secretary-gothic  type — as,  it  is  supposed,  from 
the  press  of  a  Zurich  printer.  A  perfect  copy  of  this 
exceedingly  rare,  and  proportionally  estimable,  vo- 
lume, is,  I  think,  yet  unknown  :  as  all  those,  of  which 
I  have  any  knowledge,  are  deficient  in  some  one  re- 
spect or  other,* 

This  holy  and  most  desirable  work  being  accomplish- 
ed, it  wanted  not  imitators  and  abettors.  Coverdale's 
book  was  reprinted,  with  more  or  less  trifling  correc- 
tions and  additions,  in  1537, 1539, 1540 ;  and  yet  more 
magnificently  in  1568/f-  The  Bibles,  of  these  dates, 

*  A  particular  description  of  this  rare  and  highly  valuable  book 
will  be  found  in  the  Biblioth.  Spencer,  vol.  1.  p.  78,  and  in  Cotton, 
p.  S-ll  1.  See  also  the  Mdes  Althorpiana,  vol.  i.  p.  61.  Imperfect 
copies  are  by  no  means  very  uncommon.  In  that  most  curious  and 
magnificent  old  library  at  Blickling,  in  Norfolk,  the  seat  of  the  Noble 
Family  of  the  SUFFIELDS,  there  are  two  copies  of  this  description  j 
of  which  one  begins  with  fol.  iii.  of  the  Old  Testament,  having  the 
remainder  apparently  perfect— and  with  fol.  ii.  to  fol.  cij.  of  the 
New  Test.  In  the  other  copy  all  the  introductory  pieces  are  wanting ; 
but  the  text,  from  beginning  to  end,  is  quite  perfect.  A  very  im- 
perfect copy  is  in  the  library  of  Castle  Ashby,  in  Northamptonshire, 
the  seat  of  the  Marquis  of  Northampton.  Dr.  Cotton's  list  will 
supply  notices  of  other  copies. 

f  Perfect  copies  of  these  Bibles,  especially  of  that  of  Matthews  of 
^1537*  are  of  the  extremest  rarity.  A  perfect  copy  of  the  latter  was 
purchased  at  a  late  sale,  at  Mr.  Sotheby's  for  £l?..I7s.  by  Mr. 
Triphook,  and  is  now  the  property  of  Mr.  Heber.  The  cause  of 
such  rarity,  even  in  an  imperfect  state,  is  obvious  enough.  Many 
a  copy,  which  had  survived  the  cupidity  of  the  searchers,  during  the 
reign  of  Mary,  was  negligently  treated  by  the  posterity  of  their  first 
possessors  j  placed  in  dark  and  damp  holes  and  corners — a  prey  to 
rats  and  mice— or  to  perish  from  rain  and  mildew.  How  many  copies, 
too,  of  these  earlier  Protestant  Bibles  were  flung  into  the  fires  which 
consumed  the  Martyrs  in  Smithfield  ?  Perhaps  even  Cranmer's  fune- 


ENGLISH  BIBLES.  31 

are  called  under  the  names  of  those  of  MATTHEW, 
TAVERNER,  CRANMER,  and  the  BISHOP'S  ;  and  are  all 
printed  in  a  handsome  folio  form,  but  are  very  diffi- 
cult to  acquire  in  a  clean  and  perfect  state.  A  careful 
perusal  of  them  shews  how  little  is  to  be  gained  from 
a  recasting  of  the  version.  There  is  a  strength,  sim- 
plicity, and  perspicuity,  about  our  old  version,  which 
carry  a  charrn  and  a  conviction  about  it,  not  to  be 
easily  described. 

The  earliest  impression  in  Scotland  was  in  1576-9, 
in  folio  ;  but,  what  may  probably  surprise  the  reader, 
the  language  is  rather  English  than  Scotch.  This  is  a 

ral  pile  was  lighted  with  the  leaves  of  his  own  Bible !  There  is 
always  a  keen  and  cutting  spirit  of  sarcasm  in  religious  persecution  : 
even  on  both  sides  of  the  question. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  remark,  that  detailed  descriptions  of  the 
above  rare  Bibles  of  1537,  1539,  1540,  and  1568,  appear  in  the 
jEdes  Althorpianx ;  and  that  all  the  editions  by  GRAFTON,  WHIT- 
CHURCH  and  DAY — the  great  typographical  triumvirate  of  the  middle 
of  the  sixteenth  century — are  described  in  vol.  iii.  p.  434-498,  and 
vol.  iv.  p.  57-65— of  the  recent  edition  of  our  Typographical  Anti- 
quities. Lewis  and  Dr.  Cotton  have  also  given  detailed  accounts  of 
several :  but  the  work  of  Lewis  stands  in  direful  need  of  revision 
and  enlargement.  Of  the  Bibles,  just  mentioned,  that  of  Graf  ton 
of  1540,  executed  under  the  patronage  of  Abp.  Cranmer,  is  one 
upon  which  the  greatest  typographical  luxury  appears  to  have  been 
bestowed.  It  should  seem  that  there  are  two  known  copies  of  it 
UPON  VELLUM  :  one  in  the  British  Museum,  and  the  other  in  St. 
John's  College  library,  Cambridge.  In  a  catalogue  of  the  books  of 
."  William  Stewart,  Esq.  at  Spoutwells,"  sold  at  Perth  by  D.  Mori* 
son,  Jun.  bookseller,  in  1817,  see  no.  664— there  appears  to  have  been 
a  copy  of  Redman  s  rare  edition  in  folio,  of  the  same  year  with  Graf- 
ton's,  1540:  there  called  e(  the  scarcest  of  all  the  old  English  trans- 
lations of  the  Bible :"  but  (in  the  usual  strain  of  lamentation  !)  the 
copy  "  unfortunately  begins  with  fol.  2  :  but  is  otherwise  perfect 
and  in  fine  preservation."  Why  Mr.  M.  should  say,  "  the  history  of 
it  is  unknown,"  I  cannot  discover.  A  particular  description  of  it  is 


32  DIVINITY. 

volume  of  very  rare  occurrence  —  in  a  perfect  state.* 
Early  in  the  seventeenth  century,  appeared  what  is 
called  our  authorised  version — under  the  auspices  of 
Jaines  I. :  in  two  stately  folio  volumes,  1611.  A  copy 
of  this  impression  is  almost  absolutely  necessary  for 
every  Library  which  has  any  claim  to  be  curious  or 

given  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  309  :  and  so  far  from  the  copy  of 
it  in  Emanuel  College  library,  "  being  the  only  one  upon  paper  of 
which  we  have  an  account/'  Dr.  Cotton  notices  three  others — one  in 
the  British  Museum,  a  second  in  Herbert's  collection,  and  a  third  in 
the  library  of  St.  Paul's  cathedral.f  The  King,  according  to  Mr. 
Morison,  possesses  it  UPON  VELLUM.  I  doubt  if  this  be  the  case. 

It  would  only  deceive  the  reader  to  lay  down  any  thing  in  the 
shape  of  canons  for  the  prices  of  these  rare  old  Bibles.  They  are 
seldom  or  never  perfect,  and  still  more  seldom  in  a  clean  condition. 
Like  diamonds  of  a  different  character,  their  value  increases  greatly 
in  proportion  to  size  and  colour.  Let  no  man  buy  these  ancient  trea- 
sures without  ocular  demonstration  :  for  here,  in  particular,  is  the 
truth  of  Addison's  remark  abundantly  proved. — "  Our  sight  (says 
that  elegant  writer)  is  the  most  perfect  and  most  delightful  of  all  our 
senses."  Spectator,  no.  411.  Consult  also  Todd's  Vindication  of  the 
Translation  of  the  Bible,  p.  25,  &c. 

*  A  copy  of  this  very  rare  book  is  in  the  Althorp  Library,  as  de- 
scribed in  the  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  i.  p.  68 — 70.  I  have  seen  another 
copy  of  it,  but  in  an  imperfect  state,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  *  *  * 
at  Beccles  in  Suffolk.  In  Herbert's  interleaved  copy  of  his  own 
work,  now  in  my  possession,  there  is  a  brief  notice  of  this  Scotch 
Bible,  in  the  hand  writing  of  Gough ;  who  had  erroneouly  supposed 
that  there  was  an  edition  of  it  in  1576,  and  another  in  1579  :  whereas 
these  dates  comprehend  one  and  the  same  impression,  The  former 
is  attached  to  the  New  Testament,  and  the  latter  to  the  Old. 


t  I  have  cursorily  examined  the  black  letter  folio  editions  of  the  English  Bible  in 
this  Library.  They  present  a  sorry  appearance,  being  much  after  the  fashion  of  a 
certain  regiment,  of  which  the  commander  "  flatly"  refused  to  march  them  through  Co- 
ventry.  Doubtless  they  stand  in  great  need  of  better  clothing.  They  are  about  twenty 
in  number,  and  the  only  perfect  one  is  that  of  Grafton,  1541,  but  in  a  loose  state. 
There  is  an  edition  by  Hyll  and  Reynolds,  in  1549,  folio,  being  a  reprint  of  Matthew's 
of  1537— which,  at  first  sight,  may  be  mistaken  for  that  rare  edition.  It  is  a  sound 
copy,  but  wants  the  frontispiece,  &c.  Of  Tindal's  New  Testament,  in  this  library,  I 
have  said  somewhat  in  a  preceding  page. 


ENGLISH  BIBLES.  33 

complete  : — not  however  solely  for  the  reason  assigned 
below.  *  A  lover  of  fine  books,  and  in  particular  of 
fine  Bibles,  will  not  fail  to  secure  good  copies  of  the 
impressions  by  Field,  Hayes,  Baskett,  and  Basker- 
ville:^  and  if  he  deals  in  oddities,  or  capricious  devi- 

*  There  should  be  an  engraved  title-page  —  wanting  in  the  copy 
at  Althorp.  See  Dr.  Cotton's  various  editions  of  the  Bible,  p.  29. 
Upon  the  merits  of  the  version  of  1611,  read  the  opinions  of  sundry 
learned  men  quoted  in  Todd's  Mem.  of  Walton,  vol.  i.  p.  91-2. 

f  Fine  copies  of  these  Bibles  are  described  in  the  ^Edes  Althorpiance, 
vol.  i.  p.  76,  80,  81.  Of  these  impressions,  that  of  Baskett,  1717, 
is  the  most  magnificent.  There  are  two  copies  of  it  UPON  VELLUM. 
Field's  great  Bible  of  1660  was  an  unrivalled  specimen  of  the  press 
of  the  times.  It  also  professed  to  be  very  carefully  and  accurately 
printed,  in  order  to  counteract  the  mischievous  effects  of  many  of 
the  errors  of  preceding  editions :  and  yet  it  has  received  a  severe 
censure  from  Bishop  Wetenhal,  in  his  little  treatise,  entitled  "  Scrip- 
ture authentic  and  Faith  certain,"  1686,  p.  19 — inasmuch  as  the  word 
Yp  was  substituted  for  We.  The  passage  is  thus  5  from  Acts  vi.  3. 
— <(  Look  ye  out  among  you  seven  men  of  honest  report,  full  of  the 
holy  ghost  and  wisdom,  whom  WE  may  appoint  over  this  business." 
Field,  the  printer  of  the  Bible  in  question,  had  inadvertently  put 
"  YE  may  appoint  "  &c. :  upon  which  the  Bishop  remarks,  that  "  it 
is  not  improbable  it  might  be  done  at  first  with  design,  and  particu- 
larly of  those  who  would  establish  the  people's  power,  not  only  in 
electing,  but  even  in  ordaining  their  own  ministers.''  ee  But  I  think 
(says  Berriman,  very  justly)  such  a  heavy  charge  ought  not  to  be 
admitted  without  clear  proof :  and  I  confess  I  know  of  none.  The 
error  might  easily  happen  at  the  press,  through  negligence ;  as  it  is 
certain  many  others  have  done."  I  shall  have  occasion  to  speak 
again  of  Berriman  at  the  end  of  this  note. 

In  the  old  and  not  incurious  library  at  Worlingham  in  Suffolk, 
(see  p.  8.  ante,)  there  is  a  very  fine  ruled  copy,  approaching  to 
large  paper,  of  Hayes's  Bible,  published  at  Cambridge  in  1674,  2 
vols.  folio.  On  the  fly  leaf  of  it,  is  the  following  memorandum : 
N.  B.  This  Bible  belonged  to  K.  Charles  Hd.  and  [was]  given  by  him 
to  Duke  Lauderdale  and  sold  by  Auction  wth  ye  rest  of  his  Books."  In 
a  comparatively  modern  hand,  below,  is  witten  in  pencil — 

D 


34  DIVINITY. 

ations  from  the  established  texts  he  will  purchase  many 
a  curious,  antecedent  impression.  When  he  comes 

Hark  ye,  my  Friends,  that  on  this  Bible  look, 
Marvel  not  at  the  fairness  of  the  Book ; 
No  soil  of  fingers,  nor  such  ugly  things, 
Expect  to  find,  Sirs  j— for  it  was  ye  King's. 

In  this  same  library  is  also  a  most  beautiful  copy,  upon  large  paper, 
(not  uncommon)  of  Buck  and  Daniels  Bible  and  Prayer  Book,  1638, 
folio.  It  is  ruled  with  red  lines,  with  the  most  elaborate  ornament 
on  the  sides  of  the  binding  :  an  extraordinary  copy. 

Old  Tom  Fuller,  who  published  his  "  Mixt  Contemplations  on  these 
times"  about  the  same  year  in  which  Field's  great  Bible  appeared, 
thus  notices  the  errors  of  many  preceding  impressions  (above  alluded 
to  in  the  text)  under  the  quaint  title  of 

"  Fyefor  Shame. 

ft  Considering  with  myself  the  causes  of  the  growth  and  increase 
of  impiety  and  profaneness  in  our  Land,  amongst  others  this  seemeth 
to  me  not  the  least,  viz.  the  late  many  false  and  erroneous  impressions 
of  the  Bible.  Now  know,  what  is  but  carelessness  in  other  books, 
is  impiety  in  setting  forth  of  the  BIBLE.  As  Noah  in  all  unclean 
creatures  preserved  but  two  of  a  kind,  so  among  some  hundreds  in 
several  editions  we  will  insist  onely  on  two  instances.  In  the  Bible 
printed  at  London  1653,  we  read  "  1  Cor.  vi.  9.  Know  ye  not  that 
the  unrighteous  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God  ?"  for  "  not  in- 
herit." 

"  Now  when  a  Reverend  Dr  in  Divinity  did  mildly  reprove  some 
Libertines  for  their  licentious  life,  they  did  produce  this  text  from  the 
authority  of  this  corrupt  edition,  in  justification  of  their  vicious  and 
inordinate  conversations. 

"  The  next  instance  shall  be  in  the  Bible  printed  at  London  in 
quarto,  (forbearing  the  name  of  the  Printer,  because  not  done  wil- 
fully by  him)  in  the  singing  Psalms,  Psal.  Ixvii.  2. 

"  That  all  the  Earth  may  know 
The  way  to  Worldly  Wealth,"  for 
"  Godly  wealth." 

"  It  is  too  probable,  that  too  many  have  perused  and  practised  this 
erroneous  impression,  namely  such,  who  by  plundering,  oppression, 
cosening,  force  and  fraud,  have  not  in  our  age  suddenly  advanced 
[to]  vast  estates." 


ENGLISH  BIBLES.  35 

down  to  the  present  day,  he  must  exercise  his  choice 
with  great  discretion ;  and  must  fortify  himself,  as 
much  as  possible,  against  the  seductive  influence 
of  brilliant  types,  hot-pressed  paper,  ample  margins, 
and  embellishments  (in  the  character  of  Engravings) 
of  all  forms  and  descriptions. 

In  selecting  what  I  call  a  good,  critical,  edition  of 

Berriman,  (before  mentioned)  in  his  <f  Critical  'Dissertation,  upon 
1  Tim.  iii.  16,  1741,  8vo.  p.  52-3,  also  notices  several  glaring  and 
unpardonable  blunders  in  the  impressions  of  the  Bible  during  the 
xvi ith  century  :  of  which  the  chief  are  these.  In  a  Bible  printed 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  the  word  NOT  was  left  out  in  the  vnth 
commandment.  Selden,  in  his  Table  Talk,  art.  Bible,  sect.  XI.  says, 
(t  a  thousand  copies"  were  printed  with  the  omission  of  the  f(  not." 
And  Heylen,  in  his  Life  of  Laud,  Book  iii.  p.  228,  fixes  it  in  the 
year  1632.  "  His  Majesty  (Charles  I.)  being  made  acquainted  with 
it,  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  order  was  given  for  calling  the  Prin- 
ters into  the  High  Commission ;  where,  upon  evidence  of  the  fact, 
the  whole  impression  was  called  in,  and  the  Printers  deeply  fined, 
as  they  justly  merited."  In  this  same  reign,  an  edition  of  the  Bible 
was  printed  in  which  the  text  ran  (Ps.  xiv.  1.)  "  The  fool  hath 
said  in  his  heart  THERE  is  A  GOD."  Mr.  Nye  (in  his  defence  of  the 
canon  of  the  New  Testament)  tells  us  that,  in  consequence  "  the 
Printers  were  fined  £3000.  and  all  the  copies  were  suppressed  by 
the  King's  order."  If  the  fact  be  thus,  the  punishment  seems  to 
have  been  frightfully  disproportionate :  for  the  error  might  have 
been  committed,  through  inadvertency,  by  the  most  respectable 
Printers.  The  wonder  is,  even  in  this  our  day,  not  that  errors  very 
frequently  occur  (which  they  do)  but  that  more  errors  are  not  dis- 
cernible— considering  the  millions  of  Bibles  which  perhaps  half  a 
dozen  years  bring  forth.  It  were  well,  however,  if  a  little  more  at- 
tention were  sometimes  paid  to  the  texts  of  our  PRAYER  BOOKS. 
The  most  careful  clergyman  may  commit  more  than  one  error  in  the 
course  of  his  perusal  of  some  impressions ,  among  which  it  pains  a 
dutiful  son  of  Alma  Mater,  to  declare,  that  in  an  Oxford  edition  of  the 
Liturgy,  of  1813,  4to.  the  second  line  "  O  Lamb  of  God  that  takest 
away  the  sins  of  the  world,"  is  printed  (at  the  end)  "  the  sins  of  the 
Lord:"  a  very  gross,  and  scarcely  venial,  fault. 


36  DIVINITY. 

the  English  Bible,  with  explanatory  notes,   let  the 
united  labours  of  Patrick,  Lowth,  and  Whitby,  in 
seven  folio  volumes,  (1731)  suffice ;  but  if  destitute  of 
these  aids,  let  the  recent  labours  of  Doctors  D'Oyly 
and  Mant  satisfy  abundantly  both  the  anxious  and 
enlightened  reader.     The  notes  in  this  edition,  every 
one  of  which  is  taken  from  the  annotations  of  some 
Divine  of  established  reputation,  contain  an  admirable 
body  of  Christian  theology.    He,  however,  who  shall 
want  the  means,  rather  than  the  inclination,  to  pur- 
chase Patrick,  and  his  fellow  commentators  —  or  the 
biblical  labours  of  Doctors  D'Oyly  and  Mant — need 
not  hesitate  to  secure  a  neatly  bound  copy  of  Bishop 
Wilson  s  Bible ;  which,  till  lately,  was  the  usual  par- 
lour companion  of  orthodox  families.    Whatever  that 
excellent  prelate  did,  he  did,  literally  and  truly,  "  to 
the  glory  of  God  : "  and  if  ever  an  English  Bishop  may 
be  said  to  have  been  primitive,  and  almost  apostolical, 
it  was  WILSON  :  who  presided  over  the  See  of  Sodor 
and  Man.   His  Bible  is  now  depreciated  in  pecuniary 
value,  not  because  its  intrinsic  worth  is  not  as  highly 
respected  as  ever,  but  because  the   more   extended 
labours   of  subsequent    Commenators   have  greatly 
superseded  its  utility.     There  was  a  time,  scarcely 
seven  years  ago,  when  Collectors  went  melancholy,  or 
raving  mad,  if  they  possessed  not  the  large  paper  of 
Bishop  Wilson's  Bible!*     That  time  is  past  .  .  pro- 

*  It  should  be  observed,  that  to  Bishop  Wilson's  Bible  there  is, 
prefixed,  a  list  of  English  Bibles,  taken  chiefly  from  the  privately 
printed  list  of  Dr.  Ducarel,  in  1778,  Svo. ;  and  which  is  very  credit- 
ably executed  by  Mr.  Cruttwell  of  Bath,  where  the  work  was  pub- 
lished. There  are  also  various  readings  from  our  older  Bibles,  be- 
tween the  text  and  notes,  throughout.  Upon  the  whole,  this  publi- 
cation of  the  Sacred  Text  will  be  yet  found  to  have  its  uses. 


ENGLISH  BIBLES.  37 

bably  never  to  return.  Let  it  not,  however  be  said 
that  I  wish  to  exclude,  from  the  cabinets  of  the  cu- 
rious or  pious,  those  impressions  of  the  Sacred  Text 
which  were  put  forth  in  the  dissenting  school  of  Divi- 
nity. Far  indeed  be  it  from  me  to  question  the  good 
to  be  derived  from  the  pious  exertions  of  Henry,  Gill, 
Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  and  similar  Annotators.* 

Among  the  highest  prices  given  for  a  morocco- coated  copy  of  this 
Bible  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  was  that  of  58Z.  16s. — at  the  sale  of  the  late 
Colonel  Stanley's  books,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Arch  for 
Sir  M.  M.  Sykes,  Bart.  On  the  appearance  of  the  OXFORD  BIBLE 
(I  speak  of  that  of  Drs.  D'Oyly  and  Mant)  the  price,  both  of  large  and 
small  paper  copies,  fell  sensibly  and  rapidly ;  and  I  find  that  the  same 
booksellers  who  purchased  the  Stanley  copy,  became  purchasers  also 
of  the  large  paper  copy  at  the  sale  of  the  library  of  the  late  Queen 
Charlotte.  This  copy  was  bound  in  blue  morocco,  and  is  intro- 
duced in  their  Catalogue  for  1821  (no.  706)  at  the  diminished 
price  of  26J.  5s.  At  the  time  of  penning  this  note,  there  is  pro- 
bably the  finest  known  copy  of  Patrick  and  Whitby's,  &c.  on  sale,  at 
Mr.  Thorpe's,  in  seven  volumes,  bound  in  russia.  It  was  once  the 
property  of  Mr.  Ormerod,  the  late  Vicar  of  Kensington ;  who  pur- 
chased it  for  12Z.  12^.,  and  who,  on  several  occasions,  was  wont  to 
expatiate  upon  its  beauty  and  completeness. 

*  It  may  be  worth  while  to  state  the  best  editions  of  the  works  of 
these  eminent  dissenting  Divines  j  that  is  to  say,  the  best  editions  of 
their  labours,  or  annotations,  upon  the  Bible.  HENRY'S  Exposition  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments  first  appeared,  collectively,  in  1710,  five 
vols.  folio  -,  but  the  recent  edition  of  1810,  in  six  vols.  4to'.,  is  the 
best — as  the  last  volume  contains  additional  matter  from  the  author's 
MSS.  left  at  his  decease.  Henry  was  a  truly  pious  and  excellent 
man,  and  his  annotations  (evincing,  however,  less  learning  and 
acumen  than  are  to  be  found  in  Gill)  are  still  the  delight  of  that  par- 
ticular sect  called  "  Evangelical."  Dr.  GILL'S  Exposition  of  the  New 
Testament  was  published  in  1746,  &c.  three  vols.  folio  :  of  the  Old, 
in  1748,  &c.  nine  vols.  folio :  but  the  work,  advancing  in  reputation 
and  piice,  became  rare — so  as  to  induce  Mr.  Bagster  to  put  forth  a 
new  edition  of  the  whole,  in  ten  vols.  4 to.  I  recommend  the  anno- 
tations of  Gill  to  every  theological  collector  3  and  those  who  have  the 


38  DIVINITY. 

And  thus  much  for  Bibles  in  the  Latin,  German, 
Italian,  French,  and  English  languages,  in  the  chro- 
nological order  in  which  they  appear  to  have  been 
published.  A  word — and  but  little  more  than  a  word 
— respecting 

GREEK  TESTAMENTS. 

The  choice  of  editions  of  these  precious  volumes  is 
perplexing,  and  the  number  of  them  almost  count- 
less. Yet  I  venture  upon  the  recommendation  of 
the  following ;  from  which  two  or  three  may  be  se- 
lected. I  deem  the  Compliitensian  impression,  and 
the  first  two  of  Erasmus,  1516-1519,  indispensable 
in  a  professedly  biblical  collection  :  as  I  do  the  parent 
texts  of  Stephen,  1550,  folio,  and  the  Elzevir,  1624, 
12mo.  To  these  let  the  critical  editions  of  Bengel, 
1734,  4 to.  Wetstein,  1751,  folio,  Griesbach,  1796, 
8vo.*  Matthei,  1782,  8vo.  and  ALTER,  1786,  8vo. 

quarto  edition  will  probably  feel  disposed  to  purchase  Gill's  Body  of 
Practical  Divinity,  containing  some  account  of  his  Life,  Writings, 
and  Character,  in  two  vols.  quarto,  1773.  These  two  volumes  are 
worth  about  \l.  15s.  The  labours  of  Dr.  Adam  Clarke  upon  the 
Bible  "  with  a  commentary,  and  critical  notes,  designed  as  a  help  to 
the  better  understanding  of  the  Sacred  Writings,"  are  yet  in  a  course 
of  publication  j  but  three  volumes,  in  4to.  may  be  had  entire.  They 
appear  in  numbers  or  parts,  and  have  met  with  an  extensive  and 
prosperous  sale.  The  learning  (especially  in  the  Hebrew  and 
Oriental  languages)  of  the  Editor,  and  the  respectability  of  his  cha- 
racter, render  his  performance  art  acceptable  acquisition  to  the  libra- 
ries of  Christians  of  every  denomination. 

*  Consult  Bishop  Marsh's  Seventh  Lecture,  (1810,  part  11,)  upon 
the  merits  of  WETSTEIN  and  GRIESBACH  -,  of  the  former,  he  says 
"  he  alone  contributed  more  to  advance  the  criticism  of  the  Greek 
Testament,  than  all  who  had  gone  before  him  :  and  this  task  he  per- 
formed, not  only  without  support,  either  public  or  private,  but  dur- 
ing a  series  of  severe  trials,  under  which  a  mind  of  less  energy  than 


GREEK  TESTAMENTS.  39 

be  added.  Again,  if  a  selection  only  from  the  preceding 
be  requisite,  I  should  recommend  the  editions  of  Ste- 
phen, Wetstein,  and  Griesbach.  Happy,  and  more 
than  thrice  happy,  is  that  "  Young  Man,"  who,  "  with 
means,  and  appurtenances  to  boot,"  has  the  taste  and 
zeal  to  indulge  himself  in  a  collection  of  the  INSPIRED 
WRITINGS,  far  beyond  the  narrowed  limits  (prescribed 
from  necessity)  which  the  foregoing  pages  disclose: 
who,  in  all  the  turnings  and  windings  of  the  Book- 
mania,  casts  an  anxious  eye  upon  many  a  stately  folio, 
and  many  a  beautiful  duodecimo,  of  which  the  merits 
have  not  been  here  sufficiently  appreciated,  or  the 
beauty  sufficiently  depicted :  —  which  have  escaped 
the  researches  of  Masch,  and  eluded  the  vigilance  of 
Adler.  Here,  (in  the  department  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament alone)  the  ten  folios  of  Erasmus  stand,  in 
one  compact  body  of  russia  binding  ;  there,  the  ornate 
Stephanine  text  —  coated  in  old  French  morocco, 

Wetstein's  would  infallibly  have  sunk.  In  short,  he  gave  a  new  turn 
to  the  criticism  of  the  Greek  Testament,  and  laid  the  foundation  on 
which  later  editors  have  built/'  p.  23.  Yet  is  Griesbach's,  on  very 
many  accounts,  the  preferable  edition  :  not  so  much  for  philological 
notes,  as  for  the  establishment  of  the  text  on  the  purest  critical  prin- 
ciples. "  The  days  are  gone"  when  Wetstein's  two  closely  printed 
folios  are  to  be  obtained  (as  I  once  obtained  them,  about  sixteen 
years  ago)  for  £%.  10s.  half  bound,  uncut !  Wetstein,  clad  in  goodly 
calf  or  russia,  is  worth  £5.  5s.  even  at  an  auction.  The  late  un- 
fortunate Mr.  Lunn,  the  bookseller,  (one  of  the  best  natured,  and 
most  kindly  disposed  creatures  in  the  world,)  had  a  passion  for  pur- 
chasing all  the  copies  of  Wetstein  upon  which  he  could  lay  his  hands, 
in  Holland  :  arid  told  me,  that,  in  consequence,  there  was  scarcely  a 
copy  obtainable  upon  the  Continent.  He  was  doubtless  smitten  with 
a  Wetstein  mania.  Griesbach  is  common  in  8vo.  but  the  large  paper 
copies  in  4to.  will  sometimes  bring  £12. 12s.  The  late  Puke  of  Graf- 
ton  had  these  large  paper  printed  at  his  own  expense,  but  my  vision 
is  too  obtuse,  or  my  taste  too  uncultivated,  to  call  them  handsome. 


40  DIVINITY. 

with  mellow  gilt  tooling — from  the  duodecimo  O  mi- 
rlficam  to  the  reprint  of  the  last  folio  edition  — 
catches  and  comforts  his  rejoicing  eye !  Yonder,  are 
all  the  Elzevirs,  uncut,  in  primitive  state  of  vellum 
binding;  terminated  by  the  diminitive  Sedan*  and 
incomparable  Ele.au!  Beneath,  are  the  lusty  folios  of 
Gregory,  Mill,  and  Kuster — all  in  good  old  Oxford 
bindings,  upon  LARGE  and  lovely  paper :  such  as  we 
must  almost  despair  to  see  revived  "  in  these  degene- 
rate days !" 

LITURGY. 

It  may  be  expected  that  I  should  say  something 
about  the  editions  of  our  LITURGY — as  the  next  volume, 
in  the  estimation  of  the  orthodox  reader,  to  that  of  the 
Bible.  But  in  truth,  there  is  little,  bibliographically 
speaking,  which  can  be  advanced  upon  the  subject. 
The  origin  of  our  Prayers  must  be  sought  for  in  the 
devotional  volumes  belonging  to  ancient  CATHEDRAL 
SERVICES! — and  of  these,  again,  in  the  compositions 

*  In  the  fine  library  at  Blickling,  (see  page  30,  ante)  is  an  ex- 
traordinary and  perhaps  unique  copy  of  this  diminutive  volume  :  it 
is  uncut,  having  every  other  leaf  upon  large  paper. 

t  The  ancient  Services  of  Salisbury,  York,  and  Hereford  cathe- 
drals— and  especially  that  of  the  former — have  been  chiefly  consulted. 
Upon  these,  the  reader  may  examine  the  notes  in  the  Bibliog.  Deca- 
meron, vol.  i.  p.  9- 12  ',  and  particularly  the  work  of  Gough,  to  which 
they  frequently  refer.  I  am  however  enabled  to  add  a  remark  or 
two,  which  may  be  worth  intruding  in  this  place.  The  first  edition 
of  the  YORK  MISSAL  is  allowed  to  be  in  1516  j  but  the  Breviary  was 
printed  in  1493,  and  the  MANUAL  in  1509, 4to.  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde. 
Of  this  latter  volume,  I  was  wholly  ignorant,  —  (both  in  the  Deca- 
meron and  Typog.  Antiq.)  till  recently  furnished,  by  the  kindness  of 
Earl  Spencer,  with  a  description  of  a  very  fine  copy  of  it,  having 
many  rough  leaves,  in  old  calf  binding,  with  the  Wentworth  arms, 


PRAYER  BOOKS.  41 

of  the  FATHERS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  The  whole  is  a 
goodly  tree,  springing  out  of  the  soil  of  Scripture,  and 

in  the  library  of  Earl  Fitzwilliam,  at  Wentworth  House,  in  Yorkshire. 
After  the  date,  it  has  these  verses  : 

Sane  hoc  volumen  digessit  arte  magister 
Wynandus  de  JVorde  incola  londonii. 

It  contains  a  to  m,  in  eights,  and  n  with  six  leaves.  They  preserve 
in  the  Cathedral  library  at  Salisbury,  a  beautiful  copy  of  the  SALIS- 
BURY MISSAL,  of  1527,  folio,  printed  by  Prevost :  to  which,  from 
sundry  ms.  notes  prefixed,  a  great  importance  seems  to  be  attached  j 
but,  in  truth,  this  very  edition  has  passed  through  my  hands  (though 
not  in  such  really  beautiful  condition)  more  than  once,  and  a  mode- 
rate price  has  been  paid  for  it.  The  story,  belonging  to  its  acquisi- 
sition,  at  Salisbury,  is  briefly  this.  The  copy  in  question  was  once 
Bishop  Burnett's,  whose  arms  are  pasted  on  the  reverse  of  the  first 
leaf,  and  who  is  said  to  have  given  17 1.  for  it.  From  the  Bishop,  it 
went  into  the  hands  of  Tom  Rawlinson,  of  celebrated  bibliomaniacal 
memory,  whose  characteristic  C  and  P  (Collated  and  Perfect)  are  on 
the  frontispiece.  After  him,  James  West  became  its  owner :  and, 
more  recently,  it  was  obtained  by  the  late  Mr.  Brande.  It  hence 
became  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Hurley — whose  real  name,  according 
to  a  letter  of  the  present  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  inserted,  was  Wilcocks 
—and  it  was  placed  in  its  present  situation  by  the  said  Mr.  Hurley. 
The  last  ms.  note,  purporting  it  to  be  printed  ' '  upon  vellum,"  is  incor- 
rect :  it  has  only  the  burial  service,  of  four  leaves,  beginning  ' '  Te 
igitur  clementissime  pater  " — so  printed  :  which  is  generally  the  case. 
The  value  of  such  a  copy  may  be  5Z.  5s. 

But  it  is  also  in  the  editions  of  the  LIBER  FESTIVALIS,  DIRECTO- 
RIUM  SACERDOTUM,  and  books  of  this  sort,  that  the  origin  of  our 
Prayer  Book  may  be  traced.  Caxton  printed  both  these  books,  and 
W.  de  Worde  and  Pynson  frequently  reprinted  them.  From  the 
former,  of  the  date  of  1483,  I  present  the  reader  with  theirs t  printed 
English  version  of  the  LORD'S  PRAYER.  "  Father  our  that  art  in 
heavens,  hlalowed  be  thy  name :  thy  kingdom  come  to  us :  thy  will  be 
done  in  earth  as  is  in  heaven :  our  every  day's  bread  give  us  to  day ;  and 
forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive  them  that  trespass  against  us ; 
and  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  all  evil  sin,  amen" 
See  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  164.  The  Lord's  Prayer,  Creed,  Ave 


42  DIVINITY. 

bearing  fruit  of  various  hues  and  qualities.  We  pre- 
sume that,  among  the  varieties  of  this  tree,  that  which 
throws  its  branches  round  the  Church  of  England  — 
and  which  has  not  only  yielded  shelter  from  the  storm, 
and  shade  from  the  heat,  to  countless  generations, 
but  has  invigorated  both  young  and  old  with  the 
flavour  and  nutrition  of  its  fruit — in  other  words,  the 
Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England — is  eminently  en- 
titled to  distinction  and  commendation.  Stripped  of 
the  mummery  of  idle  forms,  and  communicating 
directly  with  the  heart,  our  Rationale  of  public  prayers 
has  been  seldom  criticised  (even  by  the  bitterest  of  its 
assailants)  without  respect,  or  meditated  upon  without 
advantage. 

I  can,  however,  do  little  more  than  make  brief 
mention  of  editions  of  PRAYER  BOOKS,  beginning  with 
t\\zjirst  impression  in  1549,  in  folio,  published  in  the 
reign  of  Edward  VI. :  but  which  of  these  three  impres- 
sions, of  the  same  dominical  year,  and  sometimes 
month,  is  to  be  considered  as  the  parent  text,  I  will 
not  pretend  to  determine.  Certain  it  is,  that  Mr. 
Heber,  whose  marvellous  collection  is  rich  almost  to 
overflowing,  in  every  department,  is  yet  undetermined 
upon  the  point.* 

Maria,  &c.  were  sometimes  printed  separately,  in  a  small  4to.  form  : 
and  a  very  rare  edition  of  this  kind,  printed  by  W.  de  Worde,  is  in 
the  Public  library  at  Cambridge,  among  Bishop  Moore's  books. 

*  When  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Heber  doubts,  such  a  man  as  he,  who 
records  his  doubting,  must  not  attempt  to  ascertain  and  establish  any 
very  decisive  particulars  upon  the  subject.  However,  if  any  one  will 
take  the  trouble  to  wade  through  the  quantity  of  detail  respecting 
this  point,  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  463-6 — he  may  endeavour 
to  come  to  some  conclusion  thereupon.  Oswen,  a  provincial  printer 
at  Worcester,  published  Grafton's  text  the  same  year,  in  May,  in  4to. 
See  Bibliog.  Decameron,  vol.  i.  p.  vii.,  note.  Lord  Spencer  not  only 


PRAYER  BOOKS.  43 

From  the  time  of  this  edition  to  that  of  the  more 
recent  publications,  the  number,  character,  and  form, 
of  Prayer  Books  is  without  end.  At  last  Baskerville, 
whose  Bible  has  just  been  the  theme  of  our  admiration, 
put  forth  four  editions  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
three  in  octavo,  and  one  in  duodecimo :  each  of  which 
still  maintains  a  certain  distinction  in  price.  They 
are  all  lovely  specimens  of  press- work  ;*  and  I  cannot 

possesses  Oswen's  impression,  but  three  copies  of  that  of  Grafton, 
differing  in  several  particulars  from  each  other.  Mr.  Heber  has, 
I  believe,  three  times  three  copies  of  the  latter,  but  Oswen  is  yet  a 
stranger  to  him.f  I  recommend  the  acquisition  of  a  copy  of  Whit- 
church's  edition,  of  1552,  folio,  collated  with  that  of  Grafton's,  and  his 
own  of  1549 — (for  they  printed  their  edition  of  1549  separately,  and 
conjointly)  and  also  with  the  Communion,  printed  by  Grafton,  and  the 
Form  of  Consecrating  Bishops,  of  the  same  date — interleaved :  which 
had  belonged  to  Bentley,  and  afterwards  to  Ruding.  This  copy  is 
marked  in  Mr.  Payne's  last  catalogue  at  61.  6s.  but  is  now,  I  appre- 
hend, safely  lodged  in  the  choice  cabinet  of  some  curious  Divine. 
Mr.  G.  Hibbert  has  a  copy  of  Marbeckes  curious  4to.  volume  of  the 
Prayer  Book,  in  1550,  with  scored  music,  of  which  an  account  ap- 
pears in  the  Tijpog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  469.  Messrs.  Ogle  and  Co.  had 
a  unique  collection  of  the  earlier  Prayer  Books,  from  1549  to  1662, 
in  seven  folio  volumes,  "  neat  and  uniformly  bound."  Without  (but 
not  beyond)  price. 

*  In  the  authority,  last  referred  to,  p.  viii.,  note,  it  should  have  been 
specified  that  there  are  two  octavo  editions,  one  with  a  border,  and  the 
other  without :  each  in  long  lines.  The  one  in  double  columns,  to 
which  the  Oxfordshire  Squire  (above  mentioned)  was  so  much 
attached,  has  no  border.  The  duodecimo  is  in  double  columns, 
without  a  border.  There  is  a  fine  clean  copy  (in  ordinary  calf  binding, 
of  the  bordered  long  line  copy  in  the  library  at  Strawberry  Hill. 
Respecting  the  PRAYER  BOOKS  of  BASKERVILLE,  the  late  Mr.  Smart, 
bookseller  at  Worcester,  (who  died  a  very  old  man)  told  me,  about 
ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  that  on  the  death  of  that  printer  he  made  the 

t  In  the  old  library  at  Blickling,  there  is  a  fair  and  clean  copy  of  the  June  impres- 
sion  of  1549 — in  noticing  which,  I  find,  among  my  MSS.  the  following  memorandum  ; 
"  Look  at  the  marriage  service,  about  paying  down  money." 


44  DIVINITY. 

bring  myself  to  blame  the  custom  of  a  most  respect- 
able country  Squire,  in  the  vicinity  of  Oxford,  who 
would  never  read  the  service  and  make  the  responses 
at  church,  out  of  any  other  edition  but  that  of  the 
double- columned  octavo  Baskerville,  nor  carry  any 
other  devotional  Manual  with  him  to  the  altar  than 
that  of  the  duodecimo  Baskerville.  Next  to  the 
impression  of  the  Prayer  Books  by  this  last  mentioned 
printer,  the  curious  covet  that  ofJarvis,  executed  in 
a  small  but  clear  and  distinct  type,  in  double  columns, 
in  1791,  8vo.  And,  more  recently,  Mr.  Bulmer  has 
tried  the  efforts  of  his  matchless  press,  not  only  in  a 
portion  of  the  Bible  of  Mr.  John  Reeves,  but  of  the 
Prayer  Book  also.  This  latter  is  printed  in  the  8vo. 
and  12mo.  forms;  and  for  the  sake  of  its  prolego- 
mena,  or  introductory  remarks,  may  well  find  a  place 
upon  the  shelf  of  every  pew.*  The  Prayer  Books 
printed  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  are  chiefly  of  a  folio, 
or  quarto,  or  a  large  octavo  form.  They  have  also  a 
noble  and  comforting  appearance ;  and  most  discon- 

best  of  his  way  to  Birmingham,  and  purchased  of  his  widow  all  the 
copies  of  the  Prayer  Books  which  remained,  together  with  a  consi- 
derable number  of  the  Horace  of  1762.  He  further  told  me,  that  he 
believed  he  once  had  the  largest  collection  of  them  in  England  j  but 
that,  at  the  time  of  mentioning  it,  not  a  single  copy  remained  upon 
his  shelves. 

*  The  date  of  this  work  is  1801.  Of  the  Bible,  edited  by  Mr. 
Reeves,  there  was  one  copy  only  struck  off  UPON  VELLUM.  At  the 
present  moment,  this  membranaceous  treasure,  "  superbly  bound  in 
dark  blue  morocco,  with  joints,  borders  of  gold, "  &c.  by  C.  Lewis, 
in  nine  quarto  volumes,  reposes  upon  the  shelves  of  Messrs.  Payne 
and  Foss ;  but  he  who  shall  give  fifty-two  sovereigns  for  the  same, 
shall  cause  it  to  rouse  from  its  present  dumber.  Nor  let  such  a  price 
be  considered  as  having  any  affinity  to  extravagance.  In  regard  to 
the  general  accuracy  of  the  text  of  the  privileged  Prayer  Books, 
consult  the  end  of  the  note  at  p.  35,  ante. 


PRAYER  BOOKS.  45 

solate  will  be  that  day  for  the  Church  of  England, 
which  witnesses  an  Abridgement  of  the  contents  of 
this  volume.* 

*  The  late  Marquis  of^Bute  once  shewed  me,  at  Petersham,  a 
privately  printed  volume,  in  1773,  Svo.  called  An  Abridgement  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer.  It  was  printed  at  the  expense  of  the  late 
Lord  Le  Despencer,  at  West  Wycombe,  Bucks  j  and  the  Abridge- 
ment was  the  performance  of  the  late  Sir  Francis  Dashwood,  Bart. 
In  the  annexed  sub-note  j  is  an  extract  from  the  Preface  ;  and  here 
follows  a  specimen  or  two  of  the  Abridgement  itself. 

"  Hide  thy  face  from  my  sins,  and  blot  out  all  mine  iniquities. — 
Psalm,  li.  9.  Dearly  beloved  brethren,  the  Scripture  moveth  us  in 
sundry  places  to  acknowledge  our  manifold  sins  and  wickedness : 
Wherefore  I  pray  and  beseech  you,  to  accompany  me  with  a  pure 
heart  and  humble  voice,  saying,  after  me,"  &c. 

The  Te  Deum  is  thus  abridged  :  "  We  praise  thee,  O  God,  we  ac- 
knowledge Thee  to  be  the  Lord.  All  the  earth  doth  worship  thee  : 
the  Father  everlasting.  To  thee  all  Angels  cry  aloud :  the  Heavens, 
and  all  the  Powers  therein  :  We  worship  thy  name  :  without  end : 
Vouchsafe,  O  Lord,  to  keep  us  this  day  without  sin.  O  Lord,  have 
mercy  upon  us;  have  mercy  upon  us.  Amen." 

The  Apostles  Creed, 
"  I  believe  in  God,  the  Father  Almighty,  Maker  of  Heaven  and 


$  "  The  Editor  of  the  following  Abridgement  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England 
thinks  it  but  decent  and  respectful  to  all  (more  particularly  to  the  reverend  body  of 
Clergy  who  adorn  the  Protestant  religion  by  their  good  works,  preaching  and  example) 
that  he  should  humbly  offer  some  reasons  for  such  an  undertaking.  He  addresses 
himself  to  the  serious  aad  discerning.  He  professes  himself  to  be  a  Protestant  of  the 
Church  of  England,  and  holds  in  the  highest  veneration  the  doctrines  of  Jesus  Christ. 
He  is  a  sincere  lover  of  social  worship,  deeply  sensible  of  its  usefulness  to  society  ;  and 
he  aims  at  doing  some  service  to  religion,  by  proposing  such  abbreviations  and  omis- 
sions in  the  forms  of  our  Liturgy,  retaining  every  thing  he  thinks  essential  as  might, 
if  adopted,  procure  a  more  general  attendance.  For,  besides  the  differing  sentiments 
of  many  pious  and  well  disposed  persons  in  some  speculative  points,  who  in  general 
have  a  good  opinion  of  our  church,  it  has  often  been  observed,  and  complained  of,  that 
the  Morning  and  Evening  Services  as  practised  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  else- 
where, are  so  long,  and  filled  with  so  many  repetitions,  that  the  continued  attention 
suitable  to  so  serious  a  duty  becomes  impracticable,  the  mind  wanders,  and  the  fer- 
vency of  devotion  is  slackened.  Also,  the  propriety  of  saying  the  same  prayer  more 
than  once  in  the  same  service,  is  doubted,  &c. 


46  DIVINITY. 

From  treasures  like  these,  the  enthusiastic  Col- 
lector and  the  well  informed  Student  will  extract 
what  is  most  curious,  and  be  benefitted  by  what  is 
most  essential  to  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  He  will 
dig  deep  ;  and  the  deeper  he  digs,  the  richer  he  will 
find  the  soil.  The  seasons  will  roll  along,  and  there 
shall  be  the  chilling  blast  and  the  barren  desert  with- 
out ;  but,  within,  there  shall  be  one  perennial  verdure 
and  one  inexhaustible  harvest. 

FATHERS  AND  COMMENTATORS. 

Nor  let  human  aid  be  wanting  to  give  effect  to 
Divine  wisdom.  Let  there  be  a  choice  edition  or  two 
of  the  FATHERS,  and  of  the  more  celebrated  ancient 
COMMENTATORS  ;*  and  passing  cautiously  through  the 

Earth.  And  in  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  our  Lord.  I  believe  in  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  the  forgiveness  of  sins  ',  and  the  life  everlasting.  Amen. 

The  Litany  is  reduced  to  elven  sentences.  The  Collects  are  uni- 
formly omitted,  but  the  Epistles  and  Gospels  retained,  with  a  slight 
variation  from  the  present  translation.  The  Commandments  are 
omitted ,  and  the  Sacrament  service  is  reduced  to  two  pages  and  a 
half.  Matrimony  has  only  the  same  number  of  pages ;  and  the 
Burial  of  the  Dead  is  compressed  within  one  page  and  half.  Surely 
this  is  no  very  encouraging  specimen  for  a  SECOND  attempt  to  abridge 
our  Liturgy !  It  is  not  likely  to  have  either  admirers  or  imitators. 

*  It  is  a  goodly  sign  of  the  times  that  the  FATHERS  and  ancient 
COMMENTATORS  are  bought  and  read  with  some  degree  of  avidity. 
No  reasonable  man  can  doubt  the  importance  of  the  labours  of  these 
elder  Christian  sages,  who  has  examined,  with  a  critical  eye  and  an 
unprejudiced  spirit,  the  Reliquice  Sacra,  lately  put  forth  by  the  very 
learned  President  of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  Dr.  Routh.  These 
"  sacred  relics" — contain  "  fragments  of  Authors  of  the  Second  and 
Third  centuries  which  were  well  nigh  lost" — relating  to  the  earliest 
transactions  and  opinions  of  the  church  of  Christ.  Some  of  these 
fragments  are  here  given,  for  the  first  time,  from  uncollated  MSS. : 


ANCIENT  COMMENTATORS.  47 

stormy  period  of  the  sixteenth  century  —  when  the 
works  of  Luther,  Melanchthon,,  Eckius,  Calvin,  Sta- 

others,  from  MSS.  not  sufficiently  collated  :  the  whole  in  a  manner 
to  render  the  work  of  essential  importance  in  a  theological  library. 
It  was  published  at  Oxford  in  1814-20,  in  four  8vo.  volumes.  The 
only  heresy  cleaving  to  the  publication,  is,  that  NO  large  paper  copies 
were  struck  off  for  the  gratification  of  the  curious. 

The  work  of  Dr.  Routh,  having  at  once  quickened  the  appetite 
and  strengthened  the  digestive  powers  of  "  the  Young  "  and  "  the 
Old  "  in  the  way  of  reading  the  ancient  Fathers — and  Schoenemann, 
in  his  Bibliotheca  Patrum,  1792,  8vo.  supplying  him  with  a  list  of 
the   early  and  best  editions  of  the  Latin  Fathers — it  only  remains  for 
me  to  point  out  a  few  of  these  Fathers,  whether  their  writings  be  in 
the  Greek  or  Latin  language,  of  which  the  perusal  may  be  pro- 
ductive of  advantage.     I  give  the  best  editions,  with  prices,  from 
catalogues  of  good  authority.     Origenis  Opera,  Gr.  and  Lat.  Paris, 
1718,  folio,  four  volumes,  81.  8s.      Chrysostomi  Opera,  Gr.  and  Lat. 
Paris,  1 708,  folio,  thirteen  vols.  26Z.  5s. :  to  which  add  the  collection 
of  the  Greek  Apostolical  Fathers  by  Cotelerius  in  1724,  folio,  two 
vols.  3/.  135.  6d.     The  preceding  may  suffice,  to  the  ordinary  col- 
lector, for  GREEK  FATHERS.     Let  him,  as  Latin  Fathers,  purchase 
the  works  of  Tertullian,  Lactantius,  and  St.  Austin :  of  the  first,  the 
Paris  edition  of  1644,  folio ;  of  the  second,  that  of  Rome,  1754,  8vo. 
fourteen  vols  —  or  Paris  1748,  folio,  two  vols.  2Z.  12*.  6d.  $  and  of 
the  third,  the  Paris  edition  of  1679,  eleven  vols.,  folio.  142.     The 
foregoing,  for  an  ordinary  theological  collection,  will  be  surely  con- 
sidered sufficient.     Perhaps  the  Appendix  Augustiniana,  Antv.  1703, 
folio,  may  be  a  desirable  supplement  to  the  works  of  St.  Austin.  But 
as  no  performance  of  this  Father  has  made  half  the  noise  in  the  • 
world  which  his  <f  CITY  OF  GOD  "  has  done,  possible  it  is  that  the 
admirers  of  that  work  might  like  to  possess  the  first  edition  of  it, 
(being  the  second  book  printed  in  Italy)  executed  at  the  press  of  the 
Soubiaco  monastery  in  1467.    I  doubt  whether  such  another  copy  of 
it,  as  that  in  Lord  Spencer's  collection,  be  to  be  found  in  England. 
It  is  a  miracle  of  the  art  of  printing,  considering  it  as  the  second 
essay  of  the  printers     In  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co. 
A.  D.  1822,  no.  5764,  I  observe  a  copy  of  it,  in  the  "  original  bind- 
ing" marked  at  the  moderate  sum  of  122. 

Of  COMMENTATORS  and  CRITICS,  in  the  Latin  language,  the  list 


48  DIVINITY. 

pleton,  and  others,  seemed  to  agitate  the  religious 
world  to  its  very  centre — advance  with  a  more  certain 

is  infinite.  As  a  Body  of  these,  procure  the  well  known  work 
entitled  Critici  Sacri,  first  published  at  London  in  1660,  in  nine  folio 
volumes,  with  a  tenth  vol.  in  1661,  of ((  Tenas  Commentaries  upon  St. 
Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews."  This  voluminous  work  was  reprinted 
at  Amsterdam  in  1698,  in  nine  folio  volumes.  The  London  edition 
is  the  favourite  j  and  of  this  I  remember  to  have  seen,  two  or  three 
years  ago,  a  magnificent  copy,  ruled  with  red  lines,  in  old  red 
morocco  binding,  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  R. 
Triphook,  and  valued  at  about  twenty  guineas.  This  is  not  the  only 
copy  which  I  have  seen,  and  described,  in  the  same  condition.  And 
I  beseech  the  theological  collector  not  to  let  a  fine  copy  of  good  old 
Matthew  Poole's  "  Synopsis  Criticorum,"  Lond.  1669,  folio,  five 
volumes — especially  if  it  be  such  a  one  as  Mr.  Payne  now  possesses 
—  Utr.  1684  ed.  opt.  —  slip  through  his  fingers  without  becoming 
master  of  it  5  for  it  is  obtainable  at  a  reasonable  price.  I  say  nothing 
of  its  reprints  in  1694,  Franc,  five  vols.  4to.,  and  at  Amst.  in  1712, 
fivevols.  folio.  It  may  be  worth  while  to  consult  Granger  (Hist,  of 
Engl.  vol.  iii.  p.  311,  edit.  1804)  for  a  brief  but  good  account  of  the 
merits  of  Poole's  Synopsis:  and  from  which,  no  person,  in  want  of 
the  work,  can  rise,  without  running  to  some  of  our  principal  book- 
sellers for  a  copy.  What  Granger  says,  in  a  note,  bears  rather  hard 
upon  the  Commentators  in  the  English  language.  "  This  book 
[Poole's  Synopsis]  is  of  late  much  sunk  in  its  price,  though  intrin- 
sically as  good  as  ever.  The  truth  is,  Latin  Commentaries  on  the 
Scripture  are  little  regarded  j  but  we  have  English  ones  as  often  as 
we  have  new  almanacks.  I  have  myself  known  about  twenty  pub- 
lished within  the  last  twenty  years."  Those,  however,  destined  to 
be  the  ornaments  of  our  church  and  the  champions  of  our  faith, 
should  never  lose  sight  of  the  Thesaurus  Antiquitatum  Sacrarum  col- 
lected and  published  by  Blasius  Ugolinus,  at  Venice,  in  1744-69,  in 
thirty-four  folio  volumes  —  of  which  the  contents  are  so  temptingly 
set  forth  by  Mr.  Harris  in  his  valuable  Catalogue  of  the  Library  of 
the  Royal  Institution,  from  a  copy  in  the  same  collection.  Another 
copy  is  in  the  British  Museum.  What  Grsevius  and  Gronovius  are 
to  PROFANE,  Ugolinus  is  to  SACRED,  history. 

Messrs.  Ogle,  Duncan,  and  Co.  who  seem  to  have  a  peculiar  pre- 
dilection for  dissenting  divinity,  have  marshalled  out  some  miscella- 


OLD  ENGLISH  DIVINES.  49 

step  through  the  seventeenth — when  Grotius  abroad, 
and  Taylor,  Chillingworth^  Mede,  Barroiv,  Pearson, 
and  Usher  at  home  —  to  mention  no  others  —  gave 
a  softer  tone  to  controversy,  and  struck  out  more 
brilliant  truths  (if  I  may  so  speak)  from  the  oracles 
of  God.  Logic,  fancy,  eloquence,  and  persuasion 
are  combined  in  the  greater  part  of  the  writings 
of  these  incomparable  Divines.  There  was  more  cour- 
tesy in  the  age ;  and,  in  consequence,  a  more  cour- 
teous strain  is  observable  even  in  the  vehemence 
of  invective.  The  Divines  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, with  perfect  honesty  of  intention,  frequently 
worked  themselves  up  into  a  whirlwind  of  indignation 
in  —  what  they  conceived  to  be  —  the  conscientious 
discharge  of  their  duties.  The  very  leaves  of  their 
pamphlets  seemed  to  smell  of  fire.  But  the  capa- 
cious intellect  of  Grotius,  who  was  at  once  a  law- 
yer, philosopher,  and  divine,  gave  a  different  cha- 
racter to  theological  controversy  ;*  and  the  heavenly- 
mindedness  of  Jeremy  Taylor  threw  such  a  charm 
over  his  diction — exhibited  such  proofs  of  genius  and 
of  piety  —  that  that  great  man  may  be  considered  as 
the  founder  of  a  school,  (even  of  the  opposite  persua- 

neous  COMMENTATORS  of  this,  their  favourite,  school,  in  twenty-two 
folio  volumes,  marked  at  31Z.  105.  — <e  very  neat,  and  uniformly 
bound."  A  set  of  Commentators  in  4to.  bring  up  the  rear  —  in  fif- 
teen vols. — marked  at  lol.  10s.  "  neat,  in  calf  gilt,"  of  the  same 
persuasion. 

*  In  the  first  Law  lecture  delivered  by  Sir  James  Mackintosh  at 
Lincoln's  Inn,  several  years  ago,  and  since  published,  a  character  is 
drawn  of  Grotius,  which  I  wish  every  enlightened  Englishman  to 
peruse — more  than  once.  Grotius  has  been  accused  of  a  leaning 
towards  Socinianism ;  but  I  want  a  peculiarly- constructed  pair  of 
mental  spectacles  to  discover  this  bias  in  his  annotations  upon  Holy 
Writ. 

E 


50  DIVINITY. 

sion,  *)  in  which  enthusiasm  was  mistaken  for  inspi- 
ration, and  where  there  was  an  equal  glow  of  piety, 

*  Among  the  chief,  if  not  the  very  chief,  of  those  writers  of  "  an 
opposition  persuasion,"  was  RICHARD  BAXTER  ;  a  divine  of  a  most 
capricious,  yet  powerful  and  original  mind.  What  Prynne  was  in 
law  and  history,  Baxter  was  in  theology :  as  the  similarity,  in  point 
of  quaintness,  of  the  titles  of  their  respective  works,  testifies.  To 
possess  all  the  separate  pieces,  or  tracts,  of  each  of  these  Writers,  is, 
I  believe,  equally  hopeless.  One  or  two  of  the  homely  titles  of 
Baxter,  would  startle  the  unsuspecting  and  serious  reader.  But 
these  were  adopted  rather  in  compliance  with  the  fashion  of  the 
times  :  for  Baxter  was  a  man  of  great  gravity  of  demeanor  and  great 
piety  of  soul.  He  was  acute  and  learned  withal,  and  an  air  of  ori- 
ginality pervades  most  of  his  writings.  He  was  a  stubborn  champion 
for  non-conformity,  although  he  had  the  honour  (when  young)  of 
preaching  before  Charles  II.  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign  j  and  in  the 
year  1689  he  published  a  Tract  entitled  "  The  English  Non-con- 
formity under  Charles  II.  and  James  II  truly  stated."  One  of  his 
chief  antagonists — and  one  which  proved  more  than  a  match  for  him 
— was  Bishop  Stillingfleet.  Baxter's  Works,  consisting  principally  of 
his  Discourses,  were  collected  and  published  in  1707,  folio,  in  four 
vols. — and  I  find  a  copy  of  them  "  new,  in  c»lf,  gilt,"  marked  at 
III.  Us.  in  the  catalogue  of  Mr.  Laing  of  Edinburgh,  for  the  year 
1822  :  but  in  Mr.  Baynes's  Cat.  of  the  same  year,  no.  52,  I  perceive 
"••a  very  fine  copy,  in  original  binding,  sides  gilt,f  very  rare,"  to  be 
marked  at  14Z.  145.  THIS  is  the  way  to  get  OLD  BAXTER  upon  our 
shelves.  He  comes  "  in  no  questionable  shape"  when  arrayed  in 
the  goodly  garb  of  primitive  binding. 

When  young,  I  remember  to  have  read  Baxter's  fe  Concordant 
Discord  of  a  broken  healed  heart,  sorrowing,  rejoicing,  fearing,  hoping, 
dying,  living,"  1681  —  and  his  "  Cure  of  melancholy  and  over  much 
sorrow,  by  faith  and  physic,"  1683  : — but  thought  them,  as  I  should 
probably  yet  think  them,  desultory  and  unargumentative  perform- 
ances. Gleams  of  piety,  and  flashes  of  an  ardent  spirit,  are  disco- 
verable in  almost  every  thing  which  he  wrote  -,  but  he  wanted  that 


t  This  is  a  "  various  reading  "  from  Mr.  Baynes's  preceding  catalogue  of  1821,  no. 
6332  :  tlifre,  the  copy  is  described  to  be  "  rolled  with  a  border  of  gold."  Each  descrip- 
tion has  its  peculiar  temptation. 


OLD  ENGLISH  DIVINES.  51 

but  unsupported  by  such  flights  of  genius  and  such 
demonstrations  of  learning.  The  school  of  CHILLING- 
WORTH,  MEDE,  and  BARROW  —  is  the  school  of  acute 
perception  and  close  reasoning.  Yet  Barrow  was  per- 
haps the  most  able  of  the  three :  not  in  power  of  con- 
ception or  of  language — but  in  the  systematic  division, 
and  masterly  elucidation,  of  the  various  subjects  of 
which  he  treats.  He  pushes  his  enquiries  to  the 
very  verge,  or  confines,  of  which  they  are  capa- 
ble of  being  pushed ;  and  his  works  afford  a  sort  of 
logical  Encyclopaedia.  He  had  the  clearest  head  with 
which  mathematics  ever  endowed  an  individual,  and 
one  of  the  purest  and  most  unsophisticated  hearts  that 
ever  beat  in  the  human  breast.  He  is  to  be  studied 
with  profit,  rather  than  read  with  delight. 

PEARSON  and  USHER  were  profound  scholars.     The 
"  Exposition  of  the  Creed1'  of  the  former,  has  nothing 
superior   to  it  in  any  language.     Metaphysics,  logic, 
classical  and  theological  erudition,  are  all  brought  to 
bear  upon  that  momentous  subject  —  in  a  manner  so 
happy  and   so  natural,   that  the  depth  of  research 
and  variety  of  knowledge  are  almost  concealed  by  the 
felicitous  manner  of  their  adaptation.     Well  might 
the  great  Bentley  say  of  this  yet  greater  man  —  that 
his  "  VERY  DUST  WAS  GOLD."   The  Annals  of  Usher  are 
admirable  for  sobriety  of  investigation  and  profound- 
ness of  learning.     His  Body  of  Divinity  may  be  sup- 
sweetness  of  temper  which  is  the  charm  of  the  practical  works  of 
HAMMOND,  and  that  brilliancy  of  imagery  which  stamps  the  effusions 
of  JEREMY  TAYLOR  with  the  mark  of  an  original,  excursive,  and 
powerful  mind.     It  is  right  to  add,  that  Baxter's  works  are  daily 
becoming  rare  and  sought  after  j  so  much  so,  that  we  may  probably 
soon  see  a  reprint  of  them  in  quarto  from  the  enterprising  Mr. 
Bagster,  of  Paternoster -row. 


52  DIVINITY. 

posed  to  be  tinctured  with  his  peculiar  (and  somewhat 
Calvinistic)  bias,  but  it  is  full  of  profound  thought 
and  pious  feeling.  His  Antiquities  of  the  British 
Church  are  purely  historical ;  while  his  notes  upon  the 
Epistles  of  Ignatius,  Barnabas,  and  Poly  carp  (Fathers 
of  the  first  century)  prove  the  extensiveness  of  his 
reading,  and  the  depth  of  his  theological  knowledge.* 
A  word,  now,  as  to  Editions  of  the  foregoing  lumi- 
naries, f  I  own,  I  am  for  the  ancient  and  genuine 

*  The  names  of  these  and  of  other  THEOLOGICAL  WORTHIES,  are 
thus  hooked  into  hexameters  and  pentameters,  by  Master  William 
Nicols,  A.  M.  in  his  Libri  VI.  De  Literis  Inventis,  Lond.  171 1,  8vo.  : 

Occubuit  FELLUS,  fato  concessit  acerbo 

LAUDUS,  et  HAMMONDUM  flebilis  urna  tenet. 
Et  CHILLINGWORTHUS,  Babylonis  maximus  horror, 

BARLOviusque  senex,  hi  potuere  mori. 
Non  tua  te  doctrina,  O  SANDERSONE,  nee  ilia 

Te  potuit  pietas  eripuisse  neci. 
Ante  diem  nobis  ereptus  et  ille  BAROUS, 

Cui  grates  multas  dia  Mathesis  habet. 
Atque  valedixit  mundo  PEARSONIUS  ingens, 

(Ille  animata  quidem  Bibliotheca  fuit :) 
Et  STILLINGFLEETUS  patrium  repetivit  Olympum, 
&c.  &c.  &c. 

Beveridge,  Dodwell,  Tenison,  and  More,  (with  respectable  men- 
tion of  the  library  of  the  latter,  now  in  the  Public  Library  at  Cam- 
bridge) follow  in  the  same  strain. 

f  The  best  edition  of  Grotius's  theological  works  is  that  of  Amst. 
1679,  four  vol.  folio,  of  which  a  copy,  bound  in  russia,  is  marked  at 
41.  4s,  in  Mr.  Payne's  last  catalogue ;  and  a  fine  copy,  upon  large 
paper,  in  vellum  binding,  at  81.  Ss.  in  the  same  catalogue.  The  best 
edition  of  Chilling™  or  th's  works  is  that  of  1724,  folio,  worth  about 
ll.  8s.  in  good  condition ;  of  Mede's,  that  of  1672,  folio,  worth  about 
the  same  sum :  of  Barrow's,  1741,  folio,  two  vols.,  running  hard 
upon  42.  But  the  young  Collector  will  lose  no  opportunity  of 
securing  the  Glasgow  edition  of  Barrow's  work,  by  Foulis,  1757, 
12mo.  six  vols.  :  which  forms  an  admirable  companion  to  Tonson's 
edition  of  Tillotsoris  works,  1748,  twelve  vols.  12mo.  Or  he  may 


OLD  ENGLISH  DIVINES.  53 

impressions:  the  good  old  folios:  published,  either 
during  the  lives,  or  at  no  long  period  after  the  deaths, 
of  the  authors.  During  the  seventeenth  century,  the 
Art  of  Printing  was  making  rapid  improvements  in 
our  country ;  and  though  inferior,  upon  the  whole,  to 
what  it  produced  during  the  first  half  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  we  sometimes 
meet  with  sets,  or  copies,  of  JEREMY  TAYLOR,  and  his 
Contemporaries,  which  delight  us  by  the  beauty  of 
their  condition  within  and  without.  In  such  a  state, 
their  pecuniary  value  rises  in  a  double  ratio :  nor  was 
it  without  sensations  of  considerable  bibliographical 
happiness,  that,  on  entering  the  third  and  principal 
room  of  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris,  I  recognised  the 
Ductor  Dubitantium  or  the  Polemical  Discourses  of 

rest  well  contented  with  the  Oxford  reprint,  recently  put  forth :  but 
with  a  portrait  prefixed,  which  is  scarcely  worthy  of  being  attached 
to  the  first  edition  of  Tom  Hickathrift.  The  University  owes  it  to 
itself  not  to  continue  the  propagation  of  such  unworthy  resemblances 
of  such  glorious  Originals.  They  are  liberal,  but  their  liberality  has 
not  met  with  a  kindred  return.  Pearson  on  the  Creed  is  in  every 
form,  from  folio  to  duodecimo.  The  late  Dr.  C.  Burney  made  an 
abridgement  of  it  in  small  octavo.  Among  the  folio  editions,  that  of 
1715  may  be  as  good  as  any.  As  there  is  no  uniform  edition  of 
Archbishop  Usher's  works,  I  give  the  following  list  of  the  principal 
portions  of  them  :  Body  of  Divinity,  1677*  folio :  Chronology,  (in 
Latin)  with  a  Life  of  the  Author,  by  Smith,  Geneva,  1722,  folio: 
Annals,  1678,  folio  :  Sermons •>  1677,  folio  :  Letters,  1688,  folio  : 
Antiquities  oj  the  British  Church,  (in  Latin)  1687,  folio.  These  volumes 
may  be  had  from  twelve  shillings  to  a  pound  a  piece  :  according  to 
their  condition.  I  am  aware  that,  for  old  and  choice  copies,  in 
morocco,  or  calf  bindings,  covered  with  rich  gilt  tooling,  double  the 
foregoing  prices,  for  every  work  here  enumerated,  are  frequently 
and  cheerfully  given.  It  is  on  the  dispersion  of  old  family  libraries 
that  treasures  of  this  kind  must  be  sought  for :  and,  when  found, 
gallantly  contended  for.  Who  would  not  give  14Z.  14s.  for  the  copy 
of  "  Old  Baxter,"  mentioned  in  the  note  at  page  50  ? 


54  DIVINITY. 

our  Jeremy,  clad  in  the  genuine  morocco  garment  of 
nearly  the  time  of  the  author.     On  the  other  hand,  it 
must  be  allowed  that,  however  assiduous  either  the 
Young  or  the  Old  Collector  may  be,  in  the  pursuit  of 
fine  and  genuine  copies  of  this  same  author,  he  must 
not  dare  to  hope  for  the  acquisition  of  such  copies  as 
those  which  grace  the  shelves  of  the   CRACHERODE 
COLLECTION.*    Meanwhile,  it  may  be  consolation  suf- 
ficient to  know,  that,  baffled  in  all  his  attempts  for 
choice  folio  copies,  the  "  Young  Man  "  may  possess 
himself  of  the  octavo  reprint,  which  has  the  advantage 
of  exhibiting  many  references  verified,  many  errors 
corrected,  and  several  lacunae  supplied  :  together  with 
a  Life  of  the  Author,  written  with  all  the  glow  of 
poetical  feeling,  and  ail  the  elegance  of  refined  scho- 
larship.    The   uniform  appearance    of   this  respect- 
ably printed,  and  carefully  superintended  edition,  of 
which    not  fewer   than   800  copies   were   subscribed 
for,  has  probably  already  rendered  it  a  scarce  work- 
As  Taylor  has  been  long  called  "  the  SHAKSPEARE  of 
DIVINES,"  this  impression  will  not  want  buyers  of 
more  classes  than 


*  The  copies  in  question  are  of  the  Church  of  England  Defended, 
1674,  folio  :  Polemical  Discourses,  1674,  folio  5  Ductor  Dubitantium, 
1696,  folio  j  Life  of  Christ,  1703,  folio.  In  this  latter  work,  great 
stress  is  laid  upon  possessing  fine  impressions  of  the  Plates.  In  my 
poor  judgment,  the  best  impressions  exhibit  but  very  secondary  spe- 
cimens of  art.  I  observe  that  Mr.  Baynes  marks  "  a  fine  tall  set" 
of  these  four  folios,  f<  very  neat,"  at  81.  8s.  5  but  not  in  all  proba- 
bility coated  a  la  Cracherode.  Messrs.  Ogle,  Duncan,  and  Co.  affix 
12Z.  125.  to  four  similar  volumes,  "  best  editions,  elegantly  bound 
in  russia." 

f  Critically  and  soberly  speaking,  it  is  the  only  edition  worth  pos- 
sessing for  the  purpose  of  careful  reading  or  frequent  consultation. 
My  neighbour  and  friend  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pitman,  who  superintended 


OLD  ENGLISH  DIVINES.  55 

Why  have  I  travelled  thus  far  on  the  road  of  DIVI- 
NITY without  mentioning  the  Contemplations  of  Bishop 
Hall?  a  prelate  and  poet  of  very  distinguished  attain- 
ments. A  vein  of  piety,  and  even  of  an  original  cast 
of  observation,  runs  through  the  greater  part  of  his 
performances :  and  his  "Contemplations,"  in  particular, 
breathe  the  fire  of  poetry  as  well  as  of  devotion.  His 
works  have  been  long  and  justly  held  in  very  general 
esteem  ;  and  we  are  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt 
for  a  reprint  of  them  in  ten  octavo  volumes  in  1808.* 

the  correction  of  the  press,  and  detected  the  errors  of  the  old  edi- 
tions, throughout,  informs  us,  at  p.  ccclxx.  of  the  first  volume,  that 
"  former  editions  of  Taylor  swarm  with  mistakes  :  the  punctuation 
and  state  of  the  text  are  very  defective  :  verse  is  printed  without  any 
regard  to  metre,  and  prose  often  assumes  the  appearance  of  verse." 
The  Life  of  Jeremy  Taylor  prefixed  to  this  modern  edition  is  by  the 
Reverend  Reginald  Heber,  Rector  of  Hodnet,  and  preacher  of  Lin- 
coln's Inn.  I  sincerely  hope  that  this  charming  and  instructive 
piece  of  biography  will  be  reprinted,  in  a  good  handsome  octavo 
form,  and  with  a  larger  and  more  legible  type.  In  regard  to  the 
genuineness  of  the  work  called  "  A  Discourse  of  Artificial  Beauty,'* 
&c.  as  being  a  production  of  Jeremy  Taylor —  (see  pp.  lix.  — and 
cccxxvii  of  Mr.  Heber's  Life) — having  before  (Moore's  Utopia,  vol. 
ii.  152-3)  noticed  the  preface  of  it  as  ef  in  every  respect  worthy  of 
his  high  reputation,"  may  I  not  ask  whether  the  Preface  only  be  not 
the  composition  of  Taylor  ?  Whoever  be  the  author,  it  appears  to 
have  been  written  as  a  Supplement  to  "  The  Loathsomnesse  of  Long 
Hair,"  &c.  by  Thomas  Hall,  B,  D.  1654,  12mo,  ;  see  p.  288  of  the 
work  last  referred  to. 

*  Joseph  Hall  was  Bishop  of  Exeter  and  Norwich,  successively  j 
and  died  in  1656.  His  Satires  were  published  quite  at  the  end  of  the 
xvith  century,  and  reprinted  in  1753  :  but  there  has  been  recently  a 
fac-simile  reprint  (by  Constable)  of  the  earlier  edition.  I  recommend 
(r  the  Young  Man"  of  taste  and  talent  to  read  the  masterly  analysis 
of,  and  criticism  upon,  Bishop  Hall's  Satires,  in  the  4th  volume 
(alas,  only  a  fragment !)  of  Warton's  History  of  English  Poetry.  It 
is  incomparable,  of  its  kind.  The  best  edition  of  Hall's  works,  in 
folio,  is  in  three  volumes,  without  date — at  least,  so  it  appears  In 


56  DIVINITY. 

We  approach  the  eighteenth  century ;  omitting  the 
mention  of  the  thousand  strange  publications,  in  the 
department  of  divinity,,  which  issued  from  the  fertile 
and  capricious  brains  of  the  authors  of  the  preceding 
century — but  which,  appearing  to  be  now  forgotten  by 
the  great  bulk  of  readers,  are  picked  up  and  preserved 
only  by  the  curious  and  persevering.  Prynne  alone 
would  afford  bibliographical  gamboling  for  half  a 
score  of  years.  Penn  however  is  worthy  of  a  place 
in  every  theological  collection.* 

Baynes's  Cat.  of  1821,  no.  6426,  where  a  copy  is  marked  at  £3. 10. 
I  once  possessed  a  goodly  copy  of  this  edition,  in  old  red  morocco 
binding,  with  a  delicate  sprinkling  of  gilt  tooling — which  I  have 
reason  to  think  is  now  in  the  library  of  Hartleby  Palace  in  Worces- 
tershire —  the  seat  of  the  Bishops  of  that  see ;  left,  with  his  library 
as  an  heir-loom,  by  the  late  Bishop,  Dr.  Hurd.  The  Contemplations 
of  Hall  were  separately  published  by  the  late  Dr.  Glasse  in  4  duode- 
cimo vols.  in  1793.  Doddridge  has  pronounced  these  Contemplations 
to  be  "  incomparably  valuable  for  language,  criticism,  and  devo- 
tion." * 

*  The  name  of  PENN  is  known  and  respected  chiefly  as  that  of 
the  founder  of  the  Pensylvanian  colony,  or  author  of  the  Pensylva- 
nian  charter.  It  has  indeed,  on  this  score,  lasting  claims  upon  the 
gratitude  of  posterity  j  but  Penn  was  a  pious  man,  and  a  lover  of 
theological  authorship.  He  wrote  much  and  variously  ;  and  always 
with  a  benevolent  feeling.  His  works  were  first  collected  and  pub- 
lished in  1726,  in  two  folio  volumes.  I  select,  almost  at  random, 
from  his  "  No  Cross,  No  Crown,"  (written  in  1668,  and  lately  re- 
printed in  1806,  8vo.)  the  following  characteristic  passages  :  First — 
of  Christ's  Example  of  Suffering.  "  And  therefore  it  was  that  he 
was  pleased  to  give  us,  in  his  own  example,  a  taste  of  what  his  dis- 
ciples must  expect  to  drink  deeply  of:  namely,  the  cup  of  self  de- 
nial, cruel  tryals  and  most  bitter  afflictions.  He  came  not  to  conse- 
crate a  way  to  the  eternal  rest,  through  gold  and  silver,  ribbons, 
laces,  points,  perfumes,  costly  cloaths,  curious  trims,  exact  dresses, 
rich  jewels,  pleasant  recreations. — Plays,  treats,  balls,  masques,  re- 
vels, romances,  love  songs,  and  the  like  pastimes  of  the  world :  No, 
no  :  Perm's  Works,  vol.  i.  p.  360. 


OLD  ENGLISH  DIVINES.  57 

There  was  great  cant  about  this  time,  (a  cant  not 
peculiar  to  the  period)  respecting  the  luxury  and  in- 
dolence of  the  CLERGY.  The  poorer  part  of  them  were 
treated  with  contempt ;  because  poverty  and  worth- 
lessness  seemed  to  be  synonymous  terms.  In  1670 
appeared  an  octavo  volume,  under  the  title  of  The 
Grounds  and  Occasions  of  the  Contempt  of  the  Clergy 
and  Religion  enquired  into.  "  In  a  Letter  written  to 

A  little  before,  (p.  355,)  Penn  is  thus  speaking  of  the  fashionable 
habits  and  amusements  of  the  times — A.  D.  1668 — when  the  work 
was  written  : — "  Their  thoughts  are  otherwise  employed  :  their 
mornings  are  too  short  for  them  to  wash,  to  smooth,  to  paint,  to 
patch,  to  braid,  to  curl,  to  gum,  to  powder,  and  otherwise  to  attire 
and  adorn  themselves ;  whilst  their  afternoons  are  as  commonly  be- 
spoke for  visits  and  for  plays — where  their  usual  entertainment  is, 
some  stories  fetched  from  the  more  approved  Romances  5  some 
strange  adventures,  some  passionate  amours,  unkind  refuses,  grand 
impediments,  importunate  addresses,  miserable  disappointments,  won- 
derful surprises,  unexpected  encounters,  castles  surprised,  imprisoned 
lovers  rescued,  and  meetings  of  supposed  dead  ones  :  bloody  duels, 
languishing  voices  echoing  from  solitary  groves,*  over  heard  mourn- 
ful complaints,  deep  fetcht  sighs  sent  from  wild  deserts,  intrigues 
managed  with  unheard  of  subtility  :  and  whilst  all  things  seem  at  the 
greatest  distance,  then  are  dead  people  alive,  enemies  friends,  despair 
turned  to  enjoyment,  and  all  their  impossibilities  reconciled,"  &c. 
Further  on,  he  talks  about  their  ' '  giddy  fancies  "  being  "  intoxicated 
with  swelling  nothings  and  airy  fictions." 

It  should  seem,  from  a  portion  of  the  first  extract,  that  Penn  had 
had  his  eye  upon  the  paraphernalia  of  a  toilet  as  set  forth  by  An- 
thony Brewer,  in  his  Play  called  Lingua,  1607:  and  reprinted  in 
Doddesley's  collection  of  Old  Plays. 


*  This  reminds  us  of  the  following  passage  in  Thomson's  Autumn  : 

"  And  voices,  through  the  void  deep  sounding,  seize 
"  Th'  enthusiastic  ear." 

But  it  is  perhaps  still  more  poetical.  The  "  deep-fetcht  sighs  sent  from  wild  deserts" 
is  a  yet  more  daring  conceit.  If  Penn  would  have  buckled  himself  in  the  strait-laced 
vestment  of  metre,  he  might  have  been  a  poet  of  the  second  order. 


58  DIVINITY. 

R.  L.  :r>  of  which  work,  Echard  is  the  reputed  author. 
It  exhibits  so  fair  and  honest  a  view  of  the  principles  of 
a  Church  Establishment,  and  such  a  lively  picture  of 
"  the  poor  country  Parson"  in  those  days — (no  very 
unfaithful  portrait,  by  the  by,  of  some  few  in  our 
own  days)  that  I  make  no  apology  to  the  reader  for 
the  subjoined  extract  from  it* — long  as  it  may  appear. 

*  "  1  come  now,  Sir,  to  the  second  part,  that  was  designed,  viz.  the 
poverty  of  some  of  the  clergy  -,  by  whose  mean  condition,  their  sa- 
cred profession  is  much  disparaged,  and  their  doctrine  undervalued. 
What  large  provisions  of  old,  God  was  pleased  to  make  for  the 
priesthood,  and  upon  what  reasons,  is  easily  seen  to  any  one  that 
looks  but  into  the  Bible.  The  Levites,  it  is  true,  were  left  out  in 
the  division  of  the  inheritance,  not  to  their  loss,  but  to  their  great 
temporal  advantage  :  for  whereas,  had  they  been  common  sharers 
with  the  rest,  a  twelfth  part  only  would  have  been  their  just  allow- 
ance, God  was  pleased  to  settle  upon  them  a  tenth,  and  that  without 
any  trouble  or  charge  of  tillage :  which  made  their  portion  much 
more  considerable  than  the  rest. 

"  And  as  this  provision  was  very  bountiful,  so  the  reasons,  no 
question,  were  very  divine  and  substantial :  which  seem  chiefly 
to  be  these  two : 

t(  First,  that  the  priesthood  might  be  altogether  at  leisure  for  the 
service  of  God,  and  that  they  of  that  holy  order  might  not  be  dis- 
tracted with  the  cares  of  the  world,  and  interrupted  by  every  neigh- 
bour's horse  or  cow,  that  breaks  their  hedges,  or  shackles  their 
corn  :  But  that  living  a  kind  of  spiritual  life,  and  being  removed  a 
little  from  all  worldly  affairs,  they  might  always  be  fit  to  receive  holy 
inspirations,  and  always  ready  to  search  out  the  mind  of  God,  and  to 
advise  and  direct  the  people  therein.  Not,  as  if  this  divine  exemp- 
tion of  them  from  the  common  troubles  and  cares  of  this  life,  was 
intended  as  an  opportunity  of  luxury  and  laziness;  for  certainly  there 
is  a  labour  besides  digging  ;  and  there  is  a  true  carefulness  without 
following  the  plough,  and  looking  after  their  cattel.  And  such  was 
the  employment  of  those  holy  men  of  old ;  their  care,  and  business 
was  to  please  God,  and  to  charge  themselves  with  the  welfare  of  all 
his  people  :  which  thing  he  that  does  with  a  good  and  satisfied  con- 
science, i'll  assure  you  he  has  a  task  upon  him,  much  beyond  them 


OLD  ENGLISH  DIVINES.  59 

Our  prospects  brighten  as  we  step  over  the  thresh- 
hold  of  the  seventeenth — or  rather  gain  due  admission 

that  have  for  their  care,  their  hundreds  of  oxen,  and  five  hundreds  of 
sheep. 

"  Another  reason  for  this  large  allowance  was  made  to  the  Priests, 
was,  that  they  might  be  enabled  to  relieve  the  poor,  to  entertain 
strangers,  and  thereby  to  encourage  people  in  the  ways  of  godliness  5 
for  they  being  in  a  peculiar  manner  the  servants  of  God,  God  was 
pleased  to  entrust  in  their  hands  a  portion  more  than  ordinary  of  the 
good  things  of  the  land,  as  the  safest  storehouse  and  treasury  for 
such  as  were  in  need.  That  in  all  ages,  therefore,  there  should  be  a 
continued  tollerable  maintenance  for  the  Clergy  j  the  same  reason,  as 
well  as  many  others,  make  us  think  to  be  very  necessary.  Unless 
they'll  count  money,  and  victuals  to  be  only  types  and  shadows,  and 
so  to  cease  with  the  Ceremonial  Law.  For,  where  the  minister  is 
pinch'd,  as  to  the  tollerable  conveniences  of  this  life,  the  chief  of  his 
care  and  time  must  be  spent  not  in  an  impertinent  enquiry  consider- 
ing what  Text  of  Scriptures  will  be  most  useful  for  his  parish,  what 
instructions  most  seasonable,  and  what  authors  best  to  be  consulted : 
but  the  chief  of  his  thoughts,  and  his  main  business  must  be  to  study 
how  to  live  that  week  :  where  he  shall  have  bread  for  his  family  ? 
whose  sow  has  lately  pigg'd  ?  Whence  will  come  the  next  rejoicing 
goose,  or  the  next  cheerful  basket  of  apples  ?  How  far  to  Lammas,  or 
offerings  ?  When  shall  we  have  another  christening,  and  cakes,  and 
who  is  likely  to  marry,  or  die  ?  These  are  very  seasonable  consider- 
ations, and  worthy  of  a  man's  thoughts.  For,  a  family  cannot  be 
maintained  by  texts  and  contexts  :  and  the  child  that  lies  crying  in 
the  cradle,  will  not  be  satisfied  without  a  little  milk,  and  perhaps 
sugar,  though  perhaps  there  be  a  small  German  System  *  in  the 
house. 

' (  But  suppose  he  does  get  into  a  little  hole  over  the  oven,  with  a 
lock  to  it,  called  a  study,  towards  the  latter  end  of  the  week,  (for 
you  must  know,  Sir,  there  is  very  few  texts  of  Scripture  that  can 
be  divided,  at  soonest,  before  Friday  night)  and  some  there  be 
that  will  never  be  divided  but  upon  Sunday  morning,  and  that 
not  very  early  j  but  either  a  little  before  they  go,  or  in  the 
going  to  church)  I  say,  suppose  the  gentleman  gets  thus  into  his 
study,  one  may  very  near  guess  what  is  his  first  thought  when  he 


*  Qu,  The  making  of  sugar  caudy  ? 


60  DIVINITY. 

into  the  eighteenth  century ;  for  we  are  then  struck 
with  the  resplendent  names  of  BOYLE,,  TILLOTSON, 

comes  there,  viz.  that  the  last  kilderkin  of  drink  is  near  departed  -, 
and  that  he  has  but  one  poor  single  groat  in  the  house,  and  there  is 
judgment  and  execution  ready  to  come  out  against  it,  for  milk,  and 
eggs.  Now,  Sir,  can  any  man  think  that  one  thus  racked  and  tor- 
tured, can  be  seriously  intent  half  an  hour  to  contrive  any  thing  that 
might  be  of  real  advantage  to  his  people  r  Besides,  perhaps  that 
week  he  has  met  with  some  dismal  crosses  and  most  undoing  mis- 
fortunes. There  was  a  scurvy-conditioned  mole,  that  broke  up  his 
pasture,  and  ploughed  up  the  best  part  of  his  glebe  :  and  a  little 
after  that,  came  a  couple  of  spightful,  ill-favoured  crows,  and  tram- 
pled down  the  little  remaining  grass.  Another  day,  having  but  four 
chickens,  sweep  comes  the  kite,  and  carries  away  the  fattest  and 
hopefullest  of  all  the  brood.  Then,  after  all  this,  came  the  Jack- 
daws, and  starlings,  (idle  birds  that  they  are!)  and  they  scattered 
and  carried  away  from  his  thin  thatched  house  forty  or  fifty  of  the 
best  straws  :  and  to  make  him  compleatly  unhappy,  after  all  these 
afflictions,  another  day,  that  he  had  a  pair  of  breeches  on,  coming 
over  a  perverse  stile,  he  suffered  very  much  in  carelessly  lifting  over 
his  leg. 

(f  Now  what  parish  can  be  so  inconsiderate  and  unreasonable,  as  to 
look  for  any  thing  from  one,  whose  phansie  is  thus  checked,  and  whose 
understanding  is  thus  ruffled  and  disordered  ?  They  may  as  soon  expect 
comfort  and  consolation  from  him  that  lies  racked  with  the  gout  and 
stone,  as  from  a  Divine  thus  broken  and  shattered  in  his  fortunes. 
But  we'll  grant,  that  he  meets  not  with  any  of  these  such  frightful 
disasters,  but  that  he  goes  into  his  study  with  a  mind  as  calm  as  the 
evening  :  for,  all  that,  upon  Sunday,  we  must  be  content  even  with 
what  God  shall  please  to  send  us.  For,  as  for  books,  he  is  (for  want  of 
money)  so  moderately  furnished,  that  except  it  be  a  small  Geneva  Bible, 
so  small,  as  it  will  not  be  desired  to  lie  open  of  itself,  together  with  a 
certain  concordance  thereunto  belonging  j  as  also  a  book  for  all  kind 
of  Latin  sentences,  called  POLYANTHE.E  -,  with  some  exposition  upon 
the  Catechism  (a  portion  of  which  is  to  be  got  by  heart,  and  to  be 
put  off  for  his  own,)  and  perhaps  Mr.  Caryl  upon  Pineda,  Mr.  Dod 
upon  the  Commandments ,  and  Mr.  Clark's  Lives  of  Famous  Men,  both 
in  Church  and  State ;  such  as  Mr.  Carter,  of  Norwich,  that  uses  to 
eat  such  abundance  of  pudden  5  besides,  I  say,  these,  there  is  scarce 
any  thing  to  be  found  but  a  boudget  of  old  stitched  Sermons,  hung 


LATE  ENGLISH -DIVINES.  61 

STILLINGFLEET,  BULL,  and  CLARKE  ;  followed  by 
those  of  SHERLOCK,  WARBURTON,  SECKER,  JORTIN, 
and  LOWTH  ;  *  nor  should  the  name  of  LESLIE  be 

up  behind  the  door,  with  a  few  broken  girts,  two  or  three  yards  of 
whipcord,  and  perhaps  a  saw  and  a  hammer,  to  prevent  dila- 
pidations. 

ft  Now,  what  may  not  a  Divine  do,  though  but  of  ordinary  parts, 
and  unhappy  education,  with  such  learned  helps  and  assistances  as 
these  ?  No  vice  surely  durst  stand  before  him,  nor  heresie  affront 
him.  And  furthermore,  Sir,  it  is  to  be  considered,  that  he  that  is  but 
thus  meanly  provided  for,  it  is  not  his  own  infelicity  that  he  has  nei- 
ther time,  mind,  nor  books,  to  improve  himself  for  the  inward 
benefit  and  satisfaction  of  his  people,  but  also  that  he  is  not  capable 
of  doing  that  outward  good  amongst  the  needy,  which  is  a  great 
ornament  to  that  holy  profession,  and  a  considerable  advantage 
towards  the  having  his  doctrine  believed  and  practiced  in  a  degenerate 
world.  And  that  which  augments  the  misery,  whether  he  be  able  or 
not,  it  is  expected  from  him.  If  there  coines  a  brief  to  town,  for  the 
minister  to  cast  in  his  mite,  will  not  satisfie,  unless  he  can  create  six- 
pence or  a  shilling  to  put  into  the  box,  for  a  state  to  decoy  in  the 
best  of  the  parish  :  nay,  he  that  has  but  twenty  or  thirty  pounds  per 
annum,  if  he  bids  not  up  as  high  as  the  best  of  the  parish  in  all  acts 
of  charity,  he  is  counted  carnal,  and  earthly  minded,  only  because  he 
durst  not  coin,  and  cannot  work  miracles.  And  let  there  come  never 
so  many  beggars,  half  of  these  I'll  secure  you,  shall  presently  enquire 
for  the  minister's  house.  For  God,  say  they,  certainly  dwells  there, 
and  has  laid  up  a  sufficient  relief."  This  work  was  followed  by  some 
observations  upon  the  ff  Answer  to  an  Enquiry  into  the  Grounds  and 
Occasions  of  the  Contempt  of  the  Clergy,  with  some  Additions.''  In  a 
second  Letter,  to  R.  C.  1671,  8vo. 

*  It  were  useless  to  particularise  editions  of  works  of  authors  so  well 
known  and  so  frequently  reprinted  :  but  I  recommend  the  earlier  edi- 
tions generally,  and  especially  those  which  were  first  published  after  the 
deaths  of  the  authors.  In  Boyle's  works  (edit.  1772,  4toj  vol.  i.  p. 
274)  I  exhort  the  pious  reader  to  a  perusal  of  the  Treatise  of  f '  Sera- 
phic Love," — as  being  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  heavenly-minded 
productions  of  its  author.  There  is  scarcely  any  thing  more  poetical 
in  Jeremy  Taylor,  or  more  logical  in  Isaac  Barrow.  No  one  can 
read  it  seriously,  without  rising  from  the  perusal  a  wiser  ^ind  a  better 


6?  DIVINITY. 

omitted ;  since  it  is  most  conspicuous  upon  the  rolls 
of  Christianity.  A  contemporary  of  Tillotson,  but 

man.  The  line  between  a  frantic  enthusiast  and  a  cold-blooded 
sceptic  is  most  happily  drawn.  Boyle  was  the  founder  of  a  set  of 
LECTURES,  or  Sermons,  first  published  in  1739,  folio,  in  three  vo- 
lumes— comprising  the  labours  of  some  of  our  greatest  Divines. 
Bentley,  Clarke,  Allestree,  Woodward,  and  others  :  and  of  which,  the 
late  Bishop  Watson  has  observed,  that,  "  if  all  other  defences  of  re- 
ligion were  lost,  there  is  solid  reasoning  enough  in  these  volumes,  to 
remove  the  scruples  of  most  unbelievers."  The  work  in  question  has 
also  the  merit  of  being  charmingly  printed  by  Knapton,  upon  excel- 
lent paper.  A  good  copy  is  worth  2Z.  125.  6d.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  see 
Dr.  Samuel  Clarke's  works,  alone,  in  four  folio  volumes,  1738, 
printed  by  the  same  printer,  selling  at  from  four  to  five  guineas.  It  is 
not  quite  twenty  years  ago,  since  I  remember  them  drooping  beneath 
the  hammer,  for  somewhere  about  eighteen  to  twenty-five  shillings. 
Clarke's  Sermons  were  separately  published  in  thirteen  octavo  vo- 
lumes, and  in  eleven  volumes,  small  duodecimo,  1749,  published  by 
Knapton.  I  possess  a  copy  of  the  latter  beautiful  little  edition,  "  com- 
panion meet "  for  those  of  Tillotson  and  Barrow  of  the  same  size. 
There  be  those  who  talk  of,  and  who  recommend,  "  POST  CHAISE 
COMPANIONS"  in  the  form  of  BOOKS.  Let  these  volumes  be  of  the 
number — for  they  are  both  exhilarating  and  instructive.  I  would  be 
understood  to  speak  of  that  "  sober  mirth  "  which  makes  us  wise 
without  gloom,  and  cheerful  without  frivolity.  The  Sermons  of 
Clarke,  Sherlock,  and  Jortin,  contain  a  rich  fund  of  exposition  of 
Scriptural  texts. 

Of  the  works  of  Bishop  Bull,  one  of  the  soundest  and  shrewdest  of 
our  older  Divines,  it  is  impossible  to  speak  too  highly  of  his  Harmonia 
Apostolica,  Judicium  Ecclesia  Catholica,  Vindication  of  the  Church  of 
England)  and  his  works  concerning  the  Trinity.  The  life  and  labours, 
of  this  able  man  were  published  by  the  well  known  Mr.  Nelson  in  the 
English  tongue, — and  are  found  in  eight  octavo  volumes,  but  with 
some  little  difficulty.  See  Mem.  of  Literature,  vol.  vi.  p  205,  221, 
246.  The  Life  of  Bull  first  appeared,  by  the  same  pious  editor,  in 
1713,,  8vo.  in  three.vols. ;  and  it  is  not  very  unusual  to  find  copies 
of  it  in  goodly  old  blue  morocco  binding :  —  such  as  comforts  the 
heart  of  a  tasteful  Bibliomaniac.  Grabe  published  Bishop  Bull's 
Latin  works,  in  1703,  folio, — to  which,  as  well  as  to  portions  of  his 


LATE  ENGLISH  DIVINES.  63 

possessed  of  greater  acumen,  and  exhibiting  a  more 
condensed  and  logical  style,  he  was  perhaps  the 
ablest  defender  of  orthodoxy  at  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Ever  ardent  and  active  in  what  he 
conceived  to  be  the  cause  of  vital  religion,  his  heart 
and  head  were  constantly  excited  to  the  bringing 
forth  of  those  admirable  works  which  appear  lo  bear 
the  stamp  of  immortality.  No  single  theological 
work  has  perhaps  received  so  much  applause  as  his 
"  Short  and  Easy  Method  with  the  Deists"  first  pub- 
lished in  a  small  8vo.  volume  in  1697,  and  of  which 
the  reprints  are  innumerable.  Leslie's  theological 
works  were  collected  about  a  year  before  his  death, 
and  published  in  1721,  in  two  folio  volumes.*  And 

English  works,  the  late  Bishop  Horsley  was  more  indebted  than  he 
was  willing  to  confess.  But  there  would  be  no  moderate  limits  to  a 
note  which  should  give  even  a  brief  detail  of  the  peculiar  excellen- 
lences  of  all  the  ensuing  Divines  particularised  in  the  text.  Let  me 
say  a  word  only  respecting  the  last ;  one  of  the  greatest  and  one  of 
the  wisest  of  those  who  ever  filled  the  See  of  London.  His  (<  Pre- 
lections on  the  Sacred  poetry  of  the  Hebrews,"  together  with  his 
version  of  Isaiah,  and  the  preliminary  Dissertation,  are  the  principal 
monuments  which  his  pen  has  raised  5  but,  though  few,  these  monu- 
ments are  at  once  solid,  beautiful,  and  perfect.  The  Church  of  Eng- 
land may  with  just  pride  number  LOWTH  among  the  most  profound 
of  her  scholars,  and  the  most  exemplary  of  her  Bishops.  If  I  were 
called  upon  to  mention  six  of  the  greatest  works  of  our  Divines,  each 
contained  in  one  octavo  volume,  I  should  unhesitatingly  pronounce 
the  following  :  Butler's  Analogy,  Douglas's  Criterion,  Lowth's  Prelec- 
tions, Watson's  Apology  for  the  Bible,  Paley's  Natural  Theology,  and 
Prettyman's  Refutation  of  Calvinism.  I  entreat  "  the  Young  Collec- 
tor," especiallv  if  he  be  destined  for  holy  orders,  to  lose  no  opportu- 
nity of  making  himself  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  contents  of 
these  books.  They  are  as  snow-white,  speckless,  and  brilliant 
diamonds  in  the  episcopal  mitre. 

*  A  good  copy  may  be  worth  2Z.  %s.  Mr.  Baynes,  in  his  catalogue 
of  1822,  not  only  holds  out  to  us  a  copy  upon  large  paper,  marked 


64  DIVINITY. 

again,  wishing  to  possess  works  of  equal  piety,  but 
of  less  learning,  and  with  a  leaning  to  the  opposite 
faith  of  that  of  the  Church  of  England,  we  may  be 
well  satisfied  with  the  degree  of  instruction  to  be  de- 
rived from  those  volumes  to  which  the  names  of 
OWEN,  LELAND,  LARDNER,  DODDRIDGE,  and  WATTS 
(not  to  mention  others)  are  attached.  Of  the  three 
latter,  and  especially  Dodd ridge,  it  is  impossible 
to  rise  from  a  careful  perusal  of  their  labours,  without 
a  conviction  of  being  benefitted  by  their  research,  and 
comforted  by  their  piety.  Lardner's  works  contain  a 
mine  of  theological  learning;  in  which  the  Student 
may  toil  till  he  is  weary — and  from  which  he  cannot 
fail  to  bring  away  much  that  is  curious  and  edifying. 
The  Family  Expositor  of  Doddridge,  should  find  a 
place  upon  the  shelf,  and  upon  the  table,  of  every 
mansion  where  the  moral  duties  of  a  Christian  are  en- 
joined. Doddridge's  heart  was  made  up  of  all  the 
kindlier  affections  of  our  nature  ;  and  was  wholly  de- 
voted to  the  salvation  of  men's  souls.  Whatever  he 
did,  he  appears  to  have  done  "  to  the  glory  of  God." 
He  read,  he  wrote,  he  preached — with  a  zeal,  which 
knew  of  no  abatement,  and  with  an  earnestness,  which 
left  no  doubt  of  the  sincerity  of  his  motives.  He  was 
snatched  from  his  flock  and  the  world — both  of  which 
had  been  enlightened  and  benefitted  by  his  labours — 
in  the  prime  of  his  life,  and  in  the  full  possession  of 

at  41.  4s  :  but  another,  in  imperial  folio,  EXTRA  LARGE  PAPER,  marked 
at  61. 6s.  ff  very  neat."  Mr.  Baynes  adds  that  fe  it  is  believed  that 
Leslie's  works  have  converted  more  individuals  to  the  communion  of 
the  church  of  England,  than  the  writings  of  all  others  on  the  same 
subject :"  no.  207-  Yet  Leslie  is  not  free  from  the  alliterative  foppery 
of  the  age,  in  some  of  his  titles,  as  thus  :  (C  Two  Sticks  made  one}  or 
the  Devil  upon  Dun:  a  parallel  between  the  Jessuits  and  Dissenters." 


LATE  ENGLISH  DIVINES  65 

his  faculties  :  but  HE,  who  has  left  such  fruits  behind 
him,  cannot  be  said  to  have  immaturely  perished.  I 
hope  however  not  to  be  accused  of  having  an  unsus- 
ceptible heart,  if  I  observe,  that  his  famous  "  Rise  and 
Progress  of  Religion  in  the  Soul" — which  converted  a 
very  gay  Colonel  in  the  army  from  vice  to  virtue  — 
struck  me  as  a  performance  of  no  extraordinary  merit. 
To  be  sure,  I  might  not  have  stood  so  much  in  need 
of  conversion  as  the  Colonel. 

Of  WATTS,  the  companion  of  our  younger  and  later 
years,  it  is  impossible  to  speak  without  reverence  and 
respect.  His  Hymns  are  the  charm  of  our  early 
youth  ;  his  Logic,  the  well-known  theme  of  schoolboy 
study  ;  and  his  Sermons,  Essays,  and  other  theological 
compositions,  are  a  source  of  never  failing  gratification, 
in  the  advance,  maturity,  and  decline  of  life.  The  man 
at  fourscore  may  remember,  with  gratitude,  the  advan- 
tage of  having  committed  the  Hymns  of  this  pious 
man  to  his  infantine  memory.  What  Dr.  Johnson  has 
said  of  him* — merits  an  inscription  in  letters  of  gold. 

Nor  let  the  name  of  MACKNIGHT  be  forgotten.  His 
works  are  indeed  the  more  exclusive  property  of  the 
disciplined  theological  student ;  but  the  general  reader 

*  "  Happy  will  be  that  reader,  whose  mind  is  disposed,,  by  his 
verses  or  his  prose,  to  imitate  him  in  all  but  his  non-conformity  :  to 
copy  his  benevolence  to  man,  and  his  reverence  to  God."  Life  of 
Watts.  I  do  not  particularise  any  editions  of  the  works  of  the  six 
authors  last  above  mentioned  ;  inasmuch  as  every  five  or  six  years, 
new  editions,  mere  reprints,  are  put  forth.  I  only  recommend  the 
plan,  noticed  at  page  53,  ante,  upon  this  and  every  similar  occasion ; 
but  it  may  be  as  well  to  say  of  Macknight,  that  a  complete  set  of  the 
first  4to.  editions  of  his  works,  in  five  vols.  may  be  well  worth 
lot.  105.  in  fine  condition.  The  Epistles  have  been  recently  printed 
with  the  Greek  text,  in  six  octavo  volumes. 

F 


66  DIVINITY. 

will  do  well  to  secure  his  inviting  quartos  upon  the 
Gospels  and  Epistles  of  the  New  Testament.  In 
these,  he  will  find  learning  without  pedantry,  and 
piety  without  enthusiasm.  In  short,  no  theological 
collection  can  be  perfect  without  them.  If  any  man 
maybe  said  to  have  exhausted  his  subject,  it  is  Mack- 
night. 

SERMONS. 

Ere  I  descend  to  more  modern  times,  it  may  be 
expected  that  I  should  go  back  a  little,  and  say  a 
word  or  two  about  SERMONS.  Whatever  may  be  my 
attachment  to  those  of  the  Old  School*  from  the 

*  It  was  my  original  intention  to  have  given  a  list  of  our  principal 
preachers  and  Sermon-writers,  from  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  down- 
wards j  but  the  execution  of  such  a  task,  as  it  ought  to  be  executed, 
would  alone  furnish  materials  for  a  moderately  sized  octavo  volume. 
Indeed,  the  collection  of  OLD  SERMONS  has  been  long  a  favourite 
pursuit  with  me — desultorily  carried  on,  I  admit  —  and  not  likely  to 
be  brought  to  any  satisfactory  conclusion.  Were  it  so,  I  should  be 
induced  to  offer  the  public  a  small  duodecimo  volume  or  two,  enti- 
tled Specimens  of  the  Sermons  of  our  Ancient  Divines,  which,  with 
brief  biographies  of  the  Authors,  might  be  placed  upon  the  same 
shelf  with  specimens  of  our  old  Poets  and  Prose  Writers.  In  the 
mean  time,  let  the  reader  have  some  notion  of  the  probable  contents 
of  such  a  publication,  and  of  the  probability,  or  improbability  of  its 
success,  by  what  he  is  about  to  peruse. 

There  are  three  old  English  Protestant  Divines  who  have  long 
been  the  favourite  inmates  of  my  study  :  LATIMER,  Fox,  and  DRANT. 
The  Sermons  of  Latimer  are  indeed  familiar  to  most  readers.  They 
were  frequently  reprinted  in  the  sixteenth  century ;  and  lately  (1788 
I  think)  an  octavo  edition  of  them  appeared  in  a  very  amputated  and 
imperfect  state  —  liberties  being  taken,  not  only  with  the  words,  but 
with  the  constructions  of  the  sentences.  There  are  also  omissions 
without  number.  I  happen  to  possess,  if  not  the  first,  undoubtedly  very 
nearly  the  first,  impression  of  any  portion  of  Latimer's  Sermons,  in  a 
small  STO.,  or  duodecimo  volume,  of  the  date  of  1548  j  and  of  which 


OLD  SERMONS.  67 

reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  to  that  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 
— each  reign  included — lam  well  aware  that,  in  a  work 

V 

Mr.  Hibbert  possesses  probably  the  finest  copy  in  existence.  It  con- 
tains his  famous  Sermon  of  The  Plough,  "  preached  in  ye  Shrouds  at 
paules  churche  in  London" — but  which  was  afterwards  much  enlarged 
by  him.  These  are  followed  by  seven  Sermons  "  preached  before 
the  Kynges  Maiestie  wythin  his  gracious  palayce  at  Westmynster, 
1549.*  From  some  of  these  latter  I  select  a  few  specimens  —  cha- 
racteristic of  the  blunt,  bold,  intrepid,  and  forcible  style  of  the  preacher 
— and,  to  the  uninitiated  in  Latimer  lore,  calculated  perhaps  to  startle 
and  provoke  a  smile.  For  the  better  understanding  thereof,  I  have 
modernised  the  orthography,  preserving  most  religiously  the  original 
words.  The  words  between  brackets  thus,  [  ]  are  added,  for  the 
better  understanding  of  the  passage  :  but  these  occur  very  rarely. 

ee  Thus,  God  conditioned  with  the  Jews  that  their  King  should  be 
such  a  one  as  he  himself  would  chuse  them.  And  [this]  was  not 
much  unlike  the  bargain  that  I  heard  of  late  should  be  betwixt  two 
friends  for  a  horse  :  the  owner  promised  the  other  should  have  the 
horse  if  he  would  :  the  other  axed  the  price :  he  said  xx  nobles.  The 
other  would  give  him  but  iiii  pound.  The  owner  said  he  should  not 
have  him  then.  The  other  claimed  the  horse,  because  he  said  he 
should  have  him  if  he  would.  Thus,  this  bargain  became  a  West* 
minster  matter.  The  Lawyers  got  twice  the  value  of  the  horse,  and 
when  all  came  to  all,  two  fools  made  an  end  of  the  matter.  Howbeit, 
the  Israelites  could  not  go  to  law  with  God,  for  chusing  their  king ; 
for  would  they,  mjl  they,  their  king  should  be  of  his  chusing,  lest 


*  The  curious  in  old  English  Divinity,  and  especially  in  the  lucubrations  of  Latimer, 
are  divided  about  the  existence  of  an  edition  of  the  Sermons  of  the  latter,  in  which  there 
is  supposed  to  be  a  wood-cut  portrait  of  him,  in  a  pulpit,  either  shuffling  a  pack  of 
cards,  or  shewing  the  ace  of  trumps  :  by  way  of  illustration,  in  his  peculiar  manner. 
This  is  said  to  have  been  mentioned  by  Mr.  Hone  upon  his  trial  for  a  parody  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  Liturgy,  and  the  copy  was  said  to  be  in  the  library  of  Red  Cross-street, 
belonging  to  the  body  of  Dissenters.  I  have  examined  that  library,  and  particularly 
the  two  editions  of  Latimer's  Sermons,  1  of)'.?- 1583,  which  it  contains.  These  are  fine 
and  genuine  copies  ;  and  of  the  former^ there  are  two  parts;  but  in  NEITHER  does 
there  appear  to  be  a  PORTPAIT  of  LATIMFR.  I  have  a  strong  suspicion,  not  only 
that  no  such  cut  exists,  but  that  the  portrait  oi  him  upon  copper,  in  the  reprint  of  1635> 
4to.,  may  bejictitions.  It  shoul.l  !;<•  here  observed,  in  reference  to  Mr.  Hibbert's  copy 
above  mentioned,  that  it  contains  two  additional  Sermons  of  Latimer,  of  the  date  of  1550. 
This  marvellously  fine  copy  had  belonged  to  Biudley. 


(18  DIVINITY. 

of  this  nature,  it  will  be  my  duty  to  notice  and  recom- 
mend those  discourses  which  are  useful  and  popular, 

they  should  walk  inordinately,  in  a  deceivable  way,  unto  their  utter 
loss  and  destruction."  B.  iiii. 

Edward  the  Sixth  was  then  upon  the  throne  of  England: — and,  a 
little  further,  Latimer  (somewhat  strangely,  if  not  ungraciously) 
adds  :  "  Well,  the  King's  grace  hath  sisters,  my  Lady  Mary,  and  my 
Lady  Elizabeth,  which  by  succession  and  course  are  inheritors  to  the 
crown.  Who,  if  they  should  marry  with  strangers,  what  should 
ensue  God  knowcth.  But  God  grant  they  never  come  unto  coursing 
nor  succeeding,"  &c.  What  follows,  a  page  or  two  onwards,  is  not 
a  little  curious  and  characteristic.  (f  In  a  King,  God  requireth  faith, 
not  excess  of  horses.  Horses  for  a  King  be  good  and  necessary,  if 
they  be  well  used  j  but  horses  are  not  to  be  preferred  above  poor 
men.  I  was  once  offended  with  the  King's  horses,  and  therefore 
took  occasion  to  speak  in  the  presence  of  the  King's  Majesty,  that 
dead  is,  when  Abbeys  stood.  Abbeys  were  ordained  for  the  comfort 
of  the  poor.  Wherefore,  I  said,  it  was  not  decent  that  the  King's 
horses  should  be  kept  in  them,  as  many  were  at  that  time,  the  living 
of  poor  men  thereby  minished  and  taken  away.  But  afterward,  a 
certain  nobleman  said  to  me,  "  what  hast  thou  to  do  with  the  King's 
horses?"  I  answered  and  said  "  I  speak  my  conscience  as  God's 
word  directeth  me."  He  said  horses  be  the  maintenances  and  part 
of  a  King's  honour,  and  also  of  his  realm  ;  wherefore,  in  speaking 
against  them,  ye  are  against  the  King's  honour.  I  answered,  "  God 
teacheth  what  honour  is  decent  for  the  King,  and  for  all  other  men, 
according  unto  their  vocations.  God  appointeth  every  king  a  suffi- 
cient living  for  his  state  and  degree,  both  by  lands  and  other  customs  : 
and  it  is  lawful  for  every  King  to  enjoy  the  same  goods  and  posses- 
sions .  But  to  extort  and  take  away  the  right  of  the  poor,  is  against 
the  honour  of  the  king.  And  you  do  move  the  King  to  do  after  that 
manner,  then  you  speak  against  the  honour  of  the  king :  for  I  full 
certify  you,  extortioners,  violent  oppressors,  ingrossers  of  tenements 
and  lands,  through  whose  covetousness  villages  decay  and  fall  down 
[and]  the  king's  liege  people,  for  lack  of  sustenance,  are  famished 
and  decayed.  THEY  be  those  which  speak  against  the  honour  of  the 
King."  C.  ii.  Hi, 

In  this  same  sermon,  Latimer  shews  his  zeal  and  anxiety  about 
the  YOUNG  KING'S  taking  a  suitable  WIFE.  "  Let  us  not  impute  sin 


OLD  SERMONS.  69 

rather  than  those  which  are  merely  curious  and  un- 
common. But  let  us  not  be  ungrateful  to  our  fore- 

unto  the  Jews  because  they  had  many  wives :  for  they  had  a  dispen- 
sation so  to  do.  Christ  limiteth  one  wife  unto  us  only  3  and  it  is  a 
great  thing  for  a  man  to  rule  one  wife  rightly  and  ordinately.  For 
a  woman  is  frail  andprodive  unto  all  evils  :  a  woman  is  a  very  weak 
vessel,  and  may  soon  deceive  a  man,  and  bring  him  unto  evil.  Many 
examples  we  have  in  Holy  Scripture.  Adam  had  but  one  wife, 
called  Eve  -,  and  how  soon  had  she  brought  him  to  consent  unto 
evil,  and  to  come  to  destruction.  How  did  wicked  Jesabel  prevent 
king  Hacab's  heart  from  God  and  all  godliness,  and  finally  unto  de- 
struction !  It  is  a  very  hard  thing  for  a  man  to  rule  well  one  woman. 
Therefore,  let  our  King,  what  time  his  Grace  shall  be  so  minded  to 
take  a  wife,  to  chose  him  one  which  is  of  God,  that  is,  which  is  of 
the  household  of  faith."  The  way  in  which  he  introduces  the  subject, 
as  connected  with  the  King's  shilling,  just  coined,  is  ingenious 
enough.  f(  We  have  now  (says  he)  a  pretty  little  shilling  :  indeed 
a  very  pretty  one.  I  have  but  one,  I  think,  in  my  purse :  and  the 
last  day  I  had  put  it  away,  almost  for  an  old  groat,  and  so  I  trust 
some  will  take  them.*  The  fineness  of  the  silver  I  cannot  see :  but 
therein  is  printed  a  fine  sentence — that  is,  f{  Timor  Deifons  vite  vel 
sapiential  The  Fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  fountain  of  life  or  wisdom.  I 
would  God  this  sentence  were  always  printed  in  the  heart  of  the  King 
in  chosing  his  wife,  and  in  all  his  officers."  ....  "  Let  the  King, 
therefore,  chuse  unto  him  a  godly  wife,  whereby  he  shall  the  better 
live  chaste,  and  in  so  living  all  godliness  shall  increase  and  righteous- 
ness be  maintained.  I  know  hereafter  some  will  come  and  move  your 
Grace  towards  wantonness  and  to  the  inclination  of  the  flesh  and  vain 
affections,"  &c.  Sign.  C.  v. 

In  another  part  of  the  Sermon,  the  worthy  Bishop  maintains  a  very 
stiff  and  severe  opinion  respecting  the  frequency  and  lightness  of  mar- 
riages in  England,  as  in  the  following  passage  : — ' '  There  was  never 


*  It  should  seem  that  Latimer  got  a  little  into  disgrace  by  this  familiar  mention  of 
King  Edward's  shilling  ;  for,  in  a  subsequent  sermon,  he  thus  observes  upon  it :  "  Thus 
they  burdened  me  ever  with  sedition.  So  this  gentleman  cometh  up  now  with  sedition. 
And  wot  ye  what  ?  I  chanced,  in  my  last  sermon,  to  speak  a  merry  word  of  the 
NEW  SHILLING  —  to  refresh  my  auditory  —  how  I  was  like  to  put  away  my  new 
shilling  for  an  old  groat :  I  was  herein  noted  to  speak  seditiously.  Yet  I  comfort  my- 
self in  cne  thing,  that  I  am  not  alone,  and  that  I  have  a  fellow  :  for,  it  is  consolatio 
miserorum.  It  is  the  comfort  of  the  wretched  to  have  company."  Sign.  F  viij. 


70  DIVINITY. 

fathers.  Let  us  remember  the  good  old  stock  upon 
which  many  a  comparatively  modern  graft  has  been 

such  marrying  in  England,  as  is  NOW.  I  hear  tell  of  stealing  of  wards 
to  marry  their  children  to.  This  is  a  strange  kind  of  stealing,  but  it  is 
not  the  wards,  it  is  the  lands  that  they  steal.  And  some  there  be  that 
knit  up  marriages  together  not  for  any  love  or  godliness  in  the  par- 
ties, but  to  get  friendship,  and  make  them  strong  in  the  realm,  to 
encrease  their  possessions  and  to  join  land  to  land.  And  other  there 
be  that  inveigle  men's  daughters,  in  the  contempt  of  their  fathers, 
and  go  about  to  marry  them  without  their  consent.  This  marrying 
is  ungodly.  And  many  parents  constrain  their  sons  and  daughters 
to  marry  where  they  love  not,  and  some  are  beaten  and  compulsed. 
And  they  that  marry  thus,  marry  in  a  forgetfulness  and  obliviousness 
of  God's  commandments."  Sign.  Nviij. 

In  the  foregoing  extracts,  those  specimens  have  been  selected 
which  may  be  thought  to  exhibit  the  peculiarities  of  Latimer  as  con- 
nected rather  with  temporal  subjects,  or  even  personal  anecdote.  I 
shall  now  select  a  few  specimens  as  exhibiting  his  opinions  rather 
upon  spiritual  subjects :  but  in  which  all  the  quaintness  and  origina- 
lity of  the  preacher  are  not  less  discernible.  First  of  PRAYER. 

"  What  should  it  mean  that  God  would  have  us  so  diligent  and 
earnest  in  prayer?  Hath  he  such  pleasure  in  our  works?  Many  talk 
of  prayer,  and  make  it  a  lip  labouring.  Praying  is  not  babling,  nor 

praying  is  not  monkery."  "  When  we  pray,  we  come 

unto  him  in  the  confidence  of  Christ's  merits,  and  thus  offering  up 
our  prayers,  they  shall  be  heard  for  Christ's  sake.  Yea,  Christ  will 
offer  them  up  for  us,  that  offered  up  once  his  sacrifice  to  God,  which 
was  acceptable,  and  he  that  cometh  with  any  other  mean  than  this, 
God  knoweth  him  not.  This  is  not  the  Missal  sacrifice,  the  Popish 
sacrifice  to  stand  at  the  altar  and  offer  up  Christ  again.  Out  upon  it 
that  ever  it  was  used  !"  Sign.  N  iiii. 

Secondly,  of  the  SACRAMENT  ;  or,  the  fitness  of  the  Poor  as  well 
as  of  the  Higher  Classes  to  receive  it : 

"  The  sign  of  a  thing  hath  often  times  the  name  of  a  thing  that  it 
signifieth.  As  the  Supper  of  the  Lord  is  the  sacrament  of  another 
thing,  it  is  a  commemoration  of  his  death  which  suffered  once  for  us, 
and  because  it  is  a  sign  of  Christ's  offering  up,  therefore  he  bears  the 
name  thereof.  And  this  sacrifice  a  woman  can  offer  as  well  as  a 
man.  Yea,  a  poor  woman  in  the  belfrey  hath  as  good  authority  to 


OLD  SERMONS.  71 

made.  The  days  of  Paul's  Cross,  and  of  stone  pulpits, 
care  past,  never  to  be  recalled  ;  but  "  the  divinity  which 

offer  up  this  sacrifice,  as  hath  the  Bishop  in  his  pontificalibus,  with 
his  mitre  on  his  head,  his  rings  on  his  fingers,  and  sandals  on  his 
feet.  And  whosoever  cometh,  asking  the  Father  remedy  in  his  neces- 
sity for  Christ's  sake,  he  offereth  up  as  acceptable  a  sacrifice  as  any 
Bishop  can  do.  And  so  to  make  an  end."  Sign.  N  iiii.  rev. 

Thirdly,  of  FAITH  :  "  This  faith  is  a  great  state,  a  lady,  a  Duchess, 
a  great  woman,  and  she  hath  ever  a  great  company  and  train  about 
her,  as  a  noble  estate  ought  to  have.  First,  she  hath  a  gentleman 
usher  that  goeth  before  her,  and  where  he  is  not,  there  is  not  LADY 
FAITH. 

"This  gentleman  Usher  is  called  Agnitio  Peccatorum :  "  knowledge 
of  sin  :"  when  we  enter  into  our  hearts  and  acknowledge  our  faults, 
and  stand  not  about  to  defend  them.  He  is  none  of  these  winkers, 
he  kicks  not  when  he  hears  his  fault.  Now,  as  the  Gentleman 
Usher  goeth  before  her,  so  she  hath  a  train  that  cometh  behind  her, 
and  yet  though  they  come  behind,  they  be  all  of  Faith's  company  3 
they  are  all  with  her  j  as  Christ,  when  he  counterfeited  a  state  going 
to  Jerusalem,  some  went  before  him,  and  some  after  :  yet  all  were  of 
his  company.  So,  all  these  wait  upon  Faith.  She  hath  a  great  train 
after  her,  besides  her  Gentleman  Usher,  her  whole  household  ;  and 
those  be  the  works  of  our  vocation,  when  every  man  considereth 
what  vocation  he  is  in,  what  calling  he  is  in,  and  doeth  the  works  of 
the  same  :  as  to  be  good  to  his  neighbour,  to  obey  God,"  &c 

"  Lady  Faith  is  never  without  her  Gentleman  Usher,  nor  without 
her  train ;  she  is  no  anckres,  [anchores,  or  anchorite]  j  she  dwells  not 
alone  ;  she  is  never  a  private  woman ;  she  is  never  alone,  and  yet 
many  there  be  that  boast  themselves  that  they  have  faith,  and  that 
when  Christ  shall  come,  they  shall  do  well  enough.  Nay,  nay,  these 

that  be  faithful  shall  be  so  few,  that  Christ  shall  scarcely  see  them , 

tf 
<c  Many  there  be  that  run,  "  saith  St.  Paul,  but  there  is  but  oife  that 

receiveth  the  reward;  it  shall  be  with  the  multitude  when  he  shall 
come,  as  it  was  in  the  time  of  Noah,  and  as  it  was  in  the  time  of 
Lot."  N.  vj.  &c. 

The  fourth  touches  upon  the  state  of  Divinity -Studies :  and  shall 
here  speak  for  itself  : 

"  I  told  you  before  ofScala  cell,  the  ladder  of  heaven  :  I  would  you 
should  not  forget  it.  The  steps  thereof  are  set  forth  in  the  tenth  to 


72  DIVINITY. 

stirred  within  "  them,  is  yet  felt,  and  will  long  animate 
the  meanest  of  the  true  sons  of  our  Church. 

the  Romans.  The  first  is  preaching,  then  hearing,  then  believing, 
and  last  of  all  salvation.  Scala  celi  is  a  preaching  matter  I  tell 
you,  and  not  a  massying  matter.  God's  intrument  of  salvation  is 
preaching." 

<c  Here  I  itrove  you  my  Lords,  not  to  be  greedy,  and  outrageous 
in  enhansing  and  raising  of  your  rents,  to  the  minishing  of  the  office 
of  salvation.  It  would  pity  a  mail's  heart  to  hear  that,  that  I  hear  of 
the  state  of  Cambridge:  what  it: is  in  Oxford  I  cannot  tell.  There 
be  few  do  study  divinity,  but  so  many  as  of  necessity  must  fur- 
nish the  Colleges.  For  their  livings  be  so  small,  and  victuals  so 
dear,  that  they  tarry  not  there,  but  go  other  where  to  seek  livings, 
and  so  they  go  about.  Now,  there  be  a  few  gentlemen  and  they 
study  a  little  divinity.  Alas !  what  is  that  ?  It  will  come  to  pass  that 
we  shall  have  nothing  but  a  little  English  divinity  :  that  will  bring 
the  realm  into  a  very  barbarousness,  and  utter  decay  of  learning. 
It  is  not  that  I  wis,  that  will  keep  out  the  supremacy  of  the  Bishop 
of  Rome."  Sign.  P  vj.  rev. 

But  there  must  be  an  end  of  these  extracts,  and  of  such  uncon- 
scionable demands  upon  the  reader's  patience.     It  is,  however,  im- 
possible not  to  feel,  and  to  acknowledge,  in  the  SERMONS  of  LATIMER, 
a  familiarity,  and  yet  force  of  style,  upon  which  Swift,  if  not  Sterne, 
in  after  days,  but  with  occasionally  greater  coarseness  of  expression, 
might  have  formed  their  own.     There  is,  throughout  Latimer,  a 
purity,  ease,  and  perfection  of  English  idiom — to  say  nothing  of  the 
curious  personal  and  historical  anecdotes  with  which  they  are  mixed 
up,  and  which  render  his  discourses  invaluable  to  the  lexicographer 
and  philologist.     At  the  same  time  there  is,  frequently,  a  good  deal 
of  what  may  be  called  gossipping — in  the  sermons  of  this  worthy  old 
Bishop :  for  he  not  only  seems  to  have  spoken,  more  than  any  other 
divine  with  whom  I  am   acquainted,  from  the  impulses  excited  by 
the  evidence  of  the  outward  senses,  but  he  also  seems  to  have  always 
spoken  THE  TRUTH,  even  in  its  most  unpalateable  form,  —  although 
the  Court,  with  the  King  at  its  head,  were  frequently  his  auditors. 
Latimer  possessed  the  bold  spirit  of  a  martyr  with  the  simplicity  of 
a  child.  If  ever  a  man  mingled  among  his  fellow  creatures,  with  the 
desire  and  with  a  constant  effort  to  do  them  good  —  having,  at  the 
same  time,  his  best  thoughts  fixed  upon  a  happy  eternity — it  was 


OLD  SERMONS.  73 

.  Of  the  Sermons  which  have  survived  the  earlier 
part  of  the  Reformation,  the  greater  portion  are  those 

HE.  His  dying  words,  at  the  stake,  breathed  of  heavenly  inspira- 
tion. While  they  cheered  his  fellow  sufferer,  Ridley,  they  "  lighted 
up  such  a  flame  "  as  I  trust  in  God  will  never  be  extinguished  in  this 
country.  One  of  the  finest  bursts  of  modern  classical  eloquence,  in 
a  Latin  speech,  was  in  the  convocation  house  at  Oxford,  in  reference 
to  the  last  moments  of  Latimer  and  Ridley — by  the  present  Mr.  Arch- 
deacon Churton,  author  of  the  Life  of  Dean  Nowell.  His  appeal  to 
their  ashes  was  an  humble  but  not  wholly  unhappy  imitation  of  that  of 
Demosthenes  to  the  manes  of  the  heroes  of  Marathon  and  Salamis. 

r\  he  length  of  the  preceding  extracts  necessarily  contracts  the 
limits  to  be  assigned  to  the  notice  of  JOHN  Fox  —  who  published  his 
Sermon  of  Christ  Crucified)  at  Paules  Crosse,  on  Good  Friday,  in 
1575,  in  order,  amongst  other  things,  "  to  awake  the  hearts  of  Chris- 
tians in  these  drowsy  days  of  carnal  security,  to  the  contemplation  of 
the  glorious  kingdom  of  Christ."  The  following  is  quite  in  the  cha- 
racteristic style  of  the  Preacher  : — 

"  Now,  take  a  man  in  all  his  abundance  of  riches,  treasures,  and 
pleasures,  flourishing  in  his  most  felicity,  bravery  and  prosperity  :  let 
him  be,  if  ye  will,  an  other  Poly  crates  of  this  world — what  is  he  of 
himself  but  a  carcass,  a  caitiff,  a  subject  of  Satan,  a  prey  to  death  ! 
rejoicing  and  laughing  in  this  world,  but  yet  as  one  that  laugheth  in 
his  dream,  and  waketh  in  sorrow ! — fraught  full  of  fears  and  cares  of 
mind,  blind  in  soul,  not  knowing  to  day  what  will  happen  to-morrow ; 
void  of  all  inward  rest,  and  peace  of  conscience ;  mortal,  mutable, 
miserable 3  wrapped  in  wretchedness,  prone  to  all  wickedness,  whose 
beginning  is  in  travail,  his  standing  uncertain,  his  end  is  corruption: 
briefly  as  one  living  in  death,  and  dead,  being  alive."  B  vij.  rev, 

I  shall  next  present  a  more  powerful  and  touching  piece  of  pulpit 
eloquence  to  the  earnest  perusal  of  the  reader.  After  the  description 
of  Christ's  trial,  and  that  of  nailing  him  to  the  cross,  are  the  follow- 
ing bold  apostrophes  of  the  crucified  Redeemer  to  Satan  and  Death. 
The  first  address  is  to  the  DEVIL  : 

"First,  after  my  birth  thou  diddest  set  Herod  to  persecute  me  : 
thou  temptcdst  me  in  the  desert.  What  means  afterward  diddest 
thou  seek  to  trip  and  snare  me :  yet  my  time  was  not  come.  At 
length  when  the  hour  came  of  darkness,  thou  diddest  take  and  bind 
me,  and  set  thy  bandogs  to  bait  me,  false  witnesses  to  accuse  me. 


74  PIVINITY. 

which  were  preached  by  the  Protestants  ;  and  among 
these,  none  (as  the  subjoined  running  note  may  tes- 

unjust  judges  to  condemn  me,  thy  ministers  to  scourge  me,  thy  sol- 
diers with  this  sharp  garland  to  crown  me,  thy  sycophants  to  scorn 
me,  and  after  thou  laiddest  this  heavy  cross  upon  my  shoulders  :  yet 
not  content  with  that,  thou  hast  strained  also  my  poor  body  upon  the 
same,  and  nailed  me  fast  both  hand  and  foot.  In  these  my  torments, 
and  bleeding  pains,  I  was  dry,  requiring  a  little  drink,  and  thou  gavest 
me  vinegar.  All  this  I  take  to  be  thy  doing  and  no  man's  else.  For 
this  people  are  but  thy  instruments,  and  workmen.  Thou  art  he  that 
settest  them  on.  Thou  art  the  master  of  these  revels,  the  ringleader 
of  this  dance,  the  captain  of  this  crew.  And  as  thou  art  the  arch 
enemy  to  all  mankind,  so  because  thou  seest  me  come  in  similitude 
of  sinful  flesh,  thou  art  mine  enemy  also,  and  hast  wrought  me  all 
this  villainy,  bringing  me  to  this  cross,  and  making  me  a  spectacle 
here  to  all  the  world :  and  yet  not  satisfied  with  all  this,  after  thou 
hast  thus  hailed  and  nailed  me  to  this  contumelious  gibbet,  now,  to 
make  amends  in  mockery,  thou  biddest  me  come  down,  if  I  can,  and 
save  thyself.  Yes,  Satan,  I  can  come  down,  and  will  come  down 
and  save  myelf.  For  that  power  have  I,  both  to  lay  down  myself, 
and  to  take  it  again,  and  therefore,  I  will  save  myself,  but  so  as  I 
may  also  save  all  mankind  with  me :  and  not  at  thy  pleasure  I  will 
do  it,  but  in  such  order  as  the  Scriptures  require.  For,  I  come, 
therefore,  to  fulfil  the  Scriptures."  Sign.  I.viii.  rev.;  K.  i.  red. 

"  After  this  effect  of  speech,  when  Jesus  had  spoken  to  the  devil, 
speaking  likewise  unto  DEATH,  he  saith  to  him:  and  thou  ter- 
rible tyranny,  thou  dreadful  death,  armed  with  the  justice  of  God, 
the  mortal  enemy  to  all  flesh,  whom  no  man  was  ever  able  to  resist, 
and  which  art  so  ready  here  and  so  saucy,  set  up  by  Satan,  to  seek 
my  life,  neither  shalt  thou  escape  my  hands ,  for,  as  thou  art  the  de- 
struction of  all  other,  so  will  I  be  thy  destruction,  thy  death.  Oh  ! 
Death,  thy  sting !  Oh  Hell  -,  and  as  I  have  overthrown  the  devil  thy 
master,  and  expulsed  him  from  his  kingdom,  and  spoiled  him  of  all 
his  munitions  :  so  will  I  also  swallow  thee  up  in  victory,  and  throw 
thee  down  headlong  for  ever.  And  albeit  I  need  not  to  suffer  thy 
force,  unless  I  list,  for  mine  own  part,  because  thou  hast  no  power 
upon  me,  and  might,  therefore,  save  myself  from  thy  cruel  danger 
if  I  would — yet,  for  my  love  to  mankind,  because  their  life  shall  not 
perish,  whom  my  death  may  save,  and  because  I  will  not  save  myself 


OLD  SERMONS.  75 

tify)  were  more  popular  than  those  of  LATIMER.  Fox 
had  also  a  high  name ;  but  there  was  a  Catholic,  of 

without  them,  but  will  deliver  them  out  of  thy  hands — for  their  sakes, 
to  pay  their  debt,  and  that  by  my  cross  undeserved,  I  may  cross  them 
out  of  the  book  of  death,  which  have  deserved  death,  I  am  content. 
Come  death,  therefore,  and  do  thine  office.  I  willingly  here  yield  my 
life  to  thee.  And  yet  neither  will  I  yield  it  to  thy  hands,  nor  give  it 
over  at  thy  pleasure.  And  although  thou  come  here  with  thine  iron 
coulter,  or  brazen  maul,  to  break  my  bones,  as  thou  doest  to  these 
here  by  me,  yet  will  I  not  suffer  thee  so  to  do  to  me  :  neither  shalt 
thou  break  one  bone  of  me.  To  fulfil  the  Scripture,  I  give  over  my 
life  :  yet  not  at  thy  will,  but  at  mine  own  pleasure  j  for  be  it  known 
to  thee,  O  death,  that  I  have  power  to  lay  down  my  life,  and  to 
resume  it  again  at  mine  own  will.  And  thus  Jesus,  speaking,  bowed 
down  his  head,  and  gave  up  his  spirit  to  the  hands  of  his  Father,  and 
and  so  departed."  Sign  K.  v.  rev. 

A  word  now  for  Dr.  THOMAS  DRANT  —  better  known  as  the  first 
English  metrical  translator  of  Horace,  in  1567  :  a  work  of  excessive 
rarity,  when  found  in  a  perfect  state.  Drant  is  equally  bold  and 
familiar  with  Latimer  —  but  more  quaint,  with  greater  affectation  of 
learning  j  and  with  less  warmth  of  eloquence  than  Fox. 

We  have,  however,  a  bold  and  powerful  effort  of  Drant's  pulpit 
eloquence  in  the  two  Sermons  preached  by  him  at  St.  Mary's  Spittle, 
upon  the  text  of  Cant.  c.  6. — "  Fairest  of  all  women,  whither  is  thy 
Beloved  gone  ?  whither  is  he  gone  aside  ?  Tell  us,  and  we  will 
seek  him  with  thee.  My  Beloved  is  gone  down  into  his  garden,  to 
the  beds  of  his  spicery,  to  be  fed  in  gardens,  and  gather  up  Lilies." 
This  Sermon  is  levelled  chiefly  against  the  Roman  Catholics,*  and 


t  These  sermons  were  preached  in  1569-70  :  when  the  bitterness  against  the  Roman 
Catholic  had  not,  as  is  pretty  evident,  diminished  one  jot.  Drant  thus  speaks  of  Sir 
Thomas  More  :  "  Sir  Tho.  More  is  always  wrangling  and  jangling,  harping  and  carp- 
ing, about  No  and  Nay,  Yea  and  Yes;  this  word  and  that  word  ;  an  Elder,  and  an 
Elder  stick  :  and  as  Rachell  mourned  for  her  children,  because  she  had  them  not,  so  Sir 
Thomas  More  might  mourn  for  more  divinity,  because  he  had  it  not."  D  v.  Edit  Day. 
Some  attacks  against  Bp.  Fisher  and  Eckius  follow.  Again,  he  thus  satirises  the  several 
orders  of  Doctors  in  the  Catholic  Universities.  "  Should  we  not  now  strike  down,  and 
sacrifice  a  great  huge  forfatted  bull  to  those  worthies  of  learning  ?  Or,  should  we  not 
take  a  shrill  trumpet,  and  blow  up  from  a  lofty  theatre,  "  All  hail !  learned  Doctors, 
venerable  Doctors,  reverend  Doctors,  Doctoral  Doctors,  Doctorly  Doctors,  irrefragable 


76  DIVINITY. 

the  name  of  EDGEWORTH,  whose  Discourses  are  not 
only  worth  possessing,  from  being  very  uncommon,  but 

treats  much  of  the  fruits  of  AN  HOLY  LIFE.  "  The  good  life  of  a 
Christian  man  is  spice  to  God's  mouth,  and  spice  to  God's  nose. 
The  odour  of  a  sweet  field,  which  is  commended  in  Genesis — the 
odour  of  incense  in  Numery  [Numbers]  — the  odour  of  fragrant 
waters  in  Job — the  odour  of  that  oil  that  ran  down  Aaron's  beard  — 
of  that  oil  that  Mary  shed  upon  Christ's  head  —  the  odour  of  spike 
and  vine  flowers,  commended  in  the  Canticles — the  sweet  balm  in  Ec- 
clesiasticus,  and  the  smell  of  Libanus  that  Ose  [Hosea]  speaketh  of — 
the  smell  of  Noah's  sacrifice — the  smell  of  best  burnt  sacrifices — is 
not  like  the  good  smell  to  God's  nose,  as  the  smell  of  a  GOOD  LIFE 
rising  from  a  GOOD  BELIEF  j  for  that  is  "  Hostia  Deo  in  odorem  suavi- 
tatis ;"  "  a  sacrifice  to  God,  unto  a  sweet  savour."  Whole  grocers 
shops  of  spicery — all  the  flowers  in  LMapus  garden,  all  the  flowers 
that  Naiads,  and  Driads,  and  Satyrs  ;  that  is,  all  the  flowers  in  hills, 
and  flowers  in  dales,  and  flowers  in  many  a  green  forest,  are  not  so 
delightful  and  smelling.  The  violet  hath  not  the  like  savour,  the  rose 
hath  not  the  like  savour,  the  lily  the  like  smell,  the  gilliflower  the  like 
scent,  as  GOOD  LIFE  through  GOOD  FAITH  yieldeth  to  God's  nostrils." 
Sign  G.  in. 

Doctors,  impregnable  Doctors,  seraphical  Doctors,  angelical  Doctors,  magistral  Doc- 
tors, illuminate  Doctors,  authentical  Doctors  !  But  see  the  learning  of  these  Doctors, 
in  the  Epistles  of  Obscure  Men,  and  in  a  dialogue  between  Reuchlin  and  Erasmus."  D.  vij. 
And  yet  more  pointed  and  pitiless  is  the  preacher,  in  what  follows  : — "  The  Church  of 
the  Beloved  is  fair,  and  fairest  of  all  women :  Idolatrous  churches  are  foul  and  evil 
favoured  women;  and  of  all  foal  and  evil  favoured,  I  think  the  church  of  Rome  to  be 
one  of  the  foulest  of  women.  The  evil  favouredness  of  Mahomet's  woman,  or  church, 
is  in  this  evil  favoured  Romish  woman.  That  evil  favoured  Mahomet's  woman,  or 
church,  defendeth  many  wives  :  this  Romish  Church  defendeth  stews  and  strum  pets, 
courtisans,  concubines,  and  boy-harlots.  Mahomet's  woman  dreameth  heaven  to  be  a 
place  goodly  of  rivers,  pleasant  apples,  young  delicate  women,  and  fair  fruit.  The 
Pope's  woman  doth  say  and  hold,  that  St.  Dorothy  made  baskets  of  apples  that  came 
down  from  heaven."  E.  y.  This  strain  continues  in  an  equally  coarse  and  unsparing 
manner;  and  a  little  onward  we  have  the  following  specimen ;"  If  we  ask  her  [the 
Romish  Church]  of  GOOD  WORKS,  she  answereth  just  like  St.  Luke's  pharisee;  then 
again,  she  deviseth  good  works  to  be  thus  : — to  hire  certain  men  for  money,  to  pray 
and  to  mumble  up  much  quantity  of  Psalms  in  a  covert  tongue  ;  to  keep  huge  troughs 
of  ling  and  salt-fish  many  years  j  to  wax  hoarse  with  much  chaunting  ;  to  wax  speech- 
less with  seldom  speaking  ;  to  wax  lame  with  much  sitting  ;  to  use  many  knots  in  their 
girdles,  and  many  windows  in  their  shows  ;  to  be  buried  in  monkish  weeds  and  nunnish 
cowls,"  &c.  F.  viy. 


OLD  SERMONS.  77 

from  containing  much  curious  and  interesting  intel- 
ligence ;  delivered,  upon  the  whole,  with  considerable 

The  following  is  perfectly  original,  and  has  great  strength ;  "  If 
the  whole  world,  if  the  whole  refilm  ask  me,  what  sin  ?  I  tell  them 
that  the  whole  realm  and  the  world  trembleth,  like  the  leaf  of  a  tree 
of  wood,  at  every  war,  and  buzzing  of  war,  as  though  God's  arm  had 
lost  the  length  and  strength.  That  sin  !  ?  There  is  much  idleness  : 
that  sin  !  There  is  a  sleepy  oblivion  of  all  God's  benefits,  and  a 
great  Noah's  flood  of  manifold  vanities  :  that  sin,  and  that  sin. 
There  is  cut  throat  usury,  fulness  of  bread,  and  drunkennesss  in  the 
day  time :  that  sin,  that  sin,  and  that  sin.  There  is  flesh  lust,  eye  lust, 
life  pride,  and  no  bowels  of  pity  :  that  sin,  that  sin,  that  sin,  and  that 
sin.  Ask  me  not,  ask  me  not,  Oh  what  Sin  ?  I  lack  wit  and  memory, 
sides  and  strength :  I  die,  I  faint,  I  should  famish  to  stand  still,  and 
hold  out  hi  telling  the  world  their  particular  sins  by  that  sin,  and 
that  sin.  Sign.  G.  vj. 

The  reader  will  smile  at  the  following — as  it  is  a  confirmation  that 
"  the  sin  of  gluttony,"  once  imputed  to  the  good  CITY  of  LONDON  as 
the  cause  of  the  dreadful  fire  in  1666,  was  not  peculiar  to  the  times  of 
Charles  II. — for  thus  discourseth  Drant,  in  his  famous  Spittle  Sermon  : 
"  Howbeit,  I  am  not  ignorant  that  many  a  poor  minister  of  these 
times,  is  like  Elizas.  He  had  not  pen,  nor  ink,  nor  table,  nor  candle- 
stick, but  as  his  hosts  allowed  him  :  and  these  poor  God's  men  must 
be  helped  by  their  host  or  hosts,  or  one  friend  or  other,  with  coat  and 
cap,  and  cup  and  candle,  and  study  and  table,  or  else  they  shall  be 
altogether  harbour-less  and  helpless.  And  needs  must  I  further  yet 
say,  that  in  many  a  poor  scholar  of  the  Universities,  Christ  himself  is 
full  of  hunger  and  necessity.  These  be  the  noble  sons  of  the  pro- 
phets, and  most  apt  of  all  others  to  be  builders  of  God's  temple  :  yet 
have  I  seen  many  a  good  wit,  many  a  long  day  kept  low  and  lean,  to 
be  made  broken  with  hunger,  and  abject  with  poverty.  I  do  not 
now  know  the  liberality  of  THIS  CITY  towards  both  those  places ;  only 
this  I  can  say,  that,  less  than  the  tenth  part  of  that,  which  is  nothing 
but  surfeit  and  sickness  to  the  GREAT  EXCESSIVE  EATERS  OF  THIS 
TOWN,  would  cherish  and  cheer  up  hungry  and  thirsty  Christ,  in 
those  his  hunger  starved  members,  right  well."  H.  i.  The  good 
citizens  of  London  are  treated  with  still  less  curtesy  in  the  following 
passage  :  "  Havoc  in  their  own  apparel,  their  wives,  childrens,  and 
servant's  apparel,  outragious  havoc  in  their  diets,  yea  too  much 


78  DIVINITY. 

caution,  but  with  the  decisive  tone  of  Catholic  zeal. 
Edgeworth,  who  died  at  the  commencement  of  Eliza- 
havoc  too  many  ways'.     Their  horses  chew  and  spew  upon  gold  and 
silver,  and  their  mules  go  under  rich  velvet.     Dogs  are  dear  unto 
them,  and  feed  much  daintily     Courses  and  kites  cost  them  many  a 
round  pound  .  .  .  Specially,  good  Lord,  O  good  Lord,  THIS  LONDON 
PEOPLE,  though  it  draw  near  thee  with  lips,  and  have  a  name  to  live, 
yet  hath  it  a  most  flinty  and  uncircumcised  heart,  and  is  indeed  a 
people  of  no  bowels.     Lord,  here  is  the  rich  glutton  to  be  seen,  up 
and  down,  and  round  about,  the  town.     Here  is  scarce  any  thing  in 
the  upper  sort,  but  many  a  foolish  Nabal  scraping  and  scratching, 
eating  and  drinking,  and  suddenly  and  unworthily  dying.     The  eyes 
of  Judah  were  said  to  be  red  with  drinking,  but  much  of  this  people 
have  their  whole  faces  fire  red  with  continual  quaffing  and  carousing. 
Sodom  and  Gomorra  were  said  to  be  full  of  bread,  but  THESE  LON- 
DONERS are  more  than  full — for  they  are  even  bursten  with  banquet- 
ting,  and  sore  and  sick  with  surfeiting.     Lord,  thou  whistlest  to 
them,  and  they  hear  thee  not  j   thou  sendest  thy  plague  amongst 
them,  and  they  mind  thee  not.      Lord,  we  are  lean ;  Lord,  we  are 
faint ;  Lord,  we  are  miserable ;  Lord,  we  are  thy  members.     Lord, 
therefore  thou  art  lean ;  Lord,  thou  art  faint ;  Lord,  thou  art  miser- 
able ;  rise  good  Lord,  arise,  and  judge  thine  own  cause."     H.  ii.  iij. 
One  more,  and  the  last  —  from  this  Sermon :   although  in  the 
original  it  precede  both  the  foregoing.     The  preacher  is  describing 
the  beauty  of  the  church.     f(  All  the  beauty  of  the  daughter  of  Sion 
is  from  within  her"     This  is  that  woman  that  is  clad  with  the  son 
Christ,  and  therefore  must  needs  shine,  and  shew  trim.      This  is  she 
that  is  married  to  Christ,  in  mercies  and  pities,  in  faith  and  justice. 
Faith  purifieth  the  heart ;  the  mercy  of  God,  working  by  his  blood- 
shed, scowereth  all  filth,  and  reformeth  all  the  deformities  by  sin  in 
this  woman.     This  woman,  therefore,  must  needs  be  fair,  and  fairest 
of  all  women.     Oh,  fairness  of  man's  face  ;  of  woman's  face  !     Oh, 
treasure  for  a  time  !  Oh,  fair,  foolish  vanity !  A  little  cold  cloth  pinch 
thee ;  a  little  heat  doth  parch  thee :   a  little  sickness  doth  match 
thee,  and  a  little  of  sores  doth  mar  thee!  But  the  fairness  of  CHRIST 
in  this  woman,  or  in  his  Elect,  may  be  soiled,  but  it  will  be  washed ; 
it  maybe  black,  but  it  will  keep  a  good  favour  -,  may  be  made  red  as 
scarlet,  but  it  will  be  renewed  wool-white,  and  snow  white,"  &c. 


OLD  SERMONS.  79 

beth's  reign,  had  a  delicate  and  difficult  part  to  act. 
He  had  witnessed,  with  no  small  pain,  the  demolition 

In  a  sermon  preached  before  the  queen  and  her  court  at  Windsor, 
on  the  8th  of  January,  1569,  Drant  chose  the  following  text: — 
ff  They  were  both  naked,  Adam  and  Eve,  and  blushed  not."     Sin- 
gular as  such  a  text  may  now  appear,  before  such  an  audience,  it  was 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  bold  simplicity  of  the  age ;  and,  upon 
this  text,  Drant  has  engrafted  some  very  bosom-searching  doctrine, 
clothed  in  language  at  once  striking  and  original.     He  thus  observes 
in  the  outset  of  his  discourse,  "  as  Adam  and  Eve  were  man  and 
wife  together,  so  shall  they  be  one  together  for  me  in  this  treatise. 
Or  else,  if  I  should  talk  both  of  Adam  and  of  Eve,  and  be  but  so  large 
as  I  well  mought,  it  would  not  be  very  well  ;  for  the  season  is  very 
cold,  and  I  most  sickly  to  speak ;  and,  besides  that,  our  scantling  to 
preach  in  the  court,  is  a  most  short  scantling."     The  frailty  and 
nothingness,  as  it  were,  of  human  nature,  are  thus  powerfully  deline- 
ated.    "  Such  base  dust,  as  is  driven  before  the  face  of  the  wind, 
which  the  ungodly  do  lick,  which  the  serpent  doth  eat,  even  SUCH 
DUST  is  ADAM:    such  dust  is  man,  such  dust  are  all  men: — and 
hearken  to  it,  all  men  !  Rich  men  are  rich  dust ;  wise  men  wise  dust ; 
worshipful  men  worshipful  dust ;  honourable  men  honourable  dust  j 
majesty's  dust,  excellent  majesty's  excellent  dust.     Serah,  that  had  a 
thousand  thousand  men,  and  Xerxes,  that  made  the  sea,  land — with 
ships — are  both  of  them  dust.    Alexander,  that  called  himself  God's 
son,  was  dust  -,   Senacherib,  that  wrote  himself  the  great  king,  was 
dust.     The  bishops  of  Rome,  that  write  themselves  EuAa^s-o/,  gy<re- 
£eraro»,  0£0<pjAag-aToj,  fiftfi&farQf,  aytOTaroi,  6<noTaroj,  all  these  be 
dust.     The  Latin  doctors,  that  call  themselves  authentical  doctors, 
magistrall  doctors,   seraphical  doctors,  and   irrefragable  doctors*, 
DUST.     He  of  Rome,  that  called  himself  most  holy,  most  blessed, 
God's  vicar,  Christ's  pewfellow,  more  than  a  mere  man,  and  many 
great  names, .  .  .  DUST.   Man  is  dust :  all  men  are  dust.   Sign.  I.  i.  ij. 
The  same  train  of  thinking  is  visible  in  the  following,  which  suc- 
ceeds an  elaborate  explanation  of  the  word  Adam.     fe  And  do  not 
think  that,  because  I  say  Adam  is  red  earth,  and  it  is  said  that 
Adam  is  ashes,  and  shall  return  into  ashes,  therefore,  none  but  red 


*  See  page  75,  ante. 


30  ,  DIVINITY. 

of  the  religious  houses  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII., 
and  had  maintained  a  prudent  silence  during  that  of 

earth  and  red  men  shall  die.  Of  a  truth  it  is  so,  that  Adam  (that  is 
red  earth)  Melancthon  (that  is,  black  earth),  and  Leucthon  (that  is, 
white  earth)  must  die  too.  They  must  all  learn  to  tread  the  way  of 
all  earths  :  yea,  Madams,  think  it  to  be  so  as  I  say.  Red  earth, 
black  earth,  and  white  earth,  must  go  David's  way  5  yea,  verily, 
rosiall  colours,  and  crimson  cheeks,  must  go  David's  way  ;  must  go 
the  way  of  all  earths.  Think  upon  your  death,  and  upon  the  next 
life,  for  ye  must  die,  ye  must  die,  there  is  no  remedy."  /.  v.  rev. 

There  is  something  rather  poetical  in  what  here  ensues.  "  Saint 
Paul  saith,  God  made  meats,  and  God  made  the  belly  ;  and  that  God 
will  destroy  both  the  meats  and  the  belly.  So  say  I.  God  made  appa- 
rel *,  and  God  made  the  back  $  and  he  will  destroy  both  the  one  and 
the  other  ;  yea,  those  heads,  that  are  now  to  be  seen  for  their  tall  and 
bushy  plumes, — and  that  other  sex,  that  have  fine  fresh  golden  caules 
so  sheen  and  glosing — give  me  but  a  hundred  years,  nay,  half  an  hun- 
dred years,  and  the  earth  will  cover  all  these  heads  before  me,  and 
mine  own  too."  K.  viij.  A  little  before,  Drant  describes  what  he 
calls  "  the  condition  of  all  preachers  that  speak  the  truth."  "  And 
generally,  in  kings  houses,  of  the  preachers,  this  is  true  which  Mar- 
tial, the  poet,  said  of  his  friends  :  ee  My  friends,  ye  will  me  to  speak 
the  truth,  and  embolden  me  to  speak  the  truth :  the  truth  is  this,  that 
you  cannot  abide  to  hear  the  truth." 

' '  In  King  Herod's  house,  my  lady  Herodiada  could  command  half 
a  realm,  for  footing  and  frisking.  Amos  spake  of  those  in  kings 
houses,  in  his  6th  chapter,  when  he  spake  thus  :  (f  ye  that  sleep  in 
beds  of  ivory,  and  play  the  wantons  on  your  couches  :  ye  that 
warble  to  the  tune  of  the  viol,  and  quaff  of  wine  by  whole  goblets 
full ;  ye  that  supple  your  joints  with  the  best  kind  of  oil,  and  have  no 
cark  upon  the  smart  of  Joseph,"  &c. 

Such  are  the  specimens  of  the  pulpit  compositions  of  DRANT  ;  spe- 


*  The  preacher  is  most  elaborate  respecting  apparel,  both  of  men  and  women.  In 
one  place,  he  describes  the  latter  thus  :  "  Now,  in  women's  apparel,  there  is  much 
vanity.  The  prophet  Isaiah  reckoneth  up  their  bracelets,  and  their  mufflers,  and  their 
headbands,  their  tablets,  their  bonnets,  their  ear-rings,  their  nose-jewels,  their  veils, 
their  wimples,  their  crisping  pins,  their  stomachers,  their  cambrics,  their  heads,  and 
their  lawns."  K.  vij. 


OLD  SERMONS.  81 

Edward  VI. :  but  on  the  accession  of  Queen  Mary,  he 
took  courage,  triumphantly  avowed  his  ancient  prin- 

ciraens,  which  may  convince  us  that  increase  of  civilization  does  not 
always  bring  a  proportionate  increase  of  sound  sense,  close  reasoning, 
masculine  eloquence,  and  unaffected  piety.  Of  the  man,  whose  head 
and  heart  could  urge  him  to  such  effusions,  it  is  a  pity  that  all  memo- 
rials have  well  nigh  perished. 

Long,  almost  beyond  precedent,  as  is  this  note,  it  must  yet  be 
lengthened.  The  name  of  EDGEWORTH,  as  that  of  a  catholic  divine, 
has  been  mentioned  in  the  text ;  and,  pursuing  the  plan  adopted  in 
the  immediately  preceding  pages,  it  is  necessary  that  such  name  be 
illustrated  with  a  few  specimens  of  his  sermons.  Referring,  there- 
fore, in  the  first  place,  to  Dr.  Bliss's  edition  of  Woods  Athena  Oxon., 
vol.  i.  col.  315,  for  a  brief  account  of  the  author,  .and  noticing  that 
Wood  was  indebted  to  the  choice  collection  of  books  in  Baliol  col- 
lege library  for  a  peep  at  the  volume  containing  these  sermons,  I 
must  observe,  in  the  second  place,  that  I  am  indebted  to  the  not  less 
"  choice  collection"  of  my  neighbour  and  friend,  Mr.  Douce,  for  an 
inspection  of  the  volume  in  question  : — -which  is  so  rare  as  to  have 
been  unknown  to  Herbert,  and  is  superficially  described  by  Ames. 
Nor  will  it  diminish  the  pleasure,  in  noticing  the  contents  of  it,  to 
inform  the  reader,  that  Mr.  Douce's  copy  once  belonged  to  Bishop 
Burnet :  and  that  it  is  not  only  perfect,  but  in  a  clean,  crackling,  and 
legitimate  condition  throughout. 

This  volume  was  published  in  1557, 4to.,  during  the  reign  of  Mary. 
In  his  preface,  Edgeworth  (whose  Christian  name  was  Roger,  and  who, 
at  the  time,  was  "  canon  of  the  cathedral  churches  of  Salisbury,  Wells, 
and  Bristol,  residentiary  in  the  cathedral  church  of  Wells,  and  chan- 
cellor of  the  same  church," — according  to  the  title-page,)  tells 
us,  that  "  because  these  sermons  were  made  in  English,  and  touched 
sometimes  among  such  heresies  as  had  troubled  English  folk,  he 
thought  it  best  to  set  them  forth  in  such  language  as  might  presently 
best  edify  the  multitude.  Moreover,  pleaseth  you  to  be  advertised, 
(continues  he,)  that  when  I  should  preach  in  any  solemn  and  learned 
audience,  1,  even  fearing  the  liability  of  my  remembrance,  used  to 
pen  my  sermons  much  like  as  I  intended  to  utter  them  to  the 
audience :  others  I  scribbled  up  not  so  perfectly  j  yet  sufficiently  for 
me  to  perceive  my  matter  and  my  process.  And  of  these  two  sorts 
I  have  kept  (as  grace  was)  a  great  multitude,  which  now  helpeth 

G 


82  DIVINITY. 

ciples,  and  obtained  rapid  and  substantial  preferment. 
His  sermons  are  among  the  very  few  which  I  have 

me  in  this  my  enterprise  of  imprinting  a  book  of  my  said  exhortations. 
Moreover,  I  have  made  innumerable  exhortations  at  my  cures,  and 
in  other  places  where  I  have  dwelled,  and  in  the  countries  thereabout, 
and  in  my  journies,  where  it  hath  chanced  me  to  be  on  Sunday,  or 
other  holy  days,  of  which  I  have  no  signs  remaining  in  writing, 
although  I  think,  verily,  some  of  them  were  as  fruitful  as  others  in 
which  I  took  more  labours.  I  pray  God  they  may  be  written  and 
registered  in  the  book  of  life  everlasting."  Towards  the  conclusion 
of  the  preface,  he  complains  of  being  ""interrupted  many  years" 
while  he  was  preaching  at  Redcliffe-cross,  at  Bristol,  by  the  con- 
federacy of  HUGH  LATIMER,  then  aspiring  to  a  bishopric,  and  after, 
being  bishop  of  Worcester,  and  ordinary  of  the  greatest  part  of  the 
said  Bristol,  and  infecting  the  whole." 

Beneath  ff  the  contents  of  this  book,"  on  the  opposite  page,  the 
author  observes  thus  :  <f  I  have,  beside  these  many  sermons,  made  in 
very  many  solemn  audiences,  on  the  dominical  epistles  and  gospels, 
some  in  the  university  of  Oxford,  some  at  Paul's-cross,  in  London, 
some  in  the  court  afore  my  most  honourable  lord  and  master,  King 
Henry  the  Eighth,  some  in  the  cathedral  church  of  Wells,  where  hath 
been,  ever  sith  I  knew  it,  a  solemn  and  a  well  learned  audience  :  which 
I  purpose  (God  willing,)  to  set  forth  hereafter,  as  I  may  have  oppor- 
tunity." Edgeworth,  I  believe,  never  had  this  opportunity  -,  for  these 
sermons  are  all  that  are  known  to  have  been  published  by  him.  I 
now  proceed  to  gratify  (as  I  hope)  the  reader  with  a  few  short  speci- 
mens from  this  rare  and  not  incurious  volume. 

Upon  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  English  language,  he 
thus  artfully  observes — liking  it  not  in  his  heart :  ' (  But  what  sayest 
thqu  ?  Is  not  the  study  of  Scripture  good  ?  Is  not  the  knowledge  of 
the  Gospels  and  of  the  New  Testament,  godly,  good,  and  profitable 
for  a  Christian  man  or  woman  ?  I  shall  tell  you  what  I  think  in  this 
matter.  I  have  ever  been  of  this  mind,  that  I  have  thought  it  no 
harm,  but  rather  good  and  profitable,  that  holy  scripture  should  be 
had  in  the  mother  tongue,  and  withh  olden  from  no  man  that  were 
apt  and  meet  to  take  it  in  hand,  specially  if  we  could  get  it  well  and 
truly  translated,  which  will  be  very  hard  to  be  had.  But  who  be 
meet  and  able  to  take  it  in  hand — THERE  is  THE  DOUBT."  Fol.  xxxii. 
I  do  not  know  the  date  of  this  (the  third)  sermon,  but  conclude 


OLD  SERMONS.  83 

seen  from  a  catholic  minister,  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
in  the  English  language. 

that  it  was  preached  before  the  English  version  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment (1526),  the  Pentateuch  (1530)  of  Tindale,  and  the  Bible  of 
Coverdale  in  1535.  It  is  clear  that  no  notice  is  taken  of  the  com- 
parative excellence  of  these  versions,  either  in  or  out  of  the  pulpit 
—  although  Edgeworth's  book  was  published  twenty  years  after  the 
Bible  of  Coverdale. 

In  the  fourth  sermon,  Edgeworth  is  wrathful  respecting  the  mal- 
treatment of  images.  "  And,  because  (says  he,)  I  spoke  even  now  of 
IMAGES  and  IDOLS,  I  would  you  should  not  ignorantly  confound  and 
abuse  those  terms,  taking  an  image  for  an  idol,  and  an  idol  for  an 
image,  *  as  I  have  heard  many  do  in  this  city,  as  well  of  the  fathers 
and  mothers  (that  should  be  wise),  as  of  their  babies  and  children 
that  have  learnt  foolishness  of  their  parents.  Now,  at  the  dissolu- 
tion of  monasteries  and  friars'  houses,  many  images  have  been  car- 
ried abroad,  and  given  to  children  to  play  withal,  and  when  the 
children  have  them  in  their  hands,  dancing  them  after  their  childish 
manner,  cometh  the  father,  or  the  mother,  and  saith,  f '  What,  nasse, 
what  hast  thou  there?"  the  child  answereth  (as  she  is  taught),  "  I 
have  here  mine  doll.  The  father  laugheth,  and  maketh  a  gay  game  at 
it.  So  saith  the  mother  to  another,  "  Jugge,  or  Tommy,  where  hadst 
thou  that  pretty  idol?''  "  John,  our  parish  clerk,  gave  it  me,"  saith 
the  child.  And  for  that,  the  clerk  must  have  thanks,  and  shall  lack 
no  good  cheer.  But,  if  this  folly  were  only  in  the  insolent  youth, 
and  in  the  fond,  unlearned  fathers  and  mothers,  it  might  soon  be  re- 
dressed. But  your  preachers,  that  you  so  obstinately  follow,  more 
leaning  to  the  vulgar  noise  and  common  error  of  the  people,  than  to 
profound  learning,  they  babble  in  the  pulpits  that  [what]  they  hear 
the  people  rejoice  in."  Fol.  xl.  When  this  sermon  was  preached, 
it  is  therefore  but  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  doctrine  of  the  Re- 
formation was  pretty  boldly  inculcated. 

In  the  5th  Sermon  (fol.  liiii.)  occurs  a  bold  and  coarse  translation 
of  Matth.  c.  xxv.  v.  33.  "  He  shall  set  the  shep  on  his  righte  hande, 
and  the  rancke  and  stinckinge  goates  on  the  lift  hande."  In  the 
homily  on  the  fe  Articles  of  our  Christian  Faith,"  fol.  Ixxviii,  is  a  very 
singular  exposition  of  the  ' '  Immaculate  Conception  "  founded  upon 


*  At  folio  ccxxxv,  the  distinction  between  an  idol  and  an  image  is  fully  and  ac- 
curately gone  into. 


84  DIVINITY. 


MODERN  SERMONS. 

In  coming  at  once  to  the  notice  of  Sermons  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  I  shall  not  be  accused  of  an 

the  doctrine  of  St.  Austin.  In  the  eleventh  Sermon  f<  on  St.  Peter's 
First  Epistle,"  the  dress  and  ornament  of  the  Ladies  are  (as  usual,  in 
these  periods — even  before  Majesty)  described  and  condemned  in 
rather  unsparing  terms.  "  This  adulteration,  and  changing  of  God's 
handy  work,  by  painting  -woman's  hair  to  make  it  seem  fair  and 
yellow,  or  of  their  leers  of  their  cheeks  to  make  them  look  ruddy, 
or  of  their  forehead,  to  hide  the  wrinkles,  and  to  make  them  look 
smooth,  is  of  the  devil's  invention,  and  never  of  God's  teaching," 
fol.  cc.  A  little  onward  he  thus  notices  the  luxurious  living  of 
the  age  :  "  diversity  of  exquisite  dishes,  dashed  with  spices 
and  delicate  wines,  and  used  for  kindred  and  friends,  and  such  as  can 
requite  [the]  like  again.  If  poor  people  have  any  thing,  it  is  those 
scraps  that  be  next  the  dog's  meat."  FoL  cciii. 

In  the  same  sermon  occurs  the  following  very  curious  Illustration 
of  CONJUGAL  CONCORD.  "  Saint  Ambrose,  Exameron  libra  v.  cap.  vii., 
reciteth  a  notable  example  to  move  all  married  folks,  as  well  men  as 
women,  to  concord  and  to  agree  together.  The  example  is  of  the 
lamprey  and  a  serpent  called  Vipera,  nequissimum  genus  bestie,  a 
serpent  most  mischievous  and  venemous.  If  there  be  any  of 
them  with  us,  it  is  the  adder.  The  property  of  this  serpent,  is 
this.  When  he  list  to  gender,  specially  where  he  breedeth  nigh 
the  sea- coast,  he  cometh  to  the  water  side,  and  there  he  his- 
seth  after  his  manner,  calling  to  him  his  make,  the  lamprey, 
with  his  continual  hissing.  The  lamprey,  as  soon  as  she  per- 
ceiveth  him  there,  draweth  to  the  shore,  and  shallow  water  $  and 
when  the  adder  spieth  her  coming,  he  vomiteth  and  breaketh 
away  out  of  himself  all  his  poison  and  venom, "  &c.  &c.  "  Here 
may  THE  MAN  and  THE  WOMAN  learn  to  bear  and  suffer  every 
one  the  manners  of  the  other.  Here  may  the  man  learn  to  order  his 
wife  with  soberness,  and  the  wife  to  be  gentle  and  obedient.  What 
thing  is  worse  than  venom  of  a  serpent  \  And  yet,  the  lamprey 
feareth  not  that  not  in  her  make,  the  adder.  She  cometh  gently  at 


MODERN  SERMONS.  85 

unhappy  choice  in  the  recommendation  of  those  of 
Clarke,  Seed,  South,  Sherlock,  Jortin,  Porteus,  Hors- 
ley,  Paley,  and  Gisborne.  I  admit  there  are  some 
slight  shades  of  difference,  both  doctrinal  and  prac- 
tical, in  these  excellent  performances  ;  but  I  am  sure 
there  is  enough  "  OF  CHRIST,  "  in  all  of  them,  to  make 
us  better  men,  and  to  bring  us  nearer  to  salvation. 
In  this  department  of  Divinity,  I  am  aware  that 


his  calling,  and  lovingly  embraceth  him.  Therefore,  good  wives,  if 
your  husbands  be  venemous,  crabbed,  and  cumberous,  or  (as  you 
call  it)  shrew-shaken,  you  must  come  at  his  calling :  do  as  he  biddeth 
you :  be  gentle  unto  him ;  and  so,  though  his  venom  hurt  others,  it 
shall  not  hurt  you."  Fol.  ccvi-vi.  A  modern  congregation  would  be 
a  little  surprised  at  such  an  exposition  of  the  Apostle's  text  of  ft  obey- 
ing hubands  !"  But  the  preacher  does  not  spare  the  husband  in  what 
follows  5  when  he  tells  him  "  he  must  always  lay  away  his  poison,  so 
that  he  use  none  towards  his  wife.  He  must  always  lay  down,  as 
well  all  his  churlish  swelling,  as  all  his  lordly  and  proud  fashion  :  let 
her  perceive  none  such  in  him  :  remember  (concludes  he)  you  be  not 
her  Lord,  ye  be  but  her  Husband  and  her  Make.'' 

But  one  more  extract.  The  following  is  an  artful,  and  not  unhappy, 
illustration  of  the  supposed  paramount  purity  and  influence  of  the 
ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH.  The  preacher  has  been  speaking  of  the 
Flood.  "  And  that  the  water  of  the  said  flood  saved  none  that  were 
out  of  the  ship,  signifieth  that  all  Heretics,  that  be  out  of  the  common 
received  faith  of  the  church,  although  they  were  in  the  water,  although 
they  be  christened,  and  glorieth  to  be  called  christen  men,  yet  by  the 
same  water,  they  shall  be  drowned  into  hell,  by  which  the  ship,  the 
Catholic  Church,  was  lift  and  borne  up  into  heaven,  and  saved;  as  the 
material  ship  of  Noah  was  lift  up  into  the  air,  above  ground,  and 
saved  by  water."  Fol.  ccxxvi.  rev.  I  had  purposed  to  add  the 
account  of  Dives  and  Lazarus,  at  folio  ccxlii,  but  it  is  a  picture  too 
much  in  the  Hemskirk  style  :  too  minutely  coarse  and  disgusting. 
Upon  the  whole,  Edgeworth  is  less  nervous  and  familiar  than  La- 
timer  :  less  eloquent  than  Fox ;  and  less  learned  and  logical  than  Drant. 
He  is,  however,  a  writer  of  a  fine  fancy  and  an  easy  and  flowing 
diction. 


86  DIVINITY. 

every  man  will  choose  according  to  his  particular 
bias,  or  favourite  views  of  Scriptural  doctrine ;  and  he 
will  find  this  doctrine  more  distinctly  developed  or 
illustrated  in  the  Reviews  in  which  such  sermons  are 
criticised.*  In  the  Monthly  Review,  the  Dissenter 
will  seek  for  the  exposition  and  recommendation  of 
his  own  favourite  opinions  ;  in  the  British  Critic,  the 
Church  of  England  man  will  find  the  strong  rays  of 
orthodoxy  concentrated  :  in  the  British  Review,  will 
be  oft-times  found  much  that  is  eloquent,  and  much 
that  is  ingenious,  in  the  exposition  of  saintly  doctrines ; 
in  the  Eclectic,  a  frequent  flow  of  fine  reasoning  and 
pious  persuasion.  The  principles  of  the  latter  are 
called  those  of  the  Evangelical  kind ;  but  obtuse  must 

*  The  name  of  GISBORNE,  the  last  above  mentioned,  and  the  only 
one  of  those  Divines  so  mentioned  who  are  living,  shall  not  be  intro- 
duced without  the  commendations  of  one  of  the  most  able  and  most 
popular  of  our  critical  Journals.  "  Of  Mr.  Gisborne  it  is  impossible 
to  speak  without  reverence  as  a  man,  or  without  respect  as  a  writer : 
a  long  life  and  ample  fortune  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  man- 
kind— a  series  of  writings  on  moral  and  theological  subjects,  calm, 
rational,  intelligent  and  impressive,  contribute  to  place  him  in  the 
number  of  the  best  Christians,  if  not  of  the  best  writers  of  the  age." 
Quarterly  Review,  No.  XLI.  p.  41. 

I  am  aware  that  in  treading  upon  this  kind  of  ground  —  the  notice 
of  LIVING  preachers  and  publishers  of  Sermons — there  is  great  neces- 
sity to  walk  with  caution  and  circumspection.  Yet,  as  all  the  preced- 
ing authors,  dead  and  alive,  have  been  exclusively  English,  I  will  not 
close  this  department  of  the  "  Library  Companion,"  without  the  dis- 
tinct and  commendatory  notice  of  a  few  who  are  Scotch  :  and  when 
I  mention  the  names  of  MONCRIEFF,  ALISON,  and  MUIRHEAD,  I  hop? 
to  give  no  offence  to  any  pious  reader  on  either  side  of  the  Tweed. 
The  truth  is,  these  authors  form  a  sort  of  theological  triumvirate,  of 
which  Scotland  has  just  reason  to  be  proud.  The  strong  good  sense 
and  unaffected  piety  of  the  first,  the  beautiful  and  refined  fancy  and 
melodious  style  of  the  second,  with  the  tenderness,  simplicity,  and 
sweetness  of  the  third,  render  their  respective  works  deserving 


MODERN  SERMONS  87 

be  that  man's  vision,  and  petrified  his  heart,  who  shall 
deny  ingenuity,  strength,  and  eloquence  to  the  effu- 
sions of  Hall,  Forster,  and  Jay.*  I  put  the  countless 
tribe  of  minor  religious  Reviews  quite  out  of  the 
question  :  —  as  sometimes  leading  to  results,  too  ludi- 
crous, or  too  fatal,  to  describe  ;  and  as  only  confirming 

of  a  good  coat,  and  a  conspicuous  place,  in  every  well  chosen  col- 
lection. 

*  I  must  here  be  understood  to  speak  ot  the  works  of  these  gentle- 
men which  are  purely  and  exclusively  confined  to  the  exposition  of 
Holy  Writ.  When  Mr.  ROBERT  HALL  of  Leicester  talks  about  con- 
trasting the  Little  Head  which  the  Church  of  England  has  invented, 
with  the  Great  Head  of  the  General  Church,  meaning  Christ  — 
methinks  he  talks  as  if  he  would  sacrifice  alike  logic  and  candour  to 
the  clinquant  of  an  antithesis.  See  Mr.  Norris's  Letter  to  the  Earl  of 
Liverpool,  1822,  8vo.  p.  91,  note,  b.  Mr.  Hall  is  a  powerful  and 
eloquent  writer,  and  his  Sermon  upon  Infidelity  has  justly  won  him 
many  admirers — even  among  the  Benchers  of  our  "  Little"  Church. 
In  that  most  surprising  catalogue  of  Theology,  recently  put  forth  by 
Messrs.  Ogle,  Duncan,  and  Co.  in  an  octavo  volume  of  nearly  500 
pages — but  without  a  date—  there  is  the  following  note,  or  criticism, 
subjoined  to  a  volume  of  Mr.  Hall's  "  Sermons  on  various  Occasions" 
— "  There  now  exists  in  this  country  a  man,  wht>,  with  the  lofty  tone 
of  Bossuet  and  the  rich  fluency  of  Massillon,  unites  the  gracefulness 
and  tenderness  of  Fenelon,  and  the  brilliance  of  Poulle."  All  this 
may  be  very  well ;  but  one  wishes  to  know  WHO  it  is  that  deals 
out  such  an  "  oratio  parainetica."  The  Abbe  Poulle's  Sermons 
were  first  printed  in  1778,  in  two  duodecimo  volumes;  and  the  style 
of  them  justifies  the  eulogy  of  Barbier  : — "  abondant,  dleve,  magni- 
fique,  coulant  comme  un  fleuve  majestueux."  Let  Mr.  Hall  assure 
himself  that  I  have  no  disposition  to  under- rate  his  intellectual  powers  : 

but  the  "  Little  Church"  has,  I  think,  nearly — •'  as  good  as  he." 

He  shall  himself  (if  it  so  please  him)  fill  up  this  hiatus.  Mr.  FORS- 
TER'S  Essays  are  full  of  ingenuity  and  original  remark.  The  style  of 
them  is  at  once  terse  and  elegant.  Mr.  JAY'S  Sermons,  though  a 
little  too  warmly  coloured,  upon  the  whole  have  great  merit,  as 
honest  and  impassioned  expositions  of  the  several  texts  which  are 
handled. 


88  DIVINITY. 

the  admirable  sagacity  of  Hogarth  when  he  designed  his 
well-known  picture  of  ENTHUSIASM  DISPLAYED.  The 
two  popular  and  more  portly  Reviews — called  the  Edin- 
burgh and  Quarterly — make  but  incidental  notice  of 
Sermons,  or  of  theological  publications ;  yet  when 
they  do  take  up  the  consideration  of  them,  they  evince 
frequently  all  the  spirit  and  eloquence  which  usually 
characterise  their  other  productions.  The  reviews  of 
the  Sermons  of  Horsley  and  Alison  are  masterly 
exhibitions  of  critical  talent — in  the  former.  But 
while,  in  the  latter,  the  estimation  of  Paley  s  talents 
seems  to  me  to  be  a  little  unworthy  of  that  great  man's 
name,*  the  review  of  Warburtons  PForks  (supposed 
to  have  been  written  by  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Wliittaker) 
is  perhaps  one  of  the  most  perfect  specimens  of  acute 
analysis,  and  impassioned  eloquence,  that  the  pages  of 
modern  criticism  record.  Nor  can  I  omit  to  make 
honourable  mention  of  the  admirable  notice  of  Dr. 
Coplestone's  recent  work  upon  Necessity  and  Predes- 
tination, which  adorns  the  pages  of  the  British  Critic. 
These  points  are  touched  upon  incidentally  with- 
out partaking  of  any  thing  of  an  invidious  spirit,  or 
with  a  wish  to  institute  uncharitable  comparisons. 
They  are  noticed  merely  as  they  present  themselves 
from  memory.  In  the  mean  time,  let  neither  the  dif- 
fident, nor  the  uninstructed,  feel  anxiety  or  alarm  — 

*  See  No.  III.  in  the  Review  of  his  posthumous  Sermons  :  but  at 
the  commencement  of  the  article  whence  the  notice  of  Mr.  Gisborne 
is  taken  (see  p.  86).  Paley  is  justly  called  an  "  admirable  writer" — 
"  wherever  he  turned  his  eyes,  the  prospect  was  illuminated  by  bright 
skies  and  cloudless  sunshine."  Paley 's  HOR-®  PAULINA  is  perhaps 
the  most  original  and  ingenious  of  his  productions  which  may  be 
called  strictly  professional  ;  but  his  Moral  Philosophy,  and  Natural 
Theology,  will  probably  make  his  name  longer  known  to  posterity. 


MODERN  SERMONS.  89 

in  these  frequently  opposite  views,  or  discrepancies, 
among  those  works  which  explain  the  WORD  OF  GOD. 
It  is  the  nature  of  MAN  to  become  frequently  agitated 
with  passion  and  prejudice,  in  the  treatment  even  of 
the  most  sacred  cause :  but  that  "CAUSE"  itself  re- 
mains pure  and  unsullied,  and  has,  for  its  object,  the 
salvation  of  immortal  souls.  If,  in  some  instances, 
the  labours  of  frail  mortals  necessarily  partake  of  the 
fallible  source  whence  they  flow,  in  other  instances, 
they  seern  to  be  almost  purified  from  earthly  grossness, 
and  to  be  incorporated  with  the  imperishable  elements 
which  they  strive  to  explain.  Hence,  those  flights  of 
genius,  those  depths  of  research,  those  effusions  of 
piety,  and  that  soundness  of  doctrine,  \vhich  distin- 
guish the  great  Divines  of  the  later  centuries — whose 
names  have  been  but  imperfectly  registered  in  the 
foregoing  pages.  Hence,  that  suavity  of  manner,  and 
heavenly-mindedness  of  temper,,  which  throw  such 
a  charm  about  the  pages  of  Taylor,  Hammond,  Tillot- 
son,  Boyle,  and  Doddridge  ;  men,  who  seem  to  have 
disentangled  themselves  from  the  strait-laced  disci- 
pline of  the  older  schools,  and  to  have  had  the  salva- 
tion of  men's  souls,  rather  than  their  own  exclusive 
gratification,  steadily  in  view :  who,  laying  aside 
the  asperity  of  disputants,  and  the  ferocity  of  perse- 
cutors, appear  to  have  sought  the  "  PRAISE  and  GLORY 
of  GOD,'*  rather  than  the  applause  and  patronage  of 
MAN. 

SUMMARY  OF  FOREIGN  DIVINES. 

In  foreign  schools  of  Divinity,  the  same  great  lights 
have  appeared  to  check  the  fury  of  human  rashness, 
and  to  "  shew  forth  "  the  cause  of  Christian  redemp- 


90  DIVINITY. 

tion.  Who  does  not  love  the  amenity  of  Erasmus,  and 
the  philanthropy  of  Melanchthon  ?  —  each  of  whom, 
in  turn,  seemed  to  hold  the  scales  of  moderation  and 
Christian  charity,  in  order  to  prevent  Luther  and 
Eckius  from  engaging  in  more  than  a  "  war  of  words."* 

*  Most  strenuously  do  I  recommend  "  the  Young  Man's"  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  writings  of  ERASMUS  :  full  of  sweetness  of 
temper,  of  playfulness  of  wit,  liberality  of  sentiment,  and  variety  and 
importance  of  information  —  clothed,  withal,  in  a  style  of  pure  and 
fluent  latinity  such  as  has  never  been  surpassed  by  later  writers. 
Among  the  more  popular  and  instructive  of  his  minor  works,  are  his 
Querela  Paris,  Mori&  Encomium,  and  Colloquia  —  the  latter  to  be  read 
again  and  again.  We  learn  from  Jortin's  Life  of  Erasmus,  vol.  i. 
p.  274,  8vo.  edit.  1808,  that  one  bookseller  at  Paris,  sold  above  24,OOO 
copies  of  one  impression  of  the  Colloquies.  But  then  he  gave  it 
out  that  the  work  was  prohibited  !  To  the  great  joy  of  the  literary 
world,  Le  Clerc  put  forth  an  edition  of  the  Entire  Works  of  Erasmus, 
at  Leyden,  in  1703,  folio,  in  ten  vols.,  sometimes  bound  as  eleven. 
This  edition  is  executed  with  particular  attention  to  accuracy  and 
external  beauty ;  and  a  copy  of  it  should  doubtless  be  found  in  the 
library  of  every  man  of  letters.  A  good  one  (but  they  are  all  good 
copies,  usually  bound  in  green  sprinkled  calf,  with  spotted  edges  to 
the  leaves)  is  worth  about  a£l6.  16s.  Qd.  Copies  on  LARGE  PAPER,  in 
white  vellum  binding,  are  by  no  means  rare ;  and  should  always 
adorn  the  shelves  of  a  magnificent  collection.  They  may  be  worth 
£21.  a  copy.  I  have  a  strong  suspicion  that  there  are  copies,  in 
sheets,  yet  in  existence  at  the  warehouse  of  the  original  publisher — 
if  such  building  have  not  perished,  f  As  to  the  editions  of  portions  of 
the  works  of  Erasmus,  they  are  without  number  and  without  end. 
You  may  load  a  vessel  of  250  tons  burden  with  them. 

Perhaps,  on  the  whole,  NO  name  was  ever  so  popular  in  the  six- 
teenth century :  a  theologian,  a  scholar,  a  philologist,  a  wit,  a  great 


t  Such  was  the  rarity,  and  consequent  price,  of  the  anterior  edition  of  Erasmus's 
Works,  published  at  Basil  in  1540,  in  8  vols.  folio,  that  a  copy  of  it  was  purchased  by 
Francis  St.  John,  about  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  for  HZ.  16s. :  but  then 
it  was  a  NON  PAREH.  of  a  copy  !  —  in  stamped  calf  binding,  gilt  leaves,  and  most  deli- 
cately ruled.  On  the  sides,  "  THOMJE  WOTTONI  ET  AMICORUM."  This  beautiful  set 
of  volumes  graces  the  shelves  of  the  old  family  library  at  Worlingham,  in  Suffolk. 


91 


FRENCH  DIVINES. 

And  thus,  in  the  later  schools  of  French  Divinity,  we 
cling  to  the  gentle  FENELON  ;  and  look,  rather  with 
admiration  than  affection,  upon  his  doughty  opponent 
Bos  SUET.*  Massillon  stirs  up  all  the  gentle  cha- 

Epistolographer  —  (in  correspondence  with  some  of  the  most  distin- 
guished characters  in  Europe,  and  in  amity  with  all)  his  works  meet 
us  in  every  form  and  in  every  library ;  monastic,  secular,  and  the- 
ological. To  have  sat  down  to  a  "  dinner  of  herbs"  with  More, 
Melancthon,  and  Erasmus,  were  a  festival  infinitely  beyond  a  banquet 
of  golden  cups  between  Charles  V.,  Henry  VIII.,  and  Francis  I.  I 
strongly  recommend  the  perusal  of  the  translation  of  Erasmus's 
"  Character  of  More  "  (from  his  letters)  which  appeared  in  the 
Retrospective  Review,  vol.  v.  part  II.  But  there  is  no  end  to  this 
theme. 

*  Bossuet  is  considered  as  the  glory  of  the  Church  and  Episcopacy 
of  France.  He  was  doubtless  a  very  great  man  :  an  acute  disputant, 
an  accomplished  scholar,  a  deeply  read  divine,  and  a  powerful  and 
eloquent  writer.  In  declamation  of  the  highest  order,  and  in  stirring 
up  the  passions  (as  in  his  FUNERAL  ORATIONS)  he  has  never  perhaps 
had  his  equal  in  any  pulpit  in  Christendom.  The  Jesuits  adored  his 
person  while  alive,  and  his  memory  when  he  died.  They  put  forth 
an  edition  of  his  WORKS  in  twenty  quarto  volumes,  in  1743-53  5  which 
Brunet  tells  us  are  daily  getting  scarcer,  and  of  which  there  are  some 
few  copies  of  the  first  seventeen  volumes  upon  very  large  paper  5  one 
of  them  selling  at  the  sale  of  the  Soubise  library  for  300  francs.  A 
new  edition  of  Bossuet  was  published  in  1772-88,  in  nineteen  vols. 
4to.  but  in  an  incomplete  state,  as  it  was  to  have  extended  to  thirty- 
six  vols.  Yet  it  contains  pieces  which  are  not  found  in  the  edition  of 
the  Jesuits.  A  new  edition  of  the  entire  works  of  Bossuet  has  just 
appeared  at  Versailles,  in  forty- seven  thick  8vo.  volumes,  marked  at 
£%l.  in  boards,  in  the  recent  catalogue  of  Bossange  and  Co.  A  good 
edition  of  the  sermons  and  Funeral  Orations  appeared  in  1772,  in 
nineteen  vols.  12mo.  It  is  not  without  justice  that  Brunet  no- 
tices the  first  volume  of  a  selection  from  Bossuet' s  works,  printed 


92  DIVINITY. 

rities  of  our  nature  —  which  he  treats  with  the  skill 
of  a  consummate  spiritual  physician.  He  makes  our 
hearts  reprove,  admonish,  and  comfort  us.  This  is  in- 
deed one  of  the  peculiar  charms  of  his  writings :  his 
style  being  the  most  eloquent  and  mellifluous  imagina- 
ble. In  his  Petit-Car  time,  in  which  he  seems  to  have 
outdone  himself — there  is  such  a  tone  of  tenderness — 
united  with  such  sublimity  of  sentiment,  clearness  of 
reasoning,  and  eloquence  of  expression — that  one 
hardly  knows  what  to  compare  with  it,  exactly,  in  the 
whole  compass  of  hortatory  divinity.* 

by  Bulmer  in  1802,  8vo.  as  a  beautiful  book.  It  was  followed  by  a 
second  volume  in  1804  -,  but  the  work,  which  was  entitled  "  Le  Veri- 
table Genie  du  Christianisme"  &c.  was  never  completed.  The  most 
popular  work  of  Bossuet,  was  his  Discours  sur  VHistoire  Universelle,"^ 
first  published  in  1681,  4to. ;  of  which  the  reprints,  in  all  forms  and 
languages,  are  almost  innumerable.  I  observe,  in  the  catalogue  just 
referred  to,  a  copy  of  the  original  edition,  in  old  French  red  morocco 
binding,  gilt  leaves,  marked  at  I/.  16s.  The  reader  will  do  well  to 
consult  the  Reflections  of  Cardinal  Maury  upon  Bossuet,  in  the 
Cardinal's  collection  of  Select  Discourses,  and  to  procure  Mr.  Butler's 
pleasing  biographical  memoir  of  Bossuet,  published  in  1812.  8vo. 

*  The  editions  of  Massillon's  sermons,  in  whole  or  in  part,  are 
almost  innumerable.     Those  who  have  not  got  the  well  printed  duo- 


t  A  very  popular  work,  but  more  exclusively  theological,  was  Bossuet's  Histoire  des 
Variations  des  Eglises  Protestantes,  to  be  found  in  the  third  vol.  of  the  4to.  edition  of  his 
works,  in  1743,  and  republished  separately  in  1791,  12  mo.  5  vols.— now  become  rare. 
This  work,  was  held  out  by  the  catholics,  as  "  a  very  crabbed  bone  for  the  Calvinists 
and  protestants  to  pick."  It  was  preceded  by  the  Exposition  de  la  Doctrine  Catholique, 
in  which  the  author  was  said  to  have  converted  Turenne  to  Catholicism.  However, 
there  were  not  wanting  protestants,  Calvinistic  or  otherwise,  to  pick  most  completely 
the  catholical  "  bone,  "  thrown  out  to  them  by  Bossuet :  and  among  these  the  famous 
BASNAGE  took  a  very  successful  lead.  His  Histoire  de  la  religion  des  Eglises  Refor- 
mees,  &c.,  re-published  again  and  again,  first  appeared  in  1690,  8vo.  —  and  Bossuet 
answered  it  1701.  12mo.  But  the  best  edition  of  Basnage's  work,  is  that  of  1725. 
4to.,  two  volumes  published  after  his  death.  Consult  Walchius  Bibl.  Theolog.,  vol.  iii. 
p.  205,  640,  646, — and  for  a  good  account  of  the  entire  works  of  Basuage,  consult  the 
New  Mem,  of  Literature,  vol.  v.  p.  22-32. 


FRENCH  DIVINES.  93 

The  style  and  imagery  of  BOURDALOUE  seem  to  rush 
upon  us  with  the  force  of  a  mountain-torrent :  he  is 
the  Demosthenes  of  French  divines  ;  but  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  his  art  is  too  apparent ;  and  that  all  the 
subordinate  parts  of  his  composition  seem  to  be  pur- 
posely kept  down,  in  order  to  sharpen  the  force  of  his 
logic,  and  to  aggravate  the  terror  of  his  invective.  In 
the  higher  departments  of  sermon  composition,  he  is, 
doubtless,  without  a  rival ;  and  our  Horsley  seems  to 
have  had  much  in  common  with  that  eminent  divine — 
as,  in  the  deeper  scenes  of  Christ's  sufferings — and  in 
the  delineations  of  the  day  of  judgment — there  was 
much  about  both  these  preachers  which  exhibited 
all  the  sublimity  of  which  such  subjects  are  capable. 
It  was  for  Bourdaloue*  to  frighten  the  reprobate,  and 

decimo  edition  of  1745-9,  in  fifteen  volumes,  will,  of  course,  not  he- 
sitate about  the  acquisition  of  M.  Renouard's  recent,  and  beautifully 
printed  edition,  in  thirteen  octavo  volumes,  1810:  of  which  there 
were  only  four  copies  printed  upon  LARGE  PAPER.  One  of  these 
copies  is  in  M.  Renouard's  own  collection  j  a  second  is  in  that  of  the 
Royal  Library  at  Paris  j  a  third  in  Lord  Spencer's  library  at  Althorp, 
beautifully  bound  in  blue  morocco ;  and  the  fourth  is  the  property 
of — any  one  who  chooses  to  purchase  it.  See  Renouard's  catalogue 
of  his  own  library,  under  the  title  of  Cat.  de  la  Bibliotheque  d'un  Ama- 
teur, vol.  i.  p.  89.  The  ordinary  copy  is  worth  about  61.  6s. 

*  The  best  edition  of  Bourdaloue's  Sermons  is  that  of  1707-34, 
in  16  vols.  8vo.,  published  under  the  care  of  Father  Bretonneau.  It 
was  printed  by  Rigaud,  at  the  royal  press.  Brunet  mentions  a  mag- 
nificent copy,  upon  fine  paper,  selling  at  the  sale  of  Le  Gendre's 
library  for  300  francs ;  and  Renouard  notices  a  similar  copy  (in  his 
own  collection)  which  the  late  M.  Anison  picked  out  of  all  the  copies 
which  remained  at  the  same  press.  The  binding  of  M.  Renouard's 
copy,  by  the  elder  Bozerian,  is  described  as  at  once  appropriate  and 
magnificent.  It  should  seem  that,  in  the  numerous  re- impressions  of 
Bourdaloue,  by  provincial  publishers,  those  of  Lyons,  Rouen,  Tou- 
louse, and  Amsterdam,  were  formed  upon  the  Parisian  edition  of 


94  DIVINITY. 

for  Massillon  to  comfort  the  "  desolate  and  op- 
pressed." They  are  both  among  the  most  shining 
luminaries  of  the  French  school  of  divinity. 

But  SAURIN  must  not  be  forgotten.  He  was  a  pro- 
testant  preacher  ;  and  is  said  to  have  been  gifted  with 
one  of  the  finest  voices  and  persons  that  were  ever 
heard  and  seen  in  the  pulpit.  His  prayer  before  his 
sermon  kept  his  congregation  in  breathless  admira- 
tion. It  could  never  be  forgotten.  Nor  was  it  weak- 
ened by  the  discourse  which  followed ;  for  there  was 
a  solidity,  justness^  moderation,  and  earnestness 
throughout  the  whole,  that  equally  charmed  and  con- 
vinced his  auditory.*  But  it  is  his  noble-minded- 

1709,  in  18  duodecimo  volumes  :  an  edition  always  deserving  of  being 
secured,  whenever  found  in  good  binding.  A  copy  of  the  reprint  at 
Versailles,  in  1812,  16  vols.  Svo.  is  marked  at  s£5.5s.  in  the  cata- 
logue of  Messrs.  Bossange  and  Co.,  1821,  no.  94.  Mons.  Barbier, 
in  his  Bibl.  dun  Homme  de  Gout,  vol.  ii.  p.  451,  notices  the  testi- 
mony of  admiration  bestowed  by  Bishop  Burnet  upon  Bourdaloue, 
when  he  heard  him  preach  in  France  :f — "ilfut  e'tonne'  de  I'e'lo- 
quence  de  ses  sermons,  et  que  ce  Je*suite  reTorma  les  predicateurs 
d'Angleterre  comme  ceux  de  France."  Bourdaloue  was  called  the 
Corneille  of  pulpit  composition,  as  Massillon  was  called  the  Racine. 
This  only  confirms  the  comparison  between  these  two  great  men  in- 
stituted in  the  text. 

*  It  is  said  that,  the  first  time  the  famous  ABBADIE  heard  him,  he 
cried  out  f(  Is  it  an  angel  or  a  man  who  speaks?  " 


t  In  a  diverting  and  instructive  little  work— not  of  very  common  occurrence  -  called, 
"  Lettres  curieuses  sur  divers  sujets."  Pans,  1725,  12mo.  2  vols  ;  there  is  an  ani- 
mated and  vigorously  drawn  character  of  Bourdaloue's  preaching.  I  know  of  few 
things  better  written,  and  yet  I  owe  my  knowledge  of  it  to  the  English  translation  in 
the  New  Mem.  of  Literature,  vol.  ii.  p.  417  ;  necessarily  inferior  to  the  original.  In 
this  same  French  work,  notice  is  taken  of  Burnet's  testimony  to  Bourdaloue's  great 
talents ;  adding,  that  "  Bourdaloue  believed  that  all  honest  protestants  would  be 
saved.  Many  other  Jesuits  are,  doubtless,  of  the  same  opinion,  but  they  dare  not 
own  it.  A  foreign  protestant  gentleman  told  me  (says  the  author  of  these  Memoirs,) 
that  a  very  learned  monk  laid  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  and  said  to  him—"  Let  us 
give  over  talking  of  religion  :  WE  SHALL  ALL  BE  SAVED."  Ibid. 


FRENCH  DIVINES.  95 

ness — his  Christian  charity — his  goodness  of  heart — his 
thoroughly  social  feelings — which  form  the  magic  of 
his  life  and  of  his  compositions.  With  a  leaning 
towards  Calvinism,  he  did  not  go  one-half  the  lengths 
which  the  gentle  Sectarians,  of  that  persuasion,  wished 
him  to  go.  Preaching  in  a  Catholic  country,  he  did 
not  choose  to  call  the  Pope,  Antichrist ;  or  his  church 
the  *  *  *  *  *  of  Babylon.  His  sermons  will  be  always 
read  with  pleasure  and  instruction.* 

*  My  friend,  M.  Barbier,  gently  designates  them,  ee  as  not  exempt 
from  the  venom  of  heresy,  and  says  that  they  might  have  been  written 
with  greater  purity  j"  Bibl.d'  unHommede  Gout,  vol.  ii.p.  468.  Apart 
of  M.  Barbier's  brief  account  of  Saurin  is  taken  from  the  well  known 
Dictionnaire  Historique,  from  which  the  above  account  is  also  taken. 
The  Sermons  of  Saurin  were  published  complete  at  Rotterdam,  in 
1749,  8vo.  in  12  volumes  :  but  there  were  five  volumes  published 
during  his  life,  from  1708  to  1725.  Note  :— it  was  the  same  Saurin 
who  published  the  first  two  volumes,  in  folio,  of  "  Discours  histori- 
ques,  critiques,  theologiques  et  moraux  #c.  sur  VAncien  Testament/1—' 
of  which  the  remaining  four  folio  volumes  were  continued  and  com- 
pleted by  BEAUSOBRE  and  ROQUES,  in  1728-39.  This  costly  work 
is  full  of  fine  engravings,  and  usually  finds  a  place  in  our  more 
complete  libraries.  Brunet  may  be  said  to  riot  in  his  description  of 
this  magnificent  publication,  of  which  he  notices  sundry  varieties  of 
forms  and  conditions.  The  better  taste  seems  to  be,  the  acquisition 
of  the  plates,  separately  published  in  one  large  folio  volume,  which 
exhibit  the  earlier  and  finer  impressions  of  them.  These  plates 
were  engraved  between  the  years  1705  and  1720,  during  the  life- 
time of  Saurin,  and  are  212  in  number.  They  have  sometimes  a 
Dutch  title,  and  are  sometimes  found  in  three  folio  volumes,  without 
the  text,  with  short  descriptions  in  the  Dutch  language.  The  rage 
for  ILLUSTRATION  is  sometimes  applied,  with  tremendous  force,  to  the 
pages  of  holy  writ :  but  I  will  venture  to  affirm,  with  no  more  con- 
fidence, I  trust,  than  the  event  will  warrant,  that  where  a  tasteful 
collector  shall  see  one  GOOD  illustrated  Bible,  he  will  witness  more 
than  a  dozen  BAD. 


96  DIVINITY. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY. 

I  now  come  to  touch  briefly  upon  a  few  of  the  more 
celebrated  and  useful  writers  in  the  department  of 
ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  ;  choosing  to  introduce  them 
here,  (as  rendering  the  theological  department  more 
complete,)     rather    than    to   incorporate    them    in 
the  general  department   of  history.     I  am,  indeed, 
sufficiently  aware,  that  in  this  department  alone,  a 
very  copious  library  may  be  formed,  and  that  ecclesi- 
astical history  may  be  said,  in  a  great  degree,  to  be 
civil  history  also — inasmuch  as  the  church  and  state 
are,  in  all  countries,  pretty  closely  and  inseparably 
united  ;  but,  having  devoted  so  large  a  portion  of  these 
pages  to  practical  divinity,  it  were  unfair,  and  might 
be  judged  unsatisfactory,  to  dismiss  that  subject,  with- 
out something  more  than  an  intimation  where  the  his- 
tories of  those  churches,  from  which  so  many  brilliant 
and  distinguished  characters  have  risen  for  the  benefit 
of  their  fellow-creatures,  may  be  found  and  consulted; 
but  in  which  it  cannot  be  dissembled,  very  much  is  to 
be  received  with  caution,  from  a  consideration  of  par- 
ticular tenets  and  prejudices  (and  what  prejudices  are 
stronger  than  those  called  religious  ?)  which  are  ine- 
vitably mixed  up  with  the  text.     Still,  the  sagacious 
and  the  candid  reader  may  exercise  his  own  ingenuity 
to  advantage  ;  and  gather,  at  all  events,  and  in  all 
seasons,  a  rich  harvest  of  various  and  useful  informa- 
tion. 

It  cannot,  however,  fail  to  be  remarked — and  re- 
marked with  more  than  transient  regret — that,  at  the 
very  outset  of  our  enquiries,  the  British  nation  has 
less  to  boast  of  in  the  department  of  ECCLESIASTICAL 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  97 

HISTORY,  than  its  neighbours — and  especially  the 
French.  Leaving-  out  of  the  question  what  the  great 
Mabillon  hath  done  for  the  Benedictim,  *  let  us  only 
consider  the  Gallia  Christiana,  in  thirteen  folio  vo- 
lumes, and  the  Histories  of  the  French  Church  by 
Longueval  and  Le  Cointe.^  And  to  these,  we  may 

*  The  Annales  Ordinis  Sti.  Benedict^  which  extend  only  to  the 
middle  of  the  twelfth  century,  were  published  in  six  folio  volumes 
at  Paris,  between  the  years  1703  and  1739.  The  ACTS  of  the  Saints 
of  the  same  order,  were  published  at  the  same  place  in  1668,  in 
nine  folio  volumes  -,  but  D'Acher  was  here  a  considerable  coadjutor 
with  Mabillon.  These  Acts  were  reprinted  at  Venice  in  1733,  in 
nine  folio  volumes.  The  French  edition,  which  Brunet  values  at 
little  more  than  g@3.  3s.,  is  dearer,  because  more  desirable,  than  the 
reprint.  The  Annals  are  still  much  beneath  the  Acts  in  price  -, 
and  both  works  are  briefly  noticed  and  coldly  dismissed  by  Brunet. 
I  learn,  however,  that  a  much  livelier  interest  is  taken  in  them,  at  the 
present  day,  on  both  sides  the  channel. 

f  I  will  briefly  notice  these  works  in  the  above  order.  The  first 
is  called  Sammarthanorumfratrum  Gallia  Christiana,  &c.,  which  was 
published  at  Paris,  in  1715,  &c.,  in  thirteen  folio  volumes,  under  the 
care  of  Scevola  and  Louis  de  Sainte  Mar  the,  and  other  monks  of  the 
Benedictine  order.  J  It  contains  a  series  or  catalogue  of  all  the 


J  The  first  and  principal  projector  of  this  new  edition  of  the  Gallia  Christiana,  wai 
Father  Denys  de  Sainte  Marthe,  superior-general  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Maur,  and 
editor  of  the  works  of  Pope  Gregory  the  Great,  in  1699,  folio.  He  died  in  his  seventy- 
fifth  year,  on  Good  Friday,  in  1725  ;  after  having  witnessed  the  publication  of  the  first 
three  volumes  of  the  Gallia  Christiana,  and  having  secured  the  aid  of  several  other  re- 
ligious of  the  same  order,  towards  the  publication  of  the  seven  following  volumes.  His 
death,  which  took  place  at  the  abbey  of  St.  Germain  des  Prez,  was  very  generally 
lamented :  and  yet  this  same  father  published  a  book  in  1688  (on  the  revocation 
of  the  edict  of  Nantes),  "  to  justify  the  persecution  of  the  French  protestants  ;  one  of 
the  most  horrid  persecutions  that  ever  was  exercised,  a  persecution,  which  has  made 
thousands  of  people  unhappy ;  a  persecution  advised  by  some  clergymen,  who,  per- 
haps, were  atheists,  and  carried  on  by  mere  political  views,  without  any  fear  of  God, 
without  any  respect  for  the  Deity.  How  could  Father  Denys  dc  Ste.  Marthe  justify 
such  a  persecution  with  a  good  conscience?  \Va«  he  a  political  priest?"  Nac  Mem- 
firs  of  Lilcralui-cf  1725,  8vo.  vol.  ii.  p.  148-9. 

H 


98  DIVINITY. 

add  the  invaluable  labours  of  Fleury  and  Tillemont, 

archbishops,  bishops,  and  abbots  of  France,  and  is  full  of  erudition, 
research,  and  the  most  curious  details ;  but  this  work  is  yet  incom- 
plete, three  more  volumes  being  necessary  to  render  it  perfect.  There 
are  copies  on  large  paper ;  yet  both  large  and  small  rarely  occur  for 
purchase  in  this  country,  owing  to  the  heavy  duty  attending  the  im- 
portation of  such  bulky  volumes.  Longueval  published  his  Histoire 
de  VEglise  Gallicane,  in  conjunction  with  De  Fontenay,  Brumoy,  and 
Berthier  (all  four  being  learned  Jesuits),  in  1730,  in  18  vols.  4to. : 
and  such  was  the  labour  attending  the  work,  that  they  each,  in  suc- 
cession, fell  victims  to  it.  Longueval  lived  to  see  the  first  8  volumes 
complete,  and  Fontenay  the  ninth  and  tenth,  with  a  great  part  of 
the  eleventh  volume.  The  end  of  the  eleventh,  and  the  whole  of 
the  twelfth,  were  the  achievement  of  Brumoy.  The  rest  are  the 
production  of  Father  Berthier — "  the  worthy  successor  of  Longueval, 
of  whom  he  possessed  the  spirit,  the  erudition,  and  the  good  taste.  " 

"  The  style  of  Berthier  is  everywhere  careful  without  affectation, 
and  elegant  without  antithesis. "  Bibl.  dun  Homme  de  Gout,  vol.  iii. 
397-8.  After  this  tempting  description,  I  suspect  and  hope  that 
some  efforts  will  be  made,  both  by  the  young  and  old  collector,  to 
get  possession  of  this  work — so  creditable  to  France,  and  securing 
such  an  immortality  to  its  authors.  To  the  best  of  my  recollection, 
I  never  met  with  a  copy  of  it  on  sale.  It  was  reprinted  at 
Nismes  in  1782,  in  18  vols.  8vo., — but "  commend  me  "  to  the  goodly 
and  original  quarto  impression  !  The  Annales  Ecclesiastici  Francorum 
of  Charles  Le  Cointe,  published  at  Paris  in  1665,  &c.,  in  eight  folio 
volumes,  comprehend  a  period  of  time  from  the  middle  of  the  third, 
to  that  of  the  ninth  century.  It  is  a  work  rarely  seen,  and  still  more 
rarely  consulted  :  but  that  is  not  the  fault  of  the  author. 

While  upon  the  subject  of  French  ecclesiastical  history,  I  ought, 
perhaps,  to  mention  the  GESTA  DEI  PER  FRANCOS,  a  large  folio 
volume,  published  by  the  Wechels,  at  Hanover,  in  161 1  j  having  a 
thin  second  volume  (sometimes  wanting)  bound  with  the  first. 
Bongars  was  the  editor  of  this  work — aided  by  Pithoeus  and  Peta- 
vius,  &c.,  "  quos  nominare  sufficit," — says  the  former.  Jortin  has 
sacrificed  his  usual  good  sense  and  candour,  when  he  says,  ' f  the  title 
of  this  book  would  have  been  better  chosen,  if  it  had  been  "  Gesta 
DIABOLI  per  Francos."  Remarks  on  Eccl.  Hist.  vol.  i.  p.  300.  He 
also  says,  that  (<  Guibertus.,  or  Gilbcrtus,  a  French  abbot,  wrote  the 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  99 

upon  general  ecclesiastical  history  * — through  the 
pages  of  which  Gibbon  so  assiduously  toiled.  While, 

account  of  this  holy  war :  "  but  he  is  mistaken.  It  is  the  produc- 
tion of  several  authors  :  of  whom  Robert,  a  monk,  is  the  first — 
who  wrote  it  "  in  a  cell  of  a  monastery  of  St.  Remigius,  in  the  bish- 
opric of  Rheims,  at  the  command  of  Bernard  the  Abbot."  See  the 
preface,  Sec.  II.,  Brunet  tells  us,  that  copies  of  this  work  upon  large 
paper  are  uncommon.  In  all  forms  it  is  a  sorrily  executed  volume. 
A  copy  upon  large  paper  is  at  Althorp.  The  small  may  be  worth 
about  a£2.  12s.  6d;  but,  during  the  late  war,  I  have  known  it  pushed 
to  s&4.  145.  6d. 

*  What  Buffon  was  in  natural  history,  and  Bossuet  in  polemics 
and  dogmatical  divinity,  the  Abbe  Fleury  was  in  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory. He  is  the  just  and  enviable  boast  of  the  French  nation  j  and 
it  grieves  one  to  think  that,  on  the  authority  of  Brunet,  his  history 
f<  is  less  sought  after  than  it  used  to  be."  But,  whoever  chooses  to 
read  Barbier's  animated  and  excellent  account  of  it,  will  not  hesitate 
to  become  a  purchaser  upon  any  reasonable  terms.  Fleury  lived  to 
execute  only  twenty,  out  of  the  thirty -six  volumes,  of  which  this  history 
is  composed  :  the  Father  Fabre  having  written  the  remaining  six. 
teen — and  he  would  have  published  more,  but  was  forbidden,  on 
account  of  the  inelegance  of  his  style,  and  the  want  of  judgment  in 
the  selection  of  his  materials.  The  first  volume  of  Fleury's  own 
labours  appeared  in  1690,  and  the  last  in  1719 — but  it  is  usually 
dated  1722-1737-  It  is  the  DISCOURSES  of  Fleury  which  throw  such 
a  charm  about  his  work ;  and  which  are  prefixed  to  most  of  his 
volumes — especially  those  which  accompany  the  eighth,  thirteenth, 
sixteenth,  seventeenth,  eighteenth,  nineteenth,  and  twentieth  vo- 
lumes. In  some  of  these,  are  disquisitions  upon  the  fall  of  litera- 
ture from  the  eruption  of  the  Vandals,  the  establishment  of  univer- 
sities, the  progress  of  the  crusades,  the  history  of  indulgences,  and 
of  several  religious  orders  in  the  fourteenth  century,  &c.f 


t  It  should  seem  from  Rawlinson's  New  Method  of  Studying  History,  vol.  ii.  p.  39, 
that  a  part  of  Fleury's  work  was  "  translated,  and  in  March  1727",  published  by  flic 
Rev.  Mr.  Herbert,  who,  it  was  to  be  hoped,  would  give  the  world  a  faithful  and  lionet 
translation  of  his  author,  without  castrations  of  what  is  heterodox,  but  rather  apply  by 
his  notes  an  antidote  to  the  poison.  "  I  never  met  with  a  copy  of  this  translation,  nor 
does  it  appear  to  be  in  the  British  Museum  Catalogue,  or  in  Watt's  Bibl.  Britannica. 


100  DIVINITY. 

casting  our  eyes  upon  Italy,(so  rich  in  historical  pub- 
lications of  another  description)  we  cannot  fail  to  re- 
in these  discourses,  Fleury  has  united  the  qualities  of  an  historian 
and  a  philosopher,  in  a  style  of  great  neatness  and  perspicuity,  and  with 
a  judgment  free  from  all  ignoble  prejudices.  These  discourses  were 
collected  and  published  by  Boucher  d'Argis,  in  1763,  with  several 
additional  ones,  and  notes,  by  Fleury  j  together  with  a  discourse  of 
Goujet,  upon  the  re- establishment  of  ecclesiastical  studies ;  but  it 
should  seem  from  M.  Emery,  editor  of  the  Nouveaux  Opuscules  of 
Fleury,  in  five  octavo  volumes,  1807,  that  one  of  Fleury's  discourses, 
upon  the  Gallican  church,  has  been  interpolated  in  this  edition  of 
1763.  M.  Emery  founds  his  criticism  upon  an  inspection  of  the 
author's  autograph.  Jortin  has  honoured  Fleury  by  constant  refer- 
ences to  his  history,  in  his  own  Remarks  on  Ecclesiastical  History ;  and 
has  yet  further  honoured  him  by  translating  his  "  Discourse  on  the 
Ecclesiastical  History  from  the  year  60O  to  the  year  1100" — "  on 
account  (says  Jortin,)  of  the  ingenious  and  useful  remarks,  besides 
the  historical  narrations,  which  it  contains.  It  is  drawn  up  (con- 
tinues the  same  authority),  for  the  most  part,  with  a  decency  and 
moderation  rarely  to  be  found  in  the  ecclesiastical  writers  of  his 
church,  except  Du  Pin.  Fleury,  like  Du  Pin,  was  a  zealous  assertor 
of  the  temporal  rights  of  kings  -,  and  hath  not  scrupled  to  expose  the 
crimes  and  encroachments  of  the  Popes,  for  which,  doubtless,  he 
was  held  in  execration  by  the  Jesuits  and  by  the  See  of  Rome," 
Remarks,  %c.  vol.  i.  p.  296.  But  Jortin's  brief  analysis,  and  as  brief 
remarks  upon  this  discourse  of  Fleury,  are  admirable  of  their  kind, 
and  quite  in  the  terse  and  pertinent  manner  of  their  author.  Jortin 
is  generally  "  admirable."  He  was  a  ready,  off-hand,  and  dexterous 
scholar ;  yet  his  style,  even  in  his  sermons,  wants  what  the  French 
call  "  onction. "  Once,  and  rarely  more  than  once,  he  rose  to  elo- 
quence -,  and  that  was  in  the  preface  to  his  Remarks  &c.,  which  the 
late  Dr.  Gosset  told  me  he  regularly  read  through,  every  year,  with 
undiminished  delight.  In  his  Life  of  Erasmus,  Jortin  shewed  him- 
self to  be  little  more  than  a  translator  of  Le  Clerc.  A  subject  of  the 
greatest,  is  made  by  him  one  of  comparatively  small,  interest.  The 
work  is  little  better  than  a  dry  journal  of  facts,  stitched  together. 
Above  all  things,  the  purchaser  of  Fleury  will  not  forget  the  learned 
Rondet's  Table  Gtndrale  et  Raisonne'e  des  Matieres,  contained  in  the 
thirty-six  volumes  of  the  history.  This  table  was  published  in 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  •  lOl 

cognise,  in  the  Ecclesiastical  Annals  of  Baronius,  a 
work  of  such  stupendous  labour,  and  of  such  general 
and  lasting  utility,  as  to  excite  the  envy,  and  almost  de- 
spair, of  other  countries.  I  do  not  recommend  the  pur- 
chase of  all  these  elaborate  and  costly  works,  though  I 

1758,  in  a  quarto  and  duodecimo  form the  former  in  one  volume, 

and  the  latter  in  four.  This  celebrated  history  has  been  reprinted  at 
Caen,  in  twenty-five  volumes  in  quarto  :  at  Paris,  in  1724-48,*  forty 
volumes,  octavo:  and  at  Nismes,  in  1778-80,  twenty-five  volumes, 
octavo— but  beautiful  copies,  in  mellow  old  calf-gilt  binding,  of  the 
first  Paris  edition,  must  be  the  object  of  the  ambition  of  the  Young 
Collector.  On  LARGE  PAPER,  it  has  not  been  sold  for  more  than  one 
hundred  and  seventy  francs  abroad — but,  here,  on  SMALL  paper,  let 
it  not  be  hoped  for  under  double  that  sum. 

But  if  Fleury  be  entitled  to  such  unqualified  praise,  TILLEMONT  is 
deserving  of  scarcely  less  commendation.  His  two  great  labours  are 
thus  called  :  "  Memoir es  pour  servir  &  Vhistoire  eccUsiastique  des  six 
premiers  Siecles.  Paris,  1693-1712.  16  vols.  4to. :  Histoire  des 
Empereurs  et  des  autres  Princes  qui  ont  regnd  durant  les  six  premiers 
Siecles  de  Veglise.  Paris,  1700-38.,  6  vols.  in  4to."  It  is  melan- 
choly to  read  the  following  pithy  notice  of  them  byJSrunet :  f(  These 
two  works,  which  usually  go  together,  are  esteemed  by  the  learned, 
but  they  sell  at  a  low  price.  "  And  then  one  hundred  and  forty 
francs  are  stated  as  the  price  for  which  they  were  bought  at  the  sale 
of  the  President  de  Cotte !  Mr.  Payne,  in  his  last  catalogue, 
(no.  2334),  marks  a  neat  copy  (in  calf,)  of  the  latter  work,  at 
2Z.  2s.  Both  works,  and  especially  the  former,  are  full  of  pro- 
digious learning  ;  but,  after  the  labour  of  forty  years,  Tillemont  has 
given  us  only  the  history  of  the  first  six  centuries  of  the  church. 
Gibbon's  obligations  to  him  are  constantly  and  gratefully  expressed, 
and  Jortin  seems  to  have  consulted  him  yet  more  than  Fleury. 


*  A  copy  of  this  edition  is  marked  at  8/.  8s.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Bossange 
and  Co.,  1821,  no.  226.  But  "thrice  and  four  times  happy, "  does  the  Reverend 
Dr.  Burney,  of  Greenwich,  consider  himself  to  be,  in  the  acquisition  of  a  most  beau- 
tiful copy,  coated  in  mellow-toned  olive  morocco,  which  had  belonged  to  the  famous 
Madame  de  Pompadour,  and  of  which  that  pious  lady  might  have  turned  over  the  first 
leaf  of  the  first  volume,  once  in  her  life.  This  copy  was  obtained  from  the  richly- 
stored  repository  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss. 


102  DIVINITY. 

would  hardly  dispense  with  a  copy  of  Baronius.*     I 
tremble  about  the  mention  of  the  ACTA  SANCTORUM, 

*  "  Joseph  Scaliger,  he,  who  once  boasted  that  there  was  nothing 
for  him  to  learn,  confesses,  that  he  never  read  BARONIUS  without 
gaming   some  new   light.  "     Rawlinsons  New   Method  of  studying 
History,  1730.   8vo.  vol.  ii.  p.  36.     After  this,  who  shall  hesitate 
about  the  preference  above  given  to  Baronius  ?  This  work  is  a  body 
of  ecclesiastical  history,   comprising   also  the  labours  of  Raynald, 
Laderchi,   and  Pagi,   with   one  volume  of  Apparatus,   1646,  &c. : 
folio,  in  thirty-one  volumes.  This  is  considered  to  be  the  best  edition  ; 
but,  according  to  Brunet,  the  edition  of  Lucca,  in  thirty-eight  folio 
volumes,  1738-57,  ought  to  be  preferred  ;  inasmuch  as  the  annota- 
tions of  Pagi  are  inserted  in  their  proper  places,  with  notes  of  Mansi, 
and  three  volumes  of  an  Index ;    the  latter  being  wanting  in  the 
Roman  edition  of  1646.     At  the  sale  of  the  Soubise  library,  a  copy 
of  the  Lucca  edition,  on  large  paper,  was  sold  for  two  hundred  and 
ninety   francs.     Rawlinsoh    says    that   the   first  eight  volumes  of 
Raynaldus's  compilation,  epitomised  in  one  folio  volume,  and  pub- 
bished  at  Rome  in  1668,  "  is  very  mean,  yet  wants  it  not  buyers  at 
a  very  high  rate."     It  was  cheering  to  see,  at  Messrs.  Payne  and 
Foss's,  a  fine  copy  of  this  Lucca  edition  of  Baronius,  just  bound  out  of 
sheets,  in  white  glossy  vellum,  (and  sent  from  the  good  old  house  of 
Luchtman's,  at  Utrecht,)  lying  upon  the  floor  of  their  spacious 
repository — tempting  the  curious  visitor   to  become  a   purchaser. 
Nor  was  it  less  cheering  to  learn,    a  few  days  after  my  first  sight 
of  such  a  treasure,  that  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  had  yielded  to 
the  temptation,  and  carried  off  the  prize.     It  is  now  placed  where  it 
will  be  in  every  respect    properly  appreciated.     I  predict,  with   no 
small  degree  of  confidence,  that  Fulham  will,  in  the  end,  more  than 
rival  Hartlebury. 

It  may  here  be  also  observed,  on  the  authority  of  Rawlinson,  that 
the  Ecclesiastical  Annals  of  Bzovius,  published  at  Colon.  Agripp.  in 
1616,  in  nine  folio  volumes,  as  a  continuation  to  those  of  Baronius, 
are  very  inaccurate,  and  rather  give  a  history  of  the  order  of  St.  Do- 
minic, of  which  the  author  was  a  friar,  than  of  the  church.  "  Never- 
theless, I  should  desiderate,  as  a  curious  ecclesiastical  antiquary,  those 
Dominican  Annals  also :  but  only  tf  as  a  curious  ecclesiastical 
antiquary." 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  103 

lest  rny  readers  should  imagine  that  I  wish  to  plunge 
them  in  all  the  mysteries  and  marvels  of  monastic  and 
saintly  lore.  And  yet,  I  will  be  free  to  say  that  that 
Collector,  be  he  young,  or  be  he  old,  may  thank  his 
happy  stars  who  shall  possess  \\\ejifty -three  folios,  of 
which  that  still  unfinished  and  gigantic  work  is  com- 
posed, at  the  price  of  so  many  sovereigns* 

In  regard  to  our  own  country,  the  earliest  historians 

*  So  much  has  been  already  said  (ftibliograph.  Decameron,  vol.  i. 
p.  81-3.)  respecting  the  history  of  this  work,  and  such  an  excellent 
specimen  of  the  uses  to  be  derived  from  it  being  to  be  found  in 
Mr.  Southey's  famous  article  on  the  "  Spanish  Inquisition"  in  the 
twelfth  number  of  the  Quarterly  Review,  that  I  will  here  only  ob- 
serve, it  may  be  doubtful  whether  there  be  more  than  four  complete 
copies  of  it  in  private  collections,  and  two  in  public,  in  England.  Of 
the  former,  Lord  Spencer,  Archdeacon  Jebb,  Mr.  Southey,  and  Mr. 
Petrie  (Keeper  of  the  Records  in  the  Tower  of  London,f)  are  pos- 
sessors— of  the  latter,  the  Bodleian  Library  and  the  British  Museum. 
I  saw  Mr.  Archdeacon  Jebb's  copy  lying  at  Messrs.  Rivington  and 
Cochrane's,  booksellers,  and  a  most  choice  and  desirable  copy  it  was — 
many  of  the  volumes  being  in  original  bindings — and  all  of  them  in 
a  good  harmonising  gilt-tooled  condition.  It  had  been  obtained  of 
Messrs.  Ogle,  Duncan  and  Co.,  at  the  price  of  one  hundred  guineas  j 
and  the  public  will,  in  due  time,  become  acquainted  with  its  con- 
tents -j  the  archdeacon  being  a  gentleman  addicted  to  most  curious 
and  profound  enquiries  in  theological  lore — as  his  Sacred  Literature 
alone  attests.  Messrs.  Ogle  and  Duncan  mark  a  copy,  in  fifty- six 
volumes,  at  .£105.  The  price  of  these  "  Acts"  is  daily  increasing 
upon  the  continent,  and  the  rarity  of  a  complete  set  is  in  proportion 
becoming  extreme.  Although  fifty^e  volumes  form,  what  is  called, 
a  complete  set — yet  fifty-  three  are  not  less  complete — for  the  original 
text:  and  they  are  usually  sold  in  this  latter  form.  At  Munich  I 


t  A  whimsical  anecdote  is  connected  with  the  importation  of  one  of  the  above  men- 
tioned sets  of  the  Acta  Sanctorum.  They  were  detained  at  the  custom-house  as  being 
PAPAL  and  SUPERSTITIOUS  I—under  an  old  statute  of  James  I.  A  seasonable  expla- 
nation, not  unattended  with  a  gentle  rebuke,  soon  released -the  saints  from  their 
bondage. 


104  DIVINITY. 

of  any  moment  weBede,  Fox,  Parker,  and  Godwin; 
and,  latterly,  Dugdale,  Usher,  Wharton,  Burnet,  and 
Strype  ;  although  our  most  popular  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory is  the  version  of  the  work  of  a  foreigner,  of  the 
name  of  Mosheim.  To  these  names,  add  Fuller, 
Collier,  Bingham,  Cave,  and  Jortin.  I  will  be  more 
particular  in  the  account  of  the  ecclesiastical  works  of 
these  authors.  And  first  for  Bede ;  who,  as  he  died 
at  the  beginning  of  the  eighth  century,  could  have 
written  of  the  British  church  only  in  a  dark  and 
stormy  period.  Thejirst  edition  of  his  Church  His- 
tory is  so  scarce,  as  at  present  to  have  escaped  the  re- 
searches of  our  most  diligent  collectors ;  but  the  only 
edition  worth  possessing,  for  safe  reading  or  critical 
consultation,  is  that  of  Smith,  in  a  handsome  folio 
volume,  published  at  London  in  1722.* 

Fox  comes  next,  but  with  an  interval  of  eight  cen- 

found  six  sets  of  these  Acts,  in  desirable  white  vellum  coatings  j  and 
at  Strasbourg,  four  sets,  in  good  and  even  handsome  calf  binding -, 
but  notwithstanding  the  Munich  copies  might  have  been  obtained  at 
12/.  a  set,  yet  the  thought  and  fears  of  the  expenses  of  carriage,  and 
especially  of  duty,  deterred  me  from  the  purchase  of  a  single  copy. 
In  France,  however,  I  learn  that  complete  sets  are  daily  becoming 
scarcer  and  of  increased  price.  To  the  English  historical  antiquary, 
some  portions  of  these  volumes  are  invaluable.  My  friend  Mr.  Petrie, 
in  his  late  journey  upon  the  Continent,  attempted  to  discover  and 
secure  the  remaining  portion  of  the  MS.  of  this  work  5  but  he  could 
only  trace  it  as  having  been  conveyed,  by  its  last  Owner,  across  the 
Rhine  into  Germany  —  during  the  more  recent  agitation  of  French 
affairs. 

*  First,  as  to  the  Editio  Princeps  :  for  an  account  of  which  I  am 
exclusively  indebted  to  Panzer,  vol.  i.  p.  83,  No.  445.  On  the 
authority  of  Strauss,  Denis,  and  Laire,  Panzer  says  it  is  printed 
without  date,  at  Strasbourg,  in  a  small  Gothic  letter,  (apparently 
that  of  Eggesteyn),  and  containing  forty  lines  in  a  full  column  : 
having  ninety-seven  leaves  in  the  whole.  Laire  had  erroneously 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  105 

times  between.  His  Book  of  Martyrs  —  as  it  is 
called — was,  and  yet  is,  one  of  the  most  extraordinary 
and  popular  church  histories  in  the  world.  The  pri- 
vate history  of  this  elaborate  work  might  be  worth 
knowing,  but  it  is  hopeless  to  enquire  after  it : — who 
were  the  author's  chief  authorities,  and  what  artists 
he  obtained  to  make  the  designs  and  engravings,  are 
now,  I  believe,  points  upon  which  no  correct  infor- 
mation is  likely  to  be  obtained.  Fox  lived  to  see/bwr 
editions  of  his  labours,  himself  dying  in  1587.  These 
editions  were  succeeded  by  Jive  more,  of  which  the 
latest  was  published  almost  within  a  century  after  the 
death  of  the  author.  Thejirst  edition,  in  1563,  is  of 
very  rare  occurrence  in  a  perfect  state ;  and  has  also 
Some  particulars  which  are  omitted  in  the  subsequent 
editions.*  The  last,  and  perhaps  the  commonest,  in 
the  black  letter,  is  that  of  1641,  in  three  comely  folio 

attributed  the  type  to  Fyner.  This  book  is  at  present  a  desideratum 
in,  perhaps,  every  public  and  private  library  in  England ;  a  copy  is 
in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris.  Smith's  edition,  above  mentioned, 
is  a  very  handsome  folio  volume,  and  not  of  uncommon  occurrence. 
Nor  are  the  copies  on  large  paper  very  rare.  Messrs.  Longman, 
Hurst,  and  Co.  mark  a  copy  of  the  small  paper,  containing  some 
rnss.  notes  of  Gale  and  Gough,  at  31.  3s.  Mr.  Payne  affixes1  an 
additional  guinea  to  the  value  of  the  work,  in  the  same  form.  The 
name  of  VENERABLE  BEDE  is  justly  dear  to  the  English,  even  at  this 
period.  During  the  earlier  part  of  the  eighth  century,  it  was  as  justly 
considered  to  be  attached  to  the  greatest  living  literary  ornament 
in  Europe.  Dr.  Henry  considers  Bede  as  a  most  wonderful  man; 
and  as  exhibiting,  in  his  works,  <(  all  the  science  with  which  the 
world  was  then  acquainted.  "  After  telling  us  that  it  is  rather  a 
reproach  to  us  to  have  published  so  few  of  his  works,  and  that  the 
Paris  and  Basil  impressions  of  them  are  imperfect,  he  says,  that  the 
only  complete  edition  is  that  put  forth  at  Cologne,  in  eight  folio 
volumes,  in  1612  ;  of  which  there  is  a  copy  in  the  library  of  the 
Royal  Institution,  but  none  in  that  of  the  British  Museum. 
*In  the  fourth  volume  of  the  Typographical  Antiquities,  pp.  82-94, 


106  DIVINITY. 

volumes,  of  which  copies  upon  large  paper  are  by  no 
means  uncommon.  The  edition  of  1684  is  in  a  Roman 
letter,  and  some  indifferent  copper-plates  are  intro- 
duced. Perhaps  the  last  edition  (as  well  as  the  first) 
in  the  lifetime  of  the  author,  may  be  worth  securing  ; 
but  the  impression  of  1684,  brings,  I  believe,  the 
largest  price.* 

the  reader  will  find  a  full  and  particular  account  of  this  volume, 
together  with  references  to  other  works,  wherein  further  researches 
may  be  made  relating  to  it.  Consult  also  Chalmers's  General  Bio- 
graphical Dictionary,  vol.  xiv.  p.  34,  and  Dr.  Wordsworth's  Ecclesi- 
astical Biography,  preface.  Fox  was  a  sort  of  LUTHER  in  his  way. 
His  style  is  equally  bold,  and  his  enmity  to  the  church  of  Rome 
equally  bitter,  with  that  of  the  great  German  reformer.  His  ' '  Acts  " 
are,  indeed,  an  invaluable  historical  repertory  :  but,  in  some  par- 
ticulars, he  seems  to  have  gathered  information  too  hastily,  andio 
have  detailed  it  too  loosely.  There  is  an  anecdote  recorded  by 
Strype,  in  his  Appendix  to  the  Life  of  Archbishop  Parker,  or  Cranmer, 
(upon  which,  at  this  moment,'  I  am  unable  to  lay  my  finger,) 
strongly  confirmative  of  this  remark.  The  earlier  black  letter  edi- 
tions of  Fox  were  chained  to  almost  every  public  desk,  in  libraries 
and  places  of  worship,  in  the  kingdom ;  where  they  were  usually 
suffered  to  decay  by  piecemeal,  from  damp,  ill  usage,  or  frequent* 
consultation.  To  the  best  of  my  recollection,  one  of  the  completest  spe- 
cimens of  a  mutilated  Pox,  is  (or  was)  to  be  seen  in  the  little  parish 
church  near  Apethorpe  (the  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Westmoreland),  in  Nor- 
thamptonshire. In  some  other  rural  parish  churches,  I  have  met  with 
Fox,in  an  old  vestry  trunk  of  some  three  centuries  ago  manufacture, 
almost  in  a  state  of  pulverisation,  from  the  united  attacks  of  mice 
and  moths.  They  preserve  at  Bamburgh  Castle,  in  Northumber- 
land, a  sound  copy  of  the  edition  of  1583  ;  but  I  know  of  no  copy 
of  an  edition  in  the  sixteenth  century  equal  to  that  of  1596,  in  two 
volumes,  which  is  in  the  Duke  of  Devonshire's  library  at  Chats- 
worth,  in  russia  binding.  A  finer  copy  can  be  hardly  conceived.  My 
friend,  Mr.  Douce,  has  a  copy  wanting  only  the  last  leaf.  My  own 
copy  is  most  cruelly  maimed  both  at  the  beginning  and  end :  a  mere 
torso  of  a  copy. 

*  A  copy  of  this  edition,  in   fair  good  binding,  was  purchased  at 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  107 

While  Fox  was  watching,  with  a  natural  and  pardon- 
able exultation,  the  progress  of  the  sales  of  the  first 
and  second  editions  of  his  "  Acts,"  the  famous 
ARCHBISHOP  PARKER — a  name,  never  to  be  pro- 
nounced without  emotions  of  pious  respect — was 
maturing  (with  the  aid  of  his  learned  secretary, 
Joscelyne),  his  celebrated  History  of  the  Antiquity  of 
the  British  Church,  in  the  Latin  language,  and  which 
he  first  published  in  the  year  1572,  in  folio.  Valuable 
as  is  this  work,  it  is  hopeless  to  expect  to  purchase 
it  in  a  perfect  state ;  and  still  more  forlorn  is  the 
hope  to  become  master  of  it  with  the  original  engrav- 
ing of  the  archbishop's  PORTRAIT.*  Such  a  trouvaille 

the  sale  of  the  library  of  my  late  friend,  Mr.  Neunburg,  in  the  present 
year  (1822),  for  5J.  5s,  Mr.  Baynes  marks  it  at  61.  6s.  on  large  paper, 
half-bound,  affixing  the  date  of  1686  j  and  subjoins  a  copy,  appa- 
rently on  small  paper,  with  the  same  date,  "  with  upwards  of  fifty 
additional  portraits,  neatly  bound  in  brown  calf,  "  valued  at  12Z. 
Messrs.  Ogle  and  Co.  value  a  copy,  on  small  paper,  (dated  correctly, 
1684,)  at  fl.  17«.  6d. ;  but  as  it  is  not  upon  large  paper,  1  consider 
such  price  too  high.  The  edition  of  1610  is  marked  by  them  at 
31.  3s.  :f  and  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  affix  the  price  of  41.  4s.  to  that 
of  1641.  The  truth  is,  I  believe,  that  these  books  are  rising  yearly  in 
value ;  but  I  own  that  the  edition  of  1684  would  be  the  last  I  should 
purchase.  An  abridgment  of  Fox's  history  appeared  in  1589,  in  the 
black  letter  j  and  partial  reprints  of  it,  in  a  greater  or  lesser  form, 
have  continued  to  the  present  day.  There  are  no  CUTS  like  those  of 
the  older  editions  ;  which  "  are  preferred  by  collectors,  some  of 
them  containing  portraits, "  says  Mr.  Chalmers  :  but  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  countenances  are  rather  generalised,  than  indicative  of  indi- 
vidual resemblances.  I  have  possessed  the  edition  of  1641,  on  large 
paper,  uncut :  which  is  not  very  rare. 

*  I  may  refer  with  confidence  to  the  full  and  particular  account  of 
this  exceedingly  rare  book  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.,  vol.  iv.  p.  126-130, 

t  In  Mr.  Triphook's  catalogue  of  last  year,  No.  46, 1  find  a  copy  of  this  edition  of 
16 10, 'upon  "  large  paper,  very  fine,"  in  two  folio  volumes,  marked  at  6*.  6s.,  but  then 
it  had  been  a  "  presentation  copy  from  King  James  the  First.  " 


108  DIVINITY. 

would  make  the  "old"  Collector  "  young"  again — 
in  years  —  but  not  in  experience.  However,  for  the 
purposes  of  consultation,  the  beautiful  and  accurate 
reprint  of  it  by  Dr.  Drake,  in  1729,  folio,  and  obtain- 
able for  about  I/.  5s.,  is,  in  every  respect,  as  good 
a  book. 

It  is  impossible  to  mention  the  name  of  DUGDALE 

and  may  here  further  observe,  that  Mr.  Bindley's  copy,  noticed  in 
that  account,  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  his  library  for  45 1.  It 
is  also  in  my  power  to  subjoin,  if  it  were  necessary,  the  minute  de- 
scription of  another  recently  discovered  copy,  in  the  library  of 
Mr.  Coke,  at  Holkham,  which  Lord  Spencer  was  so  obliging  as  to 
furnish  me  5  and  which  copy  not  only  contains  a  fine  impression  of 
the  ORIGINAL  PORTRAIT,  but  appears,  in  other  respects,  to  be  in  the 
most  beautiful  and  perfect  condition.  Lord  Spencer's  own  singular 
copy  contains  the  portrait.  Perhaps  no  two  copies  are  found  in  all 
respects  alike  j  nor  does  it  appear  that  there  are  more  than  four  or 
five  copies  which  possess  the  portrait.  Of  these,  one  is  in  the  library 
at  Althorp.  There  are,  at  least,  three  copies  of  the  book  in  Bene't 
College  library,  Cambridge  5  two  possessing  the  portrait :  one  having 
it  coloured,  and  the  other  uncoloured.  The  coloured  one  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  an  original  painting ;  till  the  experienced  eye  of 
Mr.  Douce  detected  the  fallacy — shewing  it  to  be  only  Hogenberg's 
print  coloured. 

In  the  archbishop's  own  library,  at  Lambeth,  there  is  preserved 
the  most  precious  copy  of  this  book  in  the  world  :  notwithstanding 
it  wants  the  title-page,  and  the  account  of  the  halls  and  colleges  is 
not  printed  upon  vellum— as  it  is  in  some  copies.  The  worth  of  this 
copy  consists  in  the  addition  of  deeds  and  instruments,  with  seals 
appended — and  letters  and  memoranda  (the  greater  part  printed  by 
Strype  in  his  biography  of  Parker,)  of  some  of  the  most  eminent  men 
of  the  day.  Among  these,  is  a  letter  from  CECIL,  and  another  from 
COYERDALE,  (the  latter  dated  March,  1566,  and  signed,  "  quondam, 
Exon.  ")  for  which  more  than  one  hungry  autographiser  of  my  ac- 
quaintance would  give  "  a  good  round  sum. "  This  copy  appears  to 
have  been  made  up  by  Ducarel,  who  has  prefixed  an  account  of  the 
several  MS.  pieces  contained  in  it.  On  turning  over  and  perusing 
these  pieces,  one  seems  to  be  living  at  the  period  of  their  compo- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  109 

without  reverence  and  respect.  If  that  great  man  had 
published  nothing  more  than  his  Monasticon  Angli- 
canum,*  he  would  be  justly  ranked  among  those 
higher  authors  whose  productions  have  been  long  con- 
sidered as  an  honour  to  our  country.  In  this  place,  I 
have  nothing  to  do  with  him  as  an  Antiquary,  Histo- 
rian, and  Topographer ;  but  it  may  be  fairly  stated 

sition.  The  portrait  of  Parker,  pasted  at  the  end  of  hie  Life,  is  a 
genuine  impression  of  the  old  plate  5  but  I  never  look  at  it  without 
believing  that  the  ORIGINAL  must  have  possessed  a  countenance  of 
more  intelligence  and  expression. 

The  curious  must  (f  note  well,"  that  there  is  a  copy  of  Hogen- 
berg's  print  which  sometimes  passes  for  the  original ;  besides  Tyson's 
imitation  of  it  in  etching  j  which  latter  is  coarse  and  common 
enough.  Some  inadequate  notion  may  be  formed  of  the  original,  by 
the  wood-cut  fac-simile  of  it  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  342.  The  portrait 
in  the  Heroologia,  in  Boissard,  by  Vanderwerf,  and  Vertue,  are  faith- 
less and  feeble  performances.  Let  the  handsome  folio  edition  of 
Godwin,  de  Preesulibus  Anglia,  Cantab.  1743,  satisfy  the  ordinary  Col- 
lector—  for  about  I/.  Ss.  :  although  1  am  always  anxious  to  consult 
the  first  4to.  edition,  of  1601,  in  English. 

*  In  De  Bure's  time,  Dugdale's  Monasticon  Anglicanum  was  con- 
sidered to  be  a  work  of  great  rarity  and  price ;  and  accordingly  he 
devotes  very  many  pages  of  his  Bibliographic  Instructive  to  a  full  and 
particular  account  of  it.  In  our  own  time,  it  has  brought  great  prices] 
but,  for  the  cause  mentioned  in  the  following  note,  that  price  is  gra- 
dually diminishing.  The  finest  small  paper  copy  I  ever  saw,  was 
that  in  the  Towneley  collection.  It  had  belonged  to  Pope  Pius  VI. 
Lord  Spenser  possesses  a  copy  of  the  edition  of  1655,  on  LARGE  PAPER., 
which  is  of  prodigious  rarity.  See  dEdes  Althorp.  vol.  i.  p.  145. f 
It  should  be  observed,  more  particularly  for  the  sake  of  "  the  Young 
Collector, "  that  the  Monasticon  was  englished  and  abridged  by 
Wright  in  1718,  folio  j  and  that  Stevens  published  a  Supplement  to 


t  The^rst  volume  is  not  very  uncommon,  on  large  paper  :  and  there  is  a  most  sur- 
prising copy  of  it,  of  this  kind,  in  the  library  at  Worlingliam,  in  Suffolk.  The  third 
volume  was  never  yet,  I  believe,  found  upon-Jarge  paper.  In  (he  Althorp  copy  it  is, 
as  usual,  inlaid. 


110  DIVINITY. 

that,  in  almost  each  of  these  departments,  he  is  con- 
sidered as  the  safest  model  and  the  surest  guide.  His 
great  work  of  the  Monasticon  is  now  under  reprint ; 
and  no  Englishman,  who  wishes  well  to  national  and 
splendid  undertakings,  can  look  upon  this  reprint — 
IMPROVED  in  every  sense  of  the  word- — without  a 
desire  and  an  effort  to  promote  its  success.* 

The  quaint,  and  yet  clever,  Fuller  ;  the  grave  Col- 
lier ;  the  erudite  Bingham  ;  the  pains-taking  Cave  ; 
and  the  acute  and  solid  Jortin — may  each  and  all, 
as  connected  with  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  —  find 

the  Original  Work  in  two  folio  volumes,  1722-3  :  these  latter  maybe 
obtained  for  about  £'12.  12s.  j  and  Wright's  volume  for  £'5.  5$. 
Stevens  and  Wright  are  found  on  "  large  paper,  very  rare,  a  fine 
copy," — in  the  last  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  marked  at 
£36. 

*  The  English  are  sometimes  hardly  pardonable  for  their  caprices 
and  aberrations  from  good  taste.  The  day  is  not  very  far  back,  when 
REPRINTS  (with  barely  fourscore  lines  of  addition  or  improvement) 
were  purchased  with  an  avidity  scarcely  conceivable  by  those  who 
had  not  witnessed  it.  When  the  Proposals  for  the  NEW  Monasticon 
Anglicannm  were  thrown  out,  they  met  with  a  warm  and  general 
reception.  The  subscription  list  was  quickly  filled ;  and  those  who 
wanted  to  become  purchasers,  were  obliged  to  wait  the  will  or  the 
death  of  such  as  had  been  fortunate  enough  to  precede  them.  There 
was  sometimes  even  a  struggle  or  competition  to  supply  the  vacuum 
occasioned  by  the  removal  of  a  Subscriber.  The  new  edition  ap- 
peared regularly  in  numbers,  upon  beautiful  paper,  with  a  beautiful 
type —  executed  by  one  of  the  most  accurate  and  learned  printers  of 
the  age  —  and  with  ornaments,  or  plates,  so  far  ECLIPSING  what  had 
preceded  them,  that  it  is  marvellous  to  me  how  Mons.  Brunet  could, 
with  these  plates  before  his  eyes,  have  the  temerity  to  call  them 
"  inferior  to  the  originals !"  The  truth  is,  they  are  very  much  supe- 
rior: first,  on  the  score  of  accuracy  of  perspective;  secondly,  on 
that  of  the  selection  of  new  objects  as  well  as  the  re-execution  of  the 
old  j  and,  thirdly,  as  containing  more  artist-like  execution  in  the 
several  subjects  selected.  Hollar,  with  all  his  excellences,  is  far  from 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  Ill 

places  in  an  extensive  library ;  but,  with  those  who 
wish  to  compress  and  consolidate,  perhaps  Burnet, 
Strype,  Mosheim,  and  Wordsworth^  may  be  sufficient. 
Of  these  four  latter  authors,  I  shall  say  something  in 
the  note  below.*  I  am  fully  sensible  that  this  notice 

being  an  infallible  draftsman ;  and  King  is  notoriously  faithless. 
On  the  contrary,  we  have  here,  in  the  burin  of  CONEY,  much  that 
reminds  us  of  the  force  and  even  the  colouring  of  Piranesi,  and  much 
that  unites  the  delicacy  of  Hollar  with  the  freedom  of  Mechel  What 
should  follow,  therefore,  but  that,  on  the  score  of  ART  alone,  these 
new  volumes  should  have  a  manifest  superiority.  Then  again  for 
MATTER.  There  is  a  great  additional  mass  introduced,  by  Messrs. 
Caley  and  Ellis,  as  well  as  the  accompanying  of  Dugdale's  text  with 
numerous  and  pertinent  notes  j  so  that,  to  say  nothing  of  the  supe- 
rior beauty  of  the  paper  and  type,  this  NEW  EDITION  is  the  only  one 
which  can  be  hereafter  consulted  for  information,  or  quoted  for  au- 
thority, on  subjects  connected  with  Church  History  and  Ecclesias- 
tical Property.  Of  the  six  volumes,  in  which  this  truly  splendid  and 
incomparable  work  will  be  completed,  nearly  Jive  are  already  in  the 
hands  of  the  Subscribers  ;  and  the  regularity  in  the  publication  of  the 
several  Parts,  ensures  the  termination  of  it  at  no  very  distant  period. 
It  may  be  honestly  avowed  that  the  annals  of  the  Press,  in  no  country 
throughout  Europe,  can  boast  of  a  nobler  performance  j  whether  on 
the  score  of  accuracy  and  fullness  of  intelligence,  or  of  splendour  of 
paper,  type,  and  graphic  embellishments. 

*  Before  these  three  latter  writers  are  noticed,  it  may  be  as  well 
briefly  to  dispatch  their  predecessors,  according  to  the  order  in  the 
text.  Fuller's  Church  History,  in  1655,  folio,  with  the  University  of 
Cambridge  and  Waltham  Abbey,  may  be  worth  31.  3s.  in  good  con- 
dition. The  latter  pieces  are  sometimes  wanting.  They  contain  plates 
by  Hollar.  Of  course  old  Tom  Fuller  must  be  read  "  cum  granis 
salis''  in  matters  of  ancient  history.  He  was  a  loose  chronicler,  but 
an  admirable  and  honest  relator  of  what  passed  under  his  own  eyes.  I 
never  saw  Fuller's  Church  History  upon  large  paper.  Collier's  Eccle. 
siastical  History  of  England,  1708,  folio,  two  vols.,  may  be  now 
worth  Ql.  %s.  in  good  condition  j  and  Mr.  Ogle  marks  a  copy,  on 
large  paper,  at  2Z,  6s.  1  have  seen  many  a  copy  sold  for  little  more 
than  waste  paper  :  out  the  age  of  book-vandalism  is  past.  Most 


112  DIVINITY. 

of  authors  who  have  enriched  the  literature,  and 
promoted  the  religion,  of  our  country,  is  abun- 

strongly  and  even  vehemently  do  I  recommend  Bingharns  Antiquitates 
Britannia,  or  Antiquities  of  the  Christian  Church,  &c.  published  in  two 
folio  volumes,  1726  :  of  which  a  fine  copy  may  be  worth  at  least 
2Z.  12s.  6d.  at  a  public  sale.  The  account  of  the  progress  of  this 
erudite  labour,  together  with  the  anecdotes  relating  to  its  author, 
in  Chalmers's  Gen.  Biog.  History,  vol.  v.  p.  268,  make  one's  heart 
almost  bleed  :  so  little  does  the  world  know  of  the  pains  and  pe- 
nance of  the  STUDY  !  I  was  present,  about  twenty-two  years  ago, 
(at  a  book  sale  in  Worcester)  when  two  sets  of  these  ecclesiastical 
antiquities  were  disposed  of  to  Mr.  Broster, — the  spirited  bookseller 
and  book-auctioneer  at  Chester — for  scarcely  more  than  fifteen  shil- 
lings. BINGHAM  is  now  justly  ranked  among  our  brightest  Church 
Luminaries.  He,  who  was  the  early  patron  of  Potter,  (afterwards 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury)  and  whose  memory  was  almost  idolized 
by  Lowth,  doubtless  fared  not  in  his  profession  as  he  ought  to  have 
fared  :  but  his  "  better  part"  lives  after  him.  Jortin  knew  the  value 
of  his  labours,  and  confessed  it.  Gibbon  has  sometimes  stolen 
from  them  without  the  integrity  of  confession.  Bingham  has  been 
translated  and  reverenced  all  over  the  Continent.  The  testimony  of 
Walchius,  (Bibl.  Theol.  vol.  iii.  p.  671,)  is  enough  to  stimulate  the 
theological  student  to  leave  no  bookseller's  shop  unvisited  till  he  have 
secured  a  copy  of  this  "  opus  vere  egregium." 

Cave's  "  Hisioria  Litteraria  Scriptorum  Ecclesiasticorum,"  1740, 
folio,  two  vols.,  best  edition — to  which  "  Casimir  Oudin's  Commen- 
tarius  de  Scriptoribus  Antiquis  Ecclesia,'*  1722,  folio,  three  vols.  has 
been  thought  to  be  a  useful,  if  not  necessary,  Supplement — should 
doubtless  have  a  place  in  the  professedly  theological  library.  A  good 
copy  of  the  first  work  may  be  worth  2£.  12s.  6d.;  and,  upon  large 
paper,  I  find  it  "  new  and  elegant,  in  calf,"  marked  at  5Z.  5s  in  the 
last  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Ogle  and  Co.  The  first  edition  of  Cave 
was  in  1688  5  but  this  may  be  considered  as  entirely  superseded  by 
the  second ;  and  yet  he,  who  shall  have  the  first,  and  not  be  able  to 
procure  the  second,  will  find  abundance  of  valuable  information  to 
satisfy  his  doubts  and  stimulate  him  to  yet  further  researches.  Ou- 
din's  work  will  scarcely  exceed  %l.  2s. :  even  though  it  be  in  the  first 
binding,  with  marble  edged  leaves.  But  Cave  must  not  be  thus 
briefly  dispatched.  He  was  greatly  assisted  in  his  labours  by  the 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  113 

dantly  jejune  and  incomplete  ;  and  that  a  very  limited 
knowledge  of  this  portion  of  Divinity  may  readily 

famous  HENRY  WIIARTON,  known  chiefly  by  his  Anglia  Sacra,  1692, 
folio,  2  vols. — a  work,  which,  with  all  its  inaccuracies,  and  in  spite 
of  Bishop  Burnet's  testy  notice  of  some  pages,  containing  as  many 
errors  as  lines  *  —  will  transmit  the  author's  name  to  posterity 
among  the  brightest  of  those  of  his  countrymen.  The  truth  is, 
Wharton,  who  died  in  16'94,  at  the  premature  age  of  thirty-one,  was 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  men  of  the  times  :  and  after  having 
read  the  account  of  the  controversy  between  Cave  and  his  young  co- 
adjutor, in  Mr.  Chalmers's  Biog.  Diet.  vol.  xxxi.  p.  343,  &c.  and  in 
Dr.  D'Oijly's  Life  of  Archbishop  Sancroft^  vol.  ii.  p.  110,  126,  &c. 
I  incline  to  the  opinion,  that,  however  petulant  and  presuming 
Wharton  might  have  been  respecting  the  full  share  he  had  had  in 
"  the  History,"  Cave  treated  him  not  only  with  ingratitude,  but  with 
a  palpable  want  of  integrity. 

Mr.  Chalmers  seems  to  think,  on  the  authority  of  Burnet,  that 
Wharton' s  youth  would  imply  impetuosity  and  a  want  of  due  pre- 
paration or  of  materials  ;  but  what  can  be  said  against  this  wonderful 
young  man,  who,  on  the  Bishops  of  London  and  Rochester  objecting 
to  ordain  him  because  he  had  not  completed  his  TWENTY-THIRD  YEAR, 
was,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  not  only 
examined,  but  passed  through  his  examination  "  relating  to  the 
ancient  Discipline  of  the  church,  the  old  errors,  heresies,  and  writers, 
and  especially  concerning  the  opinions  of  Origen  and  Arius,  with 
SUCH  SUCCESS  that  all  the  Bishops  resolved  to  give  him  orders  !  Life 
of  Sancroft,  vol.  ii.  p.  1 16.  There  be  geniuses,  who,  if  they  do  not 
obtain  knowledge  intuitively,  obtain  as  much  in  the  application  of  a 


*  Burnet  was  smarting  under  a  powerful,  but  probably  coarsely  penned,  attack 
which  Wharton  had  made  upon  his  "  History  of  the  Reformation,"  under  the  assumed 
name  of  Anthony  Harmer.  It  was  a  sort  of  heavy-dragoon  charge  which  bore  down 
every  thing  before  it.  See  Chalmers,  vol.  xxxi.  p.  341. 

t  From  Wharton 's  own  Diary  :  written  in  Latin,  and  preserved  in  the  archiepis- 
copal  library  at  Lambeth  This  piece  of  auto-biography,  judiciously  republished  bv  Dr. 
D'Oyly,  at  the  end  of  the  Archbishop's  life,  is  exceedingly  interesting — and  even 
amusing.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  the  growling  between  Cave  and  Wharton, 
described  at  page  126,  did  not  end  in  a  "  battle  royal  " — which  I  apprehend  Wharton 
would  have  described  in  very  good  latinity.  The  growling  between  Hudson  and  Hearne, 
in  the  Bodleian  library,  could  scarcely  have  come  up  to  it. 

I 


114  DIVINITY. 

supply  more  ample  and  more  valuable  details.  But, 
not  only  must  there  be  limits,  ("  sunt  certi  denique 

few  days,  as  others  would  in  that  of  weeks :  and  Wharton  was  one  of 
them.  He  was  an  ecclesiastical  antiquary,  both  by  habit  and  by  in- 
stinct. He  could  never  keep  his  fingers  from  turning  over  the  leaves 
of  old  MSS.j  and  from  noting  down,  with  his  pen,  what  struck  him 
as  more  novel,  or  curious,  or  instructive.  Had  he  lived  twenty  years 
longer,  England  would  not  have  envied  France  her  Father  Pape- 
broch.  Wharton  died  in  consequence  of  attacking  these  "  old  MSS" 
before  the  effects  of  a  severe  illness  had  subsided.  He  thought  the 
body  was  to  keep  pace  with  the  mind.  He  is  to  be  numbered  with 
the  most  voracious,  but  most  to  be  lamented,  of  HELLUONES  LIBRO- 
RUM.  I  will  just  observe  that  his  sensible  countenance,  or  portrait, 
engraved  by  White,  (I  think)  is  prefixed  to  his  Sermons,  in  8vo. 

So  much  has  been  said  of  the  preceding  works  that  1  am  com- 
pelled to  be  brief  upon  those  which  follow  them  in  the  text.  Bur- 
net's  History  of  the  Reformation  *  has  been  reprinted  at  Oxford  in 
six  handsome  octavo  volumes.  Of  a  work,  so  long  considered  to  be 
a  standard  book,  it  were  perhaps  equally  vain  to  say  any  thing  in  dis- 
paragement or  in  praise :  but  I  am  free  to  confess,  that  a  new  and 
vigorously  written  history  of  THE  REFORMATION,  is  as  much  wanted, 
as  it  would  be  certain  of  a  success  even  beyond  that  of  Burnet's.  Con- 
temporaneous black  letter  publications,  whether  in  the  shape  of  Ser- 
mons or  controversial  Tracts,  should  be  carefully  examined  5  and  ms. 
records(of  which  several,  before  unknown,  have  been  lately  discovered) 
should  be  more  faithfully  looked  into  and  copied  than  they  appear  to 
have  been  by  Burnet— who,  with  all  his  talents  and  integrity,  was 
sometimes  rather  hasty  than  wise.f  A  style  of  writing  should  be 


*  The  original  edition  of  Burnet  was  published  in  1679-1715,  three  vols.  folio.  The 
third  volume  has  plates,  but  it  was  reprinted  in  1753  without  them.  Of  this  edition 
(which  in  the  ordinary  state  may  be  worth  51.  5s.)  there  were  some  very  few  copies 
struck  off  upon  LARGE  PAPER.  A  remarkably  fine  one,  of  this  kind,  is  in  the  curious 
old  library  at  Ham,  near  Richmond,  the  seat  of  Lady  Dysart.  Earl  Spencer  also  pos- 
sesses it,  but  not  without  having  waited  several  years  for  it —  and  having  paid  100  gui- 
neas for  the  copy  of  it  which  had  belonged  to  the  late  Duke  of  Grafton.  It  had,  how- 
ever, some  extra  plates,  by  way  of  illustration. 

1 1  will  give  an  example.  The  pages  of  Hume  have  taught  us  to  respect 
the  name  and  memory  of  JUDGE  HALES,  during  the  reigns  of  Henry  VIII. 
and  Edward  VI.  When  the  conspiracy  was  entered  into  to  raise  Lady 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  iu 

fines ")  but  a  recollection  that  this  work  is  not  an 

EXCLUSIVE  performance  —  either  devoted  entirely  to 

| 

adopted,  at  once  clear,  simple,  animated,  and  natural :  and  a  spirit, 
or  principle,  evinced,  equally  free  from  the  prejudices  of  party  and  of 
sectarianism.  But  where  is  the  writer  THUS  GIFTED  ?  And  yet  a 
work,  upon  such  a  momentous  subject,  and  so  executed,  would  be 
the  glory  of  our  church,  and  the  admiration  of  posterity.! 


Jane  Grey  to  the  throne,  in  preference  to  Mary,  Hales,  although  a  staunch 
Protestant,  declined  entering  into  it,  and  refused  to  sign  the  patent  for  the 
elevation  of  Lady  Jane.  On  the  accession  of  Mary,  and  the  suppression  of 
the  Protestant  worship,  (and  while  the  Sees  were  filled  by  Catholics),  Hales, 
in  his  judicial  capacity,  had  pronounced  judgment,  in  some  matters  relating 
to  Divine  worship,  which  was  construed  into  a  systematic  hostility  against 
the  Catholics.  When  he  was  called  upon  to  take  the  oaths  of  allegiance 
and  supremacy,  by  Bishop  Gardiner  the  Chancellor,  he  maintained  the  con- 
sistency of  his  character  by  a  temperate  but  resolute  refusal  to  acknowledge 
the  supremacy  of  the  Pope.  He  was  in  consequence  committed  to  prison ; 
and,  as  Hume  says,  "  was  treated  with  such  severity  that  he  fell  into  frenzy, 
and  killed  himself."  Such  was  the  barbarity  of  the  Queen's  treat- 
ment of  the  man  who  had  been  FAITHFUL  to  her  against  her  Rival.  But 
the  secret  key  to  the  imprisonment,  and  subsequent  wretched  fate,  of  the 
Judge,  have  been  made  known  to  us  in  a  very  small  brochure,  of  three  leaves 
only,  (exclusively  of  the  title)  which  was  published  at  Roan,  at  the  very 
time  of  the  transaction  taking  place :  and  the  whole  of  which  is  given  be- 
low :— conceiving  it  to  be  not  less  important  than  curious,  in  contrasting  the 
subtilty  and  baseness  of  Gardiner's  character  with  the  simplicity  and  firm- 
ness of  that  of  Judge  Hales. 

"  The  communication  betwene  my  Lord  Chauncelor  and  IUDGE  HALES, 
being  among  other  iudges  to  take  his  oth  in  Westminster  Hall.  Anno. 
M.  D.  Liii.  vi.  of  October. 

CHAUNCELOR.  HALES. 

Master  Hales,  ye  shall  understand  that  like  as  the  quenes  highnes  hath 
hertofore  receuid  good  opinion  of  you,  especiallie,  for  that  ye  stoode  both 
faithfullie  and  lawfulli  in  hir  cause  of  iust  succession,  refusing  to  set  your 
hande  to  the  booke  amonge  others  that  were  against  hir  grace  in  that 
behalfe :  so  nowe  through  your  owne  late  desertes,  against  certain  hir  high- 
nes dooinges:  ye  stande  not  well  in  hir  graces  fauour.  And  therfor, 


t  The  mention  of  an  Ecclesiastical  History,  tinder  the  feigned  name  of  DODD,  in 
three  folio  volumes,  must  not  be  omitted — although  it  is  a  book  of  rare  occurrence,  and 
interesting  chiefly  to  the  curious  in  biography.  It  was  published  as  an  antidote  to 
Burnet,  and  is  avowedly  written  as  a  defence  of  the  Roman  Catholics.  The  author  was  a 


1 IG  DIVINITY. 

theology,  or  to  such  as  have  made  great  progress  in 
their  biblical  studies  and  collections.     I  address  my- 

Jortin's  '«  Remarks  on  Ecclesiastical  History'1  were  first  published  in 
1767,  in  four  octavo  volumes.  They  are  excellent :  pithy,  learned, 
candid,  and  acute ;  presenting  us  with  the  marrow  of  his  predecessors. 
They  have  been  recently  republished,  in  three  volumes. 


before  ye  take  anie  othe,  it  shal  be  necessarie  for  you  to  make  your  pur- 
gation." 

HALES. 
"  I  praie  you  my  Lorde,  what  is  the  cause  ?" 

CHAUNCELOR. 
"  Informatio  is  geuen,  that  ye  haue  indicted  certain  pristes  in  Kent,  for 

saiing  of  Masse." 

HALES. 

"  Mi  Lorde,  it  is  not  so.  I  indicted  none,  but  indede  certaine  indicta- 
mentes  of  like  matter  were  brought  before  me  at  the  laste  assises  there 
holde,  and  I  gaue  order  therein  as  the  lawe  required.  For  I  haue  professed 
the  law,  against  which,  in  cases  of  iustice  wil  I  neuer  (God  willinge),  precede, 
nor  in  ani  wise  dissemble ;  but  with  the  same  shewe  forth  mi  conscience, 
and  if  it  were  to  do  againe,  I  wolde  doe  no  lesse  then  I  did." 

CHAUNCELOR. 

"  Yea,  Master  Hales,  your  cosience  is  knowne  wel  inough.  I  know  ye 
lacke  no  conscience." 

HALES. 

"  Mi  Lord,  ye  mai  do  wel  to  serch  your  owne  conscience,  for  mine  is 
better  knowne  to  mie  selfe  then  to  you ;  and  to  be  plaine,  I  did  as  well  use 
iustice  in  your  saide  Masse  case,  bi  mi  coscience,  as  bi  the  law;  wherin  I  am 
fulli  bent  to  stand  in  trial  to  the  uttermost  that  can  be  objected.  And  if  I 
have  therin  done  ani  iniuri  or  wrog  :  let  me  be  iudged  bi  the  lawe ;  for  I 
will  seeke  no  better  defence,  considering  chiefli  that  it  is  mi  profession." 

CHAUNCELOR. 

"  Whi,  Master  Hales,  althoughe  ye  had  the  rigour  of  the  law  on  your 
side,  yet  ye  might  haue  hadde  regard  to  the  quenes  highnes  preset  doinges 


caustic  and  not  unqualified  writer.  His  love  of  ridicule  is  very  apparent ;  and  his  re- 
flections upon  some  of  our  early  Reformers  are  sometimes  both  unfounded  and  severe. 
I  learn  from  Mr.  Charles  Butler's  History  of  the  Catholics,  that  a  new  edition  of 
this  highly  priced  work  is  in  the  press.  It  will  not  want  purchasers,  even  among  the 
Protestants.  "  Fas  est  et  AB  HOSTE  doceri."  Meanwhile,  let  the  anxious  collector 
peruse  what  Mr.  D'Israeli  hath  written  relating  to  this  work  in  his  Quarrels  ofAuthort, 
vol.  ii.  p.  205,  note. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  117 

self  in  this,  as  in  every  ensuing  department,  to  "  the 
Young" — who  cannot  presume  to  be  very  competent 

Of  Strype,  it  would  be  impossible  to  speak  too  highly.  His  labours 
have  supplied  us  with  some  of  the  most  necessary,  as  well  as  instruc- 
tive, portions  of  Church  History.  But  I  am  here  to  consider  chiefly 
his  Memorials  and  Annals.  The  former  were  published  in  172 1 ,  three 


in  that  case.  And  further,  although  ye  seme  to  be  more  then  precise  in  the 
lavve,  yet  I  thinke  ye  wolde  be  veri  loth  to  yelde  to  the  extremitie  of  such 
aduantage  as  miglite  be  gathered  againste  your  procedinges  in  the  lawe,  as 
ye  haue  some  time  taken  uppon  you  in  place  of  Justice.  And  if  it  were  wele 
tried  I  beleue  ye  shuld  not  be  wele  able  to  stand  honestli  therto." 

HALES. 

"  Mi  Lord,  i  am  not  so  perfect  but  i  mai  erre  for  lacke  of  knowledge. 
But  both  in  conscience  and  such  knowledge  of  the  law  as  God  hath  geue 
me,  i  wil  do  nothing  but  i  wil  maintain  and  abide  in  it.  And  if  mi  goodes 
and  all  that  I  haue  be  not  able  to  counterpaise  the  case,  mi  bodie  shal  be 
redi  to  seme  the  turne,  for  thei  be  all  at  the  quenes  highnesse  pleasure." 

CHAUNCELOR. 

"  Ah  Sir,  ye  be  veri  quicke  and  stoute  in  your  answers.  But  as  it  shoulde 
seme,  that  which  ye  did  was  more  of  a  wile,  fauouring  the  opinion  of  your 
Religion  against  the  seruice  nowe  used,  then  for  ani  occasio  or  zeale  of 
Justice,  seeinge  the  quenes  highnes  dooth  set  it  furthe,  as  yet  wishinge  all 
hir  faithful  subjectes  to  imbrace  it  according!! :  and  where  ye  offer  both 
bodie  and  goodes  in  your  triall,  there  is  no  such  matter  required  at  youre 
handes,  and  ye  shall  not  haue  your  owne  will  neither." 

HALES. 

"  My  Lord,  I  seke  not  wilful  wil,  but  to  shew  myself  as  i  am  bound  in 
loue  to  God,  and  obedience  to  the  quenes  maiestie,  in  whose  cause  willigly 
for  Justice  sake  (al  other  respectes  set  apart)  i  did  of  late  (as  your  Lordship 
knoeth)  aduenture  as  much  as  i  had.  And  as  for  my  religion,  i  trust  it  to 
be  suche  as  pleaseth  God,  wherin  i  am  redy  to  aduenture  as  well  my  life  as 
my  substance,  if  i  be  called  thereunto.  And  so  in  lacke  of  mine  owne 
power  and  wil,  the  Lordes  wil  be  fulfilled." 

CHAUNCELOR. 

"  Seeing  ye  be  at  this  point,  Master  Hales,  i  wil  presently  make  an  end 
with  you.  The  queues  highnes  shall  be  enfourmed  of  youre  opinion  and 
declaration.  And  as  hir  Grace  shal  therupon  determine,  ye  shall  haue 
knoledge,  until  whiche  tyme  ye  may  depart,  as  ye  came  without  your  oth, 
for  as  it  appeareth,  ye  are  scarse  worthi  the  place  appointed." 


118  DIVINITY. 

judges;  and  to  "  the  Old" — who  have  not  made 
Divinity  the  exclusive  object  of  their  research.  And 

volumes,  folio ;  the  latter  in  1709-25, 4  vols.,  folio.  These  editions  sell 
at  high  prices ;  and  once,  upon  large  paper,  the  former  was  considered  to 
be  worth  about  25  guineas,  and  the  latter  about  40  guineas.  Mr.  Gren- 
ville  has  a  fine  copy  of  the  latter.  The  Memorials  have  been  reprinted, 
as  well  as  Strype's  Lives  of  Archbishops  Cranmer,  Whitfgift,  Grindal, 
&c.  at  Oxford  ;  and  we  cannot  make  too  low  a  bow  of  thanks  to  that 
University  for  the  absolute  good  it  hath  done  by  exercising  the  Cla- 
rendon Press  on  such  subjects.  We  are  looking  for  the  Annals,  and 
the  other  episcopal  biographies,  by  the  same  excellent  Antiquary,  from 
the  same  quarter.  And  yet,  let  not  the  possessors  of  the  good  old 
folios  of  Strype's  Works,  throw  up  their  ponderous  volumes  in  des- 
pair. It  was  indeed  with  singular  satisfaction  that  I  heard  the  tri- 
umphant shout  of  the  present  Dean  of  Winchester—  (Dr.  Rennell) 
when  sitting  with  him  beneath  the  mulberry  tree  in  the  vicarage 
garden  of  his  son,  at  Kensington, — that  "  he  would  stick  to  his 
folios  which  he  had  complete ;  and  for  which  he  had  paid  only  four- 
teen guineas.  No  octavo  (in  his  opinion)  should  drive  a  folio  out  of 
its  entrenchments."  There  was,  however,  a  mixture  of  orthodoxy  and 
heresy  in  this  speech,  such  as  the  Dean  is  not  wont  to  indulge  in. 
He  was  right  and  he  was  wrong. 

Mosheim's  Ecclesiastical  History  was  translated  by  Dr.  Maclaine 
from  the  Latin  original — (of  which  the  first  edition  appeared  in 
1755 — )  and  published  in  J782,  in  six  vols.  Svo.  and  recently,  with 
valuable  additions,  by  Doctors  Coote  and  Gleig,  in  1811,  in  the 
same  number  of  volumes.  This  latter  is  very  much  the  better  edition 


HALES. 

"  1  thancke  your  Lordship,  and  as  for  my  vocation  being  both  a  burthen 
and  a  charge,  more  than  euer  i  desired  to  take  upon  me,  when  so  euer  it 
shall  please  the  quenes  highnes  to  ease  me  therof,  i  shall  moost  humbli 
with  due  contentation  obei  the  same."  And  so  departed  from  the  barre. 

This  curious  Tract  was  pointed  out  to  me  by  Mr.  Evans,  among  the 
books  of  the  library  of  my  late  friend  Mr.  Neunburg,  at  the  sale  of  which 
it  produced  the  sum  of  4/.  6*. — along  with  two  other,  but  unimportant 
tracts.  I  apprehend  it  has  escaped  Burnet  and  Strype;  and  it  appears  to 
have  been  unknown  to  Herbert;  who,  vol.  iii.  p.  1573,  mentions  only  the 
first  treatise  ("  de  vera  obedientia")  with  which  it  is  bound. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.  119 

yet,  I  should  have  a  heavy  score  to  clear  with  my 
conscience,  if  I  suffered  even  this "  Guide  "  and 
"  Comfort/'  in  theology,  to  go  into  the  world  without 

Of  this  truly  excellent  work,  the  least  we  can  say  of  it  is,  that  it  is 
every  where  purchased  and  every  where  read  :  abroad,  in  the  Latin  -, 
at  home,  in  our  own  language.  It  should  be  in  every  library  which 
has  any  pretensions  to  a  choice  selection  of  books  :  and  may  be  pur- 
chased in  neat  binding  for  about  twelve  shillings  a  volume.  The 
author  was  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  his  age  and  country. 
He  was  a  Lutheran,  and  a  native  of  Lubeck.  His  Latin  version  of 
Cudworth's  Intellectual  System  is  a  master  piece  of  erudition  in  every 
respect.  Few  original  Authors  have  been  so  fortunate  as  Cudworth 
in  their  translators. 

Of  Dr.  Wordsworth's  Ecclesiastical  Biography,  it  should  be  observed 
that  it  is  not  meant  to  be  an  elaborate,  original  work  j  but  only  to 
supply  a  deficiency  then,  and  even  now,  much  felt  and  complained 
of  in  ecclesiastical  literature.*  The  lives  of  Wolsey  and  More  are 
among  the  most  valuable  in  this  performance  ;  but  whatever  may  be 
my  personal  respect  for  the  author  (and  that  is  not  trivial)  I  cannot, 
in  the  conscientious  discharge  of  a  present  duty,  dissemble  the  dis- 
appointment with  which  I  perused  these  anxiously  expected  volumes. 
The  Rector  of  Lambeth,  with  an  unlimited  command  over  the  trea- 
sures of  the  archiepiscopal  library,  taught  me  to  anticipate  much  that 
was  new,  more  that  was  generally  interesting,  and  a  good  deal  that 
betrayed  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  black-letter  lore  of  the 
period  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth. f  I  may  be  singular  in  the  avowal 
of  my  disappointment  in  these  particulars  -,  but  not  in  the  wish  that 
the  learned  author  would  speedily  give  us  a  new  and  a  third  edition, 
equally  worthy  of  the  subject,  and  of  his  own  recently  exalted  situa- 
tion. The  MSS.  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  of  which  he  is 
the  present  MASTER,  must  surely  be  rich  in  personal  ecclesiastical 
anecdote  ? 


*  "  It  was  no  part  of  ray  original  plan  to  go  in  quest  of  any  thing  new,  but  merely 
to  revive  the  old  :"  says  the  author,  in  his  Preface  ;  p.  xv. 

t  Dr.  Wordsworth's  obligations  to  Fox's  A cts  and  Monuments  are  unreservedly  and 
handsomely  expressed  :  p.  xvii-xviii.  :  and  his  Defence  of  that  work,  against  Dr.  John 
Milner's  very  sweeping  and  damnatory  opinion,  is  as  spirited  as  it  is  just.  See  page 


120  DIVINITY. 

the  strongest  recommendations  of  the  Concilia  Magnce 
Brltannice  et  Hibernice,  of  which  Speltnan  laid  the 
foundation,  and  Wilkins  completed  the  superstruc- 
ture. Tis  an  excellent  and  invaluable  work  ;*  but 
not,  it  must  be  confessed,  the  study  of  an  every-day 
reader. 


MANUALS  OF  DEVOTION. 

A  word,  and  scarcely  more  than  a  word,  about  that 
species  of  theological  literature  which  relates  to 
MANUALS  of  DEVOTION — to  those  unaffected  and  com- 
forting effusions,  written  in  all  the  glow  of  piety,  and 
with  all  the  warmth  of  benevolence,  which  are  meant 
to  be  the  companions  of  our  pillow  in  illness,  and  of 
our  more  private  retreats  in  health :  which  teach  us  the 
value  of  occasional  abstraction  from  an  ever-agitated 
world,  and  which  lead  us  to  more  frequent  commu- 
nion with  our  own  hearts,  and  with  HIM  who  hath 
endowed  them  with  motion. 

In  the  following  list,  I  do  not  wish  to  be  considered 
as  submitting  the  works  contained  in  it,  to  the  exclusion 
of  every  other.  Far  from  it.  It  is  frequently  with 
books  as  with  individuals :  we  admit  some  to  an 

*  "  We  have  here  most  decidedly  an  excellent  and  splendid  work, 
exhibiting  singular  application  in  the  author,  in  a  diligent  and  careful 
investigation  of  the  councils  of  his  country.  The  first  two  volumes 
are  the  work  of  Spelman,  but  with  many  and  various  faults,  corrected 
&c.  &c.  "  WALCHIUS  :  Bibl.  Theolog.  vol.  iii.  p.  835.  This  work 
was  published  in  1737*  in  4  vols.  folio  -,  and  a  good  sound  copy  is 
worth  41.  14s.  6d.  I  am  aware  that  the  Collectio  Maxima  Conciliorum 
of  Labbe,  1672,  folio,  15  vols.  must  find  a  place  only  in  very  exten- 
sive collections — and  chiefly  in  public  libraries.  A  copy  is  in  the 
library  of  the  Royal  Institution. 


MANUALS  OF  DEVOTION.  121 

intimacy,  not  so  much  for  any  peculiar  display  of 
superior  ability,  as  from  a  favourite  feeling  or  fond- 
ness, from  causes  which  it  were  difficult  to  explain. 
As  is  the  fashion  of  a  countenance,  or  the  charac- 
ter of  the  conversation,  or  the  peculiar  principles, 
of  one  friend  —  compared  with  another — so  are  the 
style,  the  sentiment,  the  truths,  of  one  religious 
Manual  compared  with  another.  There  be  those  who 
love  highly- wrought  compositions,  consisting  of  rich 
and  luxuriant  imagery,  expressed  in  impassioned  and 
even  tumultuous  language:- -there  be  others,  on  the 
contrary,  who  love  a  calm  and  an  even  style; — exhibit- 
ing ideas  gently  conceived,  as  it  were,  and  gently  ex- 
pressed ;  and  betraying  all  the  accuracy  of  logic  with 
all  the  emotion  of  piety.  With 

Desires  composed,  affections  ever  even, 
the  latter  content  themselves  with  those  MANUALS  of 
devotion,  which  convince  their  judgments  as  scholars, 
and  comfort  their  hearts  as  Christians  :  and  such 
latter,  in  my  humble  estimation,  are  the  wiser  and  the 
happier  of  the  two  classes  of  pious  readers. 

But  for  the  list.  More  than  three  centuries  have 
elapsed,  since  the  Imitation  of  Christ  by  THOMAS  A 
KEMPIS  has  been  considered  as  the  most  popular 
Manual  of  Devotion.  Fontenelle  and  Leibnitz,  in- 
deed, have  extolled  it  as  the  most  edifying  piece  of 
morality  since  the  publication  of  the  Gospels.  On 
the  continent,  not  only  has  the  original  Latin  text 
been  translated  into  a  diversity  of  tongues,  but  a 
sharp  controversy  has  been  instituted  respecting  the 
true  author  of  the  work — whether  it  were  Thomas  a 
Kempis  or  John  Gerson.*  The  point  is  here  of  no 

*  The  more  recent,  and  the  better  founded  opinion  seems  to  be, 


122  DIVINITY. 

consequence  ;  only  let  the  rare  and  beautiful  Elzevir 
edition  of  the  work  in  question  find  a  place  in  the  cabi- 
net of  both  "  the  Young"  and  "  the  Old."*  Among  our 

that  GERSON  was  absolutely  the  author.  The  reader  may  notice  the 
titles  of  eighteen  works  relating  to  this  controversy,  in  the  catalogue 
of  Ogle  and  Co. :'  and  if  he  possess  the  Dissertation  sur  soixante  tra- 
ductions  Francoises,  of  the  work  itself,  of  which  M.  Barbier  is  the 
author,  (Paris,  1812,  8vo.)  he  will  have  some  notion  of  its  popularity 
in  France.  As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  the  first  edition 
of  it,  in  the  original  Latin  tongue,  was  printed  between  the  year 
1472  and  1478,  as  described  in  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  iii.  p.  405. 
In  England  we  had  a  printed  translation  as  early  as  the  year  1504, 
by  W.  de  Worde ;  see  the  Typog.  Antiquities,  vol.  ii.  p.  112,  &c» 
where  some  interesting  authorities  are  referred  to.  I  conceive  that 
the  edition  of  1502  is  doubtful  -,  and  do  not  indeed  remember  to 
have  seen  that  of  1504.  In  our  earlier  translations,  Gerson  is  called 
the  original  author.  The  present  received  English  translation,  is 
that  of  Dean  Stanhope. 

*  It  is  necessary  to  observe,  that  ff  the  rare  and  beautiful  edition," 
above  mentioned,  is  without  date ;  containing  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  pages.  The  two  other  Elzevir  editions,  the  one  of  1658,  and 
the  other  of  1 679,  contains,  each,  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  pages. 
As  to  the  dateless  edition,  it  was  probably  executed  between  the  year 
1652  and  1655  ;  for  it  was  printed  by  John  and  Daniel  Elzevir — who 
commenced  partnership  in  1652,  and  who  dissolved  it  in  1655. 
This  edition  is  thought  to  be  among  the  rarest  volumes  in  the  Elze- 
vir set — and  is  probably  the  chef-d'oeuvre  of  the  printers.  In  France, 
where,  at  this  moment,  the  ELZEVIR  MANIA  is  running  very  high, 
they  have  pushed  the  price  of  this  book  to  an  excessive  pitch. 
Mr.  Payne  marks  a  fine  copy,  "  in  blue  morocco,  with  joints,  " 
(what  would  "  the  young  man"  desire  better?)  at  \l.  5s.  Messrs. 
Ogle  and  Co.,  more  courageously,  put  on  another  five  shillings, 
although  their  copy,  apparently,  be  not  attired  in  so  costly  a  garb : 
but,  in  France,  a  fine  copy,  about  five  inches  high,  was  sold  at  a 
public  sale  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  francs  : — about  fourteen  years 
ago  5  consult  the  Essai  Bibliographique  sur  les  Editions  des  Elzevirs, 
1822,  8vo.  p.  93-4. 

In  one  of  the  obscurest  booksellers  shops  at  Caen,  I  was  asked  two 
Napoleons  for  a  very  second-rate  copy.  Mr,  Berard,  at  Pads,  who  is  a 


MANUALS  OF  DEVOTION.  123 

own  authors,  we  shall  not  discover  many  earlier,  or 
many  more  ardent,  strains  of  private  devotion,  than 
those  which  are  to  be  found  in  a  collection  of  prayers, 
better  known  by  the  name  of  the  "  Monument  of 
Matrons,  containing  seven  several  Lamps  of  Divinity  * 

Member  of  the  Club  of  the  Bibliophiles,  and  who  justly  boasts  of  his 
probably  unrivalled  Collection  of  Elzevirs,  seemed  to  sigh  as  he 
shewed  me  his  Thomas  ft  Kempis,  a  full  eighth  of  an  inch  shorter  than 
it  ought  to  be  !  And  my  friend,  Mr.  John  Lloyd,  of  our  Roxburghe 
Club,  has  yet  to  traverse  many  a  capital  in  Europe  (for  dare  we  hope 
to  meet  with  such  a  thing  in  the  three  other  quarters  of  the  globe  ?) 
ere  he  becomes  the  fortunate  owner  of  an  UNCUT  copy— that  object,  at 
once,  of  his  affection  and  ambition  !  I  am  not  sure  whether  the 
Elzevir  edition  of  the  French  translation  of  one  look  only,  of  the  ori- 
ginal, in  1653,  be  not  full  as  rare  as  the  preceding  Latin  edition. 

*  The  bibliographical  account  of  this  volume  has  been  so  fully  exe- 
cuted by  Herbert  ( Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  954-6),  that  I  must  refer  the 
reader  to  it,  in  order  that  he  may  satisfy  himself  about  the  possession 
of  a  perfect  copy.  Here,  I  shall  bring  forward  a  brief  specimen  or 
two  of  its  CONTENTS.  The  first  three  Lamps  contain,  more  especially, 
the  effusions  of  our  Queens  and  of  other  learned  ladies  of  rank  and 
distinction.  The  fourth  Lamp  contains  "  the  most  pure  sacrifice  of 
evangelical  devotion ,  or  an  exercise  of  holie  prayers,"  &c. :  being  a 
collection  from  approved  authors,  by  Bentley,  the  editor  or  compiler. 
The  fifth  Lamp  relates  to  <f  all  degrees  of  women  in  their  several 
ages  and  callings, "  &c. :  the  sixth,  of  the  duties  and  offices  of 
these  women ;  and  the  seventh,  e '  of  the  acts  and  histories,  lives 
and  deaths,  of  all  manner  of  women,"  &c.  In  the  FIRST  LAMP,  is 
"  the  prayer  which  Judith  made  secretly,  or  mentally  in  her  heart, 
when  she  struck  off  the  head  of  the  proud  Holifernes.  " 

"  O  Lord  God  of  all  power,  behold  at  this  present,  and  have 
respect  unto  the  works  of  my  hands  in  this  hour,  for  the  exaltation  of 
Jerusalem,  that  thou  mayest  set  up  thy  city  like  as  thou  hast  pro- 
mised. Strengthen  me,  OtLord  God  of  Israel,  and  grant  that  I  may 
perform  the  thing,  which,  in  hope  that  it  may  be  done  by  thee,  I 
have  devised.  For  now  is  the  time  to  help  thine  inheritance,  and  to 
execute  mine  enterprises  to  the  destruction  of  the  enemies  which  are 
risen  against  us,  Strengthen  me  therefore  this  day,  O  Lord  God  of 


124  DIVINITY. 

which  were  published  in  a  thick  and  handsome  quarto 
volume,  in  the  year  1582,  when  our  VIRGIN  QUEEN 

Israel,  now  strengthen  me  [I  say]  O  Lord  God,  [even]  in  this 
hour."  The  song  of  praise  and  '  thanksgiving,'  follows.  I  select 
a  portion,  beginning  at  the  seventh  verse.  "  For  the  mighty  [Ho- 
lophornes]  did  not  fall,  nor  was  destroyed,  by  the  young  men.  It 
was  not  the  sons  of  Titan  that  slew  him,  neither  have  the  great  giants 
invaded  him,  or  set  themselves  against  him :  but  JUDITH,  the  daughter 
of  Mesari,  with  her  fair  beauty  and  comely  countenance  hath  dis- 
comfited and  brought  him  to  nought.  For  she  put  off  and  laid  away 
the  garment  of  her  widowhood  and  put  on  the  apparel  of  gladness, 
for  the  exaltation  and  rejoicing  of  those  that  were  oppressed  in 
Israel.  She  anointed  her  face  with  ointment,  and  bound  up  her  hair 
in  a  coif,  and  took  a  new  stole  or  linnen  garment  to  beguile  him. 
rfer  slippers  ravished  his  eyes,  her  beauty  captivated  and  took  his 
mind  prisoner,  with  the  sword  or  faulchion  smote  she  off  his  head. 
The  Persians  were  astonished  at  her  boldness,  and  the  Medes  were 
troubled  with  her  hardiness."  Page  44-5. 

This  is  followed  by  a  prayer  of  Queen  Esther,  ((  to  be  delivered 
out  of  the  bloody  hands  of  Haman.  "  It  is  full  of  the  most  un- 
feigned prostration  and  humility :  and  perhaps  its  simplicity  is  not 

exceeded  by  any  similar  effusions "  Thou  knowest  all  things, 

O  Lord  ;  thou  wottest  that  I  hate  the  glory  and  worship  of  the  un- 
righteous, and  that  I  abhor  the  bed  of  the  uncircumcised,  and  of  all 
the  heathen.  Thou  knowest  my  necessity,  and  that  I  hate  this  token 
of  my  pre-eminence,  worship,  and  dignity,  which  I  bear  upon  mine 
head,  what  time  as  I  must  shew  myself  and  be  seen ;  and  that  I 
abhor  it  as  an  unclean  or  menstruous  cloth,  and  that  I  wear  it  not 
when  I  am  quiet  and  alone  by  myself.  Thou  knowest  also,  that  I, 
thine  handmaid,  have  not  eaten  at  Hainan's  table,  and  that  I  have 
had  no  pleasure  nor  delight  in  the  king's  feast,  nor  drunk  the  wine 
of  the  drink  offerings.  "  Page  47.  The  preceding  are  from  the 
FIRST  LAMP. 

The  SECOND  LAMP  contains,  among  other  things,  the  "  Godly 
Meditation  of  the  inward  love  of  the  soul  towards  Christ  our  Lord ; 
composed  first  in  French  by  the  virtuous  Lady  Margaret,  Queen  of 
Navarre :  aptly,  exactly,  and  fruitfully  translated  by  our  most  gra- 
cious Sovereign  Lady  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  the  tender  and  maidenly 
years  of  her  youth  and  virginity,  to  the  great  benefit  of  God's  church, 


MANUALS  OF  DEVOTION.  125 

was  in  the  very  zenith  of  her  glory.  Perhaps  na 
country  could  boast  of  a  more  extraordinary  publica- 
tion at  the  time  of  its  appearance.  It  is  not  only,  in 
part,  a  collection  of  the  compositions  of  several  royal, 
noble,  and  canonised,  authors,  but  it  contains  many 

and  comfort  of  the  Godly.  "  The  beginning  is  rather  strong,  and  a 
little  terrific  :  but  the  recollections  of  the  Heptameron-\-  might  have 
rendered  the  author's  secret  moments  uneasy.  "  Where  is  the  Hell, 
full  of  travail,  pain,  mischief,  and  torment  ?  Where  is  the  pit  of 
cursed  ness,  out  of  which  doth  spring  all  desperation  ?  Is  there  any 
hell  so  profound,  that  is  sufficient  to  punish  the  tenth  part  of  my 
sins,  which  in  number  are  so  many,  that  the  infinite  swarm  of  them 
so  shadoweth  my  darkened  senses,  that  I  cannot  account  them, 
neither  yet  well  see  them  ?  '*  In  this  Lamp  also  appear  the  devotional 
effusions  of  Lady  Mary  Dudley,  Lady  Frances  Abergavenny,  and  Queen 
Catherine :  of  the  latter  of  which,  however,  I  find  an  edition  printed 
in  the  year  1545.  by  Berthelet  and  Wayland  :  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii. 
p.  329.  Among  the  effusions  of  Lady  Abergavenny,  is  "  A  necessary 
prayer  in  metre  against  vice  • " — beginning  thus  : 

O  Lord  my  God,  make  thou  my  heart  repentant  for  to  be, 
The  spirit  of  contrition,  do  thou  ingraffe  in  me, 

Unto  mine  eies  let  there  be  given  aboundant  teares  of  weeping, 
And  let  mine  hands  be  occupied  with  often  almes  giving. 

&c.  &c. 

At  page  207,  we  observe  a  specimen  of  the  common  conceit  of  the 
age  :  eight  short  prayers  are  printed,  headed  by  one  of  the  eight  let- 

t  Marguerite,  Queen  of  Navarre,  and  sister  of  Francis  I.,  was  probably  the  most 
•winning,  brilliant,  and  celebrated  woman  of  her  day.  I  forgive  her  relapse  into  Ca- 
tholicism, from  a  consideration  of  the  good  she  did  when  a  favourer  of  the  Protes- 
tants :  but  the  commonest  impulses  of  Christian  benevolence  induce  us  to  doubt  whe- 
ther she  could  have  really  written  the  obscenities  and  ribaldry  which  are  to  be  found 
in  the  Heptameron.  The  authors  of  the  Nouveau  Diet.  Historique  well  say  of  this,  and 
of  similar  performances,  such  as  the  Cent  Nouvelles  Nouvelles  and  Contes  de  Bocace, 
when  they  observe  thus  : — "  Des  avantures  galantes,  des  seductions  de  filles  encore 
novices,  des  stratagemes  plaisans,  employes  pour  tromper  les  tuteurs  et  les  jaloux  :  voila 
les  pivots  sur  lesquels  roulent  tous  ces  contes  d'autant  plus  dangereux  pour  la  jeunesse, 
que  les  images  obscenes  y  sont  cachees  sous  un  air  de  simplicite  et  de  naivete  fre- 
quentes."  And  because  the  Heptameron  was  not  sufficiently  piquant,  one  Jean  de  la 
Haye,  the  valet  de  chambre  of  Marguerite,  followed  it  up  with  another  highly-seasoned 
dish,  called  Les  Marguerites  de  la  Marguerite  des  Princesses  ;  of  which,  however,  the 
absurdity  prevails  over  the  immorality. 


126  DIVINITY. 

prosaical  and  poetical  effusions,  and  forms  of  prayer, 
upon  the  duties  and  occupations  of  man,  in  all  situa- 

ters,  in  consecutive  order,  of  her  ladyship's  name  :  MARY  FANE. 
It  concludes  with  the  following  charade. 

F  From  sinfulnesse  preserue  me  Lord, 

R  Renew  thy  spirit  in  my  hart, 

A  And  let  my  tonge  therewith  accord, 

V  Vttering  all  goodnesse  for  his  part. 

N  No  thought  let  there  arise  in  me, 

C  Contrary  to  thy  statutes  ten, 

E  Ever  let  me  most  mindful  be, 

S  Still  for  to  praise  thy  name :  Amen. 

A  As  of  my  soule,  so  of  my  bodie, 

B  Be  thou  my  guider,  O  my  God 

V  Vnto  thee  onlie  I  do  crie, 

R  Remove  from  me  thy  furious  rod, 

G  Graunt  that  my  head  may  still  devise, 

A  All  things  that  pleasing  be  to  thee, 

V  Vnto  mine  eares,  and  to  mine  eies, 

E  Ever  let  there  a  watch  set  bee, 

N  None  ill  that  they  may  heare  and  see, 

N  No  wicked  deede  let  my  hauds  do, 

Y  Yn  the  good  paths  let  my  feete  go. 

This  is  sufficiently  dull  and  feeble.  A  little  onward,  another  set 
of  prayers,  fifteen  in  number,  occurs  under  the  initials  ELIZABETH 
REGINA.  But  at  page  307^  we  have  a  very  bold  figure  in  the  as- 
sumption of  an  address  of  the  Deity  to  the  same  Queen,  beginning 
thus,  te  Elizabeth,  thou  virgin  mine,  the  king's  daughter,  and  fairest 
among  women :  most  full  of  beauty  and  majesty  :  attend  a  little  to 
my  heast,  and  mark  what  I  shall  say.  Thou  art  my  daughter  indeed, 
this  day  have  I  begotten  thee,  and  espoused  thee  to  thy  King  Christ, 
my  son ,  crowned  thee  with  my  gifts,  and  appointed  thee  queen  to 
reign  upon  my  holy  Mount  Zion. "  Among  Bentley's  collections  which 
begin  with  the  fourth  Lamp,  there  is  a  prayer  to  Christ  crucified, 
which  glows  with  the  occasional  warmth  of  catholic  devotion :  as  thus 
— ' ( Thou,  O  our  Saviour,  hast  bowed  down  thy  head  at  thy  death,  to 
receive  the  kisses  of  thy  beloved,  and  so  often  do  we  kiss  thee,  O 
X<ord,  as  we  be  thoroughly  touched  with  the  love  of  thee,  who  for 
love  to  mankind,  being  God,  earnest  to  man,  earnest  into  man,  and 
becamest  man, "  &c.  But  there  must  be  a  limit  to  these  extracts; 


MANUALS  OF  DEVOTION.  127 

tions  of  life,  and  at  every  period  of  the  day :  from  the 
moment  of  his  "beholding  himself  naked"  on  quitting 
his  bed,  (fol.  370,)  to  that  of  his  "  hearing  the  clock 
strike/'  (fol.  365,)  after  he  has  got  comfortably  into 
bed  for  the  night.  Among  the  royal  contributors  to 
this  cornucopia  of  family  devotion,  are  our  Queens 
Catherine,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth ;  while,  among 
those  of  noble  designation,  we  read  the  names  of 
the  Lady  Janex  Dudley,  and  Lady  Frances  Aber- 
gavenny.  Foreign  saints  and  heroines  are  enlisted 
into  the  service :  and  amongst  them  we  notice  De- 
borah the  Prophetess,  Dorcas  Marten,  Eulalia,  Ann 
Askew,  Queen  Hester,  Rosweyd,  and  SAPPHO  THE 
POET  !  The  book  is  beautifully  printed ;  and  now 
scarce.  It  is  yet  interesting ;  and  was  once,  doubt- 
less, an  indispensable  volume  in  the  library  of  every 
accomplished  gentlewoman. 

Descending  to  a  much  later  period,  and  exhibiting 
specimens  of  a  much  better  regulated  piety,  the 
Young  Collector  will  not  scruple  to  secure  the 
Holy  Living  and  Dying  of  Jeremy  Taylor,  Pri- 
vate Thoughts  of  Bishop  Beveridge,  Reflections  on 
the  Holy  Spirit,  by  Allix,  Scott's  Christian  Life, 
Nelsons  Fasts  and  Festivals,  the  Whole  Duty  of  Man, 
the  Ladies'  Calling,  and  the  Companions  to  the  Prayer 
Booh  (including  those  to  the  Altar)  by  Comber,  Wheat- 

and,  I  conclude  this  account  of  the  SEVEN  LAMPS  of  VIRGINITY,  by 
requesting  the  curious,  in  such  lore,  to  let  no  opportunity  slip  of 
securing  a  fine,  and  above  all,  a  perfect  copy  of  it.  This  book  is 
sometimes  found  with  only  five  lamps ;  but  the  additional  two  lamps 
will  bring  an  additional  five  guineas  to  the  value  of  the  work.  A 
very  fine  copy  of  it,  collated  and  perfect,  was  sold  at  the  sale  of 
Brand's  library  (Part  I.  no.  1326),  for  SI.  18s.  6d.,  such  copy  is  now 
worth  double  the  sum.  The  paper,  printing,  and  decorative  title 
pages  are  worthy  of  the  intrinsic  curiosity  of  the  volume. 


128  DIVINITY. 

x" 

ley,  and  Sparrow,  Nor  will  the  perusal  of  Bishop  Kenn's 
Practice  of  Divine  Love  be  unattended  with  good 
fruit.  Of  course,  I  do  not  consider  the  whole  of  this 
small,  but  powerful  phalanx,  necessary  for  every 
studious  man  or  diligent  Collector ;  but  some  two  or 
three  of  the  treatises,  just  mentioned,  would  occupy 
little  space  upon  the  table,  and  furnish  the  understand- 
ing with  much  that  is  valuable  and  useful.*  They 
would,  peradventure,  occasionally  operate  as  whole- 
some drastics,  to  keep  in  compact  and  efficient  order 
the  otherwise  loose  thoughts  and  unsettled  principles 
of  frail  human  beings". 

Such  is  the  outline  of  a  THEOLOGICAL  LIBRARY 
which  I  have  submitted  to  the  well  disposed  and  well- 
informed  student  and  collector.  I  am  aware  that 
much  may  be  added  to,  and  a  little  detracted  from, 
the  foregoing  details  :  but  it  will  be  conceded,  I  trust, 
upon  the  whole,  that  here  is  a  BODY  of  DIVINITY,  which 
may  serve  to  guide  "  the  Young "  into  the  paths  of 
piety  and  virtue,  and  to  secure  to  the  Aged,  "  peace  at 
the  last." 

*  Let  the  diligent,  but  patient,  Collector,  endeavour  to  get  posses- 
sion of  copies  in  their  original  bindings — usually  of  morocco.  I  know 
more  than  one  bibliomaniacal  friend  who  will  not  admit  copies  of 
any  other  description — even  if  it  be  in  the  very  best  coating  of 
Charles  Lewis.  Now  this  is  bordering  upon  heresy,  if  it  be  not 
heresy  itself.  While  I  am  upon  the  topic  of  old  bindings  of  Manuals 
of  devotion,  I  cannot  forego  the  pleasure  of  noticing  an  extraordinary 
copy,  which  Lord  Spencer  possesses — of  a  French  volume,  of  Catho- 
lic Devotion — evidently,  from  the  style  of  the  prefixed  MS.  memo- 
randa, the  original  property  of  a  French  Princess.  It  is  cased  in  fish- 
skin,  studded  with  various-coloured  pebbles,  and  worked  all  over, 
within,  in  very  minute,  and  Persian-fashioned,  gilt  ornaments.  But 
the  cabinets  of  the  curious,  doubtless,  abound  with  many  similar 
specimens. 


129 


HISTORY. 

He  may  be  pronounced  to  be  a  bold  man  who  shall 
venture  upon  giving  a  Catalogue  of  Historical  Works, 
fit  for  every  Library,  within  the  limits  of  a  publication 
like  the  present — when  Struvius,  Buder,  and  Meuse- 
lius  have  occupied  eleven  goodly  octavo  volumes  in  a 
similar  composition  ;  *  and  when  Le  Long  and  Fon- 
tette  have  filled  five  folio  volumes  with  a  list  of  His- 
tories exclusively  belonging  to  FRANCE,  f  What, 
therefore,  is  to  be  done  ?  Is  the  "  Young  Man  "  to 
despair  of  slaking  his  thirst  for  historical  information, 
merely  because,  if  he  live  till  the  age  of  Metlwsalem, 
he  will  not  have  read  one  half  of  the  works  which  are 
enumerated  in  the  publications  of  the  forementioned 
Bibliographers  ?  And  if  the  Catalogue  be  followed  up, 
by  works  which  have  been  published  since  the  labours 
of  Meuselius — how  interminable  the  toil,  and  how  re- 
pulsive the  attempt  ?! 

*  Between  the  years  1782  and  1785.  A  copy  of  this  excellent 
work,  which  may  be  said  to  have  well  nigh  superseded  all  preceding 
similar  works,  maybe  had  for  about  31.  13$.  6d.  in  boards.  A  beau- 
tiful copy  of  it,  bound  in  white  calf,  was  sold  for  31.  10s.  only — at  a 
public  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's,  in  1817 — which,  having  been  obtained  in 
time  of  war,  had  cost  the  owner  11Z.  lls.  in  boards.  .There  have 
been  more  disheartening  depreciations  in  property,  even  than  this  ! 

f  This  publication  appeared  in  17 1 9,  in  one  folio  volume ;  but  the 
labours  of  Fontette,  Herissant,  Rondet,  and  others,  have  augmented 
it  to  four  additional  ones,  1768,  folio  :  so  that  the  first  edition  is  super- 
seded. Brunet  well  observes  that  "  this  is  one  of  the  most  essential 
performances  in  bibliography,  and  should  be  found  in  all  large  libra- 
ries." But  I  beseech  the  prudent  Collector  not  to  buy  it  on  large 
paper.  Works  of  this  description  should  never  be  bought  in  such  a 
form.  A  copy  on  small  paper  is  worth  from  41.  14s.  6d.  to  61.  6s. 

K 


130  HISTORY, 

Let  him  not  however  despair.  HISTORY,  which 
may  be  considered  as  the  mother  both  of  fiction  and 
of  truth,  is  mastered  with  less  difficulty  than  may  be 
at  first  imagined.  Among  the  most  delightful  of  her 
associates,  may  be  designated  Biography,  Voyages, 
and  Travels.  Of  these  in  their  proper  order.  I  shall 
not  lose  a  minute,  or  waste  a  line,  in  the  recommend- 
ation of  various  Introductory  Treatises  "  on  the  Study 
and  Use  of  History."  The  feeling  of  the  reader  must 
be  natural:  his  appetite  strong:  his  digestion  good: 
and  the  nourishment  cannot  fail  to  be  salutary.  The 
reading  of  "  Introductions  "  is  like  the  having  recourse 
to  stimulants  to  provoke  an  appetite — and  food,  thus 
procured,  is  rarely  digestive  or  nutritious.  We  do  not 
want  such  works  as  those  of  Du  Fresnoy,  Du  Pin,  or 
even  Lord  Bolingbroke,*  to  tell  us  that  Herodotus  and 
Thucydides  are  the  great  luminaries  among  the  Gre- 
cian— Sallust,  Tacitus,  andLivy,  among  the  Roman — 

*  Du  FRESNOY  :  Methode  pour  Etudier  I'Histoire,  par  Drouet.  Paris, 
1772,  12mo.  15  vols.  See  the  Bibliomania,  p.  70.  This  is  the  best 
edition  of  Du  Fresnoy  —  which  is  rather  a  work  of  historical  bibli- 
ography, than  an  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  History.  It  was 
translated  and  abridged  in  a  useful  manner  by  Rawlinson,  1738,  8vo. 
2  vols.  Du  PIN'S  Universal  Library  of  Historians,  17O9,  8vo.  two 
vols. :  is  dull  and  superficial.  BOLINGBROKE'S  Letters  on  the  Study 
of  History t  in  one  8vo.  volume,  have  been  frequently  reprinted.  The 
work  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  a  certain  lofty  elegance  of  style,  in 
which  that  writer  excelled.  To  these  works  may  be  added  those  of 
MABLY,  LARCHKR,  and  FERRAND,  to  be  found  in  most  catalogues  of 
French  booksellers.  But  I  am  most  unwilling  to  dismiss  this  branch 
of  our  enquiries,  without  the  notice  and  recommendation  of  a  spi- 
rited and  luminous  Essay  on  the  Study  of  Modern  History,  1821,  8vo. 
by  Mr.  J.  S.  Boone,  student  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford :  a  gentle- 
man, full  of  academic  honours,  and  likely  to  be  equally  an  ornament 
to  his  University  and  the  country.  I  hope  he  will  adhere  almost  ex- 
clusively to  HISTORY. 


OF  GREECE.  151 

and  Rapin,  Hume,  Robertson,  and  Gibbon,  among  the 
English— historians.  We  have  known  this  from  the 
lips  of  our  parents  and  instructors  ;  and  therefore  it  is 
that  we  fasten  with  such  avidity  upon  choice  copies  of 
the  works  of  these  great  writers  :  that  we  seek  them 
in  chaste  morocco  or  full-gilded  calf:  in  their  first  and 
unsophisticated  bindings  —  when  ink  was  black  and 
paper  white.* 

Small  therefore  is  the  space  here  allotted  to  works 
upon  the  Study  arid  Use  of  History.  Let  the  "  Young 
Man  "  prepare  himself  with  certain  BODIES  of  Ancient 
and  Modern  History  f — in  the  English,  French,  or 
Latin  languages — and  go  at  once  to  the  best  .editions 
of  the  choicer  writers  in  each.  To  begin  with  the 


HISTORY  OF  GREECE, 

or  with  those  authors  whose  works  are  supposed  to 
take  the  lead  in  Grecian  History.    Where  the  Bipont 

*  when  ink  was  black  and  paper  white.]  — The  notes  in  the  Biblio- 
graphical Decameron,  vol.  i.  p.  5-7  ;  vol.  ii.  338-340.,  will  justify  me 
in  this  language — however  quaint  or  paradoxical. 

f  Universal  History  Ancient  and  Modern — with  maps  and  additions, 
1736,  folio,  twenty-six  volumes.  This  useful  work,  incorporating  a 
great  portion  of  Sacred  History,  was  reprinted  in  Svo.  in  sixty-seven 
volumes  :  and  again  in  sixty  vols.,  with  omissions  and  additions.  The 
first  Svo.  edit  is  called  the  best,  but  each  of  them  is  worth  26/.  5s.  Of 
the  folio  edition,  there  is,  at  this  moment,  a  copy  just  bound  out  of 
sheets,  by  C.  Lewis,  in  white  calf,  with  marble  edges,  and  full 
charged  gilt  backs — lying  at  Mr.  Triphook's,  for  the  not  unconscion- 
able sum  of  52 1.  10*.  To  this  work,  add  CALMET'S,  Jlistoire  Uni- 
verselle,  Strasb.  1735, 4to.  17  vols.  Calmet  was  a  very  extraordinary 
man  ;  and  his  labours  are  equally  an  honour  to  the  age  and  to  the 
French  nation.  His  Dictionnaire  dc  la  Bible,  in  four  folio  volumes, 
with  cuts,  of  which  the  edition  of  1730  is  the  best,  might  have 


132  HISTORY, 

Editions  can  be  procured,  let  them  be  so.  Of  HE- 
RODOTUS, the  Collector  may  content  himself  with 
the  edition  of  Wesselinfa  Gr.  and  Lat.  1763,  folio, 
which  is  worth  about  <£7.  7s;-9  or  with  those  of 
Reitzius  and  Schweighceuser,  in  octavo  ;  the  for- 
mer in  two  volumes,  recently  reprinted  at  Oxford, 
and  worth  about  ,£1.  I  Os. :  the  latter,  at  Strasbourg, 
in  1816,  Greek  and  Latin,  six  volumes — valued  at 
about  £6.  6s.*  and  reprinted  in  the  following  year  by 
Mr.  Priestley,  at  London,  in  four  volumes,  8vo.  at  about 
one  half  the  price.  He  who  has  got  this  Father  of 
historians,  illustrated  by  the  labours  of  Wesseling  and 
Schweighseuser,  need  not  distress  himself  about  posses- 
sing the  preceding  editions  of  Gale  and  Gronovius  :  t 
but  I  should  be  wanting  in  all  correct  bibliographical 
feeling,  if  I  omitted  strongly  to  recommend  the  beau- 
found  a  place  in  the  previous  chapter.  MILLOT'S  Elemens  d'Histoire 
generate,  Ancienne  et  Moderne,  Paris,  1779,  12mo.  nine  vols. :  and 
ANQUETIL'S  Precis  de  VHist.  Univ.  Anc.  et  Mod.  1807*  12mo.  twelve 
volumes,  may  be  also  advantageously  consulted. 

*  There  are  copies  of  this  edition  upon  LARGE  PAPER  ;  of  which 
one,  bound  in  olive- colour  morocco,  gilt  leaves,  is  marked  at  122.  12*. 
in  Mr.  Payne's  Cat.  of  1822,  no.  3668.  This  learned  and  splendid 
performance  reflects  infinite  credit  upon  the  Editor  and  Printer.  Mr. 
Sch  weigh  eeuser  is  now  busied  in  the  compilation  of  a  Lexicon  Hero- 
doteum.  His  ardour  abates  not  with  his  age.  He  is  the  classical 
Swan  who  sings  to  the  last. 

f  A  good  copy  of  the  folio  edition  of  Gale  or  Gronovius  may  be 
worth  about  I/.  10?.  Of  the  TRANSLATIONS  of  Herodotus,  that  of 
Larcher  (1SO2,  9  vols.  8vo.  edit.  opt.  31.  IBs.  6d.  bds.)  is  by  much 
the  best.  In  our  own  language,  Mr:  Beloe's  is  the  most  popular :  but 
an  improved  version  is  an  acknowledged  desideratum.  We  have 
many  admirable  living  scholars  and  geographers  for  such  a  task.  The 
labours  of  Major  Rennell  are  alone  a  tower  of  strength.  His  Geo- 
graphy of  Herodotus,  1800,  4to.,  evinces  the  extent  of  his  knowledge 
and  the  soundness  of  his  judgment. 


OF  GREECE.  133 

tiful  and  correct  edition  published  by  the  Foulises  at 
Glasgow,  in  1761,  in  9  duodecimo  vols  ,  Gr.  and  Lat. 

—of  which  copies,  in  nearly  coeval  morocco  binding, 
rejoice  the  heart  of  the  young  and  tasteful  Collector. 

From  Herodotus,  let  us  descend  to  Thucydides, 
Pausanias,  Xenophon,  and  Diodorus  Siculus.  Of 
THUCYDIDES,  the  Bipont  Edition,  1788,  8vo.  six  vols. 
— comprehending  the  labours  of  Wasse  and  Duker 
(from  the  folio  of  1731)  is  assuredly  the  best ;  although 
each  edition  be  pretty  much  about  the  same  price  ; 
namely  <£6.  6s.  If  this  sum  be  considered  too  high, 
let  the  Young  Collector  be  well  content  with  the 
labours  of  Hudson,  in  his  splendid  folio  volume  of 
169G,  Gr.  and  Lat.  which  may  be  obtained  at  one 
third  of  such  price.  From  the  increasing  scarcity  and 
high  price  of  the  Bipont  edition,  I  could  wish  to  see  it 
reprinted  at  the  Clarendon  Press ;  where  it  will  lose 
nothing  of  its  elegance  or  correctness  :  although  the 
recent  edition  of  Bekker*  published  at  the  same  place, 
almost  renders  this  wish  void.  But  let  me  not  be  for- 
getful of  the  edition  printed  at  Glasgow,  by  Foulis,  in 
1759,  eight  vols.  12mo. —  "  companion  meet"  for  the 
Herodotus,  just  described,  and  printed  at  the  same 
place.  Yet  more  estimable  for  its  emendations — and 
not  much  inferior  on  the  score  of  typographical  beauty 

-is  the  Edinburgh  edition  of  1803,  12mo.  Gr.and  Lat. 
six  vols — recently  reprinted,  1812 — of  which  the  Rev. 
P.  Elmsley  is  the  reputed  Editor.^ 

*  Bekker's  edition  is  in  four  vols. :  1821.,  8vo.  The  last  volume 
contains  the  Latin  version  of  Wasse.  It  is  in  some  few  respects  an 
editio  princeps.  For  an  account  of  this  edition,  and  of  the  excessive 
rarity  of  copies  upon  large  paper,  consult  the  Mdes  Althorpiance , 
vol.  i.  p.  135. 

f  Of  the  English  TRANSLATIONS  of  Thucydides,  those  by  Hobbes 


134  HISTORY, 

The  Gr.  and  Lat.  edition  of  PAUSANIAS,  by  Kuhnius, 
1696,  folio* —  or  the  octavo  edition,  Gr.  and  Lat.  by 
Facius,  1794,  4  vols.  may  well  satisfy  any  Collector; 
although,  for  critical  utility,  as  well  as  for  commo- 
diousness  of  form,  I  should  recommend  the  latter. 
XENOPHON  comes  upon  us  in  so  many  tempting 
forms  —  in  such  variety  of  shapes  —  and  fraught 
with  so  much  wisdom,  in  every  department  of  which 
he  treats — that  I  am  puzzled  in  the  selection  of  what 
may  more  fully  satisfy  the  anxious  or  the  ambitious 
Collector.  If  the  entire  works  only  be  sought  for,  I 
should  recommend  the  edition  of  Wells  or  Weiske : 
Schneider  and  Zeunius :  the  first,  in  1703,  Gr.  and  Lat. 
seven  parts,  in  five  vols.  Svo.t  the  second,  in  the  same 
number  and  form  of  volumes,  in  1798-1802  ;  and  the 
third,  preferable  to  either  of  the  two  preceding,  in 
1812,  Gr.  and  Lat.  at  Oxford,  in  six  volumes,  8vo.  + 
Perhaps,  upon  the  whole,  Schneider  is  the  ablest  of 
the  editors  upon  Xenophon.  Yet  I  must  not  omit 
informing  my  reader  that  a  good  edition  of  the  entire 
works  of  Xenophon,  comprehending  the  labours  of 
Wells  and  Ernesti,  was  published  in  four  octavo  vo- 
lumes at  Leipsic,  in  1801.  Either  of  these  latter  edi- 

and  Smith,  frequently  reprinted,  are  the  best.    They  are  obtainable  at 
moderate  prices. 

*  Lord  Spencer  is  supposed  to  possess  the  only  copy  of  this  edition 
upon  LARGE  PAPER  :  see  the  Md.  Althorp.  vol.  i.  p.  133. 

f  Perfect  copies  of  this  edition,  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  are  of  the 
rarest  possible  occurrence.  The  possession  of  the  first  volume,  in  this 
condition,  is  almost  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  bibliographical  felicity  ! 

%  There  are  copies  of  this  edition  upon  LRRGE  PAPER — of  elegant 
execution  :  for  about  61.  6s.  in  boards.  This  Oxford  edition  was  pre- 
ceded by  a  very  neat  one,  containing  the  emendations  of  the  same 
editors,  at  Edinburgh,  in  1811,  in  ten  volumes,  12mo. :  of  which 
there  are  also  copies  upon  large  paper.  • 


OF  GREECE.  135 

tions  may  be  had  in  boards  at  from  two  to  three  guineas. 
Again,  I  am  unwilling  to  omit  a  brief  notice  of  the 
beautiful  little  edition  of  Xenophon's  works  put  forth 
by  the  Foulises  at  Glasgow,  in  1762-1767,  Gr.  and 
Lat.  12  vols  : — "  companion  meet "  of  the  Thucydides 
described  in  the  preceding  page. 

As  to  the  works  of  this  instructive  writer,  separately 
published,  he  who  shall  possess  the  editions  of  Hutch- 
inson,  *  or  Schneider,  or  Schaefer,  (to  say  nothing  of 
those  by  Simpson  and  Benwell),  will  do  well  to  rest 
contented  with  such  specimens  of  editorial  sagacity. 
Nor  let  the  Lexicon  Xenophonteum  of  Thieme  and 
Sturzius,  1804,  3  vols.  8vo.  be  wanting  to  render  the 
Xenophonian  department  complete. 

Of  DIODORUS  SICULUS,  I  shall  unhesitatingly  and 
exclusively  recommend  the  Bipont  edition  of  1793- 
1807 — Gr.  and  Lat.  —  in  eleven  8vo.  volumes  — con- 
taining the  annotations  of  Heyne  and  others.  A  good 
copy  of  it  may  be  worth  £5.  156'.  6d. 

Of  modern  publications,  relating  to  the  HISTORY  OF 
ANCIENT  GREECE  —  secure  the  highly  interesting  and 
not  less  original  work  entitled  Voyage  du  Jeune  Ana- 
char  sis  en  GrecC)  par  /.  /.  Barthettmy,  An.  VII. 
(1799)  seven  vols.  8vo.  in  eight :  with  a  quarto  Atlas : 

*  The  "  Young  Man"  will  necessarily  be  anxious  to  possess  fine 
copies  of  the  Cyropcedia  and  Anabasis  of  Xenophon,  by  our  Hutch- 
inson  :  the  former  published  in  1727,  the  latter  in  1735,  4to.  They 
are  by  no  means  rare  j  but,  upon  the  LARGEST  PAPER,  of  a  scarcity 
almost  amounting-  to  desperation.  The  principal  translations  of  Xe- 
nophon,  in  our  own  language,  are  by  Smith  and  Spelman.  Of  the 
latter,  indeed,  Gibbon  has  said  that  it  is  "  one  of  the  most  accurate 
and  elegant  prose  translations  that  any  language  has  produced." 
Let  the  reader  examine  a  copious  list  of  English  Translations  of  the 
Greek  and  Latin  Classics,  in  the  Cat.  of  Messrs.  Arch,  1821,  p.  116. 


136  HISTORY, 

the  best  edition  :  but  frequently  reprinted.  Didot  pub- 
lished a  magnificent  4to.  edition  of  it,  in  seven  volumes 
in  the  same  year,  with  an  Atlas,  in  folio.    To  these,  add 
the  later  editions  of  Histories  of  Greece  by  our  Gillies 
and  Mitford.  But  never  let  Potter's  Antiquities  of  the 
same  country  be  wanting  in  your  historical  collections 
of  Greece.    I  believe  that  none  of  the  later  editions  of 
this  profound,  and  yet  unpretending  work,  contain 
improvements.    But  I  hear  the  "  Young  Man  " — am- 
bitious of  possessing  almost  every  thing  which  can 
throw  light  upon  that  most  interesting  of  all  countries 
— exclaim,  "  am  I  to  be  debarred  of  the  TREASURE  of 
GRECIAN   ANTIQUITIES,  "    by    Gronovius  ?      Are   so 
many  dull  and  dreary  nights  of  winter  to  pass,  or 
rather  creep,  away,  when  the  possession  of  such  a 
"  treasure"  may  serve  to  enliven  and  improve  them  ? " 
Be  it  so,  therefore.     Let  him  get  a  copy  of  this  most 
elaborate,  learned,  and  desirable  work  —  printed  at 
Leyden  in  1697 — in  thirteen  folio  volumes  ;  of  which 
the  thirteenth  furnishes  him  with  an  admirably  copious 
Index  of  the  contents  of  the  twelve  preceding  tomes. 
He  may  see  the  Heads  or  Titles  of  the  tracts,  con- 
tained in  each  volume,  in  Mr.   Harris's  judiciously 
compiled  Catalogue  of  the  Royal  Institution. 


HISTORY  OF  ROME. 

I  come  to  ROMAN  HISTORY  ;  which  may  occupy 
even  less  space  than  Grecian ;  as,  in  the  selection  of 
original  texts,  less  care  is  necessary.  He  who  has  the 
DION  CASSIUS  of  Fabricius  and  Reimar,  1750,  Gr.  and 
Latin,  folio  —  the  DIONYSIUS  HALICARNASSENSIS  of 
Reiske,  1784,  8vo.  Gr.  and  Lat.  six  vols. — the  LIVY  of 


OF  ROME.  137 

Drakenborch,  1 738, 4to.  seven  vols.* — the  APPIAN  and 
the  POLYBIUS  of  Schweighceuser,  1785-1789,  Gr.  and 
Lat.  the  first  in  three,  and  the  second  in  nine  vols. — 
the  TACITUS  of  Brotier,  1771,  4to.  four  vols.  -f-  — the 
CAESAR  of  Oudendorp,  1737,  4to.,  or  of  Oberlin,  1805, 
8vo.  and  the  SALLUST  of  Haver  camp,  1742,  2  vols.  i — 
together  with  almost  any  respectable  impression  of 
VELLEIUS  PATERCULUS  and  FLORUS  —  he,  1  say,  who 
shall  possess  sound  and  fair  copies  of  these  ancient  his- 
torians, may  be  said  to  possess  a  full  and  complete 
Body  of  Roman  History.  Or,  if  he  prefer  a  Collection 
of  the  whole,  in  a  sort  of  Corpus  Historicum,  let  him 
rest  well  contented  with  that  published  by  Haurisius, 
in  1743,  in  three  folio  volumes,  containing  the  Latin 
authors  only.  And  if,  to  the  foregoing,  he  add  the  The- 
saurus Antiquitatum  Romanarum  of  Grsevius(the  com- 
panion of  the  collection  of  Grecian  Antiquities  by 
Gronovius)  published  in  12  folio  volumes,  in  1694,§ 

*  If  minor  editions  of  Livy  be  rather  sought  after,  obtain  the  beau- 
tifully executed  one  of  the  late  learned  Mr.  Homer,  1794,  in  eight 
octavo  volumes  ;  or  the  yet  smaller  one  of  Ruddiman,  Edinb.  1751, 
12mo.  four  rols.  But  he  who  has  the  Variorum  impression  of  1679, 
8vo.  three  vols.,  need  not  feel  comfortless  in  the  absence  of  any  other 
edition. 

f  Again,  as  to  minor  editions — let  the  Barbou  impression  of  1776, 
edited  by  Lallemand,  in  seven  12mo.  volumes,  be  your  elbow- com- 
panion j  for  it  hath  never  yet  been  eclipsed  for  beauty  and  accuracy 
united. 

%  Among  the  smaller  editions,  that  of  Edinb.  1755,  12mo.  has  been 
long  and  highly  prized  -,  but  of  equal,  if  not  higher,  estimation,  is 
that  of  Homer,  1789,  Svo. — now  become  a  very  scarce  book.  Among 
our  VERSIONS  of  Sallust,  none  approach,  for  quantity  and  quality  of 
research,  that  of  Dr.  H.  Steuart,  in  two  4to.  volumes,  1806.  It  is  re- 
plete with  useful  collateral  aids.  Murphy's  version,  both  of  Tacitus 
and  Sallust,  is  in  more  general  requisition. 

§  But  even  BOTH  treasures — the  one  by  Gronovius,  and  the  other 


138  HISTORY, 

the  Young  Collector's  historical  library  will  be  suf- 
ficiently complete. 

Descending  to  Modern  Historians  of  the  Roman 
Empire,  the  names  of  Rollin,  Crevier,  Hooke,  Fer- 
guson, and  Gibbon,  will  necessarily  present  them- 
selves— to  which,  that  of  Montesquieu — whose  sketch 
of  the  "  Grandeur  et  Decadence  des  Remains"  has 
been  expanded  into  such  a  magnificent  picture  by 
Gibbon,  may  be  judiciously  added  :  while,  descending 
to  lower  periods,  connected  with  Italian  Antiquity 
and  History,  let  every  work  of  the  greatest  of  all 
modern  antiquaries — MURATORI — find  a  place,  if  pos- 
sible, in  the  library  of  every  judicious  Collector.  It  will 
be  here  only  necessary  to  notice  his  truly  stupendous 
performance  —  the  "  Scriptores  Rerum  Italicarum  ab 
ann.  D.  ad  ann.  M.  D.  quorum  potissima  pars  nunc 
primum  in  lucemprodit" — 1723-51,  in  twenty-eight  or 
twenty-nine  folio  volumes.  The  life  of  the  longest  liver 
should  seem  to  be  inadequate  to  a  performance  like 

by  Graevius — are  not  perfect  without  the  following  supplemental  vo- 
lumes, "  Novus  Thes.  Antiq.  Romanar.  ab  A.  H.  de  Sailengre"  in 
three  folio  volumes,  1716  :  and  <f  Utriusque  Thesauri  Antiq.  Roman. 
Grcccarumque  Nov.  Supplementa  congesta  ab.  I.  Poleno,  Venet.  1735, 
folio,  five  vols.  In  Tom  Osborne's  time,  when  these  substantial  tomes, 
especially  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  brought  great  prices,  a  copy  of  this  kind, 
of  Greevius  and  Gronovius,  was  marked  in  the  folio  sheet  catalogue 
of  1759,  at  sixty  guineas  j  and  with,  the  Thes.  Antiq.  Hal.  et  Sicil. 
bound  in  forty-eight  volumes,  at  941. 10s.  A  copy  of  the  former  set, 
on  small  paper,  and  in  neat  binding,  may  be  obtained  for  about  42 /. 
But  ' '  the  Young  Man !>  may  travel  a  little  further  —  if  he  pleases, 
and  the  weight  of  his  purse  allow  of  it.  Perhaps  he  already  antici- 
pates the  collection  of  the  BYZANTINE  and  TURKISH  HISTORIES  in 
the  earlier  periods  of  Christianity  —  which  furnished  Gibbon  with 
such  a  supply  of  curious  and  important  matter.  Of  the  writers  of 
these  histories,  the  Paris  edition  of  1647  to  1680,  folio,  will  amply 
satisfy  the  most  inordinate  book-appetite. 


OF  ROME.  139 

this :  where  materials  were  collected  from  MSS.  of 
which  the  greater  part  had  never  been  before  libe- 
rated from  the  huge  brass  bosses  that  had  helped  to 
hold  them  together ;  but  which,  —  being  touched,  as 
it  were,  with  the  magical  wand  of  Muratori,  poured  a 
flood  of  light  and  of  information  upon  periods,  hitherto 
deemed  impenetrably  dark  and  wholly  uninstructive. 
One  hardly  knows  sufficiently  how  to  appreciate  the 
talents  of  this  wonderful  man.* 

From  the  departed  and  splendid  seras  of  Greece 
and  Rome,  we  touch  upon  those  of  the  modern  world; 
and  first,  necessarily,  of  the  History  of  our  OWN 
COUNTRY.  Many  are  the  helps,  and  yet  many  are  the 
deficiencies,  connected  with  this  important  branch  of 
our  enquiries.  The  former  arise  from  the  excellent 
materials  supplied  by  a  regular  succession  of  Histo- 
rians beginning  with  the  author  of  the  Saxon  Chroni- 
cle, and  ending  with  that  which  issued  from  the  press 
of  Caxton.  I  mention  this  latter  as  the  first  book, 
regularly  connected  with  our  history,  which  was  pub- 
lished since  the  invention  of  the  Art  of  Printing.  And 
yet,  (as  just  intimated^  at  the  very  outset  of  our  pur- 
suits, there  are  deficiencies  ;  arising  chiefly  from  the 
want  of  a  Collection  like  unto  the  Recueil  des  Histo- 

*  The  principal  of  his  other  works,  of  less  extent,  but  of  equal 
utility  and  importance,  are  these  :  Antiquitates  Italics  Medii  &vi 
post  Decl.  Rom.  Imp.  ad  an.  1500,  1738-42  :  folio,  six  vols.  This  is 
now  become  a  rare  work  with  us  ,  it  will  excite  the  reader's  surprise 
when  he  learns  that  a  copy  even  of  the  "  Scriptorcs  "  has  not  been  on 
sale,  by  auction,  these  five  years.  Of  the  "  Antiquitates"  a  reprint 
appeared  at  Arezzo,  in  1777,  in  4to.  in  seventeen  volumes,  but  of 
considerably  less  beauty  of  execution.  To  the  "  Scriptores,  "  must 
be  added  the  "  Accesiones  "  by  Mittarelli,  1771*  folio  :  and,  again, 
two  more  folio  volumes  of  historians,  from  the  year  1500  to  160O, 
published  at  Florence  in  1748.  We  have  not  yet  done  with  Mura- 
tori.  His  "  Nov.  Thes.  Vet.  Inscript."  in  four  folio  volumes,  was 


140  HISTORY, 

riens  des  Gaules,  &c.  of  which  the  foundation  stone 
was  laid  by  Bouquet.* 

But  it  must  be  remembered  that  we  are  not  with- 
out many  very  solid  foundation  stones  of  our  history 
which  have  supported  the  more  elegant  superstruc- 
tures of  modern  historians.  "  The  Young  Man,"  who  is 
emulous  of  a  complete  English  historical  library  (and 
what  young  Englishman  of  enlarged  views,  and  ena- 
bling purse,  is  not  thus  emulous  ?)  will  do  well  to  attend 
to  the  following  bill  of  fare —  which  will  supply  him, 
not  only  with  food  for  to-day  (dressed  as  daintily  as 
intellectual  viands  need  be  dressed)  but  with  food  for  a 
succession  of  "  to-morrows :" — which,  the  more  care- 
fully it  be  digested,  the  more  strengthening  will  be  the 
nutrition,  and  the  more  fixed  and  permanent  the  health 
of  him  who  is  thus  nourished. 

Know  then,  hungry  and  enterprising  student,  that  I 
deem  it  necessary,  in  the  first  place,  to  present  thee 

published  at  Milan,  in  1739  :  and  his  Annali  d?  Italia  dal  principio  delV 
era  volgare  sino  air  anno,  1749,  appeared  in  twelve  quarto  volumes 
at  Milan  in  1749.  This  latter  has  been  twice  or  thrice  reprinted. 
But  the  keener  hunter  of  Muratori  must  beat  the  brakes  and  bushes 
of  Brunet  in  pursuit  of  the  choicest  game  :  in  other  words,  of  the 
various  editions  of  this  multifarious  writer.  Had  Niceron  survired 
Muratori,  we  should  have  seen  a  capital  account  of  his  productions. 

*  Of  this  magnificent,  and  truly  invaluable  work,  the  first  volume 
appeared  in  1738,  and  the  xviiith  and  last  volume  (the  work  being 
yet  imperfect — extending  only  to  the  thirteenth  century)  in  1822.  It 
is  in  folio ;  and  appertains  almost  as  much  to  English,  as  to  French 
History.  It  should  doubtless  be  found  in  every  collegiate,  and 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY.  The  copies  upon  large  paper  are  by  no  means 
uncommon  3  but  a  finer  one  than  that  which  adorns  the  shelves  of 
Sledmere  Library  will  with  difficulty  be  found.  It  is  bound  in 
French  red  morocco.  The  immediately  ensuing  pages  will  prove 
the  use  which  I  have  made  of  some  of  the  volumes  of  this  work  ;  and 
for  the  gratification  of  the  historical  antiquary,  I  subjoin  an  alphabet- 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  141 

with  a  few  publications  which  contain  "  Bodies  of 
History^' — or  Collections  of  Ancient  Historians — all 
of  whom  lived  and  wrote  before  the  invention  of  print- 
ing. The  earliest  portion  of  British  History,  of  which 
any  MS.  exists,  is  that  called  by  the  well  known  name 
of  the  SAXON  CHRONICLE  —  an  undoubtedly  coeval 
fragment  of  the  eleventh  century  ;  of  which  Bishop 
Gibson  published  a  useful  and  valuable  edition,  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  but  of 
which,  it  cannot  be  dissembled,  a  new  and  improved 
edition,  collated  with  other  MSS.  is  much  wanted ; 
and,  as  I  learn  with  great  satisfaction,  is  on  the  eve  of 
publication,  from  the  competent  pen  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Ingram,  late  Saxon  Professor  at  Oxford.* 

ical  list  of  some  of  our  earlier  historians  who  are  mentioned,  criti- 
cally, in  the  pages  of  the  Recueil : 

Vol.        Pages.  Vol.        Pages. 

Abbas  Benedict,  -  xiii.  xvij.  142.  Girald  Barry,  .  xiii.  xviii.  xxii. 

Brompton,         .         .  —  iii  Hemingford,  W.  de,  —  iii. 

Chronicon  Saxon.  —  vij.  ix.  47.  Hoveden,  R.  de,      .  xi.  309. 

Durham,  Simeon  of,    .  •-  xi.  79.  Huntingdon,  H.  de,       .  —  Iriii.  206. 

Eadmer,     .         .         .  —  iv.  Malraesbury,  G.  de,  x.  xxxvij.  24.3 

-,  xi.  liij.  Neubury,  or  Neubridge, 

,  xi.  Iija73.          G.  de,         .         .  xiii.  xiii.  92. 

,  xiii.  iv.  Odericus  Vitalis,         .  xi.  Ixiij.  221 

Encomium  Emmae,  xi.  iv.  5.  Paris,  Matthew,         .  xiii.     iii. 

Gemeticensis,  G.  de,  —  xxxix.  Ralph  de  Diceto,         .        —     xviii.  183. 

Gervais  of  Canterbury,  xiii.  xv.  120.  •         Coggershal,         —  xxiij.  217. 

Tilbury,  xi.  Ixxxj.  317.  Walsingham,  .  —  iii. 

Gesta  Guil.  Ducis,  xi.  xxii.  75.  Westminster,  G.  de,  —      iii. 
Stephani,      .  xiii.  iv.  Worcester,  Flor.  de,  —      x.  67. 

But  the  most  pleasing  part,  attending  the  introduction  or  notice  of 
this  grand  French  work,  is,  that  WE  have  at  length  been  roused  to  a 
glorious  spirit  of  rivalry  in  undertaking,  a  similar  work  devoted  to 
the  History  of  our  OWN  COUNTRY.  This  laudable  plan  was  brought 
into  the  House  of  Commons,  and  carried  through  without  the  sem- 
blance of  opposition,  at  the  close  of  the  session  of  last  year.  FELIX 

FAUSTUMQUE    SIT  ! 

*  I  cannot  omit  this  opportunity  of  noticing,  with  the  commend- 


142  HISTORY. 


HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

The  first  Body  of  British  History  which  appeared 
from  our  press,  is  contained  in  a  folio  volume,  compris- 
ing, 1  st,  Assers  Life  of  Alfred ;  2nd,  the  Ypodigma 
Neustrice  of  Walsingham,  a  Norman  History  to  the 
time  of  Henry  I. ;  and  Sdly,  the  Historia  Brevis  of  the 
same  Author,  being  a  Chronicle  of  Events  from  the 
commencement  of  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  to  the  end 
of  that  of  Henry  V.  Of  these  three  works,  which  are 
usually  found  in  the  same  volume,  the  two  former 
were  printed  by  Day,  and  the  latter  by  Binneman,  in 
1574 — under  the  patronage  and  even  particular  super- 
intendence of  the  famous  Archbishop  Parker  :*  a  vo- 

ation  which  it  merits,  the  literal  English  version  of  the  Saxon  Chro- 
nicle by  Miss  Gurney,  sister  of  the  Member  for  Norwich .  Why  should 
such  a  laudable  effort  of  industry  be  confined  to  private  circulation 
only  ?  But  whether  privately,  or  publicly  circulated,  Miss  Gurney  is 
sure  of  being  suitably  enshrined  in  a  future  edition  of  Ballard's 
"  Memoirs  of  LEARNED  BRITISH  LADIES." 

*  The  above  text  comprehends  three  names  of  some  importance 
in  the  annals  of  our  country  :  Asser,  Walsingham,  and  Parker.  I 
shall  devote  a  few  lines  to  each,  in  reference  to  the  work  in  question. 
Of  ASSER,  Bishop  of  Sherburne,  [A.  D.  890.]  the  reader  will  find  a 
pleasing,  and  the  best,  account  in  Mr.  Turner's  Anglo-Saxon  History, 
vol.  i.  p.  292.  4to.  edit.  1807.  Tanner  adds  little  to  Leland  3  but 
Nicolson  is  worth  consulting;  who  repeats  Parker's  expressions, 
that  it  is  printed  "  in  the  old  Saxon  character  to  invite  his  English 
readers,  and  to  draw  them  in  unawares  to  an  acquaintance  with  the 
handwriting  of  their  ancestors,  in  hopes  to  beget  in  them  (by  de- 
grees) a  love  for  the  antiquities  of  their  own  country."  Eng.  Hist. 
Library,  p.  47,  edit.  1736. 

OF  THOMAS  WALSINGHAM,  we  are  told  that — "  his  chief  delight 
was  in  the  collection  of  English  Histories  3  wherein  he  hath  left,  to 
the  perpetual  registering  of  his  name,  divers  monuments  of  reverend 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  143 

In  me,  by  no  means  of  common  occurrence.  Having 
furnished  the  reader  with  a  particular  description  of 
this  precious  book,  in  the  fourth  volume  of  the  recent 
edition  of  our  Typographical  Antiquities,  it  only  re- 
mains to  urge  him — if  he  be  earnest  in  laying  a  good 
foundation  for  an  English  HISTORICAL  LIBRARY — to 
let  no  opportunity  escape  of  becoming  master  of  a 
sound  and  perfect  copy  of  it. 

About  a  dozen  years  after  the  publication  of  the 
Ypodigma,  there  appeared  a  collection  of  our  historians 
at  Heidelberg  and  Lyons,  in  the  same  year,  1587  ;  but 
the  latter  seems  to  be  only  the  former  book  with 
a  fresh  title-page.  This  collection  contains  Geoffrey 
of  Monmouth,  Gildas,  Bede,  William  of  Newbury, 
or  Newbridge,  and  an  abridgment  of  Froissart,* 
all  of  whom  had  been  before  separately  published. 

antiquity.  He  lived  in  1443."  See  Hearne's  Hemingi  Chartularium, 
vol.  ii.  p.  646.  The  author  of  this  remark  is  said  to  be  John  Stow. 

Of  ARCHBISHOP  PARKER,  even  Gibbon,  whose  affection  towards 
our  prelacy  was  at  no  time  very  violent,  is  compelled  to  pay  this  hand- 
some tribute  to  his  literary  memory  :  "  Far  different  from  such  re- 
formers was  the  learned  and  pious  Matthew  Parker,  the  first  Pro- 
testant Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 
His  apostolical  virtues  were  not  incompatible  with  the  love  of  learn- 
ing, and  while  he  exercised  the  arduous  office,  not  of  governing,  but 
of  founding  the  Church  of  England,  he  strenuously  applied  himself 
to  the  study  of  the  Saxon  tongue,  and  of  English  antiquities."  Posthu- 
mous Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  566.  Strype  tells  us,  in  his  Life  of  the  Arch- 
bishop (pages  471,  529),  that  the  above  work  was  carefully  printed 
from  the  original  MS.  ' '  to  a  word,  "  in  Saxon  characters,  and  was 
somewhat  rare  in  former  times :  that  the  Archbishop  delayed  the 
publication  "  of  which  there  had  been  great  expectation  among  the 
learned,"  owing  to  his  care  in  correcting,  printing,  and  getting  a  few 
presentation  copies  to  be  bound — "wherein  he  was  very  curious." 
From  the  dedicatory  epistle  to  the  reprint  of  it,  in  1603,  in  Camden's 
time,  it  appears  to  have  been,  then,  a  rare  book.  A  fine  and  perfect 


H4  HISTORY, 

This  collection  is  praised  by  Du  Fresnoy,  in  his 
Methode  pour  ttudier  Thlstoire  ;  but  on  this  point 

copy  of  it  was  sold  last  year  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  G.  Isted's  library,  for 
71.  7s.  Consult  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol  iv.  p.  136.  My  friend  Mr.  Amyot 
possesses  Hearne's  copy  of  it,  with  a  ms.  collation  or  two,  in  Hearne's 
hand  writing :  a  perfect,  but  not  a  fine  copy — and  obtained  of  a  book- 
seller at  the  comforting  price  of  2Z.  5s. 

*  The  abridgement  of  Geoffrey,  by  Virunnius,  accompanies  the 
entire  text  of  that  author  5  but  Bishop  Nicblson  mentions  a  previous 
edition  of  this  abridgement  by  Powell,  of  the  date  of  1585,  London, 
8vo.  ;  he  might  also  have  referred  toNewbury's,  or  Bollifant's,  edi- 
tion of  the  same  date,  in  8vo.  See  Herbert,  vol.  ii.  p.  912  :  1215, 
and  Bibl.  Hoblyn.  pt.  ii  p.  500.  Virunnius  was  an  Italian ;  upon 
which  the  learned  Bishop  remarks, —  speaking  of  the  original  history 
of  Geoffrey,  '  'tis  of  a  complexion  fitter  for  the  air  of  Italy  than  Eng- 
land.' Historical  Libraries,  p.  37-  edit.  1736.  GEOFFREY  of  MON- 
MOUTH  lived  in  the  12th  century,  and  is  supposed  to  have  taken  many 
hints  from  NENNIUS,  who  lived  in  the  ninth  century.  Consult  the 
spirited  observations  of  Bishop  Nicolson  upon  them ;  Eng.  Hist.  Li- 
brary, p.  36-33.,  and  Hearne's  Robert  of  Gloucester,  vol.  i.  p.  xxiii., 
note  6.  Mr.  G.  Ellis  has  made  the  former  interesting,  in  spite  of  his 
incongruities :  see  his  Specimens  of  Early  English  Metrical  Romances, 
vol.  i.  p.  42.  100.  The  first  edition  of  Geoffrey  was  printed  in  the 
office  of  Badius  Ascensius,  at  Lyons,  in  1508.  4to :  and  may  be 
worth  about  1Z.  Is.  It  is  said  to  be  "translated  into  the  Latin 
tongue  from  the  most  ancient  monuments  of  the  British  or  Saxon 
tongue."  It  was  published  by  the  care  and  expense  of  L.  Cavellat, 
whose  introductory  address  is  most  diverting.  He  says  that, f<  happen- 
ing to  be  rummaging  among  some  old  books  in  a  college  library  at 
Paris,  he  stumbled  upon  a  certain  work,  called  ' '  the  History  of  the 
British  Kings,"  —  covered  with  the  glorious  dirt  and  mouldering 
of  antiquity. "  The  sight  and  the  perusal  affected  him  almost  to 
madness ;  ["  Dii  boni !  quanto  animi  affectu  iterum  atque  iterum 
legi  et  perlegi !  " — are  his  words]  and  he  began  to  find  that  "  what 
he  had  hitherto  deemed  fables,  was  true  history.  "  The  parent  text 
of  such  a  chronicler  may  be  doubtless  deserving  of  investigation :  but 
it  would  be  well  if  any  ' '  ancient  British  or  Saxon  materials  "  could 
be  discovered  in  it.  Till  then,  Geoffrey  must  be  considered  as  the 
property  of  Fablers  and  Romancers.  An  English  translation  of  the 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  145 

there  is  better  praise  (as  the  subjoined  note  may  tes- 
tify) to  be  sought  for,  than  that  of  the  French  biblio- 
grapher :  who  tells  us,  however,  that  "  the  book  was 
printed  in  Commelin's  office,  from  materials  in  the 
Heidelberg  library,  when  the  latter  was  in  its  glory, 
and  before  its  transportation  to  the  Vatican  at  Rome." 

Latin  text  appeared  in  1718,  8vo.,  by  Aaron  Thompson,  who  has 
prefixed  "  a  large  preface  concerning  the  authority  of  the  history.  " 
Thompson's  book  is  worth  about  ll.  Is.  It  is  not  very  rare  upon  large 
paper,  at  2/.  Ic2s.  6d.  I  once  possessed  it  (as  well  as  the  original 
edition  of  Ascensius,)  in  this  latter  form,  in  coeval  blue  morocco 
binding. 

GILDAS  lived  in  the  sixth,  and  BEDE  in  the  eighth,  century  :  see  Dr. 
Henry's  History  of  Great  Britain,  vol.iv.  p.  5.  25 — where  the  former 
is  severely  censured ;  nor  does  the  latter  meet  with  less  severity  from 
Mr.  Turner,  in  his  Anglo-Saxon  History,  vol.  i.  63. 

WILLIAM  of  NEWBURY,  or  Newbridge,  lived  at  the  close  of  the 
twelfth,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth,  century,  His  history 
extends  to  the  year  1197-  Bishop  Nicolson,  Hearne,  and  Dr.  Henry, 
have  said  every  thing  in  praise  of  the  style  and  matter  of  this  writer  j 
and  the  Benedictine  editors  of  the  celebrated  ((  Recueil  des  Historians 
des  Gaules  et  de  la  France,  "  call  him  "  a  judicious  writer — more  at- 
tentive to  relate  the  principal  events  than  minute  details.  His  im- 
partiality in  the  matter  of  Becket  and  Henry  II.,  when  every  body 
took  part  with  the  former,  and  abused  the  latter,  is  worthy  of  notice 
and  commendation  -,  "  vol.  xiii.  pref.  p.  xiij.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sharpe 
(translator  of  William  of  Malmesbury,  for  which  see  page  148  post,) 
has  completed  an  English  version  of  William  of  Newbury  for  the 
press  j  and  I  hope  there  is  a  sufficient  spirit  of  patronage  abroad  to 
induce  him  to  publish  it.  The  best  edition  of  this  historian,  in  the 
original  language,  is  that  by  Hearne  in  1719,  3  vols.  8vo. — see  post. 
Gibbon,  in  his  Post.  Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  565,  speaks  somewhat  too 
severely  of  the  above  Heidelberg  publication ;  observing  that  the 
collection  ' '  is  selected  with  such  critical  skill,  that  the  romance  of 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth,  and  a  Latin  abridgment  of  Froissard,  are 
placed  on  the  same  level  of  historical  evidence."  Consult,  too,  Raw- 
linson's  translation  of  Du  Fresnoy,  vol.  ii.  p.  463  ;  and  the  French 
edition,  vel.  ii.  p.  292. 

L 


14C  HISTORY 

This  is  a  scarce  volume  ;  and  a  copy  of  it  may  be  worth 
about  41.  4s. 

It  was  the  good  fortune,  and  even  glory,  of  this 
country,  to  witness,  towards  the  end  of  the  same  cen- 
tury, the  labours  of  one  of  the  most  illustrious  of  her 
scholars  and  antiquaries,  in  the  publications  of  Sir 
HENRY  SAVILE  :  "a  man  (says Gibbon*)  distinguished 
among  the  scholars  of  his  age,  by  his  profound  know- 
ledge of  the  Greek  language  and  mathematical 
sciences  .  .  .  Some  of  the  most  valuable  writers  of  the 
xnth  and  xinth  centuries  were  rescued  by  his  hands 
from  dirt,  and  dust,  and  rottenness;  and  his  Collec- 
tion, under  the  common  title  of  ScHptores  post  Bedam 
was  twice  printed :  first  in  London,  1596,  and  after- 
wards at  Frankfort,  1601."  Such  is  the  title  of  the 
work,  which  I  must  next  recommend  to  the  atten- 
tion of  "  the  Young  Man, "  emulous  of  providing 
himself  with  the  earliest  printed  texts  of  our  most 
valuable  historians.  The  names  of  the  authors  con- 

*  Post.  Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  566,  Svo.  edit.  But  let  the  young  and 
ardent  lover  of  GREAT  NAMES  in  our  biographical  history,  recreate 
himself,  respecting  Sir  H.  Savile,  with  the  recent  edition  of  Wood's 
Athen.  Oxon.,  by  Bliss,  vol.  ii.  col.  310-317  :  rather  than  with  the  same 
author's  Hist,  and  Antiq.  of  Colleges  and  Halls,  p.  10.  Chalmers's 
General  Biography  may  be  profitably  consulted  :  and  in  Berkenhout's 
Biographia  Literaria,  p.  435,  there  is  a  good  compendious  account 
of  Savile.  Gibbon,  in  the  notice  of  Sir  Henry's  Greek  attainments, 
alludes  to  his  edition  of  St.  Chrysostom's  Works,  printed  at  Eton 
in  the  year  1612.  This  edition  cost  Sir  Henry  Savile  8OOO/.  5  of 
which  2000Z.  were  devoted  to  the  paper.  But  he  might  have  made 
a  better  choice  both  of  a  paper-merchant  and  printer.  The  edition 
has  an  uncomfortable  aspect.  Not  fewer  than  two  thousand  copies 
were  printed.  Consult,  also,  Letters  from  the  Bodleian  Library,  with 
Aubrey's  Lives,  1813,  Svo.  vol.  ii.  The  anecdote  about  Sir  Henry  and 
his  wife  during  the  editorship  of  St.  Chrysostom  is  very  amusingj  but 
my  "  Young  Man  "  must  forage  a  little  for  himself. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  147 

tained  in  this  Collection,  are  as  follow :  William  of 
Malmesbury,  Henry  of  Huntingdon,  Roger  de  Hove- 
den,  the  Chronicle  of  Ethelwerd,  and  Ingulph.  Of 
the  first  of  these, — the  modest,  faithful,  and  erudite 
historian  of  the  twelfth  century — the  present  impres- 
sion of  his  historical  works*  was  only  once  reprinted, 
namely,  in  the  Frankfort  edition  of  1601,  folio.  But 

*  Namely,  De  Rebus  Gestis  Regum  Anglorum,  lib.  v. ;  Historic 
novellce  libri  duo;  De  Gestis  Pontificum  Anglorum,  lib.  iv.  This 
latter,  is  said  by  H.  Wharton  to  be  from  a  very  faulty  MS.  A  fifth 
book  concerning-  the  English  Bishops  was  published  by  Wharton  in 
his  Anglia  Sacra,  vol.  ii.;  and  also  by  Gale  among  his  Scriptorcs, 
vol.  iii.  p.  337 — but  see  the  latter's  <{  Praefatio  ad  Lectorem,  "  sign. 
b.  2  ;  where  a  doubt  is  thrown  out  respecting  Malmesbury's  being 
the  author  of  this  fifth  Book ;  which  is  devoted  to  the  life  of  Saint 
Aldelm.  The  remaining  work  of  Malmesbury,  concerning  the  "  An- 
tiquities of  Glastonbury  Abbeij,"  was  published  very  incorrectly  by 
Gale,  in  the  third  volume  of  his  "  Scriptores,"  from  a  vellum  MS.  in 
the  library  of  Trinity  College,  Cambrige  :  but  which  Hearne  repub- 
lished,  with  great  accuracy,  in  his  Adam  de  Domerham's  Antiquities 
of  the  same  Abbey.  See  the  preface  of  the  latter,  p.  15. 

WILLIAM  of  MALMESBURY  has  received  a  brief,  but  satisfactory, 
eulogy  from  Dr.  Henry — who  has  translated  the  emphatic  conclusion 
of  his  prologue — but  who  might  have  added,  that  the  author  speaks 
of  contemporaneous  events  "  as  having  witnessed  them  himself,  or 
received  the  account  of  them  from  very  creditable  witnesses."  Hist. 
Great  Britain,  vol.  vi.  p.  136-8.  Berkenhout  has  given  an  animated 
abridgement  of  his  labours  j  Biog.  Literar.  p.  1 1  :  but,  above  all, 
consult  Leland's  affecting  eulogy  :  De  Scriptorib.  Britan  vol.  i.  195. 
The  learned  Benedictine  editors  of  that  stupendous  work,  before  re- 
ferred to,  have  given  us  a  droll  story  from  Malmesbury,  about 
Richard  II.  Duke  of  Normandy,  and  the  supposed  witchcraft  of  Pope 
Sylvester  the  Second,  which  sufficiently  evinces  the  simplicity  of  the 
manners  of  the  age  5  but  they  accuse  our  historian,  after  copying  Sir 
Henry  Savile's  eulogy  of  him,  [see  his  dedication  to  Elizabeth — pre- 
fixed to  the  above  collection]  of  ignorance  of  French  affairs  :  vide 
torn.  x.  p.  xxxvj.  243.  This  is  repeated  in  torn.  xiii.  p.  4  :  but,  both 
in  this  latter,  and  in  the  fifty-second  page  of  the  preface  of  the 


148  HISTORY 

of  these  two  editions — one  at  London  in  1596,  and  the 
other  as  just  noticed  —  I  strongly  recommend  the 

eleventh  volume,  Malmesbury  receives  their  warm  est  encomiums,  in 
regard  to  style,  judgment  and  veracity.  This  valuable  historian  has 
lately,  indeed,  been  made  familiar  to  English  readers,  by  the  trans- 
lation of  the  Reverend  J.  Sharpe,  1815,  4to.  This  version  also  con- 
tains the  fruit  of  collations  with  various  other  MSS. 

Although  HENRY  of  HUNTINGDON  protests  that  he  writes  only  of 
what  he  saw,  or  of  what  he  received  creditable  testimony,  yet,  up  to 
the  year  1127>  his  history  is  scarcely  any  thing  better  than  an 
abridgement  of  the  famous  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle.  Afterwards, 
in  his  eighth  book,  he  is  more  diffuse,  and  seems  to  narrate  events 
which  came  under  his  own  inspection.  His  reign  of  Stephen  is, 
therefore,  the  most  original  and  valuable  part  of  his  composition  ; 
and  it  has  beien  frequently  copied.  Recueil  des  Historiens  des  Gaules, 
&c.  torn.  xiii.  pref.  p.  vj  :  consult  also  torn.  xi.  pref.  Iviii. 

ROGER  HOVEDEN  held  an  important  diplomatic  situation  under 
Henry  II. ;  and  his  Annals  have  been  much  praised  by  the  foregoing 
authority,  in  the  eleventh  volume  of  their  Recueil,  pref.  p.  Ixxx. — but 
in  the  preface  to  the  thirteenth  volume  of  the  same  magnificent  work, 
Hoveden  would  appear  to  have  been  chiefly  a  copyist  of  Huntingdon, 
Simeon,  and  Benedictus  Abbas.  tf  The  first  part  of  his  work,  which 
commences  where  Bede  concluded,  and  extehds  to  the  year  1154,  is, 
as  far  as  the  year  1 122,  a  transcript  of  Simeon  of  Durham  ;  who,  in 
turn,  is  the  mere  echo  of  Florence  of  Worcester.  From  1122  to 
1143,  he  almost  literally  copies  Henry  of  Huntingdon — from  1148 
to  1154,  his  history  is  so  confused  that  scarcely  any  event  has  a 
proper  date  assigned  to  it.  The  same  censure  may  be  passed  upon 
the  second  part  of  his  Annals,  up  to  the  year  1170  5  from  which 
time,  however,  partly  by  copying  and  abridging  Benedictus  Abbas, 
and  adding  to  this  latter  authority  a  few  important  events,  he  becomes 
a  valuable  and  important  historian.  Hoveden  died  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  thirteenth  century."  Idem.  p.  xxj. 

INGULPH  (says  the  foregoing  authority),  (f  avoit  tout  vu  en  bon 
connoisseur,  et  ce  qu'il  rapporte,  il  1'ecrit  en  homme  lettre",  judiceux 
et  vrai ;  "  torn.  xi.  p.  xlij.  But  consult  the  more  animated  eulogium 
upon  him  at  p.  153,  note  a  of  the  same  volume.  It  is  not,  however, 
noticed  in  either  place,  that  the  Continuation  of  his  history  of  Croy- 
land  Abbey  is  inserted  in  the  first  volume  of  Gale's  Collection  ;  vide 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  149 

second.  The  Wechek,  it  is  true,  were  the  printers  of 
it;  and  they  are  noted  all  over  Europe  for  the 
wretched  tint  and  quality  of  their  paper.  In  this  in- 
stance, however,,  they  have  made  some  atonement  for 
the  sorry  garb  of  their  volume,  by  inserting  all  the 
"  Emendanda "  of  the  London  edition  ;  for  which, 
from  the  specimens  of  the  errors,  subjoined  at  the 
end  of  Malmsbury  and  Hoveden,  there  was  abundant 
reason.  The  Frankfort  edition  has  also  the  advan- 
tage of  a  tolerably  copious  Index,  whereas  the  London 
edition  is  without  one.  Yet  the  London  edition  has 
advocates,  who  deem  it  more  accurate  than  that 
which  succeeded  it:  but  it  must  be  observed,  in  de- 
fence of  the  Frankfort  edition,  that  the  errata  (accord- 
ing to  Sir  Henry  Spelman's  Glossary,  in  voce  Frith- 
borga,  (as  quoted  by  Nicolson  in  his  English  Historical 
Library,  p.  59),  are  confined  chiefly  to  the  misspelling 
of  English  words :  a  venial  tripping.  Du  Fresnoy 
has  echoed  the  same  complaint,  on  the  same  sub- 
ject, against  the  same  edition.*  An  ordinary  copy 

post.  Ingulph,  who  lived  in  the  eleventh  century,  and  was  the  se- 
cretary of  William  the  First,  published  "  an  excellent  history  (says 
Dr.  Henry)  of  the  Abbey  of  Croyland,  from  its  foundation  A.  D. 
664  to  A.  D.  1091,  into  which  he  hath  introduced  much  of  the  general 
history  of  the  kingdom,  with  a  variety  of  curious  anecdotes  that  are 
no  where  else  to  be  found  j"  Hist,  of  Great  Britain ,  vol.  vi.  123.  The 
lovers  of  the  Round  Table  History  should  be  informed  that  there  are 
many  minute  and  curious  descriptions  in  Ingulph,  which  throw  con- 
siderable light  upon  the  history  of  ancient  chivalry.  Recueil,  &c. 
torn.  xi.  pref.  p.  xlij. 

*  In  the  Bibl.  Mason,  pt.  iii.  no.  509,  Nicolson's  attack  upon 
the  Frankfort  edition,  is  quoted  as  an  original  criticism  of  the 
Bishop's.  In  the  Bibl.  Beauclerk.  pt.  ii.  no.  2216,  a  copy  of  the' 
London  edition  was  sold  for  only  3s.  Gd.  It  may  be  here  observed, 
that,  besides  a  general  title  to  the  volume,  each  author  has  a  sepa- 
rate title,  within  a  splendid  border  of  twisted  columns,  enriched  with 


150  HISTORY 

of  the  former  edition  may  be  obtained  for  II.  Us.  6d., 
and  of  the  latter  for  21. 12s.  6d.  Of  the  Frankfort  edi- 
tion, the  only  copy  on  large  paper,  which  I  ever  saw, 
is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Amyot. 

The  seventeenth  century  was  fertile  in  the  publica- 
tion of  Bodies  of  English  Histories ;  and  the  lead  was 
taken  by  the  celebrated  antiquary,  CAMDEN,  whose 
AngUca,  Normannlca,  Hibernica,  et  Cambrlca,  ap- 
peared at  Frankfort  in  1603,  fol.  The  historians  in- 
cluded in  this  valuable  volume,  are,  Asser  Menevensis, 
(reprinted  from  Archbishop  Parker's  Collection,  &c., 
see  p.  142,  ante,}  Fragment  am  Anonymi,  de  vit.  Gail. 
Conquest.,  Thomas  ffalsingham,  Thomas  de  la  Moor, 
Gullelmus  Gemiticensis,*  and  Giraldus  Cambrensis. 
This  volume  is  of  rare  occurrence,  and  worth  about 
31. 13s.  6d.  I  apprehend  there  are  no  copies  of  it  upon 
large  paper. 

The  Norman  historians  received  "  a  fuller  and  closer- 
attention  by  the  celebrated  DUCHESNE  ;  who,  in  1619, 
put  forth  a  magnificent  work,  in  folio,  entitled,  His- 
torice  Normannorum  Scriptores  Antiqui,  8$c.  It  was 
the  intention  of  the  editor  to  have  published  three 

vine  leaves.  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  a  magnificent  copy  of  it,  upon 
LARGE  PAPER,  bound  in  olive-coloured  morocco,  by  Lewis.  It  is  the 
only  copy  of  the  kind  which  I  remember  to  have  seen.  In  the  Har- 
leian  library  (Bibl.  Harl.  vol.  iii.  no.  1.)  there  appears  to  have  been 
a  very  valuable  copy  of  it,  enriched  with  ms.  notes  :  and  in  the  li- 
brary of  the  London  Institution  there  is  a  copy  of  the  Frankfort  edi- 
tion full  of  ms.  notes  by  Gale. 

*  Of  William  of  Jumieges,  the  present,  and  the  subsequent  edi- 
tion of  1619  (vide  post),  are  the  only  publications  of  his  text :  unless 
we  except  a  short  extract  from  a  curious  ms.  of  him,  in  the  twelfth 
century,  which  the  editors  of  the  Recueil,  &c.  have  published  in  the 
eleventh  volume  of  that  celebrated  work.  Of  Giraldus  Cambrensis, 
this  is  the  second  impression  :  neither  this,  however,  nor  Bollifant's 
first  edition  of  him  in  1584,  contains  the  second  book,  "  De  illauda- 
bilibus  Wallise,  " 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  151 

volumes  of  these  historians ;  but  the  present  was  all 
that  appeared .  Du  Fresnoy  is  wrong  in  mixing  up 
this  work  with  Duchesne's  other  publications  relating 
to  France.  The  work  is  rare,  and  appertains  equally 
to  the  Histories  of  France  and  England."  Such  are 
the  remarks  of  Du  Fresnoy  and  Niceron,  which  have 
been  partly  repeated  by  Deb  u  re,  in  the  Bibliog.  In- 
struct, vol  vi.  no.  5141.  See  also  Cat.  de  la  Serna 
Santander,vo].  in.  no.  4884.*  A  good  copy  of  this 

*  Vogt,  in  his  usual  manner,,  calls  it  "  Liber  rarissimus,  et  in  pau- 
cissimis  bibliothecis  obvius. "  Catalog.  Libror.  Rarior.  p.  248,  edit. 
1793.  But  it  is  not  uncommon  in  this  country.  Baron  Maseres 
(who  published  an  abridgement  of  this  work  in  1807)  observes  that 
"  the  tracts,  of  which  it  is  composed,  give  us  the  fullest  and  most 
authentic  accounts  of  the  exploits  of  the  Normans  in  France,  Italy, 
and  England,  from.the  year  838  to  the  year  1220,  that  are  any  where 
to  be  found."  At  the  end  of  Duchesne's  book  (which  contains  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  -  four  closely  printed  pages,  besides  a 
preface  and  index),  there  are  genealogical  tables  entitled  "  Familiae 
Regum,  Ducum,  Comitum,  et  Aliorum  Nobilium,  quse  in  hoc  volu- 
mine  deducuntur."  See  the  Censura  Literaria,  vol.  i.  p.  31,  where 
there  is  a  good  account  of  Duchesne  and  his  labours.  But  Niceron 
(Memoires  des  Hommes  Illustres,  vol.  vii.  p.  323-336),  is,  as  usual, 
copious  and  instructive.  Before  the  publication  of  his  Norman 
Historians,  Duchesne  had  published  his  History  of  England,  Scot- 
land, and  Ireland,  in  1614,  folio,  in  the  French  language  j  of  which 
the  best  edition,  is  the  third  :  published  in  1657,  2  vols.  folio.  But 
this  History  is  held  in  little  estimation. 

BARON  MASERES'S  work  contains  select  passages  of  ten  pieces  from 
the  text  of  Duchesne's  Norman  writers,  with  ample  and  curious 
English  notes.  There  were  two  impressions  of  the  Baron's  book  j 
the  first  was  printed  for  private  distribution  only ;  the  second,  in 
1807,  4to.  for  public  sale.  See  the  Censura  Literaria,  vol.  i.  p.  28. 
Yet  I  may  be  allowed  to  observe,  that  the  cotemporaneous  but 
anonymous  historian  of  the  "  Gesta  Stephani,  Anglorum  Regis,  et 
Comitis  Boloniensis,  who  is  said-by  the  editors  of  the  Recueil  des  His- 
toriens  des  Gaules,  (vol.  xiii.  p.  4.)  to  be  <f  diffuse  to  excess,  and 
wholly  devoted  to  English  affairs  " — and  who  is  printed  by  Dctchesne4 


152  HISTORY 

valuable  work  is  worth  41.  14s.  6d. :  but  copies  upon 
LARGE  PAPER  (which  appear  to  have  escaped  the  notice 
of  Mons.  Bninet),  are  exceedingly  rare  and  high  priced. 
Such  a  copy  appears  to  have  been  in  the  Gaignat, 
Gouttard,  and  La  Valliere  collections.  It  will  also  be 
found  in  the  libraries  of  our  principal  Collectors. 
Messrs.  J.  and  A.  Arch,  in  their  recent  catalogue, 
value  such  a  copy,  bound  in  russia,  at  121.  12,?. 

We  now  approach  the  yet  more  distinguished  labours 
of  SIR  ROGER  TWYSDEN;  who,  in  his  Historice  Angli- 
cance  Scrip  fores  Decem,  1652,  folio,  gave  a  specimen 
of  his  competency  for  finishing  the  fabric  of  British 
History,  of  which  Sir  Henry  Savile  had  laid  so  noble  a 
foundation.  Unluckily  this  work  was  never  com- 
pleted; but,  we  may  judge  from  what  has  appeared, 
how  admirable  would  have  been  the  building  if  finished 
by  the  same  hands.  The  subjoined  note  may  give  the 
reader  a  notion  of  the  contents  and  character  of  the 
volume.*  A  good  sound  copy  of  it  may  be  worth  about 

"  ex  veteri,  sed  imperfecto  et  semiexeso  Exemplar!  Episcopi  Lau- 
danensis,"  &c. — is  not  incorporated  in  the  Baron's  work:  which, 
however,  is  of  considerable  use,  and  moderate  price. 

*  It  contains  the  following  historians  : — 1 .  Simeon  Monachus  Du- 
nelmensis :  S.  Johannes  Prior  Hagustaldensis :  3.  Ricardus  Prior  Ejusd.: 
4.  Ailredus  Abbas  Rievallensis :  5.  Radulphus  de  Diceto  Londoniensis : 
6.  Johannes  Brompton  Jornallensis ;  7-  Gervasius  Monachus  Dorobor- 
nensis :  8.  Thomas  Stubbs  Dominicanus;  9.  Guilielmus  Thorn  Cantua- 
riensis :  10.  Henricus  Knighton  Leicestrensis :  the  greater  part  of 
whom  are  treated  with  more  civility  by  Dr.  Henry  than  by  Bishop 
Nicolson.  There  is  a  preface  by  Twysden,  which  is  followed  by  a 
curious  account  of  "  these  historians  now  first  published''  by  Selden. 
Hearne  tells  us  that  "  even  the  Puritans  themselves,  affecting  to  be 
Maecenases,  with  Cromwell  at  their  head,  displayed  something  like  a 
a  patriotic  ardour  in  purchasing  copies  of  this  work  as  soon  as  it  ap- 
peared." Preface  to  his  Thomas  Otterbourne  et  Johannes  Wetham- 
stede,  p.  16  to  24. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  153 

51.  \5s.  6d.  The  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER  are  very  rare  ; 
but  are  found  in  our  principal  private  collections. 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy  of  this  description 
at  141.  Us. 

The  last  body  of  authors,  connected  with  British  His- 
tory, put  forth  in  the  seventeenth  century,  is  the  well 
known  collection  under  the  name  of  GALE  ;  with  the 
general  title  of  Rerum  Anglicarum  Scriptores  Feteres, 
1684-91,  in  three  folio  volumes.  Of  this  collection, 
indispensable  to  an  historical  library  of  any  preten- 
sion, the  first  volume  was  carefully  executed  by  WIL- 
LIAM FULMAN,  a  very  skilful  and  modest  editor,  who 
was  urged  to  the  undertaking  (as  a  continuation  of 
Sir  Roger  Twysden's  plan)  by  Bishop  Fell.*  The  two 

The  body  of  the  work  concludes  at  col.  2768 ;  after  which  follow 
various  readings,  a  glossary  by  Somner,  an  index  rerum,  &e.,  index co- 
gnominum,  index  authorum,  &c.,  and  a  leaf  of  errata.  All  these  pieces 
have  not  the  pages  numbered  ;  but  commence  at  Sign  U  3,  and  end 
on  the  reverse  of  the  second  leaf  after  Sign  Nn  3.  Mr.  Hamper  of 
Birmingham  (whose  antiquarian  attainments,  and  readiness  of  com- 
munication on  all  subjects  connected  with  them,  need  not  my  humble 
notice,)  informs  me  that  some  copies  of  Twysden's  book  are  said  to 
be  printed  at  Leyden,  by  the  Elzevirs,  and  others  in  Little  Britain 
by  Flesher,  at  the  expense  of  Cornelius  Bee.  He  describes  his  own 
copy,  by  the  former,  as  printed  upon  finer  paper.  A  list  of  some  of 
the  Mss.,  which  had  been  transcribed  for  publication  in  the  INTENDED 
SECOND  VOLUME  of  this  work,  will  be  found  in  Kennetts  Life  of  Somner, 
p.  65.,  &c. 

*  Both  Fulman  and  Fell  dying  not  long  after  the  appearance  of 
the  first  volume,  Dr  Mill  urged  Thomas  Gale,  the  learned  editor  of 
Herodotus,  to  prosecute  the  work ;  who  put  forth  the  second  and 
third  volumes  in  the  years  1687-91,  (for  it  is  not  worth  while  to  re- 
peat Fresnoy's  account  about  the  priority  of  the  appearance  of  these 
latter  volumes,)  but  who  gained  very  little  credit  by  the  undertaking, 
as  they  were  acknowledged  to  abound  with  inaccuracies.  The  ardour 
•of  Gale,  however,  stimulated  him  to  think  of  a  fourth  volume  of 
similar  matter,  in  which  Hearne  thought  Otterbourne  would  have  been 
included  j  but  the  then  upropitious  state  of  public  affairs  damped  his 


154  HISTORY 

latter  volumes  are  the  editorial  production  of  GALE. 
A  copy,  in  fair  condition^  is  worth  8/.  8*.  Of  the  LARGE 

enthusiasm,  and  the  design  was  dropped.  Hearne's  pref.  to  Thomas  of 
Otterbourne,  &c.  Yet,  under  all  circumstances,  these  volumes  are  very 
precious  to  the  historical  antiquary,  especially  ihejirst ;  which  contains 
the  following  authors:  1.  Ingulf  us :  <Z.  Petri  Blesensis  Continuatio: 
3.  Chronica  de  Mailros:  4.  Annales  Monast.  Burton :  5.  Historic  Croy- 
landensis  Continuatio.  Of  Ingulph's  curious  history  of  Croyland 
Abbey,  and  of  its  continuation  by  Peter  de  Blois  and  Edward  Abbas, 
this  is  the  ONLY  PERFECT  edition  extant :  of  the  remaining  historical 
works,  just  enumerated,  the  present  are  the  ONLY  EDITIONS.  The 
second  volume  presents  us  with  the  following  :  1.  Annales  Marganen- 
ses :  2.  Chronicon  Thomce  Wikes .-  3.  Annales  Waverleienses  :*  4.  His- 
toria  Galfridi  Vinesalvi:  5.  Historia  Walteri  de  Hemingford.  Of 
these  historical  pieces,  Richard  the  First's  Journey  to  Jerusalem,  and 
his  transactions  in  the  Holy  Land,  by  Geoff.  Vinsaufe,  (which  has 
received  the  commendation  oflBale,  Pits,  and  Selden),  are  the  more 
curious  performances. 

Wikes  is  described  by  Dr.  Henry,  as  <e  famous  for  the  variety  and 


*  In  the  third  page  of  the  "  Testimonia  "  prefixed  to  this  second  volume,  we  are  told 
by  Gale,  speaking  of  the  ANNALS  OF  WAVERLY,  that  the  author  seems  to  have  been 
contemporaneous  with  the  Norman  aera,  and  to  have  seen  William  the  First,  [ipse  tes- 
tatur  se  vidisse  Victorem  Normannum  et  fuisse  aliquando  in  ejus  curia,  p.  134.]  This, 
however,  is  exceedingly  erroneous.  My  friend,  Mr.  Petrie,  Keeper  of  the  Records  in 
the  Tower  of  London,  (and  to  whose  care  the  foundation  stone  is  now  entrusted  to  raise 
the  superstructure  of  a  BODY  OF  OUR  NATIONAL  HISTORIANS,)  informs  me,  that,  up  to 
the  year  1120,  the  Annals  of  Waverly  are,  with  little  exception,  a  translation  of  the 
Saxon  Chronicle  ;  and  so  close,  as  to  supply,  in  two  or  three  instances,  the  gaps  left 
by  Gibson.  There  exists  no  doubt  as  to  the  priority  of  the  Saxon  Chronicle  ;  for  the 
MS.  (Vesp.  A.  xvi.)  is  in  the  same  hand  from  the  year  1000  to  1201.  It  evidently  be- 
longed to  Waverly,  and  is  one  of  those  compilations  which  became  so  frequent  in  the 
thirteenth  century.  Gale  was  therefore  mistaken  in  supposing  these  Annals  to  be  an 
original  document  of  the  eleventh  century.  Whatever,  therefore,  in  the  Cotton  MS. 
referred  to  by  Gale,  has  any  reference  to  the  age  of  the  conquest,  must  be  supposed  to 
be  the  language  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle.  And  yet  Gale  ventured  to  say  that 
the  writer  of  the  Cotton  MS.  "  was  nearly  as  respectable,  in  point  of  antiquity,  as 
Ingulph  himself,"  ["  ipsi  Ingulpho  de  antiquitate  vix  concessurus  videatur  "].  This  is 
another  proof,  if  indeed  another  were  wanting,  of  the  many  errors,  misconceptions,  and 
ill-digested  accounts,  which  have  already  gone  abroad,  respecting  the  MSS.  of  our 
ancient  historians.  See  also  Gibbon's  sensible  remarks  upon  a  new  edition  of  our  hii- 
torians,  in  his  Posthumous  Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  570. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  155 

PAPER,  I  have  known  a  very  fine  copy  produce  31 /.  10s. 
I  apprehend  such  copies  to  be  rarer  than  those  of  the 
preceding  works. 

In  the  eighteenth  century,  a  collection  of  English 
Historians,  by  Sparke,  under  the  title  of  "  Historic? 
Anglicanas  Scriptores  Varii  e  Codd.  MSS.  nunc  pri- 
mum  editi"  1723,  folio,  is  the  first  which  was  put 
forth.  The  contents  of  this  volume  are  noted  below.* 

extent  of  his  erudition  3"  and  the  present  is  the  only  impression  of  his 
chronicle.  Of  Walter  de  Hemingford,  the  present  is  only  a  portion 
of  his  work ;  the  more  valuable  part  of  it  was  completed  by  Hearne. 
The  third  volume  has  the  following  title  page  :  Historiae  Britannicae, 
Saxonicae,  Anglo-Danicae  Scriptores  XV.,"  &c.  viz.  1.  Gildas:  Z.Ed- 
dius  :  3.  Nennius :  4.  Asserius  :*  5.  a  part  of  Ran.  Higden :  6.  Will. 
Malmesb.:  7.  Anonymus  Malmesb. :  8.  Anonymus  Rames:  9.  Anony- 
mus Ely  ens.  :  1O.  Thomas  Ely  ens. :  11.  Joan.  Wallingford:  12.  Rad. 
de  Diceto :  13.  Anonymus  (De  Partitione  Provinciae)  :  14.  Joan. 
Fordun  :  15.  Alcwinus  Flaccus.  Of  these  impressions,  that  of 
Gildas  is,  I  believe,  held  in  the  greatest  estimation.  This  third  volume 
was  separately  published,  with  a  fresh  title  page,  printed  entirely 
with  black  ink  ;  whereas  the  present  is  partly  in  red.  Each  volume 
has  an  index.  Reviews  of  these  three  volumes,  as  they  were  pub- 
lished, appeared  in  the  following  foreign  Journals :  Acta  Eruditorum, 
An.  1685,  p.  143  :  et  suppl.  torn.  i.  p.  8  :  Nouvelles  de  la  Rep.  des 
Lettres,  An.  1688  :  Juin.  p.  581  :  Aout.  p.  813.  Bibl.  Universelle, 
torn.  xi.  p.  397-  My  authority  for  these  references  is  Fabricius's 
Bibl.  Lat.  Med.  et  Inf.  JEtat.  vol.  i.  p.  271.  edit.  1734,  Svo. 

*  This  volume,  which  is  elegantly  printed,  and  not  uncommon, 
contains  the  following  pieces  5  published  for  the  first  time :  1 .  Chro- 
nicon  Johannis  Abbat.  St.  Pet.  de  Burgo  :  2.  Chronicon  Anglicanum 
per  Rob.  de  Boston  :  3.  Historic  Coenobii  Burgensis  Scriptores  Varii : 
(Quinque)  4.  Vita  Scti.  Thomas  Cantuariensis  a  W.  Stephanide. 
Sparke,  who  was  registrar  of  Peterborough  cathedral,  and  seems  to 
have  had  the  superintendence  of  Bishop  Kennett's  MSS.  (now  in  the 
British  Museum)  intended  to  have  published  a  second  volume  "  to 


*  Mr.  Amyot  informs  me  that  the  work  of  Asser,  here  published,  is  not  the  life  of 
Alfred,  but  a  book  of  Annals  doubtfully  ascribed  to  him. 


156  HISTORY 

It  is  obtainable  at  the  very  moderate  price  of  about 
]/.  10s. :  and  as  it  should  appear,  from  the  list  of  Sub- 
scribers, that  there  were  three  different  sizes  of  paper 
upon  which  the  work  was  printed,  the  curious  prefer 
that  of  which  there  were  only  twenty-five  copies  struck 
off — upon  a  very  large  paper,  and  which  may  be  worth 
somewhere  about  5/.  5s. 

It  remains  to  notice  the  last,  and  literally  the  small- 
est collection  of  our  more  ancient  historians,  which  was 
edited  and  published  by  BERTRAM,  at  Copenhagen, 
in  1757,  8 vo,,  and  which  may  be  justly  considered  a 
rare  book.  The  names  of  the  authors  contained  in  it, 
are,  \.Ricardus  Corinensis:  2.  Gildas  Ba donicus  : 
3.  Nennius  B anchor emis.*  There  is  a  copy  of  this 

contain  Whittlesey's  life  of  Hereward,  Abbot  of  Peterborough,  and 
had  actually  engraved  the  arms  of  the  knights,  whose  fiefs  were  in- 
stituted by  Abbot  Thorold  -,  but  he  died  in  1740."  Nichols's  Anec- 
dotes of  Bowyer,  p.  521,  524.  Of  the  largest  size  paper,  a  copy  was 
sold  at  Dr.  Heath's  sale  for  41.  4s.  See  a  well  described  copy,  of  this 
kind,  in  the  Bibl.  Hoblyn,  pt.  ii.  no.  499. 

*  From  a  MS.  remark  in  a  copy  of  this  work  in  the  library  of  the 
Society  of  Antiquaries,  it  appears  that  ' '  the  tract  Ricardi  Corinensis 
de  Situ  Britan.  lib.  ii.  is  a  most  valuable  treasure  to  British  anti- 
quaries. It  was  republished  with  a  translation  and  commentary  in 
1809.  The  part  of  Gildas,  here  reprinted,  was  taken  from  a  Cam- 
bridge MS.  and  differs  occasionally,  though  not  materially,  from  the 
first  edition  of  Polydore  Vergil,  in  1525,  12rno.f  A  copy  of  it  will  be 


t  This  first  edition  of  Gildas's  history,  "  De  calamitate,  excidio,  et  conquestu  B«- 
tanniae,"  was  published  under  the  editorship  of  Polydore  Vergil,  who  wrote  a  short  pre- 
face. It  was  printed  at  the  expence  of  Cuthbert  Tonstal,  Bishop  of  London  ;  to  whom 
P.  Vergil  dedicates  the  work.  From  the  preface,  the  editor  does  not  describe  how  he 
came  by  a  copy  of  the  original — but  he  says,  that  the  bishop  found  another  copy,  and 
employed  his  friend  Ridley,  a  clergyman  (probably  the  same  as  was  afterwards  Bishop 
of  London),  to  collate  the  two  MSS.  with  himself  (P.  V.). — There  is  very  little  inte- 
resting matter  in  Gildas.  But  if  the  version  of  this  venerable  historian,  which  was  put 
forth  in  1638,  London,  12mo.  be  correct,  it  should  seem  that  Gildas  was  not  disposed 
to  "  mince  the  matter ''  with  the  Clergy  in  those  days.  His  words  are  as  follow  : — 

"  Britaine  hath  Priests,  but  some  she  hath  that  are  unwise  ;  very  many  that  Minister, 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  157 

book  in  the  British  Museum,  and  another  in  the 
library  of  the  Royal  Institution.  In  the  latter  library, 
indeed,  will  be  found  a  choice  collection  of  our  ancient 
historians  ;  many  copies  being  charged  with  the  MS. 
notes  of  Thomas  Gale.  A  fair  copy  of  Bertram  may 
be  worth  about  II.  Is. 

To  the  preceding  may  be  added  the  notice  of  a  few 
English  Historians  who  lived  in  the  twelfth,  thirteenth, 
and  fourteenth  centuries,  and  the  editions  of  whose 
works  preceded  those,  by  Thomas  Hearne,  of  other 
contemporaneous  writers.  Afterwards  we  may  com- 
mence the  list  of  our  Historians  and  Chroniclers  in 
the  order  in  which  they  were  printed.  First  of 
EADMER  ;  whose  account  of  "  affairs  during  the  reigns 
of  William  I.  and  II.  and  Henry  I."  was  first  edited 
by  Selden,  in  a  thin  folio  volume,  in  1623  ;  which 
volume  is  obtainable  at  the  moderate  price  of  about 
15s.  Eadmer  is  a  trust-worthy  historian,  and  was  the 
intimate  friend  and  companion  of  St.  Anselm,  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  in  the  eleventh  century.* 

found  in  Bibl.  Beauderk,  pt.  il.  no.  2211 :  Bibl  Wesi.  no.  3763  : 
Bibl.  Crofts,  no.  7269  :  and  Bibl.  Tutet,  no.  436.  When  Lord 
Spencer  visited  Copenhagen  in  the  summer  of  1822,  he  made  parti- 
cular enquiries  for  the  MS;  from  which  the  first  of  these  histories  was 
taken  ;  but  could  neither  discover  nor  hear  of  any  traces  of  its  exist- 
ence. It  has  been  doubted  whether  all  ever  had  existence. 

*  The  editors  of  the  Recueil,  #c.  describe  him  as  so  intensely  and 


but  many  of  them  impudent ;  Clearkes  shee  hath,  but  certaine  of  them  deceitful  ra- 
veners  ;  Pastors  (as  they  are  called),  but  rather  wolves  prepared  for  the  slaughter 
of  soules,  (for  why,  they  provide  not  for  the  common  peoples  commodity ,  but  covet 
rather  the  gluttony  of  their  owne  bellies,)  possessing  the  houses  of  the  Church,  but 
obtaining  them  for  filthy  lucres  sake  ; . . .  and,  being  hoarse,  after  the  fashion  of 
Bulls,  with  the  abundance  of  fatnesse,  and  miserably  prompt  to  all  unlawfull 
actions ;  bearing  their  countenances  arrogantly  aloft,  and  having  neverthelesse 
their  inward  sences,  wjth  tormenting  and  gnawing  consciences,  depressed  downe 
to  the  bottome,  or  rather  to  bottomeless  hell :  with  the  gaining  of  one  penny  glad, 
and  with  the  loss  of  the  like  sad,"  &c.  p.  184-188.  The  Epistle  of  Gildas,  London, 
1638,  12mo. 


158  HISTORY 

MATTHEW  OF  WESTMINSTER  next  demands  our  at- 
tention. The  first  edition  of  him  was  published  in  a 
folio  volume  in  1567,  and  afterwards  in  1570,  by 
Thomas  Marsh :  a  book,  by  no  means  destitute  of 
typographical  attractions.*  It  was  reprinted  at  Frank- 
fort in  1601,  with  an  index  ;  and  this  latter  edition  is 
considered  to  be  preferable;  but  I  have  known  as 
much  as  2/.  2s.  given  for  the  former.  To  this  Frank- 
fort edition  is  added  a  reprint  of  FLORENCE  of  WOR- 
CESTER, an  early  and  esteemed  Chronicler,  from  whom 
our  later  historians  have  largely  borrowed.  Thejirst, 
and  perhaps  the  most  accurate,  edition  of  this  desir- 
able work,  is  contained  in  a  small  quarto  volume, 
dedicated  to  Lord  Burleigh  by  William  Howard,  and 
printed  at  London  in  1592.  This  may  be  worth  about 
2/.  2,5.,  and  the  reprint  21.  12s.  6d. 

MATTHEW  PARIS  is  the  last  historian  to  be  noticed  in 
this  particular  department ;  and  five  folio  editions  of 
his  Historia  Major,  with  opuscula  of  other  historians,*)" 

so  constantly  occupied  with  the  life  of  his  archiepiscopal  master,  that 
he  ought  rather  to  be  numbered  with  the  Hagiographi  -,  vol.  xiii. 
pref.  p.  4  :  again  ;  vol.  xi.  p.  liij.  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  the  only 
copy  of  this  book  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  which  I  have  ever  seen.  It 
had  belonged  to  the  family  of  De  Thou. 

*  The  reader  may  consult  the  minute  description  of  both  editions 
which  are  given  in  our  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iv.  p.  507,  512.  In  a 
copy  of  the  Frankfort  edition,  in  the  Royal  Institution,  is  the  fol- 
lowing ms.  note — by  the  late  Joseph  Ritson  :  "  The  dates  are  erro- 
neous, imaginary,  false  and  forged,  for  the  most  part,  in  both  books, 
throughout."  In  the  collection  of  Mr.  Grenville  is  the  only  copy  of 
it  upon  LARGE  PAPER  (very  fine,  in  olive-coloured  morocco  binding) 
which  I  ever  saw. 

t  The  title  of  the  edition  of  1640  is  thus  :  Matthcei  Paris  Monachi 
Albanensis  Historia  Major:  et  cum  Rogeri  Wendoveri,  Willielmi  Ris- 
hangeri,  #c.  Historiis  Chronicisque  MSS.  Huic  Editioni  accesserunt 
Duorum  Off  arum  Merdorum  Regum;  et  vigenti  trium  Abbatium  S. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  159 

attest  the  importance  of  his  labours.  The  first  edi- 
tion appeared  in  this  country  in  1571  ;  the  second  at 
Zurich,  in  1606;  the  third  at  London,  in  1640;  the 
fourth  in  1644,  at  Paris;  and  the  fifth,  again  at  London, 
in  1684.  Of  these,  the  third  is  the  most  usually  pur- 
chased edition  ;  and  copies  upon  LARGE  PAPER  are  of 
very  rare  occurrence.  If  I  did  not  bear  in  mind  Mr. 
Grenville's  copy  of  this  kind,  which  had  belonged  to 
Jacob  Joye,  I  should  say  that  a  similar  copy  at  Althorp 
was  unrivalled.  I  recommend  the  edition  of  1684, 
although  it  be  not  the  popular  one. 

Reserving  the  mention  of  other  historians,  in  the 
thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries,,  to  the  editions  of 

Albani  Vita,  &c.  The  editor  was  WATS.  It  contains  the  preface 
of  the  edition  of  1 571.  I  observe  a  large  paper  copy  of  the  Parisian 
edition  of  1644,  to  be  marked  at  61.  6s.  in  the  last  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  Arch.  Perhaps,  a  designation  of  the  contents  of  the  latter 
part  of  the  edition  of  1684,  may  be  useful  to  the  Collector.  After 
page  861,  are  "  various  readings  '*  upon  the  foregoing  history ,  with 
a  preface,  which  begins  at  Sign.  A,  and  ends  at  Sign.  K :  then  follow 
notes  and  animadversions  upon  the  same,  ending  on  the  reverse  of 
the  first  leaf  after  Sign.  N.  Then  an  index  at  Sign.  0. — Then  four 
indexes,  ending  on  the  recto  of  the  first  leaf  after  Sign.  Aa.  None  of 
these  pieces,  from  p.  861,  have  the  pages  numbered.  Next  comes  a 
fresh  title  page,  dated  1683,  of  the  lives  of  the  two  Offae,  kings  of  the 
Mercians,  ending  at  page  988,  but  containing  a  preface,  notes,  and 
index,  with  the  pages  of  these  latter  three  pieces  not  numbered.  Then 
the  lives  of  the  twenty-three  abbots  of  St.  Albans,  as  far  as  p.  990, 
Then  the  Additamenta,  beginning  abruptly  at  p.  1073,  and  ending  at 
1134  :  next  the  Auctarium  Additamentorum,  ending  at  1175.  Then 
the  Glossarium,  Sign.  *1  to  Sign.  *7,  concluding  with  a  short te  Index 
Rerum,"  and  "  Index  Cognominum."  This  glossary  and  index  have 
the  pages  not  numbered. 

The  intention  of  translating  this  valuable  historian,  into  our  own 
tongue — as  a  companion  to  the  William  of  Malmesbury,  noticed  at 
p.  148,  ante — is,  I  believe,  now  abandoned.  It  was  entertained  by  a 
gentleman  in  every  respect  competent  to  execute  such  a  task. 


160  HISTORY 

them  given  by  Hearne,  (under  the  head  of  HEARNE'S 
PIECES)  I  proceed  at  once  to  the  notice  of  the  Chro- 
nicles ofFroissart  and  Monstrelet,  the  latter  of  which 
brings  us  into  the  fifteenth  century  :  —  from  whence 
the  path,  to  these  our  present  times,  is  obvious  and 
straight  forward.  First,  then,  ofFRorssART.  In  the  se- 
lection of  this  author,  let  me  press  strongly  upon  "  the 
Young  Man's  "  attention,  the  importance,  the  instruc- 
tiveness,  and  the  never-failing  source  of  amusement, 
of  his  history ;  which  has  alike  endeared  the  author 
to  the  antiquary,  the  man  of  taste,  and  even  to  the 
lover  of  romantic  lore.  The  pages  of  Froissart  ex- 
hibit a  perfectly  natural  and  pleasing  picture.  Con- 
versations, skirmishes,  battles  —  the  country,  the 
town — scenes  within  the  tent,  the  palace,  or  the 
church — the  quiet  of  pastoral  occupations,  or  the 
tumult  of  a  popular  assembly — these,  and  every  thing 
which  he  touches,  are  hit  off  in  a  manner  the  most 
simple  and  striking  imaginable  ;  and  severe  indeed 
must  be  that  taste,  and  fastidious  that  feeling,  which 
shall  deny  to  the  pages  of  this  historian  the  merit  of 
great  interest,  candour,  and  apparent  fidelity.  His 
episodes  are  occasionally  delightful,  and  it  is  evident 
that  he  was  fond  of  them.  He  has  also  a  peculiar  art 
in  suspending  the  main  narrative,  (where  the  interest 
is  becoming  more  and  more  intense,)  by  the  relation 
of  a  number  of  little  circumstances  which  only  makes 
us  return  to  it  with  a  keener  appetite. 

But  it  must  not  be  concealed  that  Froissart  is, 
after  all,  a  little  bit  of  a  gossipper ;  that  he  relates 
stories,  sometimes  frivolous  of  themselves,  and  some- 
times told  at  second  hand ;  that  he  is  frequently 
prolix,  when  he  should  be  concise  ;  and  concise  when 
he  should  be  copious  ;  that  many  parts  of  his  narra- 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  161 

tive  might  have  been  spared,  and  that  there  are  errors 
and  omissions  which  excite  the  wrath  of  the  critic,  and 
the  regret  of  the  antiquary.  But  this  is  little  better 
than  a  statement  of  the  common  lot  of  humanity ; 
and  is  only  equivalent  to  the  declaration  that  the 
pages  of  Froissart  are  NOT  PERFECT. 

His  facts,  or  the  events  described  by  him,  may  in 
general  be  depended  upon.  FROISSART  has  been  ac- 
cused of  partiality  towards  the  English ;  but  this 
accusation  must  always  be  estimated  according  to 
the  quarter  whence  it  comes.  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  Froissart  has  admirably  described  the  campaigns 
of  our  Edward  upon  the  Continent,  when  the  British 
arms  were  covered  with  glory ;  when  a  spirit  of  chi- 
valry, amounting  to  the  romantic,  stirred  every  breast 
and  nerved  every  arm.  The  splendors  of  Cressy  and 
Poictiers  are  but  slightly  shaded,  if  at  all,  by  the 
achievements  of  Agincourt  and  Waterloo  ;  although  it 
cannot  be  denied  that,  in  its  results,  the  latter  victory 
has  scarcely  a  parallel  in  the  world.  The  truth  is,  that 
France,  towards  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century,  had 
weak  Princes,  with  a  crowd  of  Nobles,  who  were  jea- 
lous of  each  other,  and  were  alike  prodigal  of  their 
own  wealth,  and  of  the  blood  and  lives  of  their  vassals. 
Yet  there  were  great  and  towering  spirits  among  the 
French  Noblesse  at  that  period.  Gas  ton  de  Foix,  the 
personal  friend  of  Froissart  and  the  patron  of  his  his- 
torical work,  leaves  all  competition  at  a  distance. 
Compared  with  him,  even  Sir  John  Chandos  becomes 
but  an  attendant  Knight.  Indeed  it  were  difficult  to 
mention  an  historian  whose  pages  are  more  richly 
emblazoned  with  feats  of  chivalry,  than  are  those  of 
Froissart.  He  is  the  most  picturesque  of  all  Chron- 
iclers. 

M 


U2  HISTORY 

The  popularity  of  his  work,  in  the  XVth  century, 
was  without  bounds.  Not  a  baronial  mansion,  or  an 
Hotel  de  Ville,  but  what  could  boast  of  a  transcript  of 
Froissart  in  its  library ;  and  almost  every  such  trans- 
cript was  adorned  by  the  pencil  of  the  illuminator.* 
It  was  however  natural  to  suppose  that,  as  soon  as  the 
Art  of  Printing  was  established  in  France,  the  impa- 
tience of  the  French  would  call  for  an  edition  of  their 
favourite  historian  ;  but  it  seems  pretty  certain  that 
nearly  twenty  years  were  suffered  to  elapse  between 
the  appearance  of  the  Chronique  de  St.  Denis,  and  the 
first  impression  of  Froissart,  by  Verard  and  Regnault, 
hi  conjunction  -\*  —  the  latter,  quite  at  the  conclusion 

*  .In  the  great  foreign  private  Collections,  which  have  been  dis- 
persed by  public  auction,  the  libraries  of  the  Duke  de  La  Valliere 
and  the  Prince  de  Soubise  contained  the  finest  Mss.  of  Froissart.  The 
copy,  in  the  latter  collection,  became,  I  believe,  the  property  of  the 
late  Mr.  Johnes  — and  yet  slumbers  in  the  unexplored  retirement  of 
Hafod.  But  the  transcribers  of  these  splendid  Mss.  of  Froissart 
were  sometimes  "  jolly  fellows."  Witness,  the  subscription  to  the 
magnificent  copy  in  the  Soubise  collection,  just  mentioned :  which 
was  executed  very  shortly  after  the  death  of  the  Chronicler. 

Raoul  Tanguy  qui  POINT  N'EST  YVRE 

A  lantern  accomplit  ce  litre 

Le  Mardi  quatrieme  jour  de  luillet, 

PUIS  ALLA  BOIRE  cfl€Z   Tabouret 

Avec  Pylon,  et  autres  CaterveauM 
Qui  aiment  Ongnons,  Trippes,  et  Aulx. 

In  our  own  public  libraries  there  are  several  beautifully  illumi- 
nated Mss.  :  but  none  of  greater  splendour  than  that  in  the  British 
Museum,  and  in  the  library  of  the  Royal  Society — which  latter,  how- 
ever, is  unfortunately  imperfect. 

f  The  first  edition  of  the  Chroniques  de  France  appellees  chroniques 
de  S.  Denys  were  published  by  Pasquier  Bonhomme  in  1476,  folio, 
3  volumes.  Verard  reprinted  these  Chronicles  in  1493,  and  Eustace 
in  1514)  of  both  of  which  latter  impressions,  there  are  copies  UPON 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  163 

of  the  XVth  century.  In  the  sixteenth  century,  how- 
ever, ample  amends  were  made  for  the  negligence  of 
the  previous  century ;  and  the  presses  of  Le  Noir 
and  Eustace  put  forth  magnificent  editions  of  their 
favourite  Chronicler.  Speaking  soberly  and  critically, 
I  must  advise  "  the  Young  Man  "  to  rest  satisfied  with 
the  edition  of  1559,  superintended  and  corrected  by 
Denis  Sauvage ;  but  I  scarcely  know  how  to  refrain 
from  urging  him  to  let  no  opportunity  pass — provided 
his  means  allow  of  it — to  secure  a  good  old  MS., 

VELLUM  :  of  exceedingly  rare  occurrence  and  high  price.  See  the 
Macarthy  Catalogue,  vol.  ii.  p.  100.  The  very  first  edition  of  Frois- 
sart,  in  the  French  language,  is  yet  perhaps  a  moot  point.  Fontette 
is  not  only  indecisive,  but  somewhat  superficial.  Clement,  Bibl.  Curi- 
cuse,  vol.  viii.  p.  473,  &c.  and  Meuselius,  Biblioth.  Historica,  vol.  vii. 
partii.  p. 91,  may  be  consulted  with  respect  to  Verard's  edition.  The 
former  is  copious  and  interesting.  See  also  Bibl.  Krohn,  no.  242. 
In  the  Vallieresale,  the  vellum  copy,  of  Verard's  edition,  (which  had 
been  Gaignat's)  was  sold  for  920  livres.*  Consult  also  Brunet,  vol. 
ii.  p.  57-  See  also  Oldys's  British  Librarian,  p.  73,  and  Bibl.  West. 
no.  4O96,  for  Le  Noir's  impresion  of  1503.  The  edition  of  Eustace, 
of  1514,  was  unknown  even  to  De  Bure.  The  copy  of  it  UPON 
VELLUM,  formerly  in  the  Soubise  collection,  is  now  the  chief  orna- 
ment of  the  Hafod  Library;  It  was  obtained  at  the  sale  of  Mr. 
Paris's  library  for  150L  The  varieties  and  apparent  discrepancies 
in  the  early  editions  of  Froissart  are  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Greswel  in 
his  Annals  of  Parisian  Typography,  p.  224-5.  At  Althorp  there  are 
beautiful  copies,  upon  paper,  of  the  Chroniques  de  St.  Denis,  and 
Froissart's  Chronicles,  each  by  Eustace,  in  1514,  folio ;  and  at 
Spencer  House  there  is  a  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  St.  Denis.  The 
reader  will  witness  a  rich  harvest  of  early  vellum  copies  of  the 
French  Chroniclers  in  the  Macarthy  Catalogue,  vol.  ii.  p.  100-5. 


*  This  copy  was  purchased  by  Count  Macarthy.  The  first  volume  was  in  bad  con- 
dition. The  Count  was  lucky  enough  to  get  possession  of  another  first  volume  (also 
upon  vellum)  which  was  adorned  with  a  greater  number  of  illuminations  :  and  the  copy,, 
with  the  discarded  original  first  volume,  produced  the  weighty  sum  of  4250  francs  at 
the  sale  of  (he  Count's  library.  It  was  purchased  for  the  Royal  Library  of  France 


164  HISTORY 

whether  illuminated  or  not ;  and  the  black  letter  im- 
pression by  Verard  or  Eustace.*  Froissart,  to  a  well 
versed  French  scholar,  is  a  comfort  and  delight  in  any 
ancient  shape  ;  and  whatever  be  the  boast  of  our  inge- 
nious and  enlightened  neighbours,  there  is  no  printed 
edition  of  this  historian,  in  his  vernacular  tongue,  so 
entirely  correct,  as  is  the  English  version  of  him  by 
the  late  Mr.  Johnes. 

This  necessarily  brings  me  to  the  notice  of  our  OWN 
TRANSLATIONS  of  the  Chronicler  under  consideration. 
And  first,  of  that  by  LORD  BERNERS.  A  soldier,  a 
statesman,  and  a  scholar,  this  nobleman  was  singu- 
larly well  adapted  for  the  task  which  he  undertook. 
Indeed,  considering  the  period  of  its  completion,  it 
was  a  sort  of  literary  miracle.  "In  imitating  the 
style  of  his  Original,  Lord  Berners's  translation  be- 
comes peculiarly  valuable  to  an  English  reader.  His 
version  is  faithful,  but  not  servile ;  and  he  imitates  the 
spirit  and  simplicity  of  the  original,  without  allowing 
us  to  discover,  from  any  deficiency  in  either  of  these 
particulars,  that  his  own  work  is  a  translation."  This 

*  If  Verard  and  Eustace  are  beyond  the  search — or  the  pocket — of 
the  Collector,  let  him  sit  quietly  and  contentedly  down  with  the  four 
folios,  in  the  black  letter,  printed  by  Couteau  and  Regnault,  for  Jean 
Petit,  in  1530  :  especially  as,  according  to  De  Bure,  the  impression 
of  1559  has  by  no  means  superseded  the  use  of  the  previous  ones ; 
for  Denis  Sauvage  is  not  free  from  the  imputation  of  frequent  inac- 
curacy. I  have  in  vain  searched  for  a  large  paper  of  the  edition  of 
1559,  and  I  conclude  that  it  is  not  in  existence;  inasmuch  as  De 
Thou's  copy  of  it  (now  in  the  richly  stored  library  of  Mr.  G.  Hib- 
bert)  is  upon  small  paper.  I  am  aware  that,  of  the  subsequent  edi- 
tion of  1574,  there  are  large  paper  copies  —  to  match  with  the  Mon- 
strelet,  so  temptingly  described  in  an  ensuing  note ;  but  even  of  this 
latter  edition,  Brunet  tells  us  he  has  seen  only  one  copy.  Can  it  be 
so  scarce  r  Messrs.  Arch  mark  such  a  copy  at  £\4.  14s. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  165 

is  the  opinion  of  one,*  who  has  read  every  sentence  of 
the  work  which  he  criticises.  The  version  of  Lord 
Berners  first  appeared  in  two  folio  volumes,  from  the 
press  of  Pynson,  in  the  years  1523-1525,  and  a  perfect 
or  genuine  copy  of  this  book  is  of  the  very  rarest 
occurrence — especially  in  a  fine  condition.  The  latter 
part  of  the  second  volume  is  frequently  "  made  up  " 
from  the  reprint  by  Middleton,  without  date.f  But 
he  who  has  the  reprint  of  1812,  4to.  two  vols.  may  rest 
perfectly  satisfied  that  he  has  the  text  of  Lord  Ber- 
ners as  correctly  given  as  in  the  first  edition  by 
Pynson,  with  a  great  number  of  proper  names,  in 
places  and  persons,  corrected  into  the  bargain.  If, 
however,  the  "  Young  Man  "  sigh,  and  sigh  deeply, 
for  the  oak-bounden  impression  of  Pynson,  he  must 
purchase  it — but  with  caution  and  previous  collation. 
In  other  respects,  the  russia-coated  binding  of  the 
edition  of  1812  has  many  advantages  over  its  sable 
predecessor. 

The  name  of  JOHNES  is  so  coupled  with  that  of 
Froissart,  that  I  should  not  stand  excused  either  to 

*  The  Editor  of  the  reprint  of  Pynson' s  first  edition  of  1523-5  -,  of 
both  of  which,  see  above. 

f  A  complete  bibliographical  description  of  the  editions  of  Lord 
Berners's  version,  by  Pynson  and  Middleton,  may  be  found  in  the 
recent  edition  of  our  Typographical  Antiquities,  vol.  ii.  p.  508-10 ; 
vol.  iii.  p.  552-3.  A  good  sound  copy  of  this  kind  is  in  the  library 
atBlickling,  in  Norfolk ;  see  p.  30,  ante;  but  my  friend  Mr.  Hibbert 
possesses  one  of  the  very  soundest  and  most  desirable  copies  with 
which  I  am  acquainted.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy,  "  very 
neat  in  russia,"  at  s£21.  Middleton's  edition  is  said  to  be  an  abso- 
lutely lineal  reprint  of  Pynson's.  As  to  the  black  letter  pirated 
reprint  of  Pynson,  I  own  that  I  have  no  faith  whatever  in  its  exist- 
ence. In  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  there  were  few  or  no  "  Pirates  " 
in  printing  offices.  That  marauding  system  was  reserved  for  the 
present  enlightened  period. 


166  HISTORY 

myself,  or  to  the  public,  if  I  did  not  introduce  it  with 
the  honourable  notice  which  it  merits.  Nearly  three 
centuries  had  elapsed  since  the  death  of  the  first  Eng- 
lish translator  of  Froissart,  before  any  other  candi- 
date, in  the  same  field  of  literary  fame,  presented 
himself  as  the  Editor  of  the  historian  in  question. 
Fortunately  for  the  second,  and  recently  deceased, 
translator,  he  brought,  to  the  task  which  he  under- 
took, not  only  a  fair  stock  of  knowledge  of  the  original 
language  in  which  the  work  was  written,  but  leisure, 
opportunity,  taste,  and  a  devotional  ardour  which  has 
never  been  surpassed.  He  erected  a  press,  from  which 
press  issued  Froissart,  Monstrelet,  De  Brocquiere,  and 
Joinville.*  The  public  were  equally  delighted  and 

*  The  first  edition  of  Mr.  Johnes's  Froissart  was  in  the  year  1803, 
in  4  vols.  4to. :  containing  outlines  of  illuminations  of  some  of  the 
more  precious  MSS.  consulted.  Of  this  edition,  as  well  as  of  the 
subsequent  versions  by  Mr.  Johnes,  there  were  about  twenty- five 
copies  struck  off  in  a  folio  form — the  press  being  re-set — with  dupli- 
cate impressions  of  the  plates  coloured  after  the  originals.  These 
copies  have  been  sold  at  very  high  prices.  At  this  moment  there  is 
a  most  splendid  one,  in  the  binding  of  C.  Lewis,  at  Mr.  R.  Trip- 
hook's.  There  have  been  also  two  octavo  editions,  or  re- impres- 
sions, of  Mr.  Johnes's  Froissart  —  each  in  twelve  volumes,  with  the 
same  plates :  and  I  believe  I  am  speaking  correctly,  in  saying,  that 
neither  of  these  octavo  editions  are  now  of  common  occurrence. 
Such  are  the  unqualified  testimonies  in  favour  of  the  historian  him- 
self, and  of  Mr.  Johnes's  version  of  his  text.  For  an  interesting  account 
of  Mr.  Johnes's  labours,  consult  the  Edinb.  Review,  vol.  v.  p.  347. 
With  MONSTRELET,  as  an  historian  of  English  matters,  we  have  less 
to  do  j  and  therefore  I  recommend  only  the  folio  edition  of  Denis. 
SQUvage,I57%,  or  Mr.  Johnes's  version,  in  1809,  4to.,  with  very  much 
abler  outline  illustrations  than  those  in  Froissart.  But  I  should  be 
guilty  of  an  almost  flagrant  act  of  omission,  if  I  did  not  inform  my 
f<  Young  Maq  "  of  the  rarity  and  value  of  large  paper  copies  of  the 
fdition  of  Denis  Sauvage.  De  Thou's  copy  of  this  kind — belonging 


OP  GREAT  BRITAIN.  16? 

instructed   by  these  productions;  and  Froissart,  the 
first  in  order,  and  the  only  author  just  now  necessary 

to  the  late  Colonel  Stanley,  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Sir  M.  M. 
Sykes,  Bart,  but  that  intrepid  Baronet  paid  £'136.  for  its  acquisition. 
See  the  Bibl.  Decam.  vol.  ii.  p.  478  ;  vol.  iii.  p.  81.  It  is  probable 
that  Mr.  Evans's  stimulating  note  might  have  been  the  cause  of  such  a 
high  price  given.  Mr.  Evans  has  since  told  me,  that,  having  had  a 
strong  impression  upon  his  mind  that  this  copy  was  not  only  upon 
large  paper,  but  upon  paper  of  a  superior  quality,  he  resolved,  on 
visiting  Paris,  to  have  this  point  determined — and  found,  on  exami- 
nation of  the  copy  in  the  Royal  Library  there,  that  his  conjecture  was 
confirmed.  Mr.  Hibbert  has  a  very  fine  large  paper  copy,  in  two 
volumes,  bound  in  red  morocco,  which  had  belonged  to  *  *  *  :  and 
at  Blickling,  there  is  a  beautiful  similar  copy,  in  three  volumes, 
bound  in  white  calf,  which  had  belonged  to  Maittaire.  It  is  the  con- 
dition of  these  large  paper  copies  which  determines  their  value  :  as 
they  are  by  no  means  of  rare  occurrence.  I  proceed  briefly  to  the 
mention  of  the  Memoires  de  Joinville  (a  contemporary  of  St.  Louis,  or 
Louis  IX.,  at  the  end  of  the  Xlllth  century) — also  translated  by  Mr. 
Johnes  j  but  of  which  the  best  edition,  in  French,  is  that  by  Messrs. 
Melot,  Sallier,  and  Capperonnier,  in  1761,  folio ;  although  Du- 
cange's  edition  of  1668  should  be  consulted  for  its  ingenious  notes. 
The  edition  of  1761  is  very  fine,  and  copies  upon  LARGE  PAPER  are 
by  no  means  uncommon. 

Having  thus  entered  upon  those  portions  of  older  French  History, 
in  which  frequent  mention  is  made  of  OUR  OWN  COUNTRY,  I  may  be 
permitted  to  recommend  Les  Grandes  Chroniques  de  Bretaigne,  com- 
posees  en  langaige  francoys  j  Paris,  S.  de  la  Roche,  &c.  1514. 
This  is  the  first  edition ;  of  which  the  second  appeared  (with  the 
name  of  the  author,  ALAIN  BOUCHARD)  in  1518,  folio  —  each  in  the 
Gothic  letter.  The  late  Daines  Barrington,  (in  a  copy  of  the  first 
edition,  once  in  my  possession)  said  "  This  Chronicle  seems  to  con- 
tain more  particulars  with  regard  to  what  is  called  the  fabulous  part 
of  English  History,  than  any  other,  either  English  or  French,  which 
I  have  happened  to  meet  with."  This  may  be  true  enough  j  and,  as 
a  proof  of  it,  Du  Fresnoy  classes  the  work  amongst  the  Romances  of 
chivalry.  Of  course,  no  English  historical  collection  can  be  complete 
without  the  Memoirs  of  P.  DE  COMINES  ;  of  which  I  shall  not 
•jiuirrel  with  cither  the  "  Young  Man,"  or  (<  the  Old  Man"  (should 


168  HISTORY 

to  be  noticed,  as  connected  with  our  history  during 
the  period  which  it  embraces,  is,  at  this  moment, 
perhaps,  as  great  a  favourite  as  Rapin  and  Hume. 
You  meet  with  him  in  the  stately  folio,  bulky  quarto, 
or  portable  octavo  form,  in  the  libraries  of  almost 
every  well  educated  Englishman. 

The  order  of  these  researches  has  at  length  brought 
us  to  the  period  of  the  INVENTION  OF  PRINTING  ;  and, 
with  it,  to  that  of  a  series  of  publications  under  the 
denomination  of  CHRONICLES,  ANNALS,  MEMOIRS, 
MEMORIALS,  &c.  which  render  the  collection  of  Bri- 
tish History,  (as  those  publications  appeared  in  the 
sixteenth  and  following  centuries,)  a  work  of  consider- 
able labour,  but  of  scarcely  less  amusement,  and  of 
almost  endless  variety.  I  will,  therefore,  commence 
with  the  Chronicles — a  popular  branch  of  collecting — 
and  go  through  the  series  of  them ;  or  rather  notice  the 
most  distinguished  Chroniclers,  from  Caxtou  to  Strutt. 

the  latter  be  fortunate  enough  to  have  sufficiently  good  eyes)  if 
either  should  make  much  of  a  beautiful  large-margined  copy  of  the 
Elzevir  edition  of  1648,  12mo. — whereof  I  have  seen  several  of  con- 
siderable price.  The  printers  profess  to  have  examined  the  following 
editions:  1525,  by  I.  G.  no  date  or  place:  1526,  at  Lyons,  by 
Nourri :  1546,  at  Paris,  by  Mesuiere :  and  1549,  at  Paris,  by  Thi- 
bout.  At  the  end  of  the  Eighth  Book  there  is  a  short  explanation  of 
17  pages  of  difficult  passages  which  occur  in  relating  to  the  wars  of 
Charles  VII. — followed  by  the  Table  of  principal  matters,  or  chapters, 
as  before.  But  the  best  edition  is  that  of  1747,  4to.  4  vols.  by  Du 
Fresnoy :  and  let  the  curious  look  well  to  the  portrait  of,  and  Dedi- 
cation to,  Marshal  Saxe — both  of  which  were  suppressed.  Nor  will 
I  quarrel  with  the  folio  edition  of  1649  5  and  still  less  with  some  of 
the  earlier  editions,,  in  the  black  letter,  from  1523  to  1600.  Brunet 
speaks  of  a  tempting  copy,  UPON  VELLUM,  of  the  edition  of  1534,  in 
the  Royal  Library  at  Paris.  But  what  vellum  copy  of  a  black 
letter  edition  of  an  old  historian,  or  chronicler,  is  NOT  tempting?  " 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  1G9 

I  am  aware  that  the  names  of  Peter  Langtofft  arid 
Robert  of  Glocester  stand  the  earliest  in  the  list  of 
our  CHRONICLERS  ;  but  I  shall  reserve  the  mention  of 
them  till  I  come  to  the  account  of  the  Pieces  published 
by  THOMAS  HEARNE,  who  was  their  first  and  only 
Editor.  It  is  true  that,  in  taking  up  the  series  of 
Annals,  Memorials,  &c.  I  shall  often  have  to  retread 
the  same  path,  chronologically  speaking  ;  but  this  is 
of  subordinate  consequence.  Any  plan  is  better  than 
no  plan  :  and  discussions  and  disputes  about  "  systems" 
are  interminable.  "  To  begin  "  therefore  "  at  the 
beginning  " — with  a  Chronicle,  which  was  printed  in 
1480  by  the  father  of  the  British  Press,  and  hence  de- 
rives its  name  of  CAXTON'S  CHRONICLE.  To  this  work  is 
usually  subjoined  The  Description  of  Britain;  and  a 
fair  and  perfect  copy  of  these  two  works  is  an  acqui- 
sition of  very  rare  occurrence.  *  This  book,  was 

*  Thjese  publications  have  been  so  fully  described  in  the  first 
volume  of  the  recent  edition  of  our  Typographical  Antiquities,  p.  85, 
that  I  may  here  only  refer  the  reader  to  such  description.  To  obtain 
a  sound  and  perfect  copy  of  both,  or  of  either,  is  a  circumstance  of 
no  ordinary  occurrence.  Hearne  expatiates  very  feelingly  upon 
their  rarity  and  value  j  supposing  (but  a  little  loosely)  that  not  more 
than  120  copies  were  printed.  "  They  do  well  (adds  he)  who  buy 
them  at  any  price  -,  and  none  but  blockheads  would  part  with  even  a 
fragment  of  them — on  the  ground,  forsooth,  that  the  language  is  a 
little  old-fashioned!"  Consult  his  Thoma  Caii  Find.  Antiq.  Oxon. 
vol.  ii.  p.  802  ;  and  Robert  of  Glocester,  vol.  i.  p.  Ixxxii.  At  the  sale 
of  the  Alchorne  Library,  in  1813,  no.  168,  a  copy  of  the  Chronicle 
alone,  with  <e  the  first  leaf  of  the  table  and  one  leaf  of  the  text  supplied 
by  manuscript,"  was  purchased  by  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  for  sixty 
guineas.  At  the  sale  of  the  Towneley  Library,  a  copy  of  The  De- 
scription of  Britain,  alone,  was  purchased  for  the  Royal  Library  at 
the  weighty  cost  of  eighty  guineas.  Lord  Spencer  possesses  a  most 
desirable  and  perfect  copy  of  each  of  these  books,  in  the  same  vo- 
lume, as  they  were  doubtlessly  originally  printed.  Perhaps  the 


170  HISTORY 

reprinted  four  times  in  the  fifteenth  century  ;  namely, 
in  the  Abbey  of  St.  Albans  in  1483;  by  Machlinia, 
without  date,,  but  probably  within  a  year  or  two  of 
the  preceding ;  by  Gerard  de  Leeu,  at  Antwerp,  in 
1493  ;  and  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  1497.  It  should 
however  be  noticed,  that  the  reprints  in  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Alban's,  by  Machlinia,  and  by  Gerard  de  Leeu,  do 
not  contain  the  Description  of  Britain.* 

largest  and  finest  copy  of  each  (in  the  same  volume,  old  binding)  is 
in  the  archiepiscopal  library  at  Lambeth  -,  but  an  ancient  ms.  memo- 
randum informs  me  that  the  Chronicle  is  slightly  imperfect  in  the 
middle. 

It  is  somewhat  surprising  that,  in  the  rage  for  reprinting  old  Eng- 
lish Chronicles,  which  obtained  several  years  ago,  the  Publishers 
should  not  have  commenced  with  this  most  ancient,  most  curious, 
and  least  bulky  text  of  our  Chroniclers  ? 

*  The  St.  Alban's  reprint  is  called  the  "  Fructus  Temporum"  and 
contains  precisely  the  same  text  as  Caxton's,  with  the  addition  of 
slight  notices  of  Popes  and  Emperors.  A  perfect  copy  of  this  book 
is  of  the  rarest  possible  occurrence.  Mr.  West's  copy,  now  in  the 
Royal  Library  is  supposed  to  be  so.  Lord  Spencer's  copy  (formerly 
in  the  Alchorne  collection)  should  seem  to  be  deficient  only  in  the 
table,  and  in  the  last  leaf,  which  contains  nothing  but  the  barbarous 
device  (in  red)  of  the  printer.  I  refer  the  reader  to  the  full  and  par- 
ticular account  of  this  copy  in  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  iv.  p.  369, 
&c.  Miss  Currer,  a  lady  who  ennobles  a  large  property  by  a  correct 
and  liberal  taste  in  the  collection  of  a  fine  library,  has  the  singular 
good  fortune  to  possess  a  copy  of  this  very  rare  book  (wanting 
only  the  last  leaf)  UPON  VELLUM,  f  The  copy  of  this  book  (whether 
perfect  or  not,  I  cannot  pretend  to  say)  in  Dr.  Hunter's  collection  at 
Glasgow,  had  belonged  to  Ratcliffe,  and  was  purchased  by  the  Doctor 
for  71-  7s.  The  cuts  in  this  Chronicle  are  barbarous  in  the  extreme  5 
but  luckily  they  are  few  in  number. 

Mr.  Douce  (in  his  Illustrations  of  Shakspeare,  &c.  vol.  i.  p.  423) 


f  It  is  mentioned  in  the  Catalogue  of  Miss  Currer's  library,  printed  under  the 
care  of  Mr.  R.  Triphook,  bookseller,  1820,  8vo.  Of  this  catalogue,  containing 
308  pages,  only  fifty  copies  were  printed — for  private  distribution. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  171 

In  the  sixteenth  century,  not  fewer  than  seven  re- 
prints of  it  appeared  ;  of  which  four  were  by  Wynkyn 

supposes  that  Machlinid's  impression  of  this  Chronicle  was  anterior 
to  that  of  Caxton ;  but  I  differ  decidedly  from  this  inference,  and 
deem  it  to  be  only  a  reprint :  barbarously  enough  executed,  and  of  a 
degree  of  rarity,  in  a  perfect  state,  scarcely  conceivable.  Lord 
Spencer's  copy  (obtained  from  Mr.  Douce,  in  exchange  for  some 
other  book- rarities)  is,  I  think,  the  only  known  copy  in  a  perfect 
state.  See  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  iv.  p.  393.  Mr.  Roger  Wil- 
braham  possesses  an  imperfect  copy  which  was  formerly  in  the 
Tutet  Collection,  where  (Bibl.  Tutet,  no.  485)  it  was  supposed  to 
have  been  printed  by  Caxton.  The  volume  is  without  date,  and  des- 
titute of  every  species  of  embellishment.  Of  the  reprint  by  Gerard 
De  Leeu,  at  Antwerp,  in  1493,  a  particular  account  (with  a  fac- 
simile of  the  printer's  device)  will  be  found  at  p.  229-31,  in  the 
authority  first  referred  to.  As  this  was  the  last  book  ever  printed  by 
De  Leeu,  the  reader  may  not  object  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the 
phraseology  of  the  colophon — in  which  the  printer's  decease  is  men- 
tioned : — te  maister  Gerard  de  leew.  a  man  of  grete  wysedom  in  all 
manner  of  kunngng :  whych  now  is  come  from  lyfe  vnto  the  deth,  which 
is  grete  harme  for  many  a  poure  man.  On  whos  sowle  god  almyghty 
for  hys  hygh  grace  haue  mercy.''  Consult  Maittaire,  vol.  i.  p.  562  ; 
Panzer,  vol.  i.  p.  12  5  and  the  Diet.  Bibliogr.  Choisi.  part  ii,  no.  421. 
Lambinet,  in  his  first  edition,  was  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  this 
very  curious  volume.  Lord  Spencer's  copy  of  it  was  once  the  pro. 
perty  of  Mr  Roger  Wilbraham,  who  kindly  consented  to  part  with  it 
in  exchange  for  some  other  typographical  curiosity. 

The  reprint  by  WYNKYN  DE  WORDE,  in  1497,  contains  the  De- 
scription of  Britain.  See  it  described  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii. 
p.  69-71,  and  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  iv.  p.  401.  It  is  rarely  found 
in  a  perfect  state.  The  same  printer  reprinted  it  in  1502,  1515, 
1520,  and  1528  :  perhaps  again.  Seethe  Bibl.  Harleiana,  vol.  iii.  no. 
394.  Of  the  reprints  by  JULIAN  NOTARY,  in  1504  and  15  J  5,  I  have 
no  certam  information  to  impart  beyond  what  is  contained  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  579-580.  The  first  of  these  reprints  appears  to 
have  been  in  the  Bibl.  Harleiana,  voL  iii.  no.  392  j  and  the  second  is 
found  in  the  Bill.  Brand,  part  i.  no.  2836  ;  and  particularly  described 
in  Bibl.  Monro.  no.  796.  Of  PYNSON'S  edition  in  1510,  Lord  Spencer 
possesses  a  copy,  from  the  Alchorne  Collection.  The  wood -cut. 


172  HISTORY 

de  Worde — briefly  alluded  to  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
last  note.  Julian  Notary  printed  it  in  1504  and  1515; 
and  Pynson  only  once  —  in  1510.  The  Chronicle  of 
Caxton  should  therefore  seem  to  have  become  unpo- 
pular a  short  time  after  the  publication  of  that  of 
Fabian,  of  which  presently.  Meanwhile,  I  am  to 
notice  a  ponderous  historical  volume  which  appeared 
as  a  sort  of  help -mate  to  the  Chronicle  of  Caxton  :  I 
mean,  the  POLYCHRONICON,  printed  also  by  the  Father 
of  the  British  Press,  in  1482,  from  the  English  version 
of  John  de  Trevisa,  who  translated  it  from  the  Latin 
original  of  Ranulph  Higden.  *  A  perfect  copy  of 

preceding  the  Description  of  England,  has  been  copied  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  ix.  There  is  a  little  tract,  or  table,  entitled  "  Anglo- 
rum  Regum  brevis  Epilogus  post  conquestum, "  after  the  Descrip- 
tion —  which  Herbert  ' '  had  not  found  in  any  other  edition  of  this 
book."  In  an  imperfect  state,  Pynson's  re-impression  is  by  no 
means  uncommon. 

*  "  The  father  of  printing  (says  Gibbon)  expresses  a  laudable  de- 
sire to  elucidate  the  history  of  his  country ;  but,  instead  of  publishing 
the  Latin  Chronicle  of  Ranulphus  Higden,  he  could  only  venture  on 
the  English  version,  by  John  de  Trevisa  j  and  his  complaint  of  the 
difficulty  of  finding  materials  for  his  own  continuation  of  that  work, 
sufficiently  attests  that  even  the  writers,  which  we  now  possess,  of  the 
fourteenth  and  fifteenth  centuries,  had  not  yet  emerged  from  the 
darkness  of  the  cloister.  His  successors,  with  less  skill  and  ability, 
were  content  to  tread  in  his  footsteps,"  &c.  Posthumous  Works,  vol.  ii. 
p.  710.  Gibbon  must  be  understood  to  speak  of  the  Polychronicon. 
My  interleaved  copy  of  Herbert  informs  me,  that,  in  the  account  of 
English  History,  there  is  a  considerable  variation  from  Caxton' s  edi- 
tion of  the  Chronicle.  Perfect  copies  of  this  impression  of  the 
Polychronicon  are  of  most  extreme  rarity.  Lord  Spencer  could  not 
complete  his  own  fine  copy,  without  the  acquisition  of  three  imper- 
fect ones.  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes  possesses  a  very  sound  and  nearly  per- 
fect copy  which  he  purchased  from  Messrs.  Arch.  This  copy  had 
long  lain  (in  oblivion)  in  an  old  library,  in  the  attic  story,  belong- 
ing to  a  noble  mansion  in  one  of  our  midland  counties.  Miss  Currcr 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  173 

this  very  rare  Caxtonian  volume  is  indeed  seldom  to 
be  met  with  ;  although  I  should  pronounce  imperfect 
copies  to  be  rather  common  than  otherwise.  This 
sort  of  historical  Olla  Podrida  has  been  only  twice 
reprinted;  once  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  1495,  and 
the  second  time  by  Peter  Treveris  in  1527  :  each  in 
folio.  Of  these  reprints,  the  first,  in  a  perfect  state 
(especially  with  the  frontispiece)  is  a  very  rare,  as 
well  as  a  very  handsomely  executed,  book :  the  second, 
even  in  a  perfect  state,  is  by  no  means  of  uncommon 
occurrence. 

At  the  very  commencement  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 

possesses  a  copy  of  it,  but  not  quite  perfect.  The  reprint  of  this 
edition  by  W.  DE  WORDE,  in  1495,  presents  us  with  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  folio  volumes  of  that  skilful  artist.  The  printer  promised 
to  bring  the  history  down  to  the  tenth  year  of  Henry  the  Seventh  : 
but,  as  Herbert  justly  observes,  he  was  not fe  so  good  as  his  word ;" 
the  present  edition  being  only  a  reprint  of  that  of  his  predecessor. 
It  is,  however,  executed  with  great  typographical  beauty  j  and  has 
an  introduction  of  a  few  poetical  stanzas,  (reprinted  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  50.)  in  which  one  '  Roger  Thornye,'  a  mercer,  is 
justly  lauded  for  stimulating  the  printer  to  undertake  so  laborious  a 
performance.  A  "  fine  gilt  copy  "  of  it  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Mr. 
Daly's  books,  in  1792,  for  181.  5s.  See  Bibl.  Daly,  n°  553.  The 
only  perfect  copy  which  I  remember  to  have  seen,  is  that  in  the  col- 
lection of  J.  D.  Phelps,  Esq.  of  Lincoln's  Inn.  Of  the  reprint  by 
TREVERIS,  in  1527.,  the  reader  will  find  abundant  notice  (together 
with  fac-similes  of  some  of  its  wood-cut  embellishments)  in  the 
Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  pp.  xii.  xv.  :  vol.  iii.  p.  40.  It  has  a  magnifi- 
cent frontispiece,  or  title-page,  of  St.  George  killing  the  Dragon, 
&c.  which  is  repeated,  with  some  slight  variations  of  ornament,  on 
the  last  leaf  of  the  book.  Most  of  our  principal  collections  possess 
it  5  and,  till  within  a  few  years,  the  price  of  it,  when  in  fine  and 
perfect  condition,  has  been  pushed  to  12J.  125.  It  may  be  now  had, 
at  a  public  auction,  in  a  perfect  state,  for  about  half  that  sum.  One 
of  the  finest  copies  of  it  is  in  the  library  of  the  Marquis  of  Bath,  at 
Longleat. 


174  HISTORY 

tury,  appeared  a  thin  folio  volume  entitled  the  Names 
of  the  Bailiffs,  &c.  of  the  city  of  London,  commonly 
called  ARNOLD'S  CHRONICLE;*  and  of  which  a  re- 

*  The  Names  of  the  Baylifs,  Gustos  Mayers  and  Sherefs,  of  the  cyte  of 
londo,  #c.  commonly  called  Arnold's  Chronicle,  London.  1500.  1521. 
Folio.  Those  who  are  fond  of  searching  deeply  into  bibliographical 
lore,  may  amuse  themselves  with  the  various  opinions  which  have 
been  advanced  in  Oldys's  British  Librarian,  p.  22  j  the  Harleian  Ca- 
talogue, vol.  iii.  n°  423  j  CapeVs  Prolusions ;  sign.  C.  6.  Herbert's 
Typographical  Antiquities,  p.  1746  .-  Percy's  Old  Ballads,  vol.  ii.  27- 
edit.  1794;  and  the  Censura  Literaria,  vol.  vi.  p.  113,  393,  respect- 
ing the  printer,  date,  and  number  of  editions  of  this  very  cu- 
rious and  rare  performance.  This  work,  as  above  intimated,  con- 
tains the  original  of  Prior's  celebrated  Poem  of  the  '  Nut  Brown 
Maid  3*  of  which  specimens  may  be  seen  in  the  authority  last  quoted. 
All  that  seems  necessary  further  to  observe  is,  that  Pynson  was  pro- 
bably the  first  printer,  and  that  there  are  at  least  three  editions  of  it. 
The  first  about  the  year  15OO;  the  second  in  1521.  A  third  edition, 
and  a  very  curious  one,  was  printed  abroad  by  one  Doesbrooke, 
Duesbrowghe,  Dusborrowghe,  Doesborowe,  Docsborow,  or  Does- 
broch,  (for  he  writes  his  name  each  way,)  at  Antwerp,  with  types 
similar  to  those  in  the  Life  of  Virgilius,*  and  Stanbridge's  Accidence 
printed  by  him.  See  Herbert,  vol.  iii.  p.  1531. 

Doesborow's  edition  ends  on  the  recto  of  V.  v.  Mr.  R.  Wilbra- 
ham  is  in  possession  of  a  fine  copy  of  it.  Copies  of  the  English  im- 
pression are  in  most  of  our  public  libraries.  Bishop  Percy  mentions 
West's  fine  copy,  now  in  the  royal  library.  See  also  Bibl.  Tulet. 
n°  210,211.  BibL  Mason,  p1.  iii.  n°  178  $  and  Bibl.  Brand,  p*  i. 
n°  227  :  which  latter  copy  was  purchased  by  Mr.  —  for  £18.  18s. 
Four  copies,  two  perfect  and  two  imperfect,  were  in  the  collection 
of  Ratcliffe,  nos.  815,  999,  1660,  &c.  Earl  Spencer,  Mr.  Gren- 


*  Of  this  most  singular,  and  not  unamusing  performance  (being  the  life  of  a 
Necromancer  of  the  name  of  Virgilius,  who  wrought  many  marvels  "  thorowgh 
the  helps  of  the  devyls  of  hell"}  a  reprint  appeared  in  1812,  by  my  friend  Mr. 
Utterson,  for  the  exclusive  gratification  of  some  fifty  friends— with  one  additional 
copy  struck  off  UPON  VELLUM.  This  reprint  was  executed  by  Mr.  M'Creery  in  a 
diamond  letter,  upon  soft  french  paper,  of  a  duodecimo  form  :  and  has  been  long 
considered  a  bijou  of  rarity  and  value. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  175 

print  appeared  in  1521,  and  again  at  Antwerp,  with- 
out date  :  although,  in  fact,  neither  of  the  editions 
contains  a  date.  I  hardly  know  how  to  raise  this 
work  to  the  dignity  even  of  a  Chronicle  ;  but  it  may 
be  considered  as  rather  a  precious  relic  of  the  ancient 
customs  and  manners  of  the  metropolis/ and  as  yet 
more  interesting  to  the  philological  antiquary  in  con- 
taining what  is  supposed  to  be  the  original  of  Prior's 
celebrated  poem  of  the  "  Nut  Brown  Maid"  At 
length  came  forth  the  celebrated  CHRONICLE  OF  FA  • 
BIAN,  "  Citizen  and  Alderman  of  London,"  which 
first  appeared  in  1516  ;  secondly  in  1533  ;  thirdly  in 
1542 ;  fourthly  in  1559 ;  and,  fifthly  and  lastly,  in 
1810.*  Of  all  these  additions,  the  last  is  of  the 

ville,  and  Mr.  Heber,  each  possess  it.  But  "  the  Young  Man  "  need 
not  sigh — nor  need  "  the  Old  Man  "  despair — in  the  non-possession 
of  either  of  the  foregoing  editions  of  this  curious  and  even  instruc- 
tive volume :  since  a  faithful  reimpression  of  it,  together  with  a 
judicious  introduction,  was  published  by  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co. 
in  1811,  4to.  under  the  editorial  care  of  Mr.  Douce.  Every  livery- 
man and  alderman  must  of  necessity  procure  a  copy  of  such  a  work. 

*  Let  us  take  the  editions  of  Fabian  in  the  order  above  specified  5 
and  let  us  say  somewhat  more  than  f{  a  word"  about  the  first,  since 
it  is  a  volume  of  exceedingly  great  rarity.  Berkenhout  justly  ob- 
serves, upon  the  authority  of  Nicolson,  that  this  work  e  contains 
several  curious  particulars  of  the  city  of  London,  not  elsewhere  to 
be  found,'  Biogr.  Literar.  p.  23.  This  first  impression,  besides  the 
superior  beauty  of  its  typographical  execution,  and  the  embellish- 
ments of  cuts  (not  introduced  in  the  subsequent  editions),  has  a  still 
further  recommendation  to  the  notice  of  the  collector  and  antiquary, 
from  its  containing  the  legitimate  text  of  the  chronicler.  See  Mr. 
Brand's  remark  in  the  Variorum  edition  of  Shakspeare,  1803,  vol. 
xviii.  p.  85,  6  j  and  Hearne's  Robert  of  Gloucester,  vol.  i.  p.  xxxii. 

It  has  been  a  received  opinion,  from  a  loose  dictum  of  Bale  (Cent. 
n°  Ixii.),  that  Cardinal  Wolsey  ordered  many  copies  of  this  first  edi- 
tion to  be  burnt,  owing  to  the  freedom  of  some  observations  in  it 
upon  the  clergy  of  the  day  ;  and  also  that  it  contains  some  copies  of 


176  HISTORY 

greatest  intrinsic  value;  it  having  been  collated 
throughout  with  the  subsequent  editions  ;  and  the 

verses,  ''suppressed  in  the  latter  editions."  The  latter  remark, 
which  was  first  advanced  by  Warton,  (Hist.  Eng.  Poet.  vol.  ii.  p. 
192,)  is  not  quite  correct :  these  verses  having  been  in  part  omitted, 
and  in  part  altered,  in  the  editions  of  Reynes  and  Kingston  -,  but 
inserted  entire  in  Rastell's.  The  former  remark  may,  probably,  be 
equally  without  foundation  j  as  it  is  clear  that  neither  Cavendish,* 
Tyndal,  nor  Fox,  notice  Wolsey's  destruction  of  the  first  edition. 
Nicolson  was  ignorant  of  this  impression,  but  Tanner  expressly  no- 
tices it.  Whether  Leland  ever  saw  a  copy  of  it,  may,  in  some  mea- 
sure, be  ascertained,  by  comparing  the  extract  from  his  Collectanea, 
(vol.  ii.  p.  426,  edit.  1774,)  with  the  original  text.  Neither  the 
Harleian  nor  the  West  collections  contained  it.  The  imperfect  copy 
in  the  Beauclerk  Library  (p*  ii.  n°  2229),  was  in  the  collection  of 
the  late  Mr.  Craven  Orde,  and  afterwards  in  that  of  the  late  Mr. 
Samuel  Lysons,  at  the  sale  of  whose  library,  in  1S21,  it  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Earl  of  Aylesford  for  ^35.  Mr.  Utterson  possesses 
a  very  considerable  portion  of  a  copy ;  and  Lord  Spencer  has  been 
the  fortunate  possessor  of  two  perfect  copies.  The  one,  now  re- 
tained by  him,  is  of  great  beauty  and  soundness  of  condition :  the 
other,  parted  with,  was  sound  and  perfect,  and  was  sold  for  £84. 
at  a  public  auction,  in  1815.  There  is  a  copy,  in  thorough  pristine 
condition,  in  the  very  curious  library  of  Dysart  House  at  Ham.  A 
perfect  copy  is  said  to  be  in  the  public  library  at  Cambridge. 

The  second  edition  was  printed  by  WILLIAM  RASTELL,  in  1533, 
and  is  indeed  a  very  pretty  typographical  production.  In  the  Bill. 
Harleiana,  vol.  iii.  n°  402,  there  is  a  long  note  attached  to  a  copy  of 
this  edition  which  may  be  worth  consulting.  It  seems  to  have  been 
unknown  to  Nicolson  and  Tanner.  The  third  edition  was  printed 
by  John  Reynes  in  1542  j  and  we  are  informed  by  Mr.  Henry  Ellis, 
editor  of  the  last  edition,  (to  be  presently  noticed)  that  the  altera- 
tions and  omissions  in  it  are  more  numerous  than  the  generality  of 
readers  may  probably  suspect.  The  deficiences  of  Herbert's  descrip- 
tion of  this  impression  may  be  found  supplied  in  the  recent  edition 
of  our  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  268.  There  was  a  copy  in  the  Harleian 


*  See  the  Life  of  Wolsey  by  Cavendish,  in  Dr.  Wordsworth's  Ecclesiastical 
Biography,  vol.  i.  j>.  323— which  is  remarkably  interesting. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  177 

second  part  with  a  MS.  of  the  Chronicle  in  the  British 
Museum.  The  preliminary  matter  also  renders  this 

Collection,  '  with  MS.  notes  ;'  and  one  in  the  Fletewode  Collection, 
'  which  formerly  belonged  to  Maister  Thomas  Sakevile,  afterwards 
Lord  Buckhurst,  and  Lord  H,  Treasurer  ;  having  several  marginal 
references  in  the  hand-writing  of  that  accomplished  genius  and  states- 
man.' Bibl.  Fletewode,  n°  3339.  This  very  copy  recently  came  under 
the  hammer  of  Mr.  Evans,  and  was  knocked  down  for  *£l9.  Ss.  6d. 
See  also  Bibl.  West.  n°  4 1 19  ;  Bibl.  Folkes.  n°  893 ;  Bibl.  Tutet.  n°  484, 
te  fine  copy  in  morocco."  Some  copies  of  this  date,  with  the  name 
of  BONHAM,  as  the  printer,  are  only  the  same  book  with  a  fresh  title 
page. 

The  fourth  and  last  edition  of  Fabian's  Chronicle,  printed  in  the 
black  letter,  is  that  by  John  Kingston,  in  1559,  folio,  2  vol.  in  1. 
The  printer  professes  to  have  cleared  Fabian's  text  from  the  errors 
of  his  predecessors,  and  especially  from  those  introduced  by  Reynes — 
by  a  careful  collation  with  the  original  impression.  The  present  is 
therefore  greatly  preferable  to  the  two  immediately  preceding  it  j 
and,  when  found  in  a  large  and  clean  state,  may  be  called  a  magni- 
ficent book.  See  Bibl.  Woodhouse,  n°  334.  Such  copies  have  sold 
for£l5.  15s. ;  but  the  recent  edition  has  greatly,  and  justly,  de- 
teriorated their  value.  Each  impression  brings  the  history  down  to 
the  period  of  its  publication.  Lastly,  I  have  to  notice,  with  the 
commendation  which  it  unquestionably  merits,  the  recent  and  most 
valuable  edition  of  Fabian's  Chronicle  published  by  Messrs.  Long- 
man and  Co.  in  1811,  4to.  from  the  editorial  pen  of  Mr.  H.  Ellis, 
Curator  of  the  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum.  I  have  above  enu- 
merated the  principal  features  of  superiority  in  this  work  j  and  need 
here  only  further  remark,  that  the  second  part  of  the  Chronicle  is 
collated  with  a  MS.  text  of  it  in  the  British  Museum.* 


*  I  have  a  perfect  recollection  at  this  moment  of  a  letter,  written  to  me  by 
my  friend  the  Editor,  on  the  morning  following  that,  when,  beneath  a  cloudless 
sky,  and  fanned  by  a  refreshing  breeze,  he  described  himself  as  seizing  his  pil- 
grim's staff  (to  wit,  a  comely  black-thorn),  in  order  to  make  a  journey  to  the  Com- 
mons, to  discover  the  WILL  of  Master  Fabian— and  the  joy,  on  the  discovery  of 
it,  seems  to  have  been  scarcely  less  than  that  which  seized  Belzoni  on  the  first 
view  of  his  Egyptian  tombs  and  temples,  or  Mr.  Buckland  on  a  similar  view  of 
the  ante-diluvian  remains  of  the  hyaena.  It  will  always  be  so  with  enthusiastic 
cultivators  of  every  pursuit.  Life  seems  but  a  dreamless  and  profitless  slumber 
without  some  such  occasional  stimulants. 

N 


178  HISTORY 

edition  of  considerable  value  ;  as  it  contains  a  life  of 
the  Chronicler,  with  an  account  of  the  different  his- 
torians whence  he  gathered  his  materials.  There  is 
also  a  copy  of  his  will ;  and  the  volume  is  closed  by  a 
useful  index.  Yet,  on  the  score  of  bibliographical 
curiosity — and  as  a  rarity  of  no  mean  value,  the 
thorough-bred  Roxburgher  will  never  rest  satisfied 
till  he  possesses  a  perfect  copy  of  the  FIRST  EDITION — 
of  which  I  should  doubt  whether  there  were  six  such 
copies  in  existence. 

The  order  of  time  induces  me  to  notice  another 
publication  in  the  character  of  a  Chronicle,  which 
was  published  by  John  Rastell,  about  the  year  1530, 
under  the  usually  received  title  of  THE  PASTIME  OF 
PEOPLE.  This  volume  was  of  such  excessive  rarity, 
that  scarcely  a  perfect  copy  of  it  was  known  till  of 
a  late  period.  Its  chief  merit  seems  to  consist  in  the 
cuts — or  portraits  of  the  Kings — with  which  it  is 
professed  to  be  adorned.  Those,  who  assign  these 
cuts  to  the  pencil  of  Holbein,  know  little  of  the  cha- 
racter of  the  Artist  whom  they  thus  traduce.  This 
Chronicle  was  reprinted  in  1811,  with  fac-similes  of 
all  the  strange  regal  portraits,  and  a  prefatory  ad- 
vertisement.* 

*  First,  however,  of  the  old  edition,  or  parent  text :  of  which  it 
may  be  premised  that  a  long  and  faithful  account  appears  in  the  re- 
cent edition  of  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  91,  &c.  together  with  a 
fac-simile  of  the  title  page.  The  title  is  thus.  The  Pastyme  of 
People,  or  the  Chronycles  dyuers  realmys  and  most  specyally  of  the 
realme  of  Englond  breuely  compylyd,  and  emprynted  in  chepesyde  at 
the  sygne  of  the  mearemayd  next  to  poLly's  gate."  It  is  justly  observed 
by  Herbert,  that  f  this  is  one  of  the  scarcest  histories  we  have  in 
print.'  Very  few  copies  of  it  are  known  to  be  in  existence  ;  and  of 
these,  his  Majesty's  (it  being  Mr.  West's  copy,  which  was  given  to 
West  in  the  year  1729,  by  Lord  Oxford,)  is  perfect.  Consult  Bill. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  179 

The  notice  of  this  graphically  illustrated  Chronicle 
reminds  me  of  another  somewhat  similar  production, 
but  of  considerably  greater  rarity,,  and  of  yet  greater 
merit  of  embellishment.  I  allude  to  the  mixed  prose 
and  poetry-chronicle,  printed  by  GILES  GODET,  (dwel- 
ling in  Black  Friars)  about  the  year  1560,  of  which 
an  account  first  appeared  before  the  public  in  the 
y£des  Althorpianee  :*  and  of  which  the  private  his- 

Harleian.  vol.  iii.  n°  253,  and  Bill  West.  n°  4094.  Mr.  Grenville's 
copy  is  also  perfect :  but  Lord  Spencer's  (formerly  Ratcliffe's  copy) 
is  imperfect.  See  the  Bibl.  Ratdife,  n°  1013.  1392.  Bibl  Farmer,  n° 
6226.  Bibl.  Mason,  pt.  iii.  n°  341  :  and  Bibl.  Brand.  n°  8320. 
Herbert  has  been  sufficiently  elaborate  in  his  account  of  this  ex- 
traordinary performance ;  justly  remarking  upon  the  ignorance  of 
former  historians  of  its  existence.  Hearne  never  saw  but  one  copy 
of  it,  which  was  lent  him  by  his  indefatigable  book-collecting  friend, 
John  Murray  3  and  of  which  a  curious  notice  will  be  found  in  the 
ThomtE  Caii  Vindic.  Antiq.  Acad.  Oxoniens.  vol.ii.  p.  803-4;  as  well 
as  a  specimen  of  the  work  given  in  Peter  Langtoft's  Chronicles,  vol.  i. 
p.  liv.  19;  84,  &c.  But  the  reprint  above  mentioned  (which  con- 
tains all  the  decorations  of  the.  original — and  which  decorations  were 
cut  upon  blocks  of  the  apple  tree  f)  will  give  the  reader  every  in- 
formation which  he  may  require.  The  author  of  this  work  was  the 
Editor  of  the  reprint  in  question  ;  and  placed  the  only  copy  of  it  in 
existence,  upon  THICK  PAPER,  on  the  shelves  of  the  Althorp  Library. 
The  ordinary  copies  are  obtainable  at  a  very  moderate  price. 

*  A  particular  account  of  this  very  singular,  and  almost  unique 
volume,  will  be  found  in  the  JEdes  Althorpiance,  vol.  i.  p.  180-184. 
The  only  other  known  copy  (and  a  very  fine  one  it  is)  is  in  the  collec- 
tion of  the  Rt.  Hon.  T.  Grenville.  The  reader  may  probably  not  be 


f  "  Experientia  docet."  It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  these  blocks — 
from  the  soft  and  pliable  nature  of  the  wood— could  be  kept  together  for  the 
purpose  of  printing.  There  were  fractures  in  them,  like  those  on  a  sheet  of  ice 
after  the  breaking  up  of  a  frost.  I  take  it  the  originals  were  cut  on  pear  or  chest- 
nut wood.  It  is  almost  certain  that  the  large  and  ancient  block,  now  in  Lord 
Spencer's  possession,  and  of  which  a  specimen  is  given  in  my  Tour,  vol.  iii.  p. 
234-5,  is  of  pear-tree  wood. 


180  HISTORY 

tory — as  to  the  particular  object  in  view,  the  author, 
and  the  artists  employed — will  probably  for  ever 
remain  concealed.  But  I  must  not  omit  the  mention  of 
a  Chronicle,  entirely  metrical,  under  the  title  of  HAR- 
DYNG'S  CHRONICLE,  which  was  published  in  a  small 
quarto  volume  in  1543,  and  of  which  the  recent  re- 
print in  1812,  has  rendered  the  possession  of  the 
original  edition  scarcely  an  object  even  with  the  most 
fastidious  collector.  The  reader  is  referred  to  the 
accompanying  note*  as  a  whetter  to  further  research 
respecting  this  singular  production. 

displeased  to  have  a  specimen  (such  as  it  is)  of  the  poetry  in  this  ex- 
traordinary performance.  The  ensuing  stanza  relates  to  the  murder 
of  the  young  Princes,  by  Richard  III.,  in  the  Tower  at  London. 

But  the  manner  how  these  princes  were  dead 
Some  say  they  were  buried  quick  :  and  some  tell 
That  they  were  smothered  vnder  a  fether  bed. 
Some  say  they  were  drowned  in  a  vessell 
But  when  they  came  vnto  the  tower  to  dwell 
They  were  never  after  seene  with  mannes  eye 
Thre  moneths  this  king  raigned  men  know  well 
But  God  kuoweth  where  his  body  doth  lye. 

*  Of  the  old  edition,  in  black  letter,  there  were  at  least  two  im- 
pressions 5  both  in  the  same  year.  One  has  the  title  "  A  Chronicle 
in  Metre ;"  the  other  has  the  words  ff  in  metre"  omitted,  and  the 
date  in  Roman  letters — whereas  the  former  has  the  date  in  Arabic 
numerals.  It  is  quite  evident,  throughout,  that  the  press  was  reset  j 
a  circumstance,  which  seems  to  have  escaped  Herbert.  The  reader 
will  find  a  full  account  of  this  rare  and  interesting  book  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  447^  together  with  a  transcript  of  "  an  original 
grant  of  King  Henry  VI.  to  Harding,  upon  vellum" — which  be- 
longed to  a  copy  that  had  successively  enriched  the  collections  of 
West  and  Mason,  and  which  is  now  the  property  of  Mr.  George 
Hibbert.  See  also  Bill.  Pearson,  n°  5210  ;  and  Bibl.  Allen.  n°  713. 
But,  on  the  score  of  utility,  neither  (<  the  young"  nor  "  the  old  " 
will  hesitate  one  moment  about  the  preference  to  be  given,  in  all 
respects,  to  the  reprint  above  mentioned  :  of  which  Mr.  H.  Ellis  is 
the  Editor. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  181 

About  this  time  appeared  a  shoal  of  minor  or  fu- 
gitive publications,  of  the  character  of  which  it  is 
difficult  to  give  any  precise  account ;  and  of  which 
the  account,  if  given,  would  very  little  profit  the 
reader.  Suffice  it  therefore  to  mention,  in  very  ge- 
neral terms,  the  abridgements  or  Summaries  of  Chro- 
nicles under  the  names  of  Lanquett,  Cooper,  and  Stow.* 

*  This  "  shoal  of  minor  publications,"  in  the  character  of  Chro- 
nicles, shall  be  here  summarily  described.  Among  the  earliest,  is 
that  by  ARTHUR  KELTON  j  being  f  A  Chronycle  with  a  Genealogie 
declaryng  that  the  Britons  and  Welshmen  are  lineallye  descended  from 
Brute.  Newly  and  very  wittely  compyled  in  meter.  London.  1547 '• 
ISmo.f  This  is  a  very  uncommon  book.  An  outline  of  its  con- 
tents is  given  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  455,  from  a  copy  in 
the  possession  of  Herbert ;  who  tells  us  that  the  text  is  compiled  in 
seven-lined  stanzas ;  and  that  it  contains  forty  leaves  -}  the  last  leaf 
being  blank.  There  was  a  copy  of  it  in  the  Beauclerk  collection, 
[Bibl.  Beauclerk,  pt.  ii.  n°  2220]  which  seemed  to  require  the  aid  of 
another  black  letter  book,  to  produce  the  sum  of  4s.  3d.— for  which 
they  were  both  sold.  It  would  appear  from  Ritson's  Biographia 
Poetica,  p.  260,  that  the  poetical  effusions  of  Kelton  are  very  rare : 
they  are  not  noticed  in  the  new  edition  of  Philips' s  Theatrum  Poeta- 
rum,  nor  have  any  further  discoveries  of  him,  or  indeed  any  speci- 
mens of  this  poetical  chronicle,  found  their  way  into  the  Censura 
Liter  aria  by  the  sedulous  author  of  Additions  to  Ritson's  work  just 
quoted,  and  of  which,  let  us  hope,  a  new  editiod  is  forthcoming. 

Secondly,  of  LANQUETT' s  CHRONICLE,  continued  by  Cooper  :  in 
the  years  1549,  1559,  1560,  1565,  &c.  4to.  These,  and  more  than 
are  here  specified,  are  editions  of  a  Chronicle  which  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  compiled  with  any  extraordinary  care  or  attention,  and 


t  Even  this  little  volume  was  preceded  by  a  "  SHORT  CHRONYCLE  wherein  yc 
shall  fynde  the  names  of  all  the  Kings  of  England,  of  the  Mayors  and  Sheriffs  of  the 
cytye  of  London,  8fc.  printed  by  Bydell,in  1539, 1542,  12nio. :  by  Vowell,  in  1551, 
and  again  without  date.  This  seems  to  have  been  a  sort  of  Manual,  or  Vade  Me- 
cum,  published  annually  for  the  common  people.  Herbert  has  been  exclusively 
indebted  to  Ames  for  his  account  of  it.  A  copy  of  the  second  edition  appears  in 
the  JBibl.  West.  n°  3764  j  and  of  the  third  in  BiM.  Harleian.  vol.  iv.  n°  11720. 


182  HISTORY 

Of  the  Annals,  or  larger  Chronicle  of  Stow,  I  shall 
speak  in  chronological  order. 

which,  therefore,  is  but  of  limited  authority.  The  editions  of  1549 
and  1560  are  printed  by  T.  Berthelet ;  those  of  1559,  the  one  by 
Marshe  and  the  other  for  Seres.  They  are  all  thick  and  inelegant 
small  quartos ;  but  bear  some  price  from  the  increasing  demand  for 
this  species  of  books.  A  copy  of  the  edition  of  1560  was  sold  for 
2Z.  6s.  at  Brand's  sale  :  vide  Bibl.  Brand,  pt.  i.  n°  2323. 

In  the  third  place,  let  us  say  a  word  of  "  The  Thre  Bokes  of  JOHN 
CARION'S  Chronicle;  printed  by  Lynn  at  London,  in  1550,  4to. 
This  English  version  of  the  Latin  text  of  Carion  was  never,  I  be- 
lieve, reprinted.  The  preface,  on  "  the  use  of  reading  History,"  is 
by  no  means  a  despicable  production.  An  index,  with  the  pages  not 
numbered,  terminates  the  volume.  A  clean  and  perfect  copy  of  this 
book  is  not  common.  Its  title  is  well  set  forth  in  the  Bibl.  Flcte- 
wode,  n<>  2522.  At  the  sale  of  Ratcliffe's  library,  (Bibl.  Ratcli/e.  n° 
1500)  Dr.  Hunter  purchased  a  copy  in  morocco  for  19s.  A  fine 
copy  was  sold  for  U.  I  s.  at  West's  sale:  Bibl.  West.  n°  3813  ;  and 
for  41.  10s.  at  Brand's  sale — n°  2326.  In  1562,  there  appeared  an 
Abridgement  O/"GRAFTON'S  CHRONICLES,  (or  rather,  as  I  conceive,  of 
Hall's,  published  by  Grafton,  in  1548,  1550),  in  one  octavo  volume, 
which  will  be  found  described  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  433. 

I  owe  it  to  the  accuracy  of  research,  and  kindness  of  communica- 
tion, of  Mr.  Grenville,  to  state  that  the  first  edition  of  this  Summary 
(unknown  to  all  bibliographers)  was  in  1561  ;  of  which  Mr.  G.  has 
a  copy,  and  which  will  solve  the  puzzle  of  Grafton's  notice  of  it,  in 
his  own  abridgement  of  1562.  See  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  423. 

Fourthly,  of  STOWE'S  Summarie  of  English  Chronicles,  1565.  8vo. 
printed  by  Marshe.  This  is  the  first  edition  of  repute,  and  which 
was  reprinted  for  a  number  of  subsequent  years.  See  Bibl.  West.  n° 
3770 ;  from  which  Herbert  appears  to  have  copied  his  list  verbatim. 
Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  853  :  note.  Among  Bagford's  papers  upon 
printing,  in  the  British  Museum,  there  is  the  printed  title  page  of  an 
edition  of  1570 — of  the  existence  of  which  Herbert  doubted.  I  can- 
not, at  this  moment,  exactly  specify  upon  what  basis,  or  of  what 
materials,  JAGGARD'S  Briefe  Chronicle  of  the  Successe  of  Times  from 
the  Creation  of  the  World  to  this  instant,  (viz.  1611)  is  composed  j 
but  it  commences  with  the  creation,  and  occupies  a  4 to.  volume  of 
613  pages.  Jaggard  was  the  printer  5  and  Anthony  Mundy,  the 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  183 

I  am  now  to  touch  upon  a  higher  class  of  Chroni- 
clers, under  the  names  of  HALL,  GRAFTON,  and  Ho- 
LINSHED;  and  of  which  the  recent  and  faithfully 
executed  reprints,  put  it  in  the  power  of  the  Collector 
to  avail  himself  of  copies  at  an  ordinary  cost.*  No 

Editor,  dedicates  his  work  "  to  the  right  Honovrable,  Sir  William 
Cravon,  Knight,  Lord  Maior  of  the  Cittie  of  London  5  Sir  Henrie 
Montagve,  Seriant  at  Law  to  his  Maiestie  and  Recorder  of  London  : 
and  to  all  the  Knights,  Aldermen,  and  worshipfull  Bretheren,  the 
carefull  Fathers  and  Gouernours  of  this  honourable  Estate."  This  is 
followed  by  an  Epistle  to  the  Merchant  Tailors,  "  being  the  worthy 
Society  of  S.  John  Baptist " — also  by  Mundy.  The  book  however  is 
of  little  worth. 

*  The  ancient  editions  shall  be  described  as  briefly  as  is  compatible 
with  propriety  :  of  late  years,  the  rage  for  the  Originals  having  much 
abated.  Fjrst  of  EDWARD  HALL  ;  whose  Chronicle  is  entitled  "  the 
Union  of  the  Two  Noble  and  Illustrious  Families  of  York  and  Lancas- 
ter." Premising  that  the  edition  of  1542  is  entirely  supposititious,  I 
proceed  to  the  first  impression  in  1548. 

The  conclusion  of  the  address  of  Grafton,  the  printer,  informs  us, 
that,  Hall  dying — and  "  being  in  his  latter  time  not  so  painful  and 
studious  as  he  ought  to  have  been,"  —  he,  Grafton,  undertook  the 
compilation  of  the  greater  part ;  although  he  published  an  edition 
which  goes  expressly  under  his  own  name.  Grafton  in  fact  con- 
tinued it  down  to  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  from  Hall's  MSS.  Athen. 
Oxon.  vol.  i.  col.  165.  edit.  Bliss.  This  impression  of  1548  is  a 
scarce  as  well  as  a  beautifully  executed  book.  The  possession  of  the 
first  three  leaves,  including  a  preface  and  other  introductory  matter 
—  and  the  last  leaf  but  one,  on  the  reverse  of  which  is  a  beautiful 
wood-cut  of  Henry  the  Eighth  sitting  in  full  council, — should  be 
well  looked  after  by  the  purchaser, — for  they  are  often  missing  :  and 
heavy  must  he  the  sum  to  redeem  them.f  There  is  a  good  note 
affixed  to  a  copy  of  this  edition  in  the  Harleian  Collection  (Bibl.  Harl. 
vol.  iii.  no.  398),  which  shews  the  blunders  of  Bishop  Nicolson  re- 
specting to  it :  these  have  been  also  noticed  by  Dr.  Pegge,  who  calls 


t  A  very  successful  fac-simile  of  this  embellishment  was  published  in  the  recent 
edition  of  our  Typographical  Antiquities,  vol.  iii.  p.  462  :  along  with  a  particular 
account  of  the  book  :  see  too,  p.  422. 


184  HISTORY 

thoroughly  good  historical  library  can  be  said  to  be 
perfect  without  these  Chronicles  ;  and,  above  all,  that 

our  chronicler  "  a  good  writer  for  his  time,  and  a  competent 
scholar.*"  Hearnef  has  very  spiritedly  corrected  Nicolsonj  adding, 
that  both  this  and  the  ensuing  edition  are  ' '  very  scarce  and  of  great 
price."  See  Bibl.  West,  no.  412O :  Bibl.  Ratcli/e,  no.  1391:  and 
BibL  Bryant,  no.  707 :  which  latter  copy  was  sold  for  19Z.  19s.  Fifty 
years  ago,  this  book  might  have  been  obtained  for  l$s.  See  Bibl. 
Folkes,  no.  888.  At  present,  a  fair  sound  copy  may  be  worth  about 
51.  5s.  Mr.  Heber  bought  a  very  fine  one  at  Mr.  Knight's  sale,  in 
1821,  for  51.  105. 

This  edition  was  reprinted  in  1550 ;  "  whereunto  is  added  to 
every  Kyng  a  seuerall  table."  Whoever  chooses  to  examine  the 
Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  466-8,  will  easily  satisfy  himself  that  this 
impression  is  not,  as  has  been  imagined,  only  the  previous  one  with  a 
fresh  title-page.  The  leaves  of  each  reign  begin  with  a  fresh  set  of 
numerals  :  and  the  present  is,  on  the  whole,  the  preferable  edition. 
A  good  copy  is  worth  7 l>  7s.  My  friend  Mr.  Douce  has  a  very  fine 
one.  The  reprint  appeared  in  1809. 

Secondly,  of  RICHARD  GRAFTON'S  "  Chronicle  at  large  and  meere 
History  of  the  Affayres  of  Englande  and  Kinges  of  the  Same,"  &c. : 
printed  by  R.  Tottel  for  R.  Toy.  1569.  Folio.  More  sumptuous 
and  elaborate  than  either  of  the  preceding  publications,  is  the  one 
now  under  consideration  j  and  to  which  it  will  be  necessary  to  add 
only  the  following  particulars  to  Herbert's  minute  and  satisfactory 
account.  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iv.  p.  439.  The  three  introductory 
pieces  have  the  pages  unnumbered  5  and  a  '  Summarie  of  the  afore, 
said  History '  one  page,  and  a  table  of  seven  pages,  not  numbered, 
follow  the  text  of  the  first  volume,  which  contains  192  pages  exclu- 
sively. The  second  volume,  containing  1369  pages,  is  succeeded  by 


*  Anonymiana.  1809.  8vo.  p.  1.  See  also  some  remarks  relating  to  him  at  page 
62,  394,  in  the  same  publication. 

•f  Hemingi  ChartuL  Ecdes.  Wigorn.  vol.  ii.  671,&c.  To  the  Harleian  extract 
may  be  added,  that  Bishop  Nicolson,  talking  of  a  flattering  dedication  to  Henry 
VIII:,  Hearne  thus  remarks  upon  it :  "  All  the  copies  I  have  yet  seen  or  heard  of 
are  dedicated  to  King  Edward  VI.  and  the  dedication  is  far  from  being  flattering. 
The  informations  too  are  all  along  so  very  good  (abating  that  the  chronology  is 
here  and  there  wrong)  that  they  have  been,  and  will  always  be,  highly  valued  by 
the  most  curious  men." 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  185 

of  Holinshed  requires  particular  notice  and  commen- 
dation. Indeed,  to  the  comfort  of  the  poor,  but  not 

a  table  of  thirty-one  (not  numbered)  pages  of  the  reigns  of  the  kings 
of  the  realm,  and  an  alphabetical  table  of  nine  unnumbered  pages. 
Both  volumes  contain  some  very  spirited  wood-cuts.  My  friend 
Mr.  Heber  triumphs  in  the  possession  of  an  extraordinarily  fine  copy 
of  this  Chronicle  $  but,  if  the  tearing  out  of  the  title,  (which  is  orna- 
mented with  portraits  of  kings)  by  some  execrable  depredator,*  be 
excepted,  I  question  whether  his  own  copy,  magnificent  as  it  is,  have 
an  amplitude  of  margin  superior  to  the  one  in  the  library  of  St.  John's 
College  Oxford.  "  A  matchless  copy"  of  it  was  sold  at  the  sale  of 
Mr.  Bryant's  books,  A.  D.  1807,  for  191.  195.  See  too  Bibl.  Lands- 
downe,  no.  2517,  and  Bibl.  Allen,  no.  615. 

Thirdly,  of  HOLINSHED'S  Chronicles  of  England,  Scotlande  and 
Ireland  :  —  which  are  by  far  the  most  popular  and  important  of  our 
historical  records,  in  print,  during  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  -,  and 
from  which,  indeed,  all  modern  historians  have  freely  and  largely 
borrowed.  The  first  edition  of  these  Chronicles  was  printed  for  John 
Harrison  the  Elder,  in  15/7,  in  two  folio  volumes,  full  of  spirited 
wood-cuts, f  which  were  omitted  in  the  subsequent  edition  of  1586. 
This  work  must  have  been  printed  with  great  cost  and  labour.  From 
Holinshed's  dedicatory  Epistle  to  Lord  Burleigh,  it  should  seem  that 
REGINALD  WOLFE,  the  celebrated  printer  (see  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iv. 
p.  2)  had  projected  and  even  executed  the  greater  part  of  the  work, 
it  having  "  pleased  God  to  call  him  to  his  mercie  after  xxv  years  tra- 
vel spent  therein."  Wolfe,  in  fact,  intended  to  make  these  Chroni- 
cles the  substratum  of  t(  An  universall  Cosmographie  of  the  whole 
worlde."  The  other  Assistants  and  Continuators  of  Holinshed,  were 
Harrison,  Hooker,  Stanihurst,  Stow,  Thyn,  and  Fleming,  &c.  There 
are  those  who  suppose  this  first  edition  to  contain  particulars  not 
found  in  the  subsequent  one.  Hearne  speaks  with  his  usual  enthu- 
siasm of  it :  Robert  ofGlocester,  vol.  i.  pref.  p.  xxxiii — and  Du  Fresnoy, 


*  The  "  execrable  depredator  "  (not,  fortunately,  either  a  Johnian  or  an  Aca- 
demic) is  known — and  I  need  hardly  say,  shunned  and  despised.  The  history  of 
this  man's  spoliations,  in  which  even  the  venerable  Bodleian  Library  was  not 
spared,  would  startle  the  sensitive,  and  even  amaze  the  incredulous,  Collector  of 
Anecdotes  of  this  kind. 

t  Among  these  cuts,  there  is  one  of  a  GUILLOTINE. 


186  HISTORY 

the  faint-hearted  Collector  —  be  it  made  known,  that 
good  copies  even  of  the  original  editions  may  be  had 

catching  the  current  opinion  of  the  day,  observes — "  II  faut  ce- 
pendant  avoir  aussi  1'edition  de  1577-"  Methode,  &c.  vol.  iv.  page 
295.  "  An  exceedingly  fine  copy  "  of  this  edition,  bound  in  russia, 
was  sold  at  the  sale  of  George  Steevens's  library  in  1800,  for  22/. : 
and  a  very  fine  one,  almost  uncut,  and  bound  in  blue  morocco,  was  re- 
cently (December  1822)  sold  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Neunburg's  library  for 
III.  Us.  Mr.  Heber  possesses  it  in  russia  (bought  of  Mr.  Stace)  uncut. 
Holinshed  dying  between  the  years  1578  and  1582,*  anew  edition 
of  his  Chronicles  was  put  forth  in  1587,  chiefly  under  the  editorial 
care  of  Boteville,f  Stow,  and  Abraham  Fleming ;  the  printer  was 
Henry  Denham.  Consult  Herbert,  vol.  ii.  p.  961.  The  Continu- 
ation, from  1576  to  1586,  contained  several  curious  particulars, 
which  gave  great  offence  at  the  time  of  publication,  and  were  ac- 
cordingly suppressed ;  <f  whereby  (says  Herbert)  the  paging,  from 
1220  to  1275,  is  very  irregular."  According  to  Nicolson,  they 
extend  from  page  1491  to  1536  |  These  are  called  the  "  Castra- 
tions" of  Holinshed,  and  were  republished  by  Dr.  Drake  in  1728,  in 
the  black  letter,  in  a  thin  folio  volume.  The  curious,  however, 
necessarily  look  sharply  after  the  original  pages.  A  copy  of  this 


*  His  will  was  proved  on  April  24,  1582 ;  as  a  transcript  of  it,  in  Herbert's  hand 
writing,  in  my  interleaved  copy  of  his  Typographical  Antiquities,  sufficiently 
proves. 

f  Or  THYNNE  ;  an  admirable  antiquary.  Consult  Bliss's  edition  of  the  Athen. 
Oxon.  vol.  i.  p.  136. 

%  Engl.  Histor.  Library,  fol.  ed.  p.  71.  It  appears  from  a  note  in  the  Bibl.  R. 
Smith  (A.  D.  1682)  p.  276,  no.  160,  that  these  suppressed  leaves  "  were  not  thought 
fit,  and  so  not  allowed,  to  be  printed  in  the  second  impression."  According  to 
some  Antiquaries,  they  contained  matter  relating  to  Lord  Leicester,  which  gave 
great  offence  to  the  Privy  Council :  according  to  Nicolson,  the  suppression  was 
occasioned  by  Thynne's  "  singular  respect  to  the  Lord  Cobham,  at  that  time  very 
unseasonable.  All  that's  left  out  relates  to  Royal  Grants  in  favour  of  that  unfor- 
tunate Peer  and  his  ancestors."  After  so  much  said  about  them,  the  reader  may 
not  be  displeased  with  a  more  distinct  notice  of  them,  taken  from  Dr.  Drake's  re- 
print. '  William  the  Conqueror  "A.  D.  1066-7,  6  pages  :  "  The  historic  of  Scotland  ; 
p.  421  to  424 :  p.  443  to  page  450  :  "  "  An.  Reg.  23,  Queene  Elizabeth,  p.  1328,  to 
page  1331:  An.  Reg.  27.  p.  1419,  to  1574  (all  inclusively).  An.  Reg.  28."  Also  twelve 
pages  of  Index, beginning  on  the  recto  of  sign.  zz.  *  taken  far  leuieng '  to  the  con- 
clusion *  Ypresse  besieged.'  Peignot  has  slightly  noticed  these  castrations  in  his 
Dictionnaire  des  Livrcs  Condamnes,  &c.  vol.  i.  184. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  187 

at  no  very  extraordinary  price.  In  this  department  of 
book-collecting,  it  may  be  safely  affirmed  that  veins 
are  hardly  now  opened,  where,  formerly,  arteries  used 
to  bleed  profusely  ! 

As  we  come  to  the  conclusion  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, and  commence  with  the  seventeenth,  we  are 
immediately  struck  with  the  venerable  name  of  STOW, 
a  laborious  and  honest  man  ;  content  to  state  simple 
facts,  without  any  enlarged  views,  and  in  a  style  the 

kind  was  in  the  Harleian,  and  another  in  Dr.  Mead's  collection.* 
Osborne  marked  an  elegant  copy,  in  3  vols.  at  41.  As,  in  his  sheet 
catalogue  of  1759.  The  Mead  copy  now  adorns  the  Cracherode  Col- 
lection, in  four  volumes.  There  are  copies  supposed  to  be  on  large 
paper;  and,  although  this  may  be  questionable,  yet  that  copy,  which 
more  decidedly  approached  such  a  form,  was  the  one,  in  four  vols.,  in 
Colonel  Stanley's  Collection,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Heber  for 
£63.  Very  fine  copies  are  also  in  the  Luton  and  Althorp  collections. 
See  Bibl.  Pearson,  no.  5274  ;  Farmer,  no.  6216 ;  Crofts,  no.  7276; 
Allen,  no.  766,  Steevens,  no.  1700,  and  Reed,  no.  C2702. 

The  REPRINT  in  1807,  in  six  vols.  4to.  incorporating  the  castra- 
tions, has  materially  diminished  the  value  of  the  original  impression 
— and  here,  as  this  is  the  last  of  the  Chronicles  in  the  16th  century, 
which  come  under  my  present  review,  and  which  closes  the  order  of 
the  Reprints,  (getting  scarcer  every  day)  it  may  be  as  well  to  inform 
"  the  Young  Man" — anxious  for  the  possession  of  these  useful  re- 
impressions,  —  that  a  complete  set  of  them,  in  fifteen  volumes, 
neatly  bound  in  calf,  is  marked  by  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  at 


*  Mead's  copy  belonged  to  Thomas  Rawlinson,  who  received  25/.  for  it ;  and 
yet  it  wanted  four  pages  of  the  castrations.  These  were  supplied  by  a  transcript 
from  a  copy  in  Bishop  More's  library  at  Cambridge ;  which,  although  a  perfect, 
was  a  very  inferior  copy.  In  former  times  there  was  an  absolute  MANIA  about  the 
possession  of  these  original  castrations.  John  Bridges,  (of  whose  library  see 
somewhat  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  480),  who  had  a  perfect  copy  of  Holinshed,  told 
Hearne  that  "  he  would  not  part  with  it  for  fifty  libs."  And  Thomas  Sclater  Ba- 
con, a  man  of  very  large  fortune,  and  a  fierce  bibliomaniac,  (who  died  in  1736), 
"  gave  twenty  guineas  to  Bateman,  the  bookseller,  for  the  castrated  sheets  alone," 
ReliquicK  Hearniance,  vol.  i.  pp.  406-7  :  413  4.  In  the  library  of  the  Royal  In- 
stitution there  is  a  copy  of  Holinshed,  with  an  account  of  the  variations  in  these 
castrated  sheets  by  the  Rev.  P.  Morant,  in  MS.  So  says  Mr.  Harris,  in  his  excel- 
lent catalogue  of  that  lib:  ary. 


188  HISTORY 

most  unpretending  imaginable.  But  there  are  those 
who  rank  him  even  above  Holinshed  and  the  con- 
temporaneous Chroniclers.  That  he  was  a  diligent 
and  careful  collector  of  facts,  and  far  better  ac- 
quainted with  ms.  authorities  (even  with  some,  of 
which  all  traces  are  now  lost)  than  any  writer  of  his 
day,  may  be  unequivocally  allowed.  Stow  found  a 
continuator  in  EDMUND  HOWES  ;*  a  man,  who  seems 

*  JOHN  STOW  the  Chronicler,  and  EDMUND  HOWES,  his  editor  and 
continuator,  shall  be  as  summarily  described  as  is  consistent  with  the 
importance  of  their  labours.  Berkenhout  (Biogr.  Literar.  page  47.) 
seems  to  mention  the  Annals  and  Chronicles  of  Stow  as  separate 
works,  but  they  are  one  and  the  same.  Herbert  makes  brief  men- 
tion of  an  edition  of  1594,  printed  by  Ralph,  for  his  brother  James, 
Newbury ;  and  in  the  Bibl.  Beauclerk*  part  ii.  no.  2239.  I  find  an 
edition  specified  of  the  date  of  1592  ;  but  I  apprehend  that  both  these 
editions  are  supposititious,  and  that  the  FIRST  EDITION  of  Stow's 
Chronicle  (which  is  only  an  enlargement  of  his  ef  Summary"f)  was 
printed  without  a  date  to  the  title  page  —  which  is  ornamented — 
but  with  the  date  of  November  24,  1600,  in  the  dedicatory  address  to 
Whitgift,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  In  this  address,  Stow  tells  his 
Grace  that  "  twas  nigh  forty  yeeres  since  he  first  addressed  all  his 
cares  and  cogitations  to  the  Studie  of  Histories  and  search  of  Anti- 
quities." Strype  has  reprinted  this  dedication  in  his  Life  of  Whitgift, 
p.  543.  An  address  Cf  to  the  gentle  reader  " — a  table  of  "Authors 
out  of  whom  these  Annales  are  collected"  —  and  another  table  "  of 
the  principal  matters  contained  in  these  Annales, "  follow.  The  text 
of  the  history  contains  13 16  pages  :  the  last  seven  pages  treating tf  of 
the  Universities.''  I  recommend  a  good,  clean,  large-margined  copy 
(such  as  it  was  once  my  good  fortune  to  possess  !)  of  ihis  parent  text 
of  old  Stow,  to  the  tasteful  collector  (be  he  "  young  "  or  "  old  ")  of 


fSee  page  182,  ante.  Stow  died  in  1605.  Mr.  Chalmers  (Biog.  Diet.  vol. 
xxviii.  p. 445)  has  well  observed  upon  the  indelible  disgrace  reflected  upon  the 
government,  the  city  of  London,  and  the  Company  of  Merchant  Tailors  (of  which 
Stow  was  a  member)  that  this  honest  and  indefatigable  Chronicler  and  Historian 
of  the  Metropolis,  should  have  died  in  such  an  abject  state  of  poverty.  He  is  sup- 
posed to  have  "  traversed  all  England  on  foot  to  obtain  materials  for  his  history." 
He  cuts  a  more  splendid  figure  upon  his  monument,  than  he  did  during  his  life  : — 
a  fate,  not  peculiar  to  John  Stow  ! 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  189 

to  be  entitled  to  less  respect  than  his  predecessor — 
notwithstanding  he  makes  pathetic  mention,  in  his 
preface,  of  the  scoffs  and  gibes  to  which  he  had  been 
subjected  for  the  "  painful  travail"  of  his  perform, 
ance.  Fuller,  who  loved  to  jeer,  and  who  scattered 
about  his  criticisms  with  very  little  regard  to  truth, 
taunts  our  continuator  in  rather  bitter  terms. 

his  country's  history  and  antiquities.  A  copy  is  marked  at  15s.  in 
the  late  catalogue  of  Messrs  Payne  and  Foss. 

EDMUND  HOWES  twice  republished  Stow's  text,  in  folio,  with  cor- 
rections and  additions  :  the  first  time,  in  1615,  the  second,  in  1631. 
To  each  edition,  an  ornamented  title-page  is  prefixed,  enough  to  give 
a  fit  of  the  cholic  to  every  lover  of  good  art :  so  greatly  inferior, 
generally  speaking,  were  the  book-ornaments  of  the  seventeenth,  to 
those  of  the  preceding,  century  !  Both  editions  are  printed  in  the 
black  letter,  but  in  a  style — worthy  only  of  the  frontispiece.  The 
first  is  the  better  printed  book.  Three  introductory  pieces  precede 
the  body  of  the  text,  which  terminates  at  p.  988  ["  of  the  Univer- 
sities] j  and  which  is  succeeded  by  a  page  of  verses  from  Drayton's 
Poly  Olbion — an  alphabetical  Table,  and  a  curious  letter  to  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  London,  by  Howes,  dated  1615  j  in  which 
Howes  tells  them  how  heroically  he  had  surmounted  the  labours  and 
difficulties  of  his  '  Continuation  j '  in  the  course  of  which  "  he  had  to 
encounter  the  scoffs,  sarcasms,  and  discouragement  of  several  friends ; 
one  telling  him,  that  he  "  thanked  God  he  was  not  yet  made  to 
waste  his  time,  spend  two  hundred  pound  a  yeere,  trouble  himself 
and  all  his  friends,  onely  to  gayn  assurance  of  endlesse  reproach,  losse 
oflibertie,  and  bring  all  his  dayes  in  question,"  Bishop  Nicolson. 
says,  "  Howes  is  very  unfortunate,  if,  after  the  great  pains  of  thirty 
years  bestowed  upon  his  continuation  of  this  Chronicle,  he  be 
justly  liable  to  the  sharp  sentence  that  Fuller  has  passed  upon  him?" 
Engl.  Hist.  Libr.,  p.  72;  and  Fuller's  Worthies,  p.  220-1  in  '  London.' 
I  have  heard  of,  but  never  seen,  copies  upon  large  paper  of  the 
second  edition  of  1631.  Mr.  Grenville  is  the  fortunate  possessor  of 
a  copy  upon  thick  paper — the  only  one  I  ever  saw  —  which  had  be- 
longed to  Dr.  Mead.  It  was  probably  the  one  which  had  been  sold 
at  the  sale  of  Barrett's  library,  in  1818,  for  £6.  2*.  6d.  Messrs. 
Arch  mark  an  ordinary,  sound  copy,  in  calf  binding,  at  £3.  3s. 


190  HISTORY 

In  the  sixteenth  century  (reserving  Speed's  work  as 
the  first  of  our  Histories,  so  called,)  I  am  not  aware  of 
any  thing  particularly  deserving  of  notice,  till  we 
reach  the  age  of  cant  and  persecution  during  the  time 
of  the  Interregnum — when  the  Parliamentary  Chro- 
nicle of  VICARS,*  published  during  the  years  1643-6, 

*  JOHN  VICARS  is  one  of  the  triumvirate  thus  noticed  in  the  im- 
mortal poem  of  Hudibras. 

Thou  that  with  ale,  or  viler  liquors, 
Dids't  inspire  Withers,  Pryn,  and  Vicars. 

Canto  l.v.  645. 

The  strange  titles  of  the  PARLIAMENTARY  C  HRONICLE  of  Vicars  ar 
set  forth  at  length  in  the  Cens.  Literaria,  vol.  i.  p.  329,  and  Wait's 
Biogr.  Britan. — to  the  former  of  which  I  refer  the  reader  for  extracts 
from  the  work.f  The  first  published  portion  of  this  Chronicle  is 
called  Jehovah  Jireth,  God  in  the  Mount,  $c.  containing  Parts  I.  II. 
Part  III.  is  called,  "  God's  Arke  overtopping  the  World's  Waves:*' 
and  the  IVth  part,  "  the  Burning  Bush  not  consumed,"  #c.  Dr. 
Bliss  (Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  iii.  col.  309,  note  3)  tells  us  that,  in  the 
year  1803,  he  <f  saw  a  perfect  copy  sell  at  an  auction  for  a£12."  A 
copy  of  it,  '  in  blue  morocco,  border  of  gold,  gilt  leaves,'  was  pur- 
chased at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Heathcote's  books  in  1808,  (n°  834),  by 
Sir  Masterman  Mark  Sykes,  for  41.  14  s.  6d.-,  which  copy  was  pur- 
chased at  Mr.  Woodhouse's  sale,  (Bibl.  Woodh.  n°  806),  for  the 
sum  mentioned  by  Dr'.  Bliss,  in  Bibl.  Allen.  n°  1504.  Dr.  Lort's 
copy  —  in  which  the  Doctor  had  written  '  such  a  copy  as  this,  com- 
pleat,  is  seldom  to  be  met  with'— was  sold  for  2Z.  %s.  Another  work 
of  Vicars,  called  (  Transactions  of  these  latter  yeares,  emblemised. 
(being  the  preceding  article),  was  sold  for  £3.  This  latter  work 
has  plates.  It  would  be  difficult  now  to  appreciate,  with  accuracy, 
the  pecuniary  worth  of  Vicars's  Chronicles  ;  but  I  should  say  that  a 
good  and  perfect  copy  might  be  worth  6Z.  6s.  As  to  the  POETICAL 
PIECES  of  Vicars,  their  rarity  must  have  arisen  from  their  destruc- 
tion on  account  of  their  worthlessness.  Dr.  Grey,  in  his  note  upon 


•f*  And  for  a  perfect  specimen  of  Vicars's  choicest  slang,  I  recommend  th  •. 
reader  to  Chalmers's  Biogr.  Diet.  vol.  xxx.  p.  332-3. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  191 

in  four  parts,  in  4to.  arrests  our  immediate  attention. 
It  has  of  late  become  very  rare,  in  a  perfect  state ; 
and  as  it  is  never  likely  to  be  reprinted,  it  will  not 
want  severity  of  competition  among  purchasers.  There 
is  doubtless  much  curious,  and  much  distorted  in- 
formation, in  this  chronological, "  medley  of  facts,  and 
of  party  fury" — as  the  recent  Editor  of  the  Athence 
Oxonienses  properly  designates  it.  The  republican 
annals  were  doomed  to  meet  with  another  Recorder, 
or  Chronicler,  of  the  name  of  JAMES  HEATH  ;*  whose 

the  verses  of  Hudibras  (just  quoted)  is,  I  submit,  much  in  error 
in  calling  Vicars  "  as  able  a  poet  as  Withers."  The  truth  is,  he 
had  neither  the  genius  nor  the  (comparatively)  felicitous  versifi- 
cation of  the  latter.  Let  me  select  a  specimen — from  a  specimen — 
in  Dr.  Bliss's  Aihen.  Oxon. — from  the  Chronicler's  "  Prospective 
Glasse  to  looke  into  heaven."  1618.  sign.  D.  6. 

The  gates  of  which  most  holy  habitation, 
Are  pearles  of  peerlesse  price  and  valuation, 
Whose  wall  is  all  of  precious  stones  most  pure, 
Incomparably  rich,  and  strong  t'  endure  : 
There  is  that  glorious  paradise  celestiall, 
Surpassing  Adam's  paradise  terrestriall, 
Wherein  are  fluent  oily  riuers,  currents, 
Faire  brooks  of  butter,  and  sweet  honny  torrents. 

But  this  is  taking  "  the  young  man"  prematurely,  and  by  stealth, 
as  it  were,  into  the  department — or  region — of  POETRY.  I  must 
not  be  guilty  of  any  further  such  indiscretion. 

*  The  title  of  Heath's  work  is  this :  "  A  briefe  Chronicle  of  the 
late  intestine  War  in  the  three  Kingdoms  oj  England,  Scotland,  and 
Ireland,  #c.  Four  parts,  in  2  vol.  8vo.  1661,  1663.  The  same, 
continued  to  1675  3  London,  1676,  Folio.  I  shall  speak  chiefly  of 
the  octavo  edition  ;  which,  "  on  account  of  the  pictures  (says  An- 
thony a  Wood)  of  the  most  eminent  soldiers  in  the  said  war,  makes 
the  book  valued  the  more  by  some  NOVICES."  A  frontispiece,  and 
thirty-seven  Portraits,  render  a  copy  complete.  As  to  the  text,  the 
said  Anthony  designates  it  as  "  being  mostly  compiled  from  lying 
pamphlets,  and  all  sorts  of  news-books,  having  innumerable  errors 
therein,  especially  as  to  name  and  time,  things  chiefly  required  in 


192  HISTORY 

wretchedly  printed,  but  by  no  means  wholly  useless, 
performance,  seems  to  have  been  put  forth  rather  as  a 
vehicle  for  cuts  of  the  sorriest  possible  description. 
It  first  appeared  in  four  parts,  forming  two  small 
octavo  volumes,  in  1661  ;  and  afterwards  in  1663. 
Copies,  containing  all  the  portraits,  are  yet  caressed 
by  enthusiastic  collectors. 

Among  the  last  of  our  Chroniclers,  was  SIR  RICHARD 
BAKER:*  a  man  of  versatile,  but,  as  I  take  it,  of 

history."  Athen.  Oxon.  vol.iii.  col.  664.  Edit.  Bliss.  I  take  the  edition 
of  1663  to  be  only  that  of  1661,  with  a  fresh  title-page.  Since  the 
publication  of  Granger,  this  book — on  account  of  cutting  out  the 
portraits,  for  an  illustrated  copy  of  his  work — has  greatly  risen  in 
price,  if  ALL  the  portraits  are  found  in  a  genuine  state.  Tom  Os- 
borne  marked  it  at  a  price,  which  would  have  pleased  old  Anthony ; 
namely,  at  3s.  6d.  "  with  cuts ;"  in  his  catalogue  of  1766,  n°  12045. 
Of  late  years  it  has  brought  a  large  sum.  At  West's  sale,  Bibl. 
West.  n<>  4037,  it  was  sold  for  2J.  Is. :  at  Woodhouse's,  (Bibl.  Wood. 
n°  350),  for  5Z.  5s.,  "  elegant,  in  morocco  binding."  See  too  Bibl. 
Allen.  n°  518,  and  Scott's  Catalogue  (1804),  n°  990.  A  fine  and 
perfect  copy  may  probably  be  worth  Tl.  Vs. 

The  folio  edition  has  no  ornament  but  a  frontispiece  of  Charles  II. 
surrounded  by  his  loyal  Generals.  Wood  says  that  this  continuation, 
"  mostly  made  up  from  gazetts,"  was  by  John  Phillip,  "  nephew  by 
the  mother  to  Joh.  Milton."  There  is  another  folio  edition,  of  the 
date  of  1691.  But  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  is  scarce  or  dear. 

*  Dr.  Bliss,  in  his  recent  and  truly  valuable  edition  of  Wood's 
Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  iii.  col.  146-8,  has  given  us  a  list  of  the  various  edi- 
tions of  this  once  popular  Chronicle,  which  I  believe  few  lovers  of 
history  now  venture  to  peruse,  and  still  fewer  to  quote.  It  is  entitled  a 
tr  Chronicle  of  the  Kings  of  England^  &c.  with  a  Catalogue  of  the  No- 
bility and  Baronets;  and  was  first  published  in  1641,  folio,  about 
three  years  before  the  death  of  the  author .f  Not  fewer  than  nine 


t  "  This  first  edition  is  a  rare  book.  Besides  the  engraved  frontispiece  by 
Marshall,  containing  portraits  of  Charles  I.  and  Sir  Richard  Baker,  it  should  pos- 
sess a  plate,  by  Cor.  V.  Dalen,  of  Charles  II.  when  a  boy,  to  whom  the  original 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  193 

shallow  parts;  and  yet,  such  was  the  popularity  of 
his  flimsey  performance,  that  not  fewer  than  eight 

editions,  in  the  same  century,  succeeded  it :  and  before  the  second 
edition,  in  1653,  I  find  an  edition  of  it  published  in  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage, at  Amsterdam,  in  1649,  "  embellished  with  neat  historical 
plates  and  portraits."  See  the  Bibl.  Fagell.  n°  7734.  The  two 
latter  editions— of  the  dates  of  1730,  and  1733,— bringing  the 
chronicle  down  to  the  death  of  George  I.  are  considered  the  prefer- 
able ones.  Anthony  a  Wood  calls  the  author  a  "  noted  writer,"  and 
strives  hard  to  inspire  us  with  a  reverence  for  his  character :  but 
Bishop  Nicolson  says,  that  his  Chronicle  is  fit  only  "  to  please  the 
rabble."  Historical  Library,  p.  73.  And  what  are  we  to  say  to  an  au- 
thor, whose  vanity  was  so  excessive  as  to  instigate  him  to  tell  the  world 
that  "  if  all  other  Chronicles  were  lost,  posterity  would  be  sufficiently 
informed  of  every  thing  memorable  in  past  times,  by  reading  his 
OWN."  Yet,  as  Mr.  Chalmers  (Biogr.  Diet.  vol.  iii,  p.  343),  has  ob- 
served, the  late  worthy  and  learned  Daines  Barrington  gives  the 
most  favourable  opinion  of  this  Chronicle.  "  Baker,  (says  the 
latter  authority,)  is  by  no  means  so  contemptible  a  writer  as  he  is 
generally  supposed  to  be  :  it  is  believed  that  the  ridicule  on  this 
Chronicle  arises  from  its  being  part  of  the  furniture  of  Sir  Roger 
de  Coverley's  Hall,  in  one  of  the  Spectators."  Sir  Richard  (in  spite 
of  all  his  pious  effusions)  *  appears  to  have  been  a  gay  and  an  im- 
prudent man,  as  he  died  in  the  Fleet  Prison  ;  A.  D.  1644. 


work  was  dedicated.  The  first  continuation,  extending  to  the  year  1658,  was  by 
Edward  Phillips,  the  nephew  of  Milton,  who  printed  it  in  1660,  and  probably  su- 
perintended many  of  the  subsequent  impressions.  Certainly  the  ninth,  in  1696,  has 
his  name  to  the  introduction.  When  Langhorn's  continuation  commenced  (if  he 
did  continue  the  work  at  all)  seems  uncertain ;  Langhorn  died  in  1681.  The  edi- 
tions of  1730  and  1733  seem  to  be  one  and  the  same — excepting  a  fresh  title  to 
the  latter.  It  is  called  the  best  edition  ;  but  the  earlier  copies,  (particularly  that 
of  1641),  contain  many  very  curious  documents,  and  several  interesting  particu- 
lars omitted  by  Phillips  and  his  followers.  BLISS'S  Reliquiae  Hearniante,  vol.  i.  p. 
241.  Langhorn  published  a  chronicle,  in  Latin,  entitled  Chronicon  Regum  Anglo- 
rum,  ffc.  Lond.  typis  E.  F.  8vo.  without  date  :  but  perhaps  about  1670.  See  this, 
and  three  other  works,  relating  to  our  history  and  antiquities,  noticed  in  the  same 
"  Relics." 

*  Several  "  Meditations  and  Disquisitions  on  the  Psalms  of  David"  are  notified 
by  Wood  :  and  one  upon  the  Lord's  Prayer,  1633,  &c.  4 to.  Of  this  latter,  we 
have  a  singular  testimony  from  Sir  Henry  Wotton,  the  author's  "  quondam 

O 


194  HISTORY 

editions  of  it  went  through  the  press  after  liis  death — 
in  1644  ;  he  himself  living  to  see  only  the  first  edition 
in  ,1641.  I  believe  no  man  was  found  imprudent 
enough  to  republish  it  after  the  year  1733  ;  the  date 
of  the  last,  and  what  is  considered  to  be  the  best, 
edition. 

The  word  "  HISTORY"  should  seem  to  have  so  com- 
pletely superseded  that  of  "  Chronicle,"  that  I  am  not 
sure  whether  any  Chronicler  is  to  be  found  till  the 
year  1777 — when  a  work,  under  the  title  of  "  The 
Chronicle  of  England,  from  the  landing  of  Julius 
Ccesar  in  Britain  to  the  Norman  Conquest"  appeared 
from  the  laborious  pen  of  JOSEPH  STRUTT  :  among  the 
earliest  of  his  performances.  It  is  a  mere  collection 
of  facts  ;  exhibiting,  however,  the  result  of  much 
curious  research,  which  has  considerably  enlarged 
our  stock  of  information  respecting  our  Anglo-Saxon 

Bishop  Nicolson  has  well  called  upon  the  impartial  reader,  to 
look  into  Thomas  Blount's  Animadversions  on  this  Chronicle,  pub- 
lished at  Oxford,  in  1672,  8vo. — in  which  the  public  had  "  such  a 
specimen  of  its  many  and  gross  errors,  as  ought  to  have  shaken  its 
credit."  And  yet  (in  the  Bishop's  time)  "  it  sold  as  well  as  ever." 
Blount  himself  is  supposed  to  have  spent  several  years  in  writing  a 
Chronicle  of  English  Affairs ;  but  neither  Wood,  nor  Nicolson,  nor 
Hearne,  had  ever  met  with  it.  See  the  latter's  Peter  LangtoffCs  Chro- 
nicle, vol.  i.  p.  xxviii.  He  was  the  author  of  the  well  known  Glos- 


chamber-fellow,"  to  whom  Baker  sent  it  before  it  went  to  press.  "  I  much  ad- 
mire (says  Sir  Henry)  the  very  character  of  your  style,  which  seemeth  unto  me 
to  have  not  a  little  of  the  African  idea  of  St.  Austin's  age,  full  of  sweet  raptures, 
and  of  researching  conceits  :  nothing  borrowed,  nothing  vulgar,  and  yet  all  flow- 
ing from  you,  (I  know  not  how)  with  a  certain  equal  facility."  Athen  Oxon.  vol. 
iii.  col.  147.  Sir  Henry  must  have  been  in  more  than  a  usually  complimentary 
mood.  The  sight  of  the  author's  ms.  before  it  went  to  press  must  have  quite  over- 
set him.  I  find,  in  that  singularly  rich  library  of  R.  Smith,  1682,  p.  216,  n°  36,  a 
work  by  Sir  Richard  called  "  Motives  for  Prayer  upon  the  Seven  Days  in  the  Wetk  :" 
with  cuts,  1642, 18mo. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  195 

Ancestors.  The  plates,  forty-two  in  number,*  are 
merely  intended  for  illustrations.  With  Strutt,  died 
our  Chroniclers,  professedly  so  called, 

I  now  take  up  the  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND,  properly 
so  designated,  from  the  time  of  Polydore  Vergil  to  the 
more  recent  publications  of  the  present  period,  not 
without  the  accompanying  and  appropriate  aid  of  Me- 
morials, Journals,  and  Memoirs.  The  Chronicles  will 
be  found  to  supply  the  vacuum  between  the  middle  of 
the  sixteenth  century  to  the  commencement  of  the 
seventeenth  century.  The  Historia  Anglica  of  POLY- 
DORE VERGIL,  first  published  at  Basil,  in  1534/f-  is 

sographia  Nova,  &c.  Wood  is  fertile  in  the  notice  of  his  labours. 
Note  of  Sir  Richard's  Chronicle :  the  later  editions  have  engraved 
title  pages,  and  a  copy  is  worth  about  \l.  10s. 

*  These  plates  are  little  better  than  magazine  productions j  un- 
worthy of  the  name  and  reputation  of  the  author.  At  the  end  of  the 
second  volume,  p.  277,  there  is  an  "  Appendix,"  which  extends  to 
page  291,  inclusively.  The  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  is 
enriched  with  several  copies  of  this  not  undesirable  work.  The 
small  paper  being  marked  at  41.  4s.  j  and  the  large,  "  very  neat,  in 
russia,"  at  12Z.  12s. 

f  This  is  the  first  edition  of  the  work,  which  was  afterwards  re- 
printed at  the  same  place  in  1555,  1556,  1557,  and  again  in  1570, 
folio.  The  octavo  edition  of  1651  is  considered  the  best.  An  in- 
termediate edition  was  published  at  Ghent  in  1556,  8vo.  2  vol.  The 
edition  of  1534  will  necessarily  be  considered  as  theEditio  Princeps; 
and  perhaps,  of  all  copies  of  it,  now  in  existence,  that  of  the  Rt. 
Hon.  T.  Grenville  is  the  finest.*  It  seems  to  be  also  on  LARGE 
PAPER.  The  binding  is  in  the  original,  beautiful  condition;  and 
will  be  found  described  in  the  Bibliogr.  Decameron,  vol.  ii.  p.  469. 
All  the  books,  with  this  peculiar  binding,  appear  to  have  belonged 
to  a  collector,  resident  at  Basle.  At  least  I  have  seen  none  but 
Basle  books  in  such  a  binding.  But  the  typographical  execution,  and 
graphic  embellishments,  of  this  first  edition  of  Polydore  Vergil's 


*  It  has  however  the  date  of  1533. 


196  HISTORY 

now  rarely  consulted ;  its  chief  merit  consisting  in  the 
purity  of  its  style.  The  author  has  been  accused  of 
having  destroyed  those  ms.  authorities  which  he  con- 
sulted. The  Collectanea  of  LELAND  *  have  been  the 
well-springs  of  a  great  portion  of  information  found 
in  the  pages  of  Polydore  Vergil's  successors. 

From  Vergil  I  proceed  to  JOHN  SPEED  ;  whose  His- 
toric of  Great  Britaine  was  first  published  in  1611/t1 

History  of  England,  are  most  inviting.  Consult  the  Typog.  Antiq. 
vol.  i.  p.  xliv,  xlv.  In  regard  to  the  character  of  the  historian,  the 
reader  may  see  some  powerful  hostile  criticisms,  from  powerful 
names,  in  the  Bibliomania  ;  p.  323.  There  are  some  who  think  that 
Polydore,  in  the  purity  of  his  style,  redeems  the  frequent  infidelity  of 
his  narrative.  Had  he  given  us  a  "  History  of  his  own  Times  " 
(and  those  times  were  most  interesting,  and  he  an  acute  observer) 
as  Burnet  has  done,  we  might  have  cheerfully  parted  with  every  line 
of  his  "  Historia  Anglica." 

*  Leland's  valuable  Collections  were  first  published  by  Hearne,  in 
1715,  6  vol.  Svo.  Of  these,  hereafter. 

t  The  dates  of  the  subsequent  editions  are  1614,  1623,  1627, 
1632,  and  1650  :  each  in  folio — and  all  substantial  volumes  :  but  the 
first  of  1611  seems  to  be  the  favourite.  Large  paper  copies  of  this 
first  edition  are  by  no  means  uncommon.  Mr.  Triphook  has  at  this 
moment  a  very  fine  one,  marked  at  51.  5s.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  copy 
of  it,  together  with  the  Theatre,  fyc.  (of  which  presently)  at  9l.  9s.  It 
is  in  most  of  our  celebrated  public  and  private  collections  :  J  but  one 
of  the  most  gorgeous  copies,  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  is  that  in 
the  archiepiscopal  library  at  Lambeth — in  2  vol.,  bound  in  red  mo- 
rocco, with  the  plates  coloured.  The  brass  and  gold  coins,  &c.  have 
a  good  effect  j  but  the  rest  of  the  ornaments  are  tawdrily  executed. 
In  former  times,  this  copy  appears  to  have  been  much  used.  The 
cuts  in  Speed's  history  are  in  wood,  and  consist  of  coins,  seals,  arms, 
and  different  insignia  of  the  several  reigns.  The  first  three  editions 
have  engraved  title-pages;  the  two  latter  have  letter-press  title- 


it  It  was  also  in  the  Library  of  Major  Pearson,  n°  5484.  A  similar  large  paper 
copy  is  in  the  library  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin— from  the  Fagel  Collection,  n° 
7732. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  is; 

in  a  splendid  folio  volume,  and  of  which  five  editions 
appeared  before  the  expiration  of  the  half  of  the  same 
century.  Whoever  was  the  projector  of  the  mode  of 
publication,  is  not  known  :  if  it  were  Speed  himself, 

pages,  with  an  excellent  portrait  of  Speed,  engraved  by  Savery,  pre- 
fixed. This  is  the  only  portrait  of  Speed  (according  to  Granger) 
extant.  Nicolson's  English  Hist.  Library,  p.  73,  edit,  folio,  1736, 
may  be  worth  consulting,  respecting  the  particular  merits  of  Speed's 
history.  Fuller  has  sneered  at  it — in  his  usually  characteristic  man- 
nanner :  but  it  is  only  a  sneer.* 

I  have  said  that  the  first  edition  of  1611,  is  "  the  favourite  j"  but 
as  Speed  died  in  1629,  I  know  not  why  the  subsequent  editions,  up 
to  his  death,  are  to  be  hastily  discarded.  Accordingly  I  find  a  copy 
of  the  fourth  edition,  in  1627>  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  in  the  Bibl.  R. 
Smithy  p.  280,  n°  364  j  and  a  similar  one  in  West's  collection,  (Bibl. 
West.  n°4125)  splendidly  illustrated,  which  latter  was  sold  for  61.  10*. 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  large  paper  copy  of  this  edition, 
together  with  the  Theatre,  in  russia  binding,  gilt  leaves,  at  8/.  8s. 
2  vol.  f  The  Theatre  of  Great  Britain  has  been  published  perhaps 
more  frequently  than  the  history — as  early  as  1611,  and  as  late  as 
1743  :  see  Cough's  British  Topography,  vol.  i.  p.  91  :  where  the 
work  is  called  ee  a  noble  apparatus"  to  the  history.  It  consists  of 
maps  of  several  counties  and  principal  borough  towns  of  G.  B.  and 
has  small  engravings  of  palaces  and  great  mansions,  in  the  corners—- 
which the  hungry  illustrator  seizes  upon  and  cuts  up  without  re- 
morse. A  good  copy  of  this  Theatre  (in  which  the  maps  and  arms 
are  frequently  coloured),  may  be  worth  2£.  2s.  Du  Fresnoy  (in 
Rawlinson's  Catalogue)  calls  the  Theatre  fe  a  diligent  and  exact  work, 
and  of  equal  use  for  the  history,  as  the  topography  of  England," 
vol.  ii.  p.  460.  A  remarkably  fine  large  paper  copy  of  the  first  edi- 
tion, 1611,  was  sold  at  Woodhouse's  sale  for  III.  Us. 


*  What  Sir  Henry  Spclman  said  to  Sir  Wm.  Dugdale,  about  Speed,  was  a  harm- 
less joke  rather  than  a  sneer.  "  We  are  beholden  to  Mr.  Speed  and  Stowe  for 
stitching  up  for  us  our  English  history'."  Both  Stowe  and  Speed  were  Tailors. 
Aubrey's  Lives  of  Eminent  Men ;  vol.  ii.  p.  541. 

t  In  this  same  catalogue  (1822,  n°  5531),  I  find  a  copy  of  Speed's  "  Catalogue 
of  Religious  Houses  in  Great  Britain,  interleaved,  with  portrait  of  Speed  inserted," 
very  neat,  15*. 


198  HISTORY 

he  deserves  the  warm  thanks  of  posterity — for  it  is,  of 
all  others,  one  of  the  most  tasteful  and  useful  plans 
ever  carried  into  effect.  And  Granger  has  told  us, 
that  Speed's  work  "  is,  in  its  kind,  incomparably  more 
complete  than  all  the  histories  of  his  predecessors  put 
together."*  The  History  and  Lives  of  XX  Kinges  of 
England,  fyc.  by  WILLIAM  MARTYN,  Esq.~J~  is  now,  I 
believe,  a  volume,  coveted  chiefly  for  the  brilliant 
frontispiece  of  small  portraits  of  the  Monarchs  whose 
deeds  are  recorded  in  the  text.  Wm.  Marshall  was 
the  engraver  of  these  brilliant  little  heads.  The  la- 
bours of  Martyn  were  never  intruded  upon  the  public 
beyond  a  second  edition,  which  appeared  in  1638. 
The  first  was  published  in  1615.  A  book  of  greater 
intrinsic  worth,  and  of  much  rarer  occurrence,  next 
arrests  our  attention.  I  speak  of  the  "  Palce-Albion, 
or  The  History  of  Great  Britaine,  8$c.  by  WILLIAM 
SLAT  YE  R  ;  which  appeared  without  date,  but  I  believe 

*  Biographical  History  of  England,  vol.  ii.  p.  320,  edit.  1804. 

f  Martyn' s  history  comprises  a  period  from  the  reign  of  William 
I.  to  that  of  Henry  VIII.,  with  the  succession  of  the  Dukes,  Earls, 
&c.  of  this  kingdom  to  the  Xllth  of  James  I.  London  1615,  1638, 
folio.  The  engraved  portraits,  above  noticed,  are  within  very  small 
circles,  suspended,  medallion-wise,  to  the  shafts  of  two  columns. 
The  curious  necessarily  covet  brilliant  impressions  of  these  graphic 
gems.  See  Bill,  Hoblyn,  pt.  ii.  p.  509.  Nicolson  notices  the  second 
edition  as  enlarged  with  the  lives  of  the  three  succeeding  Monarchs  : 
but  without  the  frontispiece.  My  memory  may  misgive  me,  but  I 
seem  to  possess  not  a  very  indistinct  recollection  of  a  fine  large 
paper  presentation  copy  of  the  first  edition,  with  such  impressions  of 
the  regal  portraits  as  made  the  beholder  almost  start  back  with  de- 
lightful astonishment !  Martyn  was  recorder  of  Exeter  j  and  his 
history  was  ushered  into  the  world,  after  his  decease,  by  his  sons  j 
who  were  very  anxious  that  the  public  should  acknowledge  the 
same  degree  of  merit  in  it  which  they  themselves  fancied  they  dis- 
covered. But  the  event  proved  sadly  otherwise. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

in  the  year  1621.*  Old  Anthony  a  Wood  says  that 
the  author  was  "  in  good  esteem  for  his  knowledge  in 
English  History,  and  his  excellent  vein  in  Latin  and 
English  poetry" — of  both  of  which,  indeed,  he  has  ex- 
hibited copious  specimens,  in  the  Latin  and  English 
verses  throughout  the  Te n  Boohs  of  which  his  history 
is  composed. 

It  is  now  time  to  notice  "  The  Collection  of  the 
History  oj  England  by  SAMUEL  DANIEL  ;  "'t*  not  pro- 

*  In  the  recent  edition  of  the  Athena  Oxonienses,  vol.  in.  col.  227, 
there  is  some  account  of  Slatyer,  together  with  a  specimen  of  the 
English  verses  from  his  history  :  for  which  Dr.  Bliss,  the  editor,  re- 
fers to  the  Censura  Literaria,  vol.  ix.  p.  31-36 — and  where  indeed 
several  specimens  will  be  found  both  of  the  Latin  and  English  poetry. 
Dr.  Bliss,  with  good  reason,  thinks  the  former  superior  to  the  latter. 
I  know  not  for  what  reason,  but  this  has  always  been  a  rare  book  in 
a  perfect  state.  Nicolson  gives  a  very  brief  notice  of  it ;  and  it  is 
only  to  the  Bibl.  Beauderk,  pt.  ii.  n°  2244,  (which  copy  with  another 
book,  was  sold  for  a  shilling  only),  that  I  am  able,  just  now,  to  re- 
fer for  the  existence  of  a  copy  in  a  printed  catalogue  of  a  private 
library.  A  copy  is  in  the  British  Museum,  but  not  in  the  Royal  or 
London  Institution  libraries.  An  inspection  of  a  sound  and  neat 
copy,  in  the  choice  collection  of  Mr.  Roger  Wilbraham,  enables  me 
to  point  out  to  the  purchaser  the  necessity  of  examining  whether  the 
copy,  he  have  in  view,  contain  sign.  I)  d.  3 — on  the  reverse  of  which 
the  work  ends.  From  signature  C  c  2,  the  leaves  are  not  numbered. 
The  "  marginal  notes"  are  duly  mentioned  by  Wood.  As  a  speci- 
men of  one  or  two  of  them,  let  the  reader  consult  p.  113,  where  the 
heraldic  authorities  of  John  Harding,  John  Hanvill,  and  N.  Upton 
are  cited,  in  order  to  prove  what  arms  "  BRUTE  bare !  "  The  cut  of 
Hengist  at  the  commencement  of  Ode  VII.,  is  borrowed  from  Speed. 

f  It  is  perhaps  difficult  to  know  precisely  when  the  first  edition  of 
SAMUEL  DANIEL'S  truly  desirable  volume  appeared.  Bishop  Nicol- 
son hastily  (I  think)  places  it  in  1602.  Mr.  Burnett  (Specimens  of 
English  Prose  Writers,  vol.  ii.  p.  368)  in  1613.  It  seems  that  two 
editions  preceded  that  of  1634;  namely,  one  in  1618,  and  another 
in  1621.  The  dates  of  TRUSSEL'S  (very  unworthy)  continuation  are 


200  HISTORY 

bably  in  the  precise  chronological  order  in  which  it 
was  published,  but  from  the  "  last  corrected  copy"  of 
the  author  appearing  in  1634  ;  after  which  it  was  con- 
tinued, chiefly  by  John  Trussel,  to  the  year  1685. 
Daniel  stands  exceedingly  high  in  the  estimation  of 
competent  judges,  as  the  preceding  note  will  abun- 
dantly testify.  About  this  time  came  forth  the  history 
of  Great  Britain  by  DUCHESNE  ;  and  towards  the  end 
of  the  same  century,  appeared  the  labours  of  another 
French  historian,  of  the  name  of  LARRY,  connected 
with  our  history.  I  place  them  thus  together,*  almost 

1636,  1650,  1685: — incorporating  Daniel's  text:  and  from  the 
Bibl.  Hoblyn,  pt.  ii.  p.  509,  these  latter  should  seem  to  be  the  prefer- 
able editions.  The  style  of  Daniel  has  been  generally  and  warmly 
commended.  Headley  calls  the  author  "  the  Atticus  of  his  day  :"  An- 
cient English  Poetry,  vol.  i.  p.  xlii.  edit  1787  :  See  also  Ellis's  Early 
English  Poets,  vol.  ii.  p.  316.  Echard  also  praises  him  in  the  pre- 
face of  his  own  History  of  England  ;  coupling  him  with  Milton.  It 
must  be  noted,  here,  that  Daniel  was  a  poet  as  well  as  an  historian. 
*  I  will,  as  briefly  as  possible,  dismiss  the  notice  of  these  two 
French  writers  of  our  history.  DUCHESNE'S  history  appeared  at 
Paris  in  1634-41  j  and  again  in  1666,  in  two  folio  volumes.  Al- 
though the  author  be  called  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Recueil  des 
Historiens  des  Gaules,  %c.  "  The  FATHER  OF  FRENCH  HISTORIANS," 
he  is,  in  reference  to  English  History,  among  the  least  of  its  CHIL- 
DREN. Du  Fresnoy  dispatches  the  work  with  the  laconic,  but  em- 
phatic, epithet  of  "  Mediocre."  LARRY,  who  was  a  protestant, 
published  the  second  volume  of  his  history,  first,  in  1697  :  the  third 
in  16985  the  first  in  1707,  and  the  fourth  in  1713.  It  was  much 
applauded  abroad,  on  its  first  appearance,  as  the  completest  history 
in  the  French  language  :  and  the  portraits,  with  which  it  is  plenti- 
fully furnished,  helped  to  increase  its  popularity.  But  scarcely  a 
score  of  years  elapsed,  ere  the  work  was  found  to  be  jejune  and  un- 
satisfactory j  and  in  spite  of  the  style  and  narrative,  which  Niceron 
designates  as  "coulante"  and  "  inte*ressante,"  the  work  rapidly  sunk 
in  estimation :  and  is  now  seized  upon  by  Collectors  chiefly  for  the 
sake  of  the  portraits — which,  if  blackness,  or  strong  shadow,  alone, 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  201 

parenthetically,  and  proceed  to  Milton,  Whitelock,  and 
Brady.  First  of  MILTON  ;  whose  history,  however,  is 
very  short;  it  having  been  first  published  in  1671,  4to., 
and  afterwards  in  1695,  8vo.  It  has  been  incorporated 
in  the  octavo,  and  both  the  folio,  editions  of  his 
works;  the  latter,  of  1738,  the  better  edition.  The 
history  extends  only  to  William  the  Conqueror.* 
The  Memorials  of  English  Affairs  (from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  to  the  Restoration) 
by  BULSTRODE  WHITELOCK,  and  which  first  appeared 
in  1682  f,  is  an  admirable  work  ;  but  both  "  the 

possess  merit,  are  most  meritorious.  J  Copies  on  LARGE  PAPER  are 
by  no  means  rare.  Memoires  des  Hommes  Illustres ;  vol.  i.  p.  1O. 

*  Mr.  D 'Israeli,  the  modern  <(  Indagator  invictissimus  "  of  every 
thing  that  is  CURIOUS  and  interesting,  and  precious,  relating  to  our 
history  and  literature,  has  furnished  us  with  the  following  piece  of 
information  respecting  MILTON'S  History  of  England.  "  Milton,  in 
composing  his  History  of  England,  introduced,  in  the  third  Book,  a 
very  remarkable  digression  on  the  characters  of  the  Long  Parlia- 
ment :  a  most  animated  description  of  a  class  of  political  adventurers, 
with  whom  modern  history  has  presented  many  parallels.  From 
tenderness  to  a  party  then  imagined  to  be  subdued,  it  was  struck 
out,  by  command,  nor  do  I  find  it  restituted  in  Kennet's  Collection 
of  English  Histories."  It  was,  however,  <e  preserved  by  a  pamphlet 
in  1681,  which  has  fortunately  exhibited  one  of  the  warmest  pic- 
tures in  design  and  colouring  by  a  master's  hand."  New  Series  of 
Curiosities  of  Literature ;  vol.  i.  p.  144.  But  this  tract  is  reprinted 
in  Milton's  Prose  Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  39,  Edit.  1738 — where  its  omis- 
sion, in  all  the  previous  editions  of  Milton's  history,  is  mentioned. 
My  friend  Mr.  Amyot  seems  to  suspect  that  Milton  was  not  the 
author  of  it :  and  I  own  that  I  incline  to  his  opinion. 

f  I  must  commence  this  note  with  confessing  my  obligations  to 
the  authority  with  which  the  last  terminated.  WHITELOCK'S  Memo- 
rials were  first  published  (as  above)  "  by  Arthur,  Earl  of  Anglesea, 


J  "  The  portraits,  in  number  LXVII,  are  after  Vanderwerfft  by  Van  Gunst,  and 
others  ;"  See  Bibl.  Fagel,  no.  7737.  The  ORIGINALS  of  these  engraved  portraits 
were,  I  suspect,  very  frequently,  ideal. 


•202  HISTORY 

Young"  and  "  the  Old"  Collector  will  do  well  to 
admit  only  the  last  edition  of  1732  into  his  library. 
More  ample,  and  doubtless  more  valuable,  than 
either  of  its  precursors,  is  A  Complete  History  of 
England,  &c.  by  ROBERT  BRADY,  published  at  London 
in  1685-1700,*  in  2  folio  volumes  ;  to  which  is  usually 

who  took  considerable  liberties  with  the  manuscript."  The  "  liber- 
ties "  usually  consisted  of  a  characteristic  stroke,  or  a  short  critical 
opinion,  which  did  not  harmonise  with  the  private  feelings  of  the 
Earl."  The  passages  struck  out  were  restored  (says  Mr.  D'Israeli) 
in  the  edition  of  1732  ;  which  have  scarcely  increased  the  magnitude 
of  the  volume,  and  et  the  booksellers  imagine  that  there  can  be  no 
material  difference  between  the  two  editions,  and  wonder  at  the  bib- 
liographical mystery  that  they  can  afford  to  sell  the  edition  of  1682 
at  105.,  and  have  ^5.  5s.  for  the  edition  of  1732."  New  Series, 
&c.  vol.  i.  p.  144.  The  edition  of  1732  is  doubtless  the  safest  to 
purchase;  but  the  recent  catalogues  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  and 
Longman  and  Co.  lead  us  to  indulge  the  hope  that  a  copy  of  it  may 
be  obtained  for  one-fifth  less  than  the  <f  round  sum  "  mentioned  by 
my  very  "  curious"  friend  Mr.  D'Israeli.  Granger  says  (from 
Echard)  that  "  these  Memorials  would  have  been  much  more  valu- 
able, if  his  wife  had  not  burnt  many  of  his  papers."  Biogr.  Hist. 
of  England,  vol.  iv.  p.  65.  "  There  is  an  anonymous  pamphlet 
(says  Granger)  well  worth  the  reader's  attention,  entitled  "  Claren- 
don and  Whitelock  further  compared."  It  was  written  by  Mr.  John 
Davys,  of  Hertford  College,  Oxford."  There  is  another  work  by 
Whitelocke,  now  little  read,  containing  <f  Memorials  of  the  English 
Affairs  from  the  time  of  Brute  to  the  end  of  the  reign  of  James  I." 
This  was  published  by  W.  Penn  and  Dr.  Wei  wood  in  1709,  and  may 
usually  be  purchased  for  a  few  shillings. 

*  More  cannot  be  said  in  recommendation  of  Brady's  history  than 
is  said  above  :  and  the  well-disposed  towards  an  acquisition  of  good 
old  English  History  will  do  well  to  secure  a  copy  of  it  at  the  very 
reasonable  price  of  s£2.  2s.,  in  three  vols.,  as  marked  in  the  recent 
catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  Mr.  Laing  marks  a  copy  "  in 
four  vol.  not  quite  uniform  "  at  jt*2.  12s.  6d.  The  work  extends  only 
to  the  reign  of  Richard  II. :  but  says  the  Lord  Keeper  Guilford  f(  it 
is  compiled  so  religiously  upon  the  very  text,  letters,  and  syllable  of 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  20J 

added  a  third  volume,  being  the  author's  ff  Introduc- 
tion to  the  Old  English  History"  with  a  Glossary, 
£c.  1684,  and  a  fourth,  being  an  "  Historical  Ireatise 
of  Cities  and  Boroughs"'  Brady's  performance,  which 
has  received  the  warm  commendations  of  Lord  Keeper 
Guilford  and  Hume,  as  its  title  imports,  may  be 
considered  rather  the  ground  work  of  a  general  his- 
tory of  England  —  it  being  "  all  delivered  in  plain 
matter  of  fact,  without  any  reflections  or  remarques." 
It  is  a  work,  which  will  every  year  necessarily  become 
rarer  and  rarer.  The  last  historian  in  the  seventeenth 
century  whom  I  shall  notice  —  and  who,  especially 
with  the  admirers  of  the  Whig  principles  of  our  con- 
stitution, is  deservedly  held  in  considerable  respect,  is 
JAMES  TYRRELL  *  whose  General  History  of  England^ 

the  authorities,  especially  those  upon  record,  that  the  work  may 
justly  pass  for  an  antiquarian  law  book.  Each  volume  of  the  his- 
tory contains  a  frontispiece,  and  a  copious  Appendix  separately  num- 
bered. The  portrait  of  James  I.  is  in  the  first  volume ;  of  which  the 
"  General  Preface"  is  full  of  Anglo-Saxon  historical  erudition.  His 
Introduction  to  Old  English  History  is  (e  comprehended  in  three  seve- 
ral tracts,"  &c.  together  with  a  Glossary.f  This  forms  a  third  volume. 
The  account  of  cities  and  boroughs,  a  fourth.  A  complete  copy  is  in 
the  Library  of  the  Royal  Institution.  Brady  has  been  long  considered 
as  the  champion  of  Toryism,  at  the  period  when  he  wrote.  I  seek  in 
vain  among  catalogues  —  for  copies  of  his  estimable  labours  upon 

LARGE  PAPER. 

*  Perfect  sets  of  Tyrrel  are  becoming  rarer  and  rarer  every  day. 
The  author  was  professedly  a  Whig  ;  and  Tom  Hearne,  who  made 
whiggism  and  republicanism  synonymous,  observes,  in  a  letter  to 


t  The  TRACTS  are  these  :  1."  An  Answer  to  Mr.  Petyfs  Rights  of  ye  Commons 
asserted ;"  and  to  a  book  intituled  "  Jaiii  Anglorum  fades  Nova"  2.  An  Answer 
to  a  book  intituled  "  Argumentum  Antinormanicum"  3.  "  The  exact  history  of 
the  succession  of  the  Crown  of  England;"  second  edit,  very  much  enlarged.  The 
GLOSSARY  expounds  "  many  words  used  frequently  in  our  ancient  Records,  Laws, 
and  Historians." 


204  HISTORY 

&c.  was  published  in  1696-1704.  It  is  in  three,  or  four 
folio  volumes^  according  to  the  fancy  of  the  purchaser. 
Tyrrell  is  the  very  opposite  of  Brady ;  and  his  work 
abounds  with  equally  curious  and  important  matter. 
He  married  the  grand-daughter  of  Usher ;  and  Hearne 
admits  (but  with  apparent  reluctance)  that  he  "  is  a 
learned  man,  although  he  runs  counter  now  and  then 

Anstis,  of  the  date  of  July  11,  1714,  "  The  last  time  I  saw  Mr. 
Tyrrell,  he  told  me  he  was  going  to  London  to  print  another  part  of 
his  General  History  of  England.  I  hope  he  will  retract  his  errors ; 
but  this  I  cannot  well  expect,  considering  his  age,  and  his  zeal  for 
republican  principles."  Letters  of  Eminent  Persons,  &c.  vol.  i.  page 
289.  I  do  not  know  what  "  other  part"  of  his  English  history 
Hearne  can  allude  to,  as  Tyrrell  died  in  1718,  having  just  brought 
out  an  enlarged  edition  of  his  "  Bibliotheca  Politico,,  or  an  Enquiry 
into  the  ancient  constitution  of  the  English  Government,"  in  folio — 
of  which  I  observe  a  copy  on  LARGE  PAPER,  marked  at  10*.  6d.  in 
Mr.  Payne's  catalogue.  *Of  the  "  History,"*  I  know  of  no  copy 
upon  large  paper ;  nor  of  any,  in  any  form,  which  has  a  date  later 
than  1704.  The  volumes  in  fact  are  nominally  three,  but  volumes 
II.  and  III,  being  each  of  them  about  double  the  bulk  of  volume  I. 
are  more  commonly  bound  in  parts;  thus  making  the  entire  work 
consist  of  five  volumes.  The  purchaser  should  see  that  he  is  sup- 
plied with  volume  III.,  Part  II.,  printed  in  1704,  and  completing 
the  history  to  the  end  of  Richard  II.  In  the  Bibl.  West.  no.  4133,  there 
was  a  copy  "  with  a  great  number  of  ms.  notes  in  the  margin,  and 
insertions  of  curious  ms.  papers  in  a  fair  hand  ;"  which  Paterson,  who 
drew  up  the  catalogue,  supposed  to  be  "  the  work  of  some  very  able 
historian,  if  not  of  the  author  himself."  In  the  collection  of  Daly's 
books,  which  were  sold  in  Dublin  in  1792,  there  was  a  similar  copy, 
in  five  vols.  :  thus  described.  (e  To  this  copy  Mr.  Tyrrel  has  made 
considerable  additions  in  ms.  written  in  a  fair  hand,  which  must  be 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  learned."  It  was  purchased  for 
£10.  4s.  6d.  I  observe  an  ordinary  copy  of  this  work  marked 
in  Mr.  Laing's  catalogue  of  1822  :  no.  7479. 


*  Like  Brady's,  it  extends  only  to  the  time  of  Richard  II. ;  but  it  has  many 
curious  documents,  illustrative  even  of  the  history  of  our  language ;  to  which  I 
think  either  Warton,  Ritson,  or  Burnett  has  referred. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  205 

to  usually  received  opinions."  See  the  preface  to 
Benedict.  Abbas,  p.  xi.  In  his  Thomas  de  Elmharn, 
page  xvi,  he  seems  to  squeeze  out  a  compliment  to 
him  in  a  circuitous  and  heartless  manner.  The  truth 
is,  that  Tyrrell's  history,  together  with  that  of  Brady, 
is  indispensable  to  an  historical  collection  of  any 
extent :  but  one  regrets  that  the  volumes  are  usually 
found  in  such  varying  sizes. 

The  opening  of  the  eighteenth  century  was  parti- 
cularly distinguished  by  a  series,  and  almost  throng,  of 
Histories  of  England,  general  or  partial,  so  as  to  make 
it  somewhat  difficult  to  select  them  with  judgment, 
and  describe  them  with  accuracy.  But  the  names  of 
RENNET  and  ECHARD — connected  with  the  former — 
and  that  of  the  illustrious  CLARENDON,  illustrative  of 
the  latter,  species  of  history — demand  our  immediate 
attention.  First,  then,  of  the  "  Complete  History  of 
England"  usually  attributed  to  BISHOP  KENNET,  but 
which  was  published  anonymously — first  in  1709,  and 
secondly  in  1719,*  each  edition  being  in  three  volumes. 

*  First,  as  to  the  author.  What  could  be  the  motive  of  Bishop 
Kennetf  to  deny  it,  is  not,  at  this  period,  very  manifest.  That  he 
took  an  ample  share  in  it,  is  evident  from  Hearne's  affirmation  j  who 
says  (Oct.  8,  1708)  that  "  Mr.  Took  told  sir  Philip  Syndem  that  he 
paid  Dr.  Kennet  20O  libs  for  his  share  in  the  three  vols.  of  English 
historians,  besides  about  10O  libs  that  it  cost  him  in  treats."  Reli- 
quicc  Hearniance  ;  vol.  i.  p.  141.  Mr.  Nichols,  in  that  most  interest- 
ing 4to.  volume  called  Anecdotes  of  Literature,  1780  (subsequently 
and  miraculously  expanded  into  fourteen  substantial  octavos)  tells  us., 
at  p.  54,  that  the  compilation  of  the  first  two  volumes  of  Kennet's 
history  was  by  a  Mr.  Hughes  -,  who  is  supposed  to  have  written  "  the 
general  preface  without  any  participation  of  Dr.  Kennet."  (For 
some  interesting  particulars  respecting  Kennet,  consult  p.  532  of  the 


t  He  was  not  made  a  Bishop  till  1718  :  when  he  had  the  See  of  Peterborough. 


HISTORY 

I  have  little  hesitation  in  affirming,  that,  considering 
the  authentic  and  interesting  materials  of  which  this 

same  volume.)  This  history,  as  the  title  imports,  is  "  illustrated 
with  large  and  useful  notes,  taken  from  diverse  MSS.  and  other  good 
authors :  "  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  preface  to  the  third  volume, 
we  are  informed  that  the  author's  intention  was  "  to  hold  an  even 
balance,  and  to  let  nothing  turn  it  but  truth  and  justice."  The  reader 
has  only  to  glance  on  the  subjoined  note*  to  be  convinced  of  the 
importance  of  the  materials  of  which  these  volumes  are  composed. 
They  are  not  destitute  of  embellishments,  such  as  they  are ;  the 
heads  being  engraved  by  Vanderbanck.  The  list  of  subscribers  is 
large  and  respectable.  Each  volume  has  a  copious  index.  The 
third  volume  of  Kennet  gave  rise  to  the  following  publication  : 
"  Ex  AM  EN  :  or  an  Enquiry  into  the  Credit  and  Veracity  of  a  Pretended 
Complete  History  •  shewing  the  perverse  and  wicked  Design  of  it,  and  the 
many  Falsities  and  Abuses  of  Truth  contained  in  it."  &c.  By  the  HON. 
ROGER  NORTH,  Esq.  London,  1740,  4to.  This,  till  its  recent  re- 
print, was  a  scarce  and  coveted  book.  It  contains  many  curious 
particulars  3  although  Kennet  is  hardly  treated  with  even  the  common 
civility  of  a  gentleman. 

The  edition  of  1719,  commonly  called  "  the  best,  "  contains 
€t  notes,  said  to  be  inserted  by  Mr.  Strype  :  and  several  alterations 
and  additions."  Nichols,  ibid.  Dr.  Rawlinson,f  however,  seems  to 
doubt  the  authenticity  of  these  notes  as  being  penned  by  Strype. 
See  a  particularly  described  copy  in  Bill.  Hoblyn.  part  ii.  p.  508. 


*VoL.  I:  contains:  1.  MILTON'S  History  of  England,  up  to  the  Conquest:  2.  DA- 
MELL'S  ditto  :  3.  DITTO,  Life  of  William  the  First :  4.  The  same  of  William  II. 
down  to  Henry  VI. —  that  of  Richard  II.  being  "  new  writ :  "  5.  HABINGTON'S 
Life  of  Edward  IV:  6.  SIR  THOMAS  MORE'S  Life  ofEdwardV.,  and  of  Richard 
///.—continued  by  Hall  and  Holinshed  :  7.  BUCK'S  Life  of  Richard  III. ; 
8.  LORD  BACON'S  Life  of  Henry  VII. 

VOL.  II.  contains  :  1.  LORD  HERBERT'S  Life  of  Henry  VIII:  2.  HAY  WARD'S  Life 
of  Edward  VI.:  3.  HuciiEs's  Life  of  Queen  Mary,  translated  from  the  Latin 
of  Francis,  Bishop  of  Hereford  :  4.  CAMDEN'S  Life  of  Elizabeth,  translated  by 
Davis :  5.  Appendix  to  the  same :  6.  CAMDEN'S  Annals  of  James  I.  never  before 
in  English.  7.  ARTHUR  WILSON'S  Life  of  James  I. 

VOL.  III.  From  Charles  I.  to  William  III.  inclusive  —  "  all  new  writ  by  a  learned 

and  impartial  hand;"  which"  hand  "  is  supposed  to  be  Kennet's. 
f  Translation  of  Du  Frtsnoy  ;  vol..ii.  464,  note*. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

work  is  composed,  (and  of  which  the  subjoined  note 
affords  a  testimony)  it  must  be  entitled  to  a  more 
conspicuous  place  in  the  Library  of  the  careful  collec- 
tor than  either  of  its  predecessors :  and  if  the  materials 
are  sound,  it  is  but  of  second  importance  by  whom 
they  were  collected  ;  although,  in  my  own  estimation, 
the  hand  of  Kennet  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  their 
selection.  The  history  of  LAURENCE  ECHARD,  *  of 
which  both  editions  were  published  just  one  year  after 
those  of  Kennet,  seems  to  have  less  claim  upon  the 
attention  of  posterity;  although  (as  the  subjoined 
note  may  testify)  there  have  not  been  wanting  weighty 
authorities  to  recommend  it  to  the  notice  of  the  au- 
thor's contemporaries.  But,  on  the  whole,  Echard  is 
admitted  with  reluctance,  though  sometimes  from 

The  LARGE  PAPER  copies,  are  by  no  means  rare.  Messrs  Payne  and 
Foss  mark  a  neat  copy  of  the  second  and  best  edition  at  £3.  3s. 

*  "  Collectio  minime  contemnenda  " — says  Fabricius,  as  he  com- 
mences his  analysis  of  the  contents  of  each  volume  of  the  first  edi- 
tion. Bill  Lett.  Med.  et  Inf.  JEtat.  vol.  i.  p.  274,  edit,  1734.  In 
his  preface,  however,  Echard  treats  the  monkish  writers  of  the  middle 
ages,  and  even  Holinshed  and  Speed,  very  uncourteously :  as  highly 
disagreeble  to  the  taste  and  genius  of  this  refined  age  j"  and  as  tf  now 
much  neglected  and  almost  laid  aside" — observations,  which  equally 
prove  the  author's  want  of  judgment  and  of  taste,  if  not  of  knowledge. 
Bishop  Nicolson  oddly  observes,  that  "  this  history  was  chiefly  in- 
tended for  the  useful  diversion  of  the  nobility  and  gentry."  Engl. 
Hist.  Libr.  p.  74  :  and  Rawlinson  allows  that  it  was  ' '  much  esteemed 
by  the  author's  countrymen."  Trans,  of  Du  Fresnoy,  vol.  ii.  p.  466. 
The  author  of  the  "  Church  History  of  the  Catholicks"  has  however 
accused  Echard  of  te  venturing  into  the  world,  without  the  ceremony 
of  quotations."  Jacob  Tonson,  the  bookseller,  had  a  royal  privilege 
for  the  exclusive  sale  of  the  first  edition,  for  fourteen  years.  Of  the 
second,  which  does  not  seem  to  hold  out  any  advantages  over  the 
first,  there  are  magnificent  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER  —  printed  in  the 
fine  style  of  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century. 


208  HISTORY 

necessity,  into  "  the  Young  Man's"  historical  col- 
lection. 

Perhaps,  pursuing  exact  chronological  order,  I 
ought  here  to  notice  the  Genealogical  History  of  the 
Kings  and  Queens  of  England  by  FRANCIS  SANDFORD, 
of  which  the  best  edition  appeared  about  this  time ; 
namely,  in  1707  :  and  of  which  copies  on  large  paper 
are  considered  as  among  the  great  guns  even  of  mag- 
nificent collections.  But  the  lustre  of  all  partial  and 

*  Although  this  edition,  with  additions  and  improvements  by 
STEBBING,  be  doubtless  the  best,  yet  I  recommend  the  very  nice  and 
curious  Collector  to  avail  himself  also  of  the  previous  edition  of 
1677  ',  because  the  chief  attractions  of  this  work  consist  in  the  Em- 
bellishments— which  are  engravings  of  tombs,  seals,  devices,  arms, 
quarterings,  crests  and  supporters,  &c.  of  the  several  monarchs,  &c. 
The  earlier  edition  will  necessarily  have  the  choicer  impressions  of 
the  plates  5  and  if  these  be  taken  out  and  inlaid,  as  duplicates,  in  the 
later  edition,  f  I  hardly  know  of  a  more  splendid  and  magnificent 
volume— especially  if  it  be  on  LARGE  PAPER  :  which  indeed  is  of  ex- 
treme rarity.  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  one  of  the  finest  copies  of  this 
second  edition,  on  large  paper,  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  It  had 
once  (I  believe)  graced  the  shelves  of  the  Lee  Priory  Library.  A  si- 
milar copy,  at  Althorp,  bound  in  russia,  was  furnished  by  Messrs.  Arch 
at  the  cost  of  £36.  15s.  InOsborne's  time  (1759)  it  might  have  been 
purchased  for  £2.  12*.  6d.  in  this  state.  The  catalogue  of  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss,  marks  a  copy  of  the  small  paper,  in  russia,  at 
10Z.  10s.  :  and  a  "  tall  copy,  in  russia"  is  marked  at  9/.  9s.  in  the 
catalogue  of  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  Messrs.  Arch  gallantly  lift 
up  the  price  to  12/.  12s.  Sandford  may  therefore  be  said  to  be 
"  looking  up  "  in  the  market.  With  this  "  Genealogical  History  *' 
is  usually  united,  in  a  large  library,  "  the  History  of  the  Coronation  of 
James  II."  1687,  with  numerous  plates.  A  fine  copy  may  be  worth 
5Z.  5s. 


•f  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  present  us  with  a  similar  copy  in  their  recent  cata- 
logue—but it  seems  to  be  BEYOND  all  price !  At  least,  none  is  affixed.  It  is  on 
small  paper.  Watt  will  supply  the  other  magnificent  work  of  Sandford.  The 
history  of  such  costly  publications,  at  such  a  period,  must  be  curious. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  2O9 

even  general  Histories  of  England,  was  eclipsed,  at  the 
opening  of  the  eighteenth  century,  by  the  History  of 
the  Rebellion  and  Civil  Wars — from  the  powerful  pen 
of  LORD  CLARENDON  :  *  a  work,  of  which  the  irapres- 

*  A  pleasing  little  bibliographical  memoir  might  be  composed  re- 
specting the  progress  and  success  of  this  immortal  work :  which  has 
placed  the  author  among  the  acutest  observers,  profoundest  thinkers, 
and  most  impartial  historians,  of  any  age  or  nation. f  But  my  busi- 
ness is  with  a  few  simple  facts  .  .  and  to  be  of  service  to  the  reader 
chiefly  in  the  selection  of  the  more  preferable  editions  of  Lord  Cla- 
rendon's history.  The  work  first  appeared  in  three  folio  volumes,  in 
the  years  1702,  1703,  and  1704.  The  Proclamation  of  Queen  Anne, 
for  fourteen  years  exclusive  sale,  is  dated  <f  at  Hampton  Court,  the 
%4th  day  of  June,  1703."  The  preface  was  written  by  Dr.  Aldrich> 
Dean  of  Christ  Church,  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Oxford.  Reliquia  Hearniance,  vol.  i.  p.  55.  Some  of  the 
titles  of  this  first  edition  (Dr.  Bliss  tells  us)  are  uniformly  dated 
1704.  This  was  the  favourite  edition,  especially  on  LARGE  PAPER, 
which  served  for  the  Grangerites  to  illustrate.  I  observe  such  a  copy 


f  It  were  idle  to  quote  authorities.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  his  edition  of  Dryden*s 
Works,  vol.  ix.  p.  63,  quotes  Hume  only :  but  Walpole,  Granger,  Lodge,  and 
Chalmers,  may  be  also  consulted  with  advantage.  Dryden  addressed  some  verses 
to  Lord  Clarendon  on  the  new  year's  day  of  1 662,  when  the  Chancellor  enjoyed  the 
full  confidence  of  the  Monarch  and  the  nation  :  but  the  poet's  Muse  was  not  in  her 
best  trim  on  the  occasion,  and  the  profligate  Charles  more  than  divides  the  eulogies 
upon  the  upright  Chancellor.  How  ought  Dryden  to  have  addressed  that  great 
man  in  his  banishment  ?  and  how  magnificent  are  the  lines  of  Pope  to  Harley, 
Earl  of  Oxford,  on  a  similar  occasion  ?  To  revert  to  the  history : — it  is  the  matter 
which  chiefly  fixes  the  attention,  and  confirms  the  judgment :  for  the  perusal  of 
Clarendon  is,  after  all,  any  thing  but  a  recreation.  His  style  is  cumbrous.  His 
periods  are  long  and  frequently  involved.  The  very  opening  of  the  work,  although 
indicative  of  a  lofty  and  generous  turn  of  mind,  is  somewhat  obscure  and 
oppressive.  We  rise  from  Clarendon,  as  we  sometimes  do  from  Milton  —  often 
charmed  and  astonished — but  a  little  wearied,  and  well  pleased  to  rise.  It  is  the 
magnanimous  impartiality  of  the  Chancellor,  as  well  as  his  inflexible  adherence  to 
truth,  which  constitutes  the  chief  excellence  of  his  History.  Many  writers,  I  think, 
have  described  characters  as  vividly  and  as  copiously ;  but  it  is  the  honesty  of  Lord 
Clarendon's  descriptions  which  make  his  figures  "  stand  out  of  the  canvas  '*  and 
claim  our  irresistible  attention.  Truth  has  mixed  up  his  colours  —  and  time  will 
render  them  only  more  mellow  and  attractive.  Of  all  the  characters  given  by 
writers  of  Clarendon,  that  by  Granger  is  one  of  the  most  pithy  and  exact. 

P 


210  HISTORY 

sions  and  profits  have  increased  in  an  equal  ratio  — 
and  of  which  the  popularity  is  built  upon  an  impe- 

of  it,  together  with  a  similar  one  of  the  State  Papers,  (first  published 
in  1767)  in  seven  vols.,  marked  at  a£21.  in  the  recent  catalogue  of 
Messrs  Payne  and  Foss.  A  second  folio  edition  of  the  History  ap- 
peared in  1707,  of  which  there  are  two  copies,  on  large  paper,  at 
moderate  prices,  in  the  recent  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Longman  and 
Co.  j  and  a  pirated  edition  of  this  impression  came  out  at  Dublin 
in  1719.  The  octavo  editions  are  almost  innumerable ;  beginning 
with  the  year  17O5,  and  ending  with  1819.  The  exclusive  printing 
vests  in  the  University.  A  Supplement  to  Lord  Clarendon's  history, 
containing  tracts,  speeches,  letters,  &c. :  "  with  the  heads  [por- 
traits] of  the  great  men  on  both  sides,  eighty-five  in  number,"  was 
first  published  at  London,  in  1717;  again  in  1/24,  8vo.  These 
heads  had  better  been  elsewhere.  "  The  History  of  the  Rebellion 
and  Civil  Wars  in  Ireland,  "  first  appeared  in  1720,  8vo.  A  Col- 
lection of  Tracts  (obtained  from  Lord  Clarendon's  youngest  daugh- 
ter, the  Lady  Frances  Knighteley)  was  also  first  published  at 
London,  in  1727*  folio.  The  preceding,  with  the  Chancellor's  Au- 
tobiography, first  published  at  Oxford,  in  1759  in  folio  and  octavo 
—again  in  1761,  8vo.  —  and  again,  at  the  same  place,  in  1817*  4to. 
to  harmonise  with  the  4to.  edition  of  the  Rebellion  in  England  and 
Ireland,  in  1816,  6  vols. — form  the  principal  works  that  have  raised 
Lord  Clarendon  to  that  rank  which  he  will  probably  ever  maintain 
in  the  annals  of  historical  fame.  His  Religion  and  Policy,  which 
was  first  published  at  Oxford,  in  1811,  8vo.  2  vols.,  is  not  likely  to 
meet  with  the  success  of  the  noble  author's  previous  labours. 

Of  the  editions  just  enumerated,  I  recommend,  unhesitatingly, 
' '  the  Old  Man  "  to  the  recent  quarto  impression :  as  less  incommo- 
dious than  the  folio,  and  as  equally  comforting  to  the  eye.  Mr. 
Collingwood,  the  University  printer,  hath  indeed  made  it  a  beautiful 
typographical  production.  *  The  "  Young  Man  "  may  choose  from 
an  almost  countless  number  of  octavo  editions ;  and  will  probably 
hold  out  lustily  for  the  large  paper  of  the  Master's  edition  (printed, 


*  Copies  of  this  Oxford  edition,  in  all  forms  and  conditions,  may  be  obtained  of 
our  principal  booksellers.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  who  are  the  London  publishers 
for  the  University  of  Oxford,  seem  to  revel  in  a  proud  display  of  copies  :  see 
their  last  catalogue,  nos.  5616—5620. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  211 

rishable  basis.  A  statesman,  a  lawyer,  and  a  philo- 
sopher in  its  most  practical,  and  perhaps  rational, 
sense,  there  is  hardly  any  name  which  has  reached  us, 
encirled  by  purer  rays  of  renown,  than  that  of  Hyde, 
Earl  of  Clarendon  ;  or  any  which  is  likely  to  go 
down  to  posterity  in  a  more  unsullied  state  of  purity. 
When  one  considers  the  times  in  which  this  cele- 
brated Lord  Chancellor  lived,  the  station  which  he 
filled,  the  characters  with  whom  he  came  in  competi- 
tion— (as  able  as  they  were  intrepid,  daring,  and  cor- 
rupt) his  family  connections,  his  career  of  glory; 
brightest  in  its  wane  —  and,  above  all,  THE  LEGACY, 
which,  in  his  History)  he  has  bequeathed  to  posterity, 

says  Dr.  Bliss,  "  for  Masters  of  Art  only"  *)  in  1731,  or  of  some 
earlier,  or  later  impression.  But  the  recently  favourite  edition  has 
been  that  of  1807,  8vo.  :  which  is  already  exhausted,  and  of  which 
the  large  paper  copies  exhibit  a  beautiful  book.  Need  I  remind  the 
reader  of  that  most  exquisite  and  matchless  ILLUSTRATED  large  paper 
copy  of  this  edition,  which  has  been  so  imperfectly  described  in  the 
JEdes  AlthorpiancE  ?  And  when  I  mention  this,  I  am  not  unmindful 
of  that  still  MORE  marvellously  illustrated  copy,  of  the  folio  edition, 
which  belonged  to  the  late  Mr.  Sutherland,  and  which  is  briefly  men- 
tioned at  page  668  of  the  Bibliomania.  The  first  copy  is  "  match- 
less" as  an  octavo,  and  containing  prints  only.  The  latter  admits 
drawings  also.f 


*  Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  iii.  col.  1024. 

f  And  here,  a  word  or  two  about  the  portrait  of  the  illustrious  author  himself. 
It  is  certain  that,  if  the  engraved  head  of  him  by  Fittler,  in  the  recent  edition  of 
1816,  be  a  resemblance  to  the  Original,  those  portraits,  by  preceding  engravers, 
from  the  pencils  of  Lely  and  Zoust,  are  not  so  :  and  Granger  (vol.  iii.  p.  360)  tells 
us  that  "  the  best  picture,  and  the  truest  likeness  of  him,  is  that  which  was 
painted  by  Sir  Peter  Lely."  The  portrait  to  the  quarto  Oxford  edition,  represents 
the  Chancellor  when  he  was  a  young  man — but  he  has,  here,  a  hooked  or  roman 
nose  j  whereas,  in  the  other  portraits,  the  nose  is  rather  flat.  Once  "  a  roman  nose," 
always  a  roman  nose.  See  Mr.  Harding's  Illustrious  Portraits  :  which  gives  us 
the  head  by  Lely,  admirably  engraved  by  Cooper. 


212  HISTORY 

...  I  hardly  know  how  to  call  upon  both  "  the  Young," 
and  "  the  Old/4  lover  of  good  books,,  sufficiently  to 
reverence  those  invaluable  volumes  known  by  the 
title  of  the  "  History  of  the  Rebellion  and  Civil  Wars 
in  England.,  begun  in  the  year  1641,"  by  the  great 
author  in  question. 

I  am  now  approaching  the  period  when  "  General 
Histories9  of  England  were  written  in  a  more  metho- 
dical order — when  the  stream  of  events  flowed  on 
uninterruptedly ;  and  when  the  reader  might  com- 
mence with  the  invasion  of  Julius  Caesar,  and  con- 
clude with  the  elevation  of  the  House  of  Hanover. 
The  previous  histories  contained  detached  Memoirs, 
or  Lives,  or  Annals.  They  supplied  the  materials  for 
the  picture,  rather  than  exhibited  the  picture  itself. 
Or,  they  were  as  the  groups,  or  main  features,  of  the 
composition;  wanting  that  keeping  and  expression 
which  arise  entirely  from  the  magic  of  colour.  At 
length  appeared  an  History  of  England,  from  the  pen 
of  a  foreigner,  which,  till  the  publication  of  Hume's 
celebrated  history,  was  attended  by  an  unprecedented 
popularity  in  its  sale.  I  am  of  course  alluding  to  the 
work  of  RAPIN  ;*  first  published  in  the  French  lan- 
guage at  Amsterdam,  in  1724,  in  ten  quarto  volumes ; 


•  The  name  of  RAPIN-THOYRAS  will  continue  to  be  as  familiar  to 
the  English  as  to  foreigners  3  and  a  great  deal  of  amusing  bibliogra- 
phical discussion  belongs  to  the  account  of  the  editions  of  his  history. 
The  two  French  quarto  editions  above  mentioned,  each  of  which 
contains  a  brilliant  head  of  Rapin,  may  be  had  at  very  slender  prices 
indeed.  The  work  was  translated,  and  improved  by  "  Notes  ecclesias- 
tical and  civil,"  byTindall,  and  published  in  1728,  8vo.  in  15  volumes. 
A  continuation ,  by  Tindall,  appeared  in  1732  :  the  whole  in  3  vols 
r&lio.  This  folio  was  again  published  in  1743,  with  the  Map? 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  213 

and  reprinted  the  following  year  at  Trevoux,  in  the 
same  number  of  quarto  volumes.  It  was  shortly 

Plans,  Summary  and  Medallic  History,*  in  5  folio  volumes  5  and  the 
octavo,  in  1757,  in  21  volumes  :  so  that  both  these  latter  editions, 
of  their  respective  sizes,  must  be  considered  the  preferable  ones. 
They  are  dear,  in  fine  condition.  A  copy  of  the  former,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  the  Monuments  and  Houbraken' s  heads^  is  worth  £31.  10s. 
— and  even  of  the  previous  folio  of  1732,  with  the  Summary  and 
Medallic  History,  a  copy,  in  5  volumes,  is  marked  at  <£l2.  12s.  in 
Payne's  Catalogue  $  whereas,  with  the  portraits  of  Houbraken  in- 
serted, it  is  valued  at  e^Sl.  10s.  "  in  russia,  with  gilt  leaves,"  by 
Messrs.  Arch.  A  copy  of  the  best  octavo,  neatly  bound,  is  worth 
about  £10.  10s.  The  recent  labours  of  Mr.  Archdeacon  Coxe  have 
taught  us  the  value  of  Tindall's  J  Continuation.  No  historical 
library  can  be  perfect  without  it. 

But  a  word  only  for  the  VERY  curious — Young  and  Old  Collector. 
It  is  well  known  that  there  are  copies  of  the  best  folio  Rapin  upon 
fine  writing  paper  :  and  such  copies,  if  they  possess  fine  proofs  of  the 
heads  engraved  by  Houbraken  and  Birch,  are ...  NOT  NOW  to  be 
purchased — unless  on  the  death  of  a  very  eminent  collector.  Our 
old  Collectors  §  usually  enriched  their  libraries  with  such  copies  5  but 


*  The  5th  volume,  containing  the  maps,  monuments,  plans  of  battles,  &c.  was 
published  by  itself :  but  these  are  usually  incorporated  in  the  body  of  the  work, 
in  their  proper  places. 

t  Birch's  Lives  of  Illustrious  Persons,  with  their  portraits  engraved  by  Vertue 
and  Houbraken,  were  published  in  a  magnificent  folio  volume  in  1745-51,  of 
which  copies,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  with  proof  impressions  of  the  plates,  have  brought 
from  20  to  30  guineas.  I  suspect,  however,  that  there  was  a  very  liberal  number 
of  these  proofs  taken,  and  that  the  large  paper  of  Birch  is  almost  as  common  as 
the  small.  It  is  from  this  work  that  the  heads  were  taken  to  embellish  Tindall's 
Rapin ;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  they  form  splendid  and  appropriate  orna- 
ments. 

$  Tindall  was  assisted  by  the  learned  Morant  j  who,  in  fact,  abridged  his  his- 
tory, and  published  it  in  1 747,  8vo.  3  vols.    Mr.  Archdeacon  Coxe  says,  (Pref.  to 
Memoirs  of  Lord  Oxford)   that  the  Continuation  was  written  by  Dr.  Birch,    Th 
notes  to  the  former  part  are  excellent,  and  constitute  the  principal  reason  for  pre- 
ferring the  translation  to  Rapin's  original  edition. 

§  West's  extraordinary  copy  was  not,  however,  upon  fine  writing  paper.  In 
the  Bill.  West.  n°.  4136,  it  is  called  a  matchless  set—"  embellished  with  several 
hundred  extra  portraits,  plans,  maps,  views,  public  buildings,  medals— many  of 
which  are  exceedingly  scarce,  with  MS.  illustrations  of  the  prints."  This  copy 
was  sold  for  54J.  12*.  I  would  faiu  know  in  whose  possession  it  now  is  ? 


214  HISTORY 

afterwards  translated  into  our  own  language,  and 
published  with  a  continuation  by  TINDALL,  in  two 
octavo,  and  three  folio,  impressions.  Such  a  success- 
ful sale  was  without  a  parallel:  while  the  still  of 
the  Engraver  was  latterly  called  in  aid  to  embellish 
the  text  of  the  Historian.  Whatever  may  be  the 
superiority  of  the  labours  of  Hume,  Henry,  and  later 
historians,  let  me  assure  the  well  educated  and  taste- 
ful collector  of  books,  that  he  can  have  no  brighter, 
or  more  desirable  ornament,  in  the  historical  depart- 
ment of  his  library,  than  the  second  folio  edition  of 
Rapin  and  Tindall,  adorned  by  the  heads  of  Vert  ue 
and  Houbraken.  He  must  shun  the  last  folio,  by 
Harrison,  as  he  would  a  plague-stricken  Turk. 

The  present  is  probably  the  fittest  place  to  notice 
the  publications  of  HEARNE,  to  which  some  allusion 
has  been  made  in  a  preceding  page.*  As  Hearne 
died  between  the  publication  of  Rapin's  history  and 
that  of  Carte,  (presently  to  be  noticed)  we  may  as  well 
therefore  occupy  a  few  pages  with  the  register  of  his 
historical  works/f-m  the  chronological  order  in  which 

I  know  of  none  which  exceeds  that  at  Althorp,  bound  in  8  volumes, 
(including  the  Summary  of  the  Maps  and  Plans)  which  had  be- 
longed to  George  Steevens,  and  which  was  not  obtained  under  the 
sum  of  seventy  guineas.  It  is  bound  in  calf,  with  a  broad  border  of 
gold  on  the  sides,  having  the  edges  of  the  leaves  marbled,  and  gilt. 
I  am  told  that  a  fine,  similar,  copy  adorns  the  library  at  Woburn 
Abbey.  The  late  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes  justly  boasted  of  a  similar  trea- 
sure— bound  in  red  morocco,  and  obtained  of  Mr.  Evans.  Mr.  Dent 
is  also  in  possession  of  a  similar  copy.  It  is  now  a  work  of  the  rarest 
possible  occurrence. 

f  ' '  The  last  who  has  dug  deep  into  the  mine  [of  English  History] 
was  THOMAS  HEARNE,  a  clerk  of  Oxford,  poor  in  fortune,  and  indeed 
poor  in  understanding.  His  minute  and  obscure  diligence,  his  vo- 


*  See  page  169,  ante. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  215 

they  appeared.  The  ridicule  and  satire  which  once 
pursued  the  person  and  the  publications  of  the  author, 

racious  and  undistinguishing  appetite,  and  the  coarse  vulgarity  of  his 
taste  and  style,  have  exposed  him  to  the  ridicule  of  idle  wits.  Yet 
it  cannot  be  denied  that  Thomas  Hearne  has  gathered  many  glean- 
ings of  the  harvest ;  but  if  his  own  prefaces  are  filled  with  crude  and 
extraneous  matter,  his  editions  will  be  always  recommended  by  their 
accuracy  and  use."  GIBBON,  Misc.  Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  566 — 7« 

Let  me  premise,  that  a  complete  list  of  ALL  Hearne's  works  may  be 
found  at  the  end  of  the  Biographies  ofLeland,  Wood,  and  Hearne, 
published  at  Oxford,  in  1772,  8vo.  2  vols.*  My  business  here  is  only 
with  the  historical  works,  including  however  the  lives  of  Great  Men . 
I  begin  with  one  of  the  greatest.  I.  Spelman's  Life  of  Alfred,  from 
the  original  MS.  with  considerable  additions,  1709,  8vo.  The  large 
paper  is  scarce ;  but  the  small  is  common  and  cheap.  Hearne 
got  into  a  scrape  about  the  prefix  of  Alfred's  portrait,  and  especially 
about  the  long  and  dignified  beard  which  is  flowing  down  that  mo- 
narch's breast.  Rethought  it  worth  while  to  defend  this  beard,  pretty 
stiffly,  inhisJb/ian.  Glastoniens.  Chron.\o\.  ii.  p.  648.  I  had  supposed 
that  there  were  no  copies  of  the  Alfred  on  large  paper,  but  I  firjd  the 
fact  established  by  a  letter  from  Hearne  to  Cherry,  soon  after  the  pub- 
lication of  the  work:  Letters  of  Eminent  Persons;  vol.  i.  p.  191. 
Indeed,  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  it.  II.  The  Itinerary  of  John  Le- 
land  the  Antiquary;  Oxon,  1710-12,  8vo.  9  vols:  1745,  8vo. 
Second  Edition  :  177O,  8vo.  Third  Edition.  Of  the  first  and  original 
edition,  only  1 08  copies  were  printed  on  small  paper  j  and,  as  it  should 
seem  from  the  list  of  Hearne's  works,  at  the  end  of  the  9th  volume, 
published  in  1712,  only  12  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER.  It  is  difficult  to 
say  where  these  12  copies  are  now  to  be  found.  The  Bishop  of  Ely 
(More),  Wriothesley,  Duke  of  Bedford,  Dr.  Frewin,  Mr.  Francis 
Cherry,  Dean  Aldrich,  Charles,  Earl  of  Sunderland,  John  Bridges, f 


•  In  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.i.  p.  241  &c.  385,  &c.  there  appears  a  very  full 
account  (furnished  by  myself)  of  the  contents  of  some  of  Hearne's  scarcer  works 
— and  although  there  are  abundant  materials  for  the  completion  of  this  account, 
the  probability  is  that  no  encouraging  opportunity  will  present  itself  But  the 
reader  may  see  a  collection  of  critical  opinions,  pronounced  upon  Hearne's  la- 
bours, in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  441,  &c. 

t  Bridges's  copy,  at  the  sale  of  his  library  in  1725,  was  purchased  by  Fletcher 
Gyles,  the  bookseller,  for  10/.  12s.  Gyles  lived  in  Holborn,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Lockyer  Davies.  He  purchased  lustily  at  Bridges's  sale- 


HISTORY 

are  now  forgotten;  and  Hearne  stands  upon  a  pe- 
destal which  may  be  said  to  have  truth  and  honour 

Lord  Somers,  Rev.  Mr.  Hinton,  Thomas  Rawlinson,  Sir  T.  Sebright, 
and  Dr.  Stratford,  Canon  of  Christ  Church,  had  each  a  copy.  Of 
these  I  can  only  refer  with  certainty  to  the  libraries  of  the  University 
of  Cambridge,  Woburn,  and  Blenheim,  as  still  possessing  a  copy  on 
large  paper.  The  copy  at  Christ  Church  College,  Oxford,  is  on 
small  paper :  which,  as  Dean  Aldrich  gave  all  his  books  to  that  col- 
lege, is  a  little  extraordinary  j  the  more  so,  as  the  LARGE  PAPER 
HEARNES,  at  Christ  Church,  are  in  remarkably  fine  condition.  Lord 
Oxford  had  a  copy,  which  might  have  been  bought  at  one  of  Tom 
Rawlinson's  sales.  The  copies  of  Lord  Somers,  Dean  Aldrich,  Mr. 
Hinton,  Tom  Rawlinson,  and  Dr.  Stratford,  have  doubtless  got  into 
other  collections. 

Nor  do  the  noble  libraries  of  Rutland,  Beaufort,  and  Spencer,  pos- 
sess it  in  any  other  shape  but  in  small  paper  3  and  Mr.  Grenville  is 
compelled  to  solace  himself  with  the  process  of  inlaying,  in  order  that 
his  regiment  of  GRENADIER  HEARNES  may  be  of  the  same  height. 
After  this,  who  shall  venture  upon  fixing  a  price  on  such  a  treasure  ? 
Thus  much  only  be  it  permitted  me  to  say.  I  have  heard  a  young 
and  adventurous  book-knight  remark,  that  1OO  GUINEAS  should  not 
stand  between  him  and  a  large  paper  copy  of  the  first  edition  of 
Leland's  Itinerary !  \  Surely,  the  ghost  of  Tom  Hearne  will  be  seen 
flitting  about  the  auction  room  of  Mr.  Evans  — when  that  event 
arrives ! 

But  the  small  paper  is  of  rare  occurrence,*  and  yet  its  value  is 
very  differently  estimated.  Mr.  Thorpe,  in  his  recent  catalogue,, 
marks  it  at  5l.  5s. ;  and  Mr.  Bonn,  at  one  half  of  that  sum.  How- 
ever, in  point  of  intrinsic  worth,  it  is  rather  inferior  to  the  succeeding 


*  It  was  rare  even  at  the  time  of  publication.  Thus,  Gale  writes  to  Hearne  in 
Sep.  1712,  "A  friend  of  mine,  the  Dean  of  Rippon,  is  much  concerned  that  he 
cannot  procure  your  Itinerary  for  money."  For  an  account  of  its  rarity  and  cost, 
on  large  paper,  see  that  of  the  Collectanea ,  its  companion,  post.  The  Itinerary, 
however,  (if  it  be  the  edition  of  1710)  seems  to  have  sunk  prodigiously  in  price  in 
Osborne's  sheet  catalogue  of  1759 ;  for  it  is  there  marked  at  21.  5*.  In  the  Reli- 
quiae Hearnianosy  vol.  i.  p.  366,  mention  is  made  of"  some  Grub-street  people  re- 
printing this  edition  of  the  Itinerary."  Atterbury,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  told 
Hearne  so  ;  but  added,  "  it  would  only  make  his  still  the  more  valuable,"  I  be- 
lieve no  such  reprint  ever  appeared. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  217 

for  its  basis.  His  works,  which  present  us  with  por- 
tions of  History,  chiefly  local,  are  now  coveted  by  the 

editions  5  of  which  the  third,  of  1770,  (as  its  prefix  or  advertisement 
notices)  is  doubtless  the  best.  Of  the  second  edition  of  1745,  there 
were  350  copies  on  small,  and  50  on  large  paper.  A  copy  of  the 
large  was  sold  for  20Z.  9s.  6d.  at  a  late  sale  of  Mr.  Evans's.  Of  the 
third,  to  the  best  of  my  observation,  no  number  of  either  is  specified 
in  the  preface  or  prefix  :  but  the  original  price  was  2J.  2s.  the  small, 
and  31.  3s.  the  large  paper.  I  have  purchased  a  large  paper  of  the 
third,  in  russia  binding,  for  5L  5s. 

III.  J.  Lelandi  Antiquarii  de  Rebus  Britannicis  Collectanea.  Oxon. 
1715,  8vo.  6  vols.  First  edition  5  reprinted  in  1745  and  1774.  Of 
the  first  edition,  only  150  copies  were  printed  on  small  paper,  and 
a  very  few  (the  number  not  specified)  on  large.  It  was  of  great 
rarity  during  the  Editor's  life-time  5  and  it  should  seem  that  LARGE 
PAPER  copies  of  this  first  edition,  and  of  the  Itinerary  of  1710,  were 
considered  as  the  true  Keimelia  of  a  thorough-bred  Collector's  library.* 


*  In  the  Reliquics  Hearniancey  vol.  i.  p.  304,  is  the  following  memorandum,  dated 
April  30, 1 7 14 ,  from  Hearne's  diary.  "  Whereas  my  edition  of  Leland's  Itinerary 
in  9  vols.  was  sold  to  subscribers  for  37  shillings  the  small  paper,  and  45  shillings 
the  large  paper ;  they  now  go  at  a  prodigious  price,  viz.  at  10  or  12  guineas.  Mr. 
Clements,  bookseller  in  Oxford,  bought  Mr.  Hinton  of  Corpus's  copy  (he  being  a 
subscriber  for  large  paper)  for  5  guineas,  and  immediately  sold  it  to  another  book- 
seller at  London  for  8  guineas,  who  gave  him  many  thanks  for  his  bargain,  it 
being  said  that  he  was  to  have  12  guineas  of  another  for  them."  At  a  subsequent 
period,  Hearne  makes  the  following  memoranda  :  Sep.  24,  1724,  I  paid  Mr.  Sa- 
muel Wilmot,  of  Oxford,  bookseller,  20  guineas  for  a  complete  set  of  my  edition  of 
Leland's  Itinerary  in  9  vols.  and  his  Collectanea  in  6  vols.  The  set  belonged  to  Dr. 
Charlett.  He  would  not  abate  a  penny.  I  bought  these  books  for  Mr.  Vansittart, 
of  Shottesbroke,  in  Berks.  A  Mr.  Edward  Prideaux  Gwyn  thought  that  they  were 
cheap ;  being  now  worth  much  more."  This  transaction  is  disclosed  by  Hearne,  in 
a  gossipping  letter  to  the  Rev.  L.  Torkington,  who  had  given  him  the  commission : 
see  Letters  of  Eminent  Persons,  (from  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian  Library)  vol.  ii.  p.  69. 
In  this  reference,  Hearne  tells  his  correspondent  that"  the  price  is  not  dear,  consi- 
dering the  great  scarceness  of  the  books,  and  the  goodness  of  the  set."  Qu.  Where 
is  this  set  now  ?  Does  it  grace  the  shelves  of  the  library  of  Lord  Bexley  ? — who,  I 
know,  hath  a  keen  appetite  for  large  paper  copies  of  elegant  works. 

On  consulting  the  Letters  of  Eminent  Persons,  vol.  i.  p.  279,  I  find  Hearne  thus 
complaining  of  the  expenses  of  printing  these  Collectanea  of  Lelaud.  ft  I  am  now, 
(he  says,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Allen)  as  you  know,  printing  Leland's  Collectanea  about 
our  British  Antiquities,  and  the  work  hath  been  so  chargeable,  that  had  ft  not 


218  HISTORY 

antiquary,  and  respected  by  the  scholar.  The  "  old'1 
and  the  "  young, "  professedly  attached  to  BOOK  * 

A  cut  copy  of  the  large  paper  of  the  Collectanea  was  sold  for  141.  at 
a  late  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's.  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  mark  a  small 
paper  copy  of  this  first  edition  of  the  Collectanea  at  41.  4s.  Mr. 
Thorpe  marks  the  same,  9  vols.  in  5,  calf  gilt,  at  3^  13s.  6d. 

IV.  I.  Rossi  Antiquar.  Warwicensis  Hist.  Reg.  Anglic.  Oxon.  1716, 
8vo.  Original  Edition :  only  sixty  copies  printed,  of  which  twelve 
were  on  large  paper.  It  was  reprinted  in  1 745  j  of  which  reprint,  a 
copy  on  large  paper  was  sold  for  \l.  11s.  6d.  at  a  late  sale  at  Mr. 
Evans's.  A  small  paper  is  marked  at  14s.  by  Messrs.  Arch.  The 
preface  to  this  work  is  exceedingly  interesting,  in  developing  the 
real  and  wretched  situation  of  Hearne,  at  the  time  of  editing  it. 
"  And  now,  Sir,  (says  Wagstaffe  to  Hearne,  in  a  letter  to  him,  of 
the  date  of  May  30,  1716)  you  must  give  me  leave  to  mention  the 
great  pleasure  with  which  I  read  your  preface  to  Rowse.  It  dis- 
covers a  wonderful  constancy  and  resolution  in  adhering  to  a  well 
settled  principle,  and  is  so  pathetical  a  relation  of  your  sufferings, 
as  not  only  raises  our  pity,  but  makes  them  our  own :  in  a  word, 
'tis  full  of  such  sentiments  as  are  unknown  to  the  degeneracy  of  the 
present  age,  and  are  the  peculiar  affections  of  a  soul  prepared  to  suffer 
for  conscience-sake."  Letters  of  Eminent  Persons;  vol.  ii.  p.  25. 
The  passage  referred  to  by  Wagstaffe,  is  subjoined  in  a  note — in  the 
same  authority. 

been  for  the  encouragement  of  several  noble  and  generous  persons,  I  could  not 
have  pretended  to  have  set  about  it  with  any  prospect  of  success  ;  though  I  am 
very  sorry  to  say,  that  I  have  not  met  with  the  least  encouragement  in  this  place. 
[Oxford.]  . . .  Such  expensive  undertakings  are  enough  to  lessen  the  fortune  of 
any  one,  though  of  a  considerable  estate ;  but  then  the  burden  is  so  much  the 
heavier  upon  me,  as  I  have  only  a  salary  of  ten  pounds  perann.  (without  any  other 
place)  and  am  so  far  from  enjoying  any  estate,  that  my  near  relations  were  never 
able  to  contribute  any  thing  to  the  education  I  have  had,  or  to  share  in  any  of 
those  expenses  I  have  been  put  to  during  my  residence  here."  On  consulting  the 
Reliquia:  Hearnian<By  vol.  i.  p.  136,  there  appears  the  following  memorandum,  in 
Hearne's  Diary,  relating  to  the  EXPENSES  OF  PRINTING  books  at  Oxford  about  the 
year  1708.  "  The  printers  say  they  had  18s.  a  sheet  for  composing  Lord  Claren- 
don's history.  They  had  15s.  a  sheet  for  composing  Pliny's  Epistles:  16s.  for 
Livy,  [his  own  edition]  per  sheet.  Dr.  Mill  paid  10s.  per  sheet  for  composing  the 
text  and  notes  at  bottom  of  his  New  Testament.  Bennett  paid  12s.  per  sheet  for 
composing  Thucydides.  For  Mr.  Bugg's  book,  called  Goliak,  he  paid  but  13s.  com- 
posing, and  all  other  things  belonging  to  the  press,  and  for  paper  7s.  per  ream. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  219 

COLLECTING,  can  never  be  thoroughly  happy,  if  their 
Hearnean  Series  be   not  complete.      Neither   class 

V.  Titi  Livii  Foro-Juliensis  Vita  Henrici.  V.  Reg.  Angl.     Oxon. 
1716,  8vo.     To  this  work  there  were  100  subscribers  5  of  whom  46 
had  copies  on  large  paper.    The  most  amusing  part  of  it,  is  the 
collection  of  letters  (cxxii.  in  number)  from  p.  99  to  216— the  bio- 
graphy of  Henry  comprising   only  95  pages.     These  letters  were 
taken  from  the  collection  of  Dr.  Smith.     A  copy  of  this  book,  on 
LARGE  PAPER,  was  sold  for  71-  at  a  late  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's. 

VI.  Aluredi  Beverlacensis  Annales,  sive  historia  de  gestis  Rerum 
Britannia,  #c.    Oxon.  1716.,  8vo.      Of  the  148  copies  printed,  there 
were  33  copies  on  large  paper.     The  small  was  published  at  8s.  and 
the  large  at  12s.     A  copy  of  the  small  paper  is  marked  at  31.  13s.  6d. 
in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Longman  for  1822  -,  and  a  copy  of  the 
large  paper  was  sold  for  yl.  17s.  6d.  at  a  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's. 
But  it  usually  bears  a  higher  price.     It  is  very  rare. 

VII.  G.  Roperi   Vita  D.  Thorna  Mori,   %c.     Oxon    1716,  8vo. 
One  hundred  and  forty-eight  copies  printed  5  of  which  for  ty-two  were 
on  LARGE  PAPER.     It  is  therefore  erroneous  to  suppose  the  large 

.  paper  of  this  work  to  be  the  rarest,  or  any  thing  like  the  rarest,  of 
the  large  paper  Hearnes.  Yet  copies,  in  this  condition,  bring  great 
prices.  That,  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Watson  Taylor's  library,  most  splen- 
didly bound  by  C.  Lewis,  in  Venetian  morocco,  in  the  Grolier  style, 
was  purchased  by  the  Hon;  Mr.  Finch,  for  35/.  3*.  6d.  A  similar 
copy,  at  a  subsequent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's,  reached  a  yet  higher  sum  ; 
namely,  371.  1 6s.  Messrs.  Longman  mark  a  small  paper  at  31. 3s.  The 
portrait  of  More,  prefixed  to  this  book,  is  a  very  sorry  performance. 

VIII.  G.  Camdeni  Annales  Rer.  Anglicar.  fyc.  regn.  Elizabetha. 
Oxon.  1717,  8vo.  3  vols.    There  were  50  copies  on  large  paper.  Mr. 
Thorpe  marks  a  fine  copy  of  the  small  paper,  in  extra  russia  bind- 
ing, at  2Z.  12s.  6d.    A  copy,  on  large  paper,  was  sold  for  71.  7*.  at  a 
late  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's. 

IX.  G'  Neubrigiensis   Historia,   fyc.    Oxon.    1719.  8vo.  3  vols. 
From  the  list  of  subscribers,  vol.  i.  p.  cxxiii,  there  appear  to  have 
been  not  fewer  than  90  copies  on  large  paper.     This  work,  both  on 
large  and  small  paper,  is  among  the  most  ordinary  and  low  priced 
of  those  of  Hearne  -,  but  it  is,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  most  in- 
trinsically valuable,  and  singularly  illustrative  of  the  gossipping  turn 
of  mind  of  the  Editor.     A  fine  small  paper  copy  is  marked  at 


220  HISTORY 

of  Collectors  must  expect  the  earlier  and  choicer  edi- 
tions of  all  the  works  of  this  indefatigable  author ;  but 
it  may  be  no  unreasonable  wish  to  desire  to  possess 

2/.  125.  6d.  in  Mr.  Thorpe's  last  catalogue ;  and  a  fine  large  paper 
copy,  in  russia,  bears  the  elevated  price  of  10Z.  10s.  in  Messrs.  Arch's 
catalogue  of  1822 — the  sum  which  it  brought  at  the  sale  of  Mr. 
Watson  Taylor's  library. 

X.  Sprotti  Chronica.     Oxon.  1719,  8vo.     Originally  published  at 
12s.  the  large,  and  85.  the  small  paper.   Messrs.  Arch  mark  an  uncut 
copy,  with  russia  back,  at  145. 5  and  a  fine  copy  of  the  large  paper 
was  sold  for  5Z.  55.  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Watson  Taylor's  library. 

XI.  Textus  Roffensis.   Oxon.  1720,  8vo.     A  copy  on  LARGE  PAPER 
was  recently  sold  for  31.  35.— though  a  very  fine  one  of  this  descrip- 
tion brought  71.  75.  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  W.  Taylor's  library.    There 
were  72  copies  subscribed  for.  A  very  neat  copy  of  the  small  paper, 
with  gilt  leaves,  is  marked  at  155.  in  Mr.  Thorpe's  last  catalogue. 

XII.  Roberti  de  Avesbury  Historia  de  Mirab.  gestis  Edvardi  III. 
Oxon.  1720,  8vo.      This  is  one  of  the  most  curious  and  amusing  of 
Hearne's  pieces  3  but,  like  many  of  them,  the  most  so,  when  relating 
to  extraneous  matter.    The  letters  between  Henry  VIII.  and  Anne 
Boleyn  (of  which  a  specimen  appears  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  285-7) 
are  among  the  most  interesting  of  the  Appendix.     It  should  seem 
that  there  were  176  Subscribers,  but  no  large  paper  are  specified  ; 
yet  Osborne,  in  his  catalogue  of  1759,  marks  such  a  copy  at  155. : 
and  a  similar  copy  was  sold,  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  W.  Taylor's  library,  for 
£7. 105.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  similar  copy,  bound  in  russia,  by  Lewis, 
at  £T.  7s.  A  fine  copy  of  the  small  paper,  in  russia  binding,  is  marked 
at  £2.  25.  in  Mr.  Thorpe's  last  catalogue.     In  the  Brit.  Bibliogra- 
pher, vol.  ii.  p.  78-85,  appear  copious  extracts  from  this  singular 
volume. 

XIII.  loannis  de  Fordun  Scotichronicon  Genuinum,    Oxon.  1722, 
8vo.  5  vols.     One  hundred  and  fifty-one  subscribers  5  but,  as  far  as  I 
can  discover,  the  number  of  large  paper  copies  is  not  specified.    The 
original  price  was  sgl.  15.  the  large;  and  105.  6d.  the  small;  per 
volume.     It  is  among  the  commonest  of  Hearne's  pieces ;  and  was 
reprinted,  with  additions  and  improvements,  at  Edinburgh  in  1759, 
in  two  volumes  folio.     Of  Hearne's  edition,  a  neat  copy  on  small 
paper,  with  marbled  leaves,  is  marked  at  ^2.  55.  in  Mr.  Thorpe's 
last  catalogue  5  and  an  uncut  copy,  in  Venetian  morocco  half  bind- 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  221 

those  which  are  really  and  bona  fide  necessary  in  the 
department  more  exclusively  historical.  Hence,  en- 
ing,  at  <§g3.  13s.  6d.  by  Mr.  Bohn.  A  copy  on  large  paper  was  sold 
at  a  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's  for  s@7. '  but  a  very  fine  one,  of  a 
similar  description,  was  bought  by  Mr.  Clarke,  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  W. 
Taylor's  library,  for  <£  15. 

XIV.  Hemingi  Chartularium  Ecclesia  Wigorniensis,  Oxon.  1723, 
8vo.,  2  vols.     There  were  16O  subscribers  j  but,  as  far  as  I  can  dis- 
cover, the  number  of  large  paper  copies  is  not  specified.     The  ori- 
ginal price  was  s£2.  2s.  the  large,  and  ggl.  Is.  the  small.     The  MS.» 
from  which  this  work  was  printed,  was  supplied,  or  rather  given 
to  the  Editor,  by  a  Mr.  Richard  Graves  of  Mickleton,  in  Glocester- 
shire — one  of  Hearne's  warmest  friends  and  earliest  patrons  5   and  it 
lately  fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  Evans  to  sell  the  identical  LARGE  PAPER 
presentation  copy  to  the  Donor  of  the  MS. — beautifully  bound  in 
red  morocco — for  sSl9.  19s.   Lord  Aylesford  was  the  fortunate  pur- 
chaser of  this  unique  treasure,  in  its  way.  The  small  paper  may  be 
worth  2Z.  12s.  6d. 

XV.  Robert  of  Glocester's  Chronicle  (in  verse)  transcribed  and  now 
first  published  from  a  MS.  in  the  Harlfyan  Library ,  Oxon.  1724,  8vo. 

2  vols.  Printed  in  the  black  letter  :  and  among  the  most  valuable 
and  important  of  Hearne's  publications.  The  very  first  line  of  the 


•  This  publication  of  Hearne  is  full  of  all  manner  of  desultory,  and  yet  neither 
unamusing  nor  uninstructive,  memoranda,  or  supplemental  pieces.  In  con- 
formity with  the  plan  above  stated  — of  publishing  a  raisonn^  catalogue  or  ana- 
lysis of  Hearne's  pieces — I  had  transcribed  very  many  passages  from  the  present. 
From  these,  I  subjoin  the  following  curious,  and  generally  unknown,  piece  of  old 
English  poetry.  "  Some  verses  on  King  Henry  VI.  and  his  bad  Counsellors,  as  he 
was  sitting  in  Parliament  in  the  28th  year  of  his  reign,  which  I  shall  here  publish, 
as  I  transcribedf  them,  some  years  agoe,  from  a  MS.  paper  in  a  box  in  the  Ash- 
molean  Museum : 

For  fere  or  favour  or  eny  false  man, 
Lese  not  the  love  of  al  a  reialte 
Be  ware,  y  say,  for  by  saynt  Julyati, 
Duke,  Juge,  Baron,  Archyebyschop  at :  :  he  be, 
He  wyll  repente  withynne  ys  monthes  three. 
Let  folke  accuse,  excuse  theym  as  they  can, 
Receyde  no  goode,  let  all  such  brybery  be, 
Supporte  they  not,  that  thys  wo  be  gan, 
t  Coll.  nostr.  MSS.  vol.  LIX.  p.  10. 


222  HISTORY 

joying  this  class  complete,  NENNIUS  looks  with  com- 
placency upon  his  octavo  shelves;  and  POLYDORE 

text  of  this  Chronicle  (of  the  Xlllth  century)  should  be  the  motto 
of  every  true-born  Englishman : 

Engelondys  a  wel  god  hndt  ich  wene  ofeche  land  best. 

fk 

It  was  originally  published  at  £l.  Is.  the  small,  and  2Z.  Vs.  the  large 
paper  $  but,  along  with  its  successor  and  companion,  Peter  Lang- 
toft's  Chronicle,  it  having  been  reprinted  with  great  care  (but  with- 
out any  additions)  it  has  now  fallen  somewhat  in  price.  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  new  and  very  neat  small  paper  copy  at 
41.  4s. :  and  Mr.  Thorpe  has  a  "  fine  copy,  moro  ceo,  gilt  leaves,  silk 
insides,"  at  the  reduced  price  of  2Z.  15s.  :  but  this  latter  has,  in  all 
probability,  long  taken  its  departure.  Mr.  Evans  recently  sold  a 
large  paper  copy  for  7/.  175.  6d.  ;  yet  Mr.  Watson  Taylor's  fine  copy, 
purchased  by  Mr.  Cuthell,  reached  the  price  of  161.  16s.  The  re- 
print, in  IS  10,  was  published  in  an  octavo,  a  royal  octavo,  and  a 
quarto  form.  The  two  first  are  to  be  had  at  very  reasonable  prices  : 
the  latter  ranges  with  the  quarto  re-impressions  of  the  later  Chro- 
niclers. 

XVI.  Peter  Langtoffs  Chronicle  (as  illustrated  and  improved  by 
Robert  of  Brunne}  from  the  death  of  Cadwaladon  to  the  end  of  King 
Edward  the  First's  reign.  Oxon.  1725,  8vo.  2  vols.  The  companion 
to  the  preceding  ;  and  of  about  equal  rarity  and  intrinsic  worth.  I 
remember  to  have  once  seen  Mr.  Manson,  the  late  bookseller,  gal- 
lantly push  a  large  paper  copy  of  this  first  edition  to  the  sum  of 
£33. 125.  —  at  which  price  he  bought  it  for  the  late  Mr.  Towneley. 
At  a  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's  it  produced  only  ^5.  7s.  6d.  Yet 
Mr.  Watson  Taylor's  copy  produced  14/.  145.  Messrs.  Longman 
and  Co.  mark  a  small  paper  copy  at  5Z.  15$.  6d.  This  Chronicle 


But  lete  them  were  such  clothes  as  they  span, 

And  flein  fro  yow  there  wages,  and  see. 

For  y  ensure  yow  by  God,  and  by  saynct  Anne, 

Some  most  goo  hens,  ther  may  no  beter  be, 

And  ells  ys  lost  all  thys  lond  and  we. 

Hange  uppe  suche  false  men  to  awr  Soverayne  Lord, 

That  ever  conseylyd  hym  with  fals  men  to  be  acordyd. 

Vol.  ii.  p.  663. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  223 

rests  contented  with  the  more  pigmy  squadrons  of  his 
fine  historical  army.     But  to  neither  of  these  Firi 

has  been  reprinted  like  its  precursor ;  and  the  reprint  may  be  ob- 
tained at  equally  reasonable  prices. 

XVII.  XVIII.  XIX.  IHE  GLASTONBURY  ANTIQUITIES.  Although 
it  should  seem  that  the  publications  of  Hearne,  relating  to  these 
Antiquitities,  were  rather  topographical  than  historical,  yet  as,  with 
the  usual  peculiarities  of  the  author,  they  exhibit  a  Miscellany  in 
which  there  are  several  things  appertaining  to  the  earlier  periods  of 
our  History,  I  have  resolved  upon  classing  them  in  the  present  order, 
and  embodying  them  as  the  reader  here  observes :  premising,  that 
scarcely  fewer  than  twenty  well  filled  octavo  pages  have  been  de- 
voted to  an  account  of  these  three  works,  relating  to  the  Antiquities  of 
Glastonbury,  in  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  i.  p.  241.  The  His- 
tory and  Antiquities  of  Glastonbury  ;  by  an  Anonymous  Author.*  Ox- 
ford, 1722,  Svo.  This  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of  Hearne's  publi- 
cations ;  and  one  of  the  few  which  contains  an  English  preface ; 
but,  it  must  be  confessed,  that  the  critical  reader  could  well  dispense 
with  a  great  deal  of  extraneous  matter.  It  was  published  at  10s.  6d. 
the  small  paper,  and  ll.  Is.  the  large.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
mark  a  large  paper  copy,  in  blue  morocco,  at  81.  8s.  There  were 
only  151  subscribers  to  both  large  and  small  j  and  considering  that  it 
is  a  topographical  work,  one  is  surprised  at  its  frequent  occurrence. 
Sir  R.  C.  Hoare,  as  might  be  expected,  possesses  a  fine  copy  of  it — in 
his  fine  set  of  large  paper  Hearnes.  lohannis  Confratris  et  Monachi 
Glastoniensis  Chronica ;  sive  Historia  de  Rebus  Glastoniensibus ; 
Oxon  1726,  Svo.  2  vols.  About  140  subscribers  :  published  at  2Z.  2s. 
the  large,  and  1 1.  Is.  the  small  paper.  I  refer  the  reader  to  a  critical 
analysis  of  these  volumes  in  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  i.  page 
250  j  and  in  the  meantime,  to  the  New  Memoirs  of  Literature,  vol.  iv. 
p.  200-207 — <(  in  which  the  account  of  the  relics,  said  to  belong  to 
the  abbey,  is  more  minutely  and  sarcastically  criticised  than  by  Mr. 
Gough,  in  his  British  Topography ;  vol.  ii.  p.  215,"  &c.  The  tenth 
article,  p.  423,  gives  a  list  of  the  old  books  in  the  library  of  the 
monastery— at  a  sight  of  which,  tf  Leland  drew  back  with  mixed 


*  The  MS.  of  this  anonymous  author  appears  to  have  been  "  finisht  April  28, 
1716  :"  see  the  pref.  p.  Ixxxviii. .  and  Gough' s  British  Topography ;  vol.  ii.  p.  215. 


224  HISTORY 

versatissimi  in  British  historical  lore,  is  granted  that, 
probably,  richest  of  all  bibliographical  or  biblioma- 

astonishment  and  veneration."  De  Scriptoribus  Britannicis,  vol.  i. 
p.  41.  A  copy  of  this  work,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  was  sold  for  IQl.  lOs.  at 
a  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's.  Adami  deDomerham  Historia  de  Rebus 
Gestis  Glastoniensibus.  Oxon.  1727*  8vo.  2  vols.  This  is  the  most 
intrinsically  valuable  work  relating  to  the  antiquities  of  Glastonbury. 
The  text  is  ancient,  and  taken  from  an  unique  ms. :  see  pref.  x : 
but  in  Hearne's  Hemingi  Chart.  Eccles.  Wigorn.  vol.  ii.  p.  602;  and 
Walter  Hemingford,  vol.  ii.  p.  631,  there  will  be  found  further  par- 
ticulars relating  to  this  abbey.  To  Adam  de  Domerham,  there  appear 
to  have  been  128  subscribers  only;  of  whom  nine  subscribed  for 
more  than  one  large  paper  copy  :  in  the  whole,  forty- eight  copies  in 
this  condition.  A  large  paper  copy  was  sold  for  the  moderate  sum 
of  5Z.  105.  at  a  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's  :  but  the  fine  copy  of  Mr. 
Watson  Taylor's,  produced  the  sum  of  91.  9s.  It  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Cuthell. 

XX.  ThomcE  de  Elmham  Vita  et  Gesta  Henrici  Quinti  Anglor.  Re- 
gis, e  Codd.  mss.  vet.     Oxon.  1727*  8vo.     About  forty-five  copies  on 
large  paper,  at  1Z.  Is. — <r  in  gratiam  scilicet  virorum  in  libris  nitidis 
colligendis  admodum  curiosorum  "— asHearne  not  inaptly  expresses 
it.     There  is  a  plentiful  abuse  of  Tyrrell  and  Burnet  (as  was  to  be 
expected)  at  pp.  xvi.  and  xviii.  of  the  preface.     This  is  by  no  means 
among  the  commonest  of  Hearne's  publications  ;  though  I  find  that 
a  large  paper  copy  of  it  was  purchased  for  4l.  16s.  by  his  R.  H.  the 
Duke  of  Sussex,  at  a  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's.     Messrs.  Long- 
man and  Co  mark  a  similar  copy  at  61.  6s. 

XXI.  Liber  Niger  Scaccarii,  %c.  Oxon.  1728,  8vo.  2  vols.      With 
some  inedited  Annals  of  William  of  Worcester  subjoined.  Perhaps 


The  author,  like  R.  Stephen  (in  planning  his  division  of  the  New  Testament  into 
verses)  and  Erasmus  (in  meditating  on  his  Moriae  Encomium)  seems  to  have  been 
indebted  to  &  journey  upon  horseback  for  the  discovery  of  the  composition.  He  hap- 
pens to  alight  at  an  inn ;  where,  putting  up  his  horse,  he  walks  into  the  bar, 
or  common  room,  for  refreshment;  and  entering  into  chit-chat  with  the  landlord, 
hears  a  long  gossipping  story  about  the  Abbey  of  Glastonbury — in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  which  the  public  house  chances  to  be.  This  excites  in  him  a  wish  to 
become  better  acquainted  with  the  history  of  so  extraordinary  a  place ;  and,  going 
home,  he  rummages  the  works  of  the  "  best  antiquities,"  from  which  he  tells  us, 
that  his  own  composition  is  "  gathered," 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  225 

niaeal  gratifications — the  possession  of  a  set,  or  of  the 
greater  part  of  a  set,  of  Hearne's  works  upon  LARGE 

the  commonest,  but  not  the  most  useless,  of  Hearne's  publications. 
It  may  be  worth  18s.  in  small,  and  2J.  12*.  6d.  on  large  paper. 

XXII.  Historia  Vita  et  Regni  Richardi  II.  a  Monacho  quodam  de 
Evesham,  8$c.     Oxon.  1729,  8vo.    Among  the  more  curious  and  rare 
performances  of  Hearne.     The  life  of  the  King  occupies  216  pages. 
In   the  220  subsequent  pages  of  miscellaneous  matter,  are  some 
amusing  particulars,  furnished  by  Sir  Richard  Wynn,  of  the  Journey 
of  Prince  Charles's  Servants  into  Spain,  in  1623.     See  the  British 
Bibliographer,  vol.   i.   p.  391  :   but  in   respect   to  the  Regal  bio- 
graphy, the  Hearnean  student  should  also  consult  Walter  Heming- 
ford,  p.  453-477.*    There  were  only  130  subscribers  to  this  work; 
and,  as  it  should  seem,  forty-five  of  these  possessed  the  large  paper. 
It  is  now  scarce  and   high  priced  in  either  form.     The  Hon.  Mr. 
Finch  could  not  obtain  a  large  paper  copy,  at  a  recent  sale  at  Mr. 
Evans's,  under  51. 12s.  6d. 

XXIII.  lohannis  de  Trokelowe  Annales  Edv.  II.  Reg.  Angl.    Oxon. 
1 729,  8vo.     There  are  no  subscribers'  names  prefixed  or  subjoined  : 
the  large  paper  was  published  at  I/.  Is.  and  the  small  at  10s.  6d.  In 
the  collection  of  large  paper  Hearnes,  recently  sold  at  Mr.  Evans's, 
and  so  frequently  referred  to,  I  find  no  copy  of  this  book.    In  the 
catalogue  of  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.,  of  1822,  a  small  paper  copy 
is  marked  at  1Z.  Us.  6d. 

XXIV.  Thorns  Can  (Collegii    Universitatis  regn.  Eliz.  Magistri) 
Vindicia  Antiquitatis  Academics   Oxoniensis,  fyc.     Oxon.   1730.,  8vo. 
2  vols.     I  possess  copious  manuscript  extracts  from  the  multifarious 
and  gossipping  contents  of  these  volumes  :  which  are  full  of  biogra- 
phical, topographical,  and  bibliographical  anecdotes.  It  appears  that 
there  were  129  subscribers  j  and  forty- three  copies  on  large  paper. 
Several  Subscribers  took  several  small  paper  copies. 


*A  yet  more  curious  and  instructive  memoir,  relating  to  the  unfortunate 
Richard  II.  was  published  (with  illuminations)  in  the  xxth  vol.  of  the  Archce- 
ologicty  1823  :  from  a  French  Metrical  History,  written  by  a  Contemporary.  The 
Society  of  Antiquaries  has  taken  loftier  ground  by  the  publication  of  such  a  tract 
— translated  and  edited  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Webb.  It  is  succeeded  by  a  very  sensi- 
ble and  satisfactory  "  Enquiry  concerning  the  death  c-f  Richard  the  Second"  by  T. 
Amyot,  Esq.  now  Treasurer  to  the  Society. 

Q 


226  HISTORY 

PAPER.     Whether  they  disdain,,  or  whether  they  des- 
pair of  possessing,   such  a   treasure,   it   is  not  my 

XXV.  Walteri  Hemingford  %c.  Historia  de  rebus  gest.  Edv.  I.  II. 
et  III.     E  Codd.  MSS.  nunc  primum  puUicata.     Oxon.  1731,  8vo. 
2  vols.     This  is  without  doubt  one  of  the  most  curious  and  scarce 
publications  of  Hearne;  as  an  examination  of  the  contents  of  it,  in 
the   British   Bibliographer,   vol.  ii.  p.  72,    will   sufficiently   prove. 
There  were  only  130  subscribers  to  the  work  5  of  whom  forty  sub- 
scribed for  large  paper,  at  2Z.  2s.  the  copy.     Such  a  copy  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Hon.  Mr.  Finch,  at  a  late  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's,  for  10Z. 
At  this  moment,  I  find  no  traces  of  a  small  paper  in  the  catalogues 
of  some  of  our  principal  booksellers. 

XXVI.  Otterbourne  et  Wethamstede  Rer.  Anglicar.   Script.   Vet. 
Oxon.  1732,   8vo.     2  vols.     One  hundred  and  sixteen  subscribers 
only  ;  of  whom  nine  subscribed  for   several  small  paper  copies.* 
There  appear  to  have  been  forty-four  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER — of 
which  a  very  fine  one  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Watson 
Taylor's  library,  by  the  Hon.  Mr.  Finch,  for  17*.     As  usual  with  the 
publications  of  Hearne,  these  volumes  contain  a  variety  of  miscel- 
laneous matter  exclusively  of  the  text  of  the  historians  in  question. 

XXVII.  Chronicon  sive  Annales    Priorattis  de  Dunstaple.     Oxon. 
1733,  8vo.  2  vols.     Only   112  subscribers  5   but  some  for  several 
copies.     Of  the  LARGE  PAPER,  only  thirty-nine  copies  are  indicated 
as  such.     At  a  recent  sale  in  Pall-Mall,  a  copy,  on  large  paper,  was 
obtained  for  141.  :  and  at  that  of  Mr.  Watson  Taylor's  library,  a 
similar  copy  was  purchased  by  the  Hon.  Mr.  Finch  for  131.  2*.  6d. 
This  work  is  perhaps  rather  topographical  than  historical  3  but  it  has 
many  curious  details,  f  and  is  considered  to  be  among  the  more 


*  Among  the  subscribers  for  several  copies  was  Lionel  Walden,  Esq. — "  juvenis 
virtute  pariter  atque  integritate  spectabilis,  qui  ex  summa  sua  in  nos  studiaq ; 
nostra  literaria  benevolentia,  ultimo  suo  testamento  pecunias  perquam  generose 
mini  legavit.  Is  autem  magno  cum  nostro  dolore  foeda  barbaric  ac  crudelitate  in- 
teremptus  est  A.  D.  M.  DCC.  XIX.  id  quod  jam  nuper  etiam  in  Adamo  de  Domer- 
ham  innuimus.  Satis  vero  opportune  solutae  sunt  pecuniae  illae,  ut  ita  fieret  non 
panim  laborante  Lionelli,  quern  diximus,  sorore,  conjuge  lectissima  Humphredi 
Ormii,  Armigeri.  Sat  dictum  sapienti.  Benenciorum  immemores  esse  pudet. 
Idcirco  nemo  aegre  feret,  nosmet  [ex  adulatione  minime  aucupantes  bonam  gra- 
tiam]  haec  de  Waldeno,  juvene  plane  egregio,  prodidisse."  p.  ci. 

t  In  conformity  with  the  design  mentioned  at  page  21 5,  ante,  I  had  prepared 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  227 

business  to  record  :  only  I  will  be  free  to  observe,  that 
it  is  in  the  possession  of  such  a  treasure,  that  HONORIO 

coveted  productions  of  Hearne;  especially  on  large  paper.  The 
account  of  the  mustering  of  the  University  of  Oxford  in  1642,  is  not 
the  least  curious  and  interesting  j  but  the  subjoined  specimens  are 
quite  sufficient  to  excite  the  antiquary's  curiosity. 

XXVIII.  The  last,  and  perhaps  (intrinsically  considered)  the  most 
valuable  of  all  Hearne's  publications,  is  the  following :  Benedictus 


a  considerable  quantity  of  materials  for  the  illustration  of  the  Annals  ofDunstapte 
Priory.  It  is  just  possible  that  the  reader  may  not  object  to  be  made  acquainted 
with  a  portion  of  these  Illustrations ;  especially  as  they  embrace  some  curious  old 
English  poetry. 

Antiquity  of  this  Chronicle. 

Page  xxvii. — Lord  Coke  quotes  it  in  expounding  the  Statute  de  Judaismo  :  (in 
2  Inst.)  Stow,  Holinshed,  and  other  Chroniclers  make  mention  of,  or  use, 
it.  Nicolson  did  not  know  the  author  of  it :  and  the  mss.  which  he  consulted  or 
referred  to,  were  discordant  among  themselves.  Wanley  had  written  his  senti- 
ments, knowing  the  authenticity  of  this  Chronicle,  that  it  should  be  made  public. 
Hearne  put  short  explanatory  notes  (very  properly)  which  were  not  in  the  original. 
He  avows  his  usual  practice  of  copying  mss.  so  rigidly,  as  to  retain,  purposely, 
the  very  errors — after  the  manner  of  Graevius  in  his  Greek  Inscriptions. 

"  Although  many  have  praised  this  Chronicle  in  print,  no  one  had  accurately 
described  it;  or  seemed  to  know  any  thing  of  its  age  and  authenticity.  Both 
Stowe  and  Joceline  and  Tyrrell  and  White  Kennett  have  acted  thus.  Richard  de 
Morins  was  its  author — at  least  of  the  first  part — and  he  died  in  1242.  He  thinks 
Leland*  would  have  seen  and  noticed  this  ms.  when  he  visited  the  public  libraries, 
if  some  private  hand  had  not  carried  it  away — through  envy,  or  spite."  P.  xxxi. 
Wanley  was  clearly  of  this  opinion  that  Morins  was  the  author — especially 
from  comparing  it  with  a  ms.  of  the  Chartulary  of  the  same  Priory — which  was 
deposited  in  the  Harleian  Collection  —  formerly  one  John  Ward's — and  purchased 
by  Wanley — p.  xxxiv.  xxxv.  Hearne  then  is  clearly  of  opinion  that  Richard  de 
Morinsf  was  an  Englishman,  J  the  author  of  both  Chronicle  and  Chartulary,  and,  as 
such,  that  he  ranks  among  the  writers  of  British  history,  page  xxxvi. 


*  A  slight  notice  of  Dunstaple  occurs  in  the  Collectanea,  vol.  iii.  xii.  and 
Itinerary. 

t  Wanley  describes  him  as  "  seeming  to  be  a  man  of  a  griping  and  exacting 
temper,  which  often  brought  him  into  troublesome  suits  of  law  with  the  townsmen, 
and  others  his  tenants  and  neighbours  He  was  prior  thirty- nine  years,"  H.  Wan- 
leu  Notitia  Chartularii  de  Dunstaple,  p .  xciii  }  lix . 


228  HISTORY 

feels  comfort,  and  LENTULUS  supreme  felicity.  In- 
deed, apostrophising  and  mystifying  apart,  I  know  of 

Abbas  Petroburgensls  de  vita  et  gestis  Henrici  II.  et  Eicardi  I.,  &c. 
Oxon.  1735,  2  vols.  Of  the  large  paper  copies,  there  were  thirty- 
seven  copies  subscribed  for ;  and  their  rarity  maybe  presumed,  when 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Finch  was  compelled  to  give  \9l.  10s.  for  a  similar 


Customs  of  Dunstaple  Priory.     (From  the  Chartulary.) 
Hearne  says  that  some  of  these  are  worth  noticing— for  instance  : 

"  Item  dicunt,  ubi  vidua  dimittit  francum  bancum.(5) 

(5.)  Jfree  IBentl),  82&it)0fc>'0  (K0tatei  Tis  observed  that  in  the  Manors  of 
East  and  West  Euborne  and  Chadleworth,  in  Berks,  and  in  the  Manors  of  Tor, 
and  some  other  places  in  the  West,  there  is  this  odd  custom,  that  if  a  copyhold, 
or  customary  tenant  dye,  the  widow  shall  have  her  Free-bench  in  all  his  copyhold 
lands,  dum  sola  et  casta  fuerit ;  but  if  she  commit  incontinency,  she  forfeits  her 
widow's  estate ;  yet  after  this,  if  she  come  into  the  next  court,  held  for  the 
Manour,  riding  backwards  on  a  black  ram,  with  his  tail  in  her  hand,  and  say  the 
words  following,  the  Steward  is  bound  by  the  custom  to  readmit  her  to  her  Free- 
bench. 

Here  I  am, 

Riding  upon  a  black  Ram, 
&c.  &c.  &c. 

[The  remainder  need  not  be  repeated.] 

"  I  take  notice,"  (continues  Hearne)  "  of  these  things,  upon  account  of  the 
mention  of  Free-bench  in  this  Chartulary  of  Dunstaple,  where  however  I  do  not 
think,  that  the  custom  of  recovery  of  a  widow's  estate,  by  riding  upon  a  black 
ram,  prevail'd,  as  it  may  be  some  will  imagine  it  did.  Had  it  so  prevailed,  'tis 
very  probable  it  would  have  been  mentioned  in  the  Chartulary  in  this  very  passage 
I  now  publish."  Page  xxxix-xl.  (Blackstone,  vol.  ii.  p.  132,  edit.  1772,  does 
not  notice  this.) 

Dewes1  Description  of  Charles  the  First's  Queen,  Henrietta. 
"  On  thursday  the  30  and  last  day  of  this  instant  lune  (1625)  I  went  to  White- 
hall, purposelie  to  see  the  Queene,  which  I  did  fullie  all  the  time  shee  sate  at 
dinner,  and  perceived  her  to  be  a  most  absolute  delicate  ladie,  after  I  had  exactlie 
surveied  all  the  features  of  her  face:  much  enlivened  by  her  radient  and  sparkling 
blacke  eye.  Besides,  her  deportment  amongst  her  women  was  so  sweete  and 
humble,  and  her  speech  and  lookes  to  her  other  servants  soe  milde  and  gracious, 
as  I  could  not  abstaine  from  divers  deepe  fetched  sighs,  to  consider,  that  shee 
wanted  the  knowledge  of  the  true  religion."  Life  of  Simon  D'Ewes,  written  by 
himself,  in  the  Harleian  Library,  f.  79,  b.  p.  Ixiv.  D'Ewes  was  a  Puritan. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  229 

no  collection  of  works  which  is  more  thoroughly  in- 
viting to  perusal,  than  that  of  Hearue,  on  large  paper, 
in  primitive  calf  or  morocco  binding. 

copy  at  a  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Evans's.  I  suspect  the  small  paper  to 
be  also  scarce ;  and  that  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  have  not  greatly 
overcharged  it  by  the  price  of  41.  4s. :  the  sum  at  which  Gough's 
copy  was,  if  I  remember  rightly,  sold.  Mr.  Thorpe  has  however 


Verses  concerninge  the  Name  and  Armes  of  Dunstaple. 

By  Houghton  Regis  there,  where  Watling  Street 
Is  cross'd  by  Icknel  way,  once  grew  a  woode 
With  bushes  thicke  orespred,  a  coverte  meetc 
To  harbour  such  as  lay  in  waite  for  blood 
There  lurkte  of  ruffians  bold  an  hideous  route 
Whose  captain  was  one  DUNNE  of  courage  stoute. 

No  travailer  almost  could  pass  that  way, 

But  either  he  was  wounded,  robbd  or  kill  d, 

By  that  lewd  crew,  which  there  in  secret  lay, 

With  murders,  thefts  and  rapes  their  hands  were  fild. 

What  booties  ere  they  took,  ech  had  his  share  : 

Thus  yeere  by  yeere  they  liv'd  without  all  care. 

At  last  Kinge  Henrie,  first  kinge  of  that  name, 
Towards  the  Northerne  parts  in  progresse  rode  : 
And  hearing  of  those  great  abuses  came 
Unto  the  thicket  where  the  theeves  abode  : 
Who  on  the  cumminge  of  the  kinge  did  flee, 
Each  to  his  house  or  to  his  friend  did  hie. 

Wherefore  the  Kinge,  such  mischiefs  to  prevente, 
The  wood  cut  downe,  the  way  all  open  layd, 
That  all  trew  men,  which  that  way  rode  or  wente> 
Of  sodaine  sallyes  might  be  lesse  afrayde, 
And  might  descrie  their  daunger  ere  it  came, 
And  BO  by  wise  foresighte  escape  the  same, 

This  done,  he  reard  a  poull  both  houge  and  longe 
In  that  road  high  way,  where  so  raanie  passe, 
And  in  the  poull  let  drive  a  STAPLE  stronge 
Whereto  the  Kinge's  owne  ring  appendante  wa?. 
And  caus  d  it  to  be  publisht,  that  this  thinge 
Was  done  to  sec,  what  thiefe  durst  steal  the  ringe. 


230  HISTORY 

But  I  am  rambling  somewhat.  Reverting  to  Hearne, 
and  to  the  critical  value  of  his  historical  labours,  it 
may  be  safely  affirmed,  that,  for  fidelity,  and  fre- 

valued  it  at  31.  3s.  Whoever  has  leisure,  may  examine  a  few  of  the 
odd  things  (such  as  "  Tales  of  the  Mad  Men  of  Gotham,  Scoggan's 
Jests,  Robert  Burton,  Tom  Thumb,  and  the  Mylner  of  Abingdon") 
which  Hearne  has  contrived  to  incorporate  in  these  volumes,  in  the 


Yet  for  all  that,  tlie  ringe  was  stole  away, 
Which  when  it  came  to  learned  Beauclark's  eare, 
By  skylfull  arte  to  finde  he  did  assay, 
Who  was  the  thief e,  and  first,  within  what  Shyre 
His  dwellinge  was,  which  this  bold  act  had  done, 
And  found  it  to  be  Bedfordshire  anon. 

Next  in  what  Hundred  of  that  Shyre  might  dwell 
This  ventrous  wighte,  Kinge  Henrie  caste  to  finde, 
And  upon  Mansfield  Hundred  straight  it  fell, 
Which  being  founde,  he  after  bent  his  minde, 
To  learne  the  parish,  and  by  like  ikyll  tride, 
That  he  in  Houghton  Regis  did  abide. 

Lastlie,  the  parishe  knowne,  he  further  soughte, 
To  find  the  verie  house,  where  he  remayned, 
And  by  the  preceptes  of  his  arte  was  toughte 
That  by  one  widow  Dun  he  was  retayned 
The  widowes  house  was  searcht  (so  wild  the  Kinge) 
And  with  her  sonne  was  founde  staple  and  ringe. 

Thus  Beauclerke  by  his  arte  founde  out  the  thiefe 
A  lusty,  tall  young  man,  of  courage  good  : 
Which  of  the  other  ruffians  was  the  chiefe, 
That  closelie  lurked  in  that  waylesse  wood, 
Then  Dunne  this  captain  thiefe  the  widow's  sonne 
Was  hanged  for  the  facts  which  he  liad  done. 

And  where  the  thicket  stoode  the  kinge  did  builde 

A  market  towne,  for  saulfetie  of  all  those, 

Which  travailed  that  way,  that  it  might  them  yielde 

A  sure  refuge  from  all  thievish  foes. 

And  there  Kinge  Henrie  of  his  greate  bountie 

Founded  a  church,  a  schole,  and  priorie. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  231 

qucntly  for  intrinsic  worth,  they  are  in  all  respects 
admirable.  Hearne's  judgment  in  selection  may  be 

extracts  given  in  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  ii.  p.  65-70. — 
As  to  the  text  of  the  Historian,  which  is  carried  down  to  the  year 
1178,  it  is  not  only  highly  praised  by  Tyrrell,  but  according  to  the 
higher  authority  of  the  authors  of  the  Recueil  des  Historiens  des 
Gaules,  it  seems  of  almost  inestimable  value.  Let  no  Collector  of 
our  early  history,  in  whose  library  Benedictus  Abbas  is  not  to  be 
found,  suffer  a  copy  to  escape  him  which  can  be  obtained  at  any  rea- 
sonable price.  Perhaps,  to  the  preceding,  as  strictly  connected  with 
the  department  of  HISTORY,  I  ought  to  add  the  Ductor  Historicus  of 
Hearne,  printed  in  1704,  2  vols.  8vo,  and  several  times  reprinted  ;  a 
work,  which  Gibbon  did  not  disdain  to  read,  in  forming  his  mind  for 
his  great  historical  labours.  Misc.  Works,  vol.  i.  p.  41. 

Such  are  the  PUBLICATIONS  OF  HEARNE,  more  especially  connected 
with  BRITISH  HISTORY.  The  candid  critic,  and  the  intelligent 
reader,  will  throw  out  of  the  scale  all  considerations  of  the  particular 
bias,  or  even  the  palpable  credulity,  which  distinguish  the  Editor  of 
these  publications,  from  a  consideration  of  the  ABSOLUTE  VALUE  of 
the  ANCIENT  TEXTS  which  he  has  collected,  and  most  faithfully 
printed.  They  will  separate  the  ore  from  the  dross  in  which  it  is 
embedded  Meanwhile  let  the  curious  consult  Fabricii  BibL  Med.  et 
Inf.  JEtat.  vol.  i.  p.  276',  edit.  1734,  about  a  reprint  of  the  more  va- 
luable of  Hearne's  works.  I  do  not  despair  of  seeing,  at  least,  the 
BUST  of  HEARNE  in  one  of  the  public  repositories  at  Oxford.  That 
University  yet  owes  something  to  one  of  the  most  dutiful  of  her 


And  for  that  Dunne  before  the  wood  was  downe 

Had  there  his  hauntc,  and  there  did  steal  away 

The  staple  and  the  ringc,  thereof  the  towne 

Is  called  Dunstaple  until  this  day 

Also  in  Arraes  that  Corporation 

The  STAPLE  and  THE  HINGE  give  thereupon.  By  me  John  Willis. 

These  verses  were  sent  to  Hearne  in  Oct.  1733,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Jones, 
Curate  of  Abbot's  Ripton,  in  Huntingdonshire — to  whom  they  were  sent,  and 
transcribed  from  an  old  Register  of  Dunstaple  church,  by  a  friend  —  who  assured 
Mr.  Jones  that  the  author  of  these  verses  was  "  sometime  curate  of  that  place," 
—and  that  the  hand  writing  bore  a  resemblance  "  to  that  which  begins  the  Register 
in  the  year  1558."  Vol.  ii.  p.  727-729.  Was  Mr.  Jones  quizzing  Hearne  ? 


232  HISTORY 

sometimes  veiy  justly  questioned ;  and  his  frivolous 
digressions,  and  half  crazy  conclusions,,  must  inevit- 
ably provoke  the  laughter,  if  not  the  wrath,  of  the 
critic.  Yet  our  obligations  to  him  are  great.  He  has 
rescued  much  from  oblivion,  if  not  from  perdition ; 
and  forgetting  all  the  peculiarities  and  even  weak- 
nesses of  the  man,  we  must  unite  in  bestowing  our 
heartiest  commendations  on  the  Editor.  More  than 
the  lapse  of  a  century  (that  test  of  reputation)  has 
confirmed  the  fame  of  Thomas  Hearne. 

Reverting  to  the  regular  order  of  published  histo- 
ries, I  must  make  but  slight  mention  of  the  anti- 
quarian-historical labours  of  SAMMES  and  LEWIS,*  in 

children:  —who  may  be  said  to  have  died  in  the  act  of  paying  her 
homage,  by  the  publication  last  described  j  and  which  he  survived 
but  a  few  weeks.  In  the  same  year  appeared  the  Ectypa  Varia*  or 
a  collection  of  all  his  plates,  from  his  different  publications,  in  one 
folio  volume.  Mr.  Triphook  has.,  at  this  moment,  a  very  fine  copy 
of  this  work.  And  now,  a  word  as  to  the  fortunate  Owners  of  a 
complete  large  paper  set  of  Hearne's  publications.  But,  in  truth,  I 
know  of  no  such  "  fortunate  owner"  Earl  Spencer,  Mr.  Grenville, 
and  Mr.  Hibbert,  possess  such  a  series  complete,  with  the  exception  of 
the  first  edition  of  the  Itinerary.  Mr.  Dent  has  many  large  paper 
copies,  and  Sir  R.  C.  Hoare  yet  more.  At  Oxford,  they  have  a  fine 
sprinkling  of  them  at  Christ  Church  -}  and  nearly  all  of  them  are  at 
Blickling  in  Norfolk.  At  Althorp,  they  are  separated,  f  according 
to  their  respective  classes. 

*  I  hardly  know  why  Sammes's  Britannia  Antiqua  Illustrata,  or 
the  Antiquities  of  Ancient  Britain,  as  derived  from  the  Phoenicians, 


f  I  remember,  some  seven  or  eight  years  ago, "  a  good  saying  "  about  the  sepa- 
ration of  these  Hearne's.  On  hunting  down  some  bibliographical  question,  con- 
nected with  this  series,  a  distinguished  Collector  discovered  their  separation. 
"  What,  (said he,  with  becoming  emphasis)  the  Hearne's  separated!  I  could  not 
SURVIVE  such  a  separation  an  hour."  Note.  May  1  be  forgiven  a  bad  pun  ?  Lord 
Spencer  is  doubly  blest  in  Hearnes  :  for  he  has  a  Hernery  in  his  park  ! 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,.  233 

order  to  do  more  ample  justice  to  the  General  History 
of  CARTE,  who  put  forth  four  ponderous  folio  tomes 
in  1747,  and  who,  in  his  title  page,  probably  with  as 
much  affectation  as  simplicity,  styled  himself  "  AN 
ENGLISHMAN."  Never  was  an  history  more  anxiously 
expected,  and  more  zealously  supported.  The  City 
of  London  and  the  University  of  Oxford  seemed  to 
vie  with  each  other  in  their  acts  of  generosity.  Al- 
though the  author  died  before  the  publication  of  the 
last  volume,  in  1755 — intending  to  bring  his  work 
down  to  the  Restoration — yet  he  lived  long  enough  to 
witness  its  success,*  and  the  victory  which  he  had  ob- 
tained over  its  numerous  opponents,  and  the  shame 
attached  to  those  who  had  withdrawn  their  original 
patronage.  This  work  will  live  long  and  always  be 

1676 ,  folio,  is  here  introduced — unless  it  be  to  exhort  the  curious 
collector  to  secure,  without  delay,  the  extraordinarily  fine  copy  of 
this  not  uninstructive  volume,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  bound  in  red  morocco, 
by  C.  Lewis,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  R.  Triphook, 
bookseller.  In  the  same  bookseller's  collection  is  a  similar  choice 
copy  of  J.  Lewis's  "  indent  History  of  Great  Britain,  with  the  Bre- 
viary of  Bretayne,  by  H.  Lhuyd.  Lond.  1729,  folio— a  book,  (and 
especially  such  a  copy  of  it !)  of  which  the  possession  shall  not  cause 
the  purchaser  to  repent  his  bargain. 

*  Mr.  Chalmers,  in  his  edition  of  the  General  Biographical  History, 
vol.  viii.  p.  292 — 299,  has  given  us  a  very  interesting  article  upon 
CARTE  :  and  his  history  is  there  said  to  be  "  written  with  eminent 
exactness  and  diligence,  and  with  a  perfect  knowledge  of  original 
authors ;  and  has  of  late  years  risen  considerably  in  reputation,  as 
well  as  in  price,  especially  since  it  was  discovered  how  much  Hume 
was  indebted  to  it."  Yet  I  have  heard  competent  judges  speak 
of  the  infidelity  of  some  of  Carte's  quotations.  A  neat  copy  may 
be  obtained  for  about  7l.  17*.  6d.  The  LARGE  PAPER  copies  are  of 
late  becoming  somewhat  common  j  and  are  cumbrous  in  the  ex- 
treme. The  small  paper  is  excellently  well  printed.  Messrs.  Arch 


234  HISTORY 

consulted.  Hume  has  been  more  indebted  to  it  than 
he  was  disposed  to  acknowledge.  Carte  is  also  the 
author  of  the  well  known  "  History  of  the  Life  of 
James  Duke  of  Ormonde,"  in  3  folio  volumes,  1735-6. 

But  Carte  had  been  preceded  by  the  partial  history 
of  RALPH  ;  who  had  confined  his  labours  to  the  reign 
of  William  III.,  with  an  introductory  review  of  the 
reigns  of  Charles  II.  and  James  II.  This  work  ap- 
peared in  1744-6,  in  two  folio  volumes  ;*  and  since 
the  publication  of  Mr.  Fox's  incomplete  history  of 
the  reign  of  James  II.,  it  has  been  very  much  sought 
after. 

The  progress  of  these  researches  has  at  length 
brought  me  to  the  labours  of  HUME,  SMOLLETT,  and 
Upon  such  works  it  were  idle  to  bestow 


and  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  mark  a  copy  of  Carte's  Life  of  the 
Duke  of  Ormond,  (the  companion  to  the  History)  in  calf,  at  7Z.  7s. 
This  work  is  also  to  be  had  on  large  paper. 

*  It  was  Mr.  Fox's  character  of  Ralph  which,  in  a  great  degree, 
contributed  to  the  recent  enquiries  made  after  his  history.  A  copy 
of  it  is  obtainable  for  about  4l.  14s.  6d. 

f  Every  literary  man  knows  that  Hume  wrote  his  history,  as  it 
were,  backwards  :  beginning  with  the  reigns  of  the  Stuarts.  The 
first  volume  appeared  1754,  or  1755  ;  the  second  and  third,  in  1756-7, 
the  fourth  and  fifth,  in  1759  5  the  sixth  and  seventh,  in  1761  :  each 
in  4to.  These  are  the  original  impressions  of  Hume's  celebrated 
History  of  England  j  and  as  the  work  is  certainly  a  Classic,  in  its 
way,  and  portions  of  the  text  differ  from  those  of  the  subse- 
quent text,  I  recommend  a  copy  of  this  EDIT.  PRIN.  to  be  in  the 
ibrary  of  every  curious  Collector.  The  best  octavo  editions  — 
or  rather  those  which  received  the  last  corrections  of  the  author, 
with  a  short  account  of  his  life,  written  by  himself  —  are  of  the  dates 
of  1778  and  1786,  in  8  volumes.  To  describe  subsequent  editions, 
which  of  late  are  become  almost  innumerable,*  were  a  waste  of  words 


*  Among  the  most  celebrated  for  ornament,  was  that  published  in  19  vols.  (con- 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  235 

many  words.     They  are  comparatively  the  text-books 
of  our  history.     They  are  in  every  collection ;  but  no 

and  of  paper.  And  equally  so  would  be  any  elaborate  appreciation 
of  the  style  of  the  work — <f  the  careless  inimitable  beauties "  of 
which,  have  elicited  the  warm  commendation  of  Gibbon.  But,  up 
to  the  commencement  of  the  Tudor  Annals,  or  the  reign  of  Henry 
VII.  the  text  of  Hume  has  been  pronounced  to  be  "  ingenious  but  su- 
perficial." The  author  indeed  wanted  that  resolute  spirit  of  industry 
and  research,  which  alone  can  lead  an  historian  to  become  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  valuable  writers  of  the  middle  ages.  It  is,  I 
submit,  in  the  reign  of  ELIZABETH,  that  the  true  genius  of  Hume 
may  be  said  to  shine  forth.  Here  we  have  pathos,  and  argument,* 
vigorous  delineation  of  character,  and  statesman-like  views  of  policy : 
but  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  was  worthy  of  the  exercise  of  such  talents. 
Hume  was  a  Tory ;  he  was  also  a  Scotchman  :— this  renders  the 
almost  uniform  absence  of  Scotticisms,  from  his  style,  a  subject  of 
surprise — if  not  of  astonishment. 

The  first  edition  of  SMOLLETT'S  Continuation  of  Hume,  was  printed 
in  1763-5,  in  5  [octavo  volumes.  Of  his  own  regular  History  of 
England,  the  first  impression  appeared  in  1757,  in  4  quarto  volumes ; 
reprinted  in  1758,  in  11  octavo  volumes.  But  it  is  of  HENRY'S 
history  that  I  would  speak  in  the  warmest  language  of  approba- 
tion. The  plan  need  not  be  here  mentioned.  Its  imperfect  state, 
and  the  want  of  a  copious  and  accurate  Index  to  the  12  octavo  vo- 


taining  the  continuation  by  Smollett)  in  the  year  1803,  in  8vo.  It  exhibits  a  series 
of  most  spirited  engravings  on  wood ;  and  is  now  become  rare.  The  printer  was 
Bcnsley.  My  friend,  Mons.  Delan9on,  an  active  member  of  the  Society  of  Biblio- 
philes, at  Paris,  was  too  happy  to  secure  a  copy  of  it  on  LARGE  PAPER,  from  the 
catalogue  of  Messrs.  Arch,  [for  231. 10$.  The  royal  folio  edition,  published  by 
Bowyer,  and  embellished  with  elaborate  engravings  by  our  principal  artists,  has 
of  late  (I  know  not  wherefore)  "  hung  down  its  head"  in  the  market  The  most 
coveted  8vo.  edition,  for  the  sake  of  the  copper  plates,  is  that  of  1789.  The  por- 
traits are  here  first  impressions. 

*  Read  the  account  of  the  execution  of  Mary — beginning  with  her  leaving  her 
private  apartment  for  the  block.  Read  also  the  summary  of  the  arguments,  pro 
and  con,  respecting  her  execution.  Hume  has  shewn  himself  a  perfect  master  of 
analysis,  in  compressing  these  arguments.  Never  was  a  point  more  delicately 
poised  in  the  discussion. 


236  HISTORY 

one,  unluckily,  has  yet  had  the  courage  or  good  sense 
to  complete  the  plan  of  Dr.  Henry.  The  continua- 
tion of  it  by  JAMES  PETIT  ANDREWS,  extends  only  to 
the  period  of  Henry  VIII.  Of  all  plans,  that  of  Henry, 
is  surely  the  best — especially  for  the  Students  of  our 
History.  The  names  of  Mr.  SHARON  TURNER*  and  Mr. 

lumes*  already  published,  are  truly  lamentable.  But  ere  he  come 
to  the  perusal  of  these  valuable  volumes  themselves,  I  earnestly  re- 
commend the  gallant-spirited  and  warm-hearted  "  young  man,'* 
to  read  with  attention  (as  he  can  scarcely  fail  to  do)  the  SECRET 
HISTORY  of  this  publication,  as  developed  in  the  instructive  pages  of 
Mr.  D.  Israeli's  Calamities  of  Authors,  vol.  ii.  p.  64,  &c.  He  will 
there  see  how  malicious,  and  yet  how  impotent,  were  the  efforts  of 
one  Gilbert  Stuart  — by  pen,  and  by  word  of  mouth— to  blast  the  repu- 
tation, and  with  it,  the  peace  of  mind,  of  the  author  of  this  history 
of  England.  He  need  not  be  told  that  Stuart  is  forgotten — and  that 
Henry  will  live  for  ever.  Such  instances  of  fiend-like  persecution 
are  not  peculiar  to  the  age  of  Gilbert  Stuart.  How  incomparably 
more  judicious,  as  well  as  candid  and  happy,  is  the  criticism  upon 
Henry's  history,  in  the  Monthly  Review,  by  the  philosophical  Hume. 
— As  this  history,  with  its  continuation  by  Andrews,  is  to  be  obtained 
at  all  prices,  varying  according  to  the  quarto  or  octavo  size,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  particularise  further. 

*  The  foundation  of  Mr.  SHARON  TURNER'S  History  of  England, 
was  laid  in  that  of  the  Anglo-  Saxons,  published  at  various  times, 
from  the  year  1799  downwards.  It  has  appeared  in  2  quarto,  and 
4  octavo,  volumes ;  and  being  a  standard  book,  editions  of  it  are  in  a 
regular  state  of  succession.  The  last  of  182O,  in  three  8vo.  vols.  is 
certainly  the  best.  The  matter  is  highly  curious  and  instructive  \  and, 
compared  with  it,  one  may  fairly  state,  that  all  previous  accounts 
of  the  same  period  were  not  only  superficial,  but  erroneous.  In  1814 
Mr.  Turner  gave  us  his  first  volume  of  an  History  of  England ; 
in  the  year  1815  the  second  volume  appeared  j  and  very  recently 


t  The  last  octavo  edition,  or  the  last  but  one,  has  an  Index  j  but  not  a  very 
good  one,  as  I  learn. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  237 

LINGARD,*  are  among  the  most  eminent  of  those  of  our 
living  historians. 

(1823)  the  third  volume  made  its  appearance.  Each  volume  is  in 
quarto.  A  great  portion  of  this  work  is  devoted  to  the  history  of 
Religion  and  Literature  j  f  and  in  that  which  relates  to  civil  his- 
tory, I  know  of  no  portion,  in  any  writer,  in  which  the  character  of 
Thomas  a  Becket  is  more  vividly  and  powerfully  delineated. 

*  Mr.  Lingard's  labours  have  been  so  far  crowned  with  success, 
that  an  octavo  impression  of  his  history  has  already  appeared. 
There  will  be  few,  who,  on  account  of  the  religious  creed  (of  the 
church  of  Rome)  of  the  author,  alone,  will  deny  this  history  a  place 
on  their  shelves'.  The  style  is  clear,  vigorous,  and  unaffected  -,  the 
facts  are,  upon  the  whole,  fairly  developed,  and  the  authorities  faith- 
fully consulted.  Nor  is  Mr.  Lingard,  like  David  Hume,  afraid  of 
encountering  the  tough  and  prolix  Latin  authors  of  the  middle  ages. 
His  notes  bear  evidence  of  his  research  :  and  although  his  colouring 
of  some  characters  will  necessarily  be  seen  with  different  eyes  by 
Papist  and  Protestant,  yet  it  must  be  fairly  acknowledged,  that  the 
cause  of  historical  truth  (if  TRUTH  there  be  in  HISTORY  ?)  is  in  all 
respects  promoted  by  the  cautious  investigations,  and  dispassionate 
remarks,  which  characterise  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  his  work. 
Mr.  Lingard  has  caused  the  historical  critic  to  examine  anew,  the 
data,  from  which  his  inferences  have  been  drawn  respecting  the 
reigns  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  Queens  Mary  and  Elizabeth. 

The  labours  of  BERTRAND  deMoLEViLLE  (A  Chronological  Abridge- 
ment of  the  History  of  England ,  1811,  4  vols.  8vo.)  ought  not  to  be 
forgotten.  The  author's  plan  is  ingenious,  and  his  work  is  at  once 
luminous  and  compressed.  I  am  not  sure  whether  young  people 
can  commence  their  acquaintance  with  our  history,  by  the  aid  of  a 
better  guide. 

•Y  In  the  second  volume,  among  the  specimens  of  Gower's  poetry,  p.  491,  it  had 
escaped  the  learned  author,  that  precisely  similar  specimens  had  appeared  in  vol.  i. 
p.  181-4,  of  the  recent  edition  of  our  Typographical  Antiquities.  Thehorrible  story 
of  Canace  is  indeed  thrillingly  described  by  the  muse  of  Gower. 


[  238  ] 


HISTORY  OF  IRELAND. 

HAVING  dispatched  those  histories,  which,  with  that 
of  England,  comprehend  some  accounts,  more  or  less, 
of  the  transactions  of  Ireland  and  Scotland,  I  now 
come,  naturally  as  it  were,  to  the  mention  of  a  few 
historical  works,  exclusively  devoted  to  the  two  latter 
countries.  And  first,  in  its  proper  order,  of  IRELAND. 
But  the  reader  is  previously  warned,  not  to  expect 
anything  like  methodical  details  of  ALL  the  works 
connected  with  this  subject ;  and  in  the  second  place, 
he  is  equally  cautioned  not  to  anticipate  a  descriptive 
catalogue  of  the  Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints,*  whose 

*  I  willingly  consign  the  pages  of  the  Acta  Sanctorum  (that  inex. 
haustible  repertory  of  legendary  lore  and  saintly  romance!)  to  the 
investigation  of  the  curious,  for  the  fullest  biographies  of  St.  Patrick, 
St.  Brandon,  St.  Rumold,  St.  Columba,  and  other  similar  worthies. 
The  first,  the  tutelary  Saint  of  Ireland,  has  been  the  object  of  the 
roost  unbounded  veneration,  and  the  theme  of  the  most  unlimited 
praise.  No  romance,  in  wildness  or  variety,  exceeds  the  narrative  of 
the  fabled  deeds  of  St.  PATRICK.  I  am  ignorant  of  the  first  separate 
edition  of  his  life  j  but  presume  that  re.impressions  of  it  are  innu- 
merable. Of  these,  I  will  mention  the  only  four  which  I  have  seen : 
ff  De  Vita  S.  Patricii  Hibernia  Apostoli.  Libr.  II.  Auctore  Richardo 
Stanihursto  Dubliniensi.  Ant.  ex  Off.  C.  Plantiniana,  1587,  12mo. 
The  second  is  called  "  The  Life  of  the  Glorious  Bishop  St.  Patricke, 
Apostle  and  Primate  of  Ireland"  &c.  At  St.  Omers,  1625.  4to.  This 
biography  is  followed  by  the  lives  of  St.  Bridget  and  St.  Columba, 
Patrons  of  Ireland.  The  third,  "  The  Delightful  History  of  the  Life 
and  Death  of  St.  Patricke."  Lond,  1685,  12mo.  It  is  a  chap  book, 
printed  in  rather  a  neat  black  letter,  and  embellished  with  several 
spirited  and  not  ill-drawn  wood  cuts.  The  only  copy  which  I  have 
seen,  is  that  in  the  library  of  the  Right  Hon.  Thomas  Grenville :  a 
library,  to  which,  as  the  reader  will  presently  observe,  I  am  under  so 


IRELAND.]      HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          239 

supposed  miracles  seem  to  have  involved  the  earlier 
periods  of  Irish  history  in  darkness  almost  impe- 

many  obligations  for  my  account  of  the  rarer  books  relating  to  Irish 
history.  The  fourth  life  is  a  similar  chap  book,  published  in  French 
at  Rouen,  in  1685j  but  in  a  much  less  desirable  state:  being 
wretchedly  printed,,  with  a  rude  whole  length  portrait  of  the  Saint, 
as  a  frontispiece.  It  may  be  as  well  to  notice,  that,  in  Carve's  Lyra 
Hibernica,  (presently  to  be  described)  there  is  a  small  copper  plate 
representing  the  Island  of  Purgatory,  in  which  St.  Patrick  tarried, 
and  where  he  saw  such  wonderful  sights.  It  is,  I  think,  the  second 
plate. 

ST.  BRANDON'S  biography  first  appeared  in  the  English  language, 
in  a  very  scarce  little  quarto  volume,  printed  by  W.  de  Worde,  with- 
out date,  but  early,  and  described  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  345. 
It  contains  10  leaves,  having  S3  lines  in  a  full  page.  A  copy  is  in 
the  library  of  Mr.  Grenville,  who  oberves,  that  "  he  knows  of  no 
other  copy."  This  copy,  therefore — neatly  inlaid,  and  bound  by 
Charles  Lewis,  is  in  Venetian  morocco — was  in  all  probability  Thane's, 
as  described  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  St.  RUMOLD  is  connected  with 
one  of  the  scarcest  pieces  of  Irish  biography  :  but  we  may  first  notice 
the  "  Vita,  Passio,  et  Miracula  S.  Rumoldi.  Arch.  Dubl  J.  V.  W. 
Decano  Capituli  Metrop.  Mechlin,  Autore."  Mechlinice,  1634,  4to. 
A  scarce  book:  by  Hugh  Ward,  Dean  of  Dublin,  who  was  an 
assistant  to  Colgan.  Consult  Ware's  Irish  Writers;  vol.  ii.  p.  114. 
Mr.  Grenville's  beautiful  copy  is  bound  in  blue  morocco.  But  the 
scarcest  of  the  biographies  of  St.  Rumold,  is  that  entitled  ' '  Saricti 
Rumoldi  Martyris  Inclyti,  #c.  Opus  Posthumum.  Dissertatio  Histo- 
rical Lovan.  1662,  4to.  A  prefix,  in  the  pencil  mark  of  Mr.  Trip- 
hook,  calls  it,  "  an  uncommonly  rare  work  on  Irish  history."  The 
price  is  a  demonstration  of  the  truth  of  the  remark.  At  page  36*6, 
there  is  a  duplicate,  folio,  folded  leaf,  containing  the  names  of  an- 
cient Irish  kings,  in  Irish  characters.  At  the  end,  are  three  short 
Indexes  5  1.  Of  Authors  consulted  :  2.  Of  Irish  Saints  3  3.  Of  things 
mentioned. 

Those,  however,  who  may  give  up  the  pursuit  of  such  rare  se- 
parate pieces  of  Irish  biography  in  despair,  will  do  well  to  solace 
themselves  with  the  t(  Florilegium  Sanctorumr  &c.  seu  Vit<z  et  Ada 


240          HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.     [IRELAND. 

netrable,  and  with  doubts  scarcely  less  unsolvable. 
Beginning,  therefore,  cautiously,  with  our  old  friends, 

Sanctorum  Hibernix  -,  1624,  folio  :  of  which  "  THOMAS  MESSINGHAM, 
an  Irish  priest,  and  Moderator  of  the  Irish  Seminary  at  Paris,"  was  the 
author.  In  the  title  page,  there  is  a  neat  copper  cut  of  the  whole 
figures  of  Saints  Columba,  Patrick,  and  Bridget.  In  the  whole,  441 
pages.  Mr.  Grenville's  fine  copy  of  this  most  indifferently  printed 
book,  is  bound  in  red  morocco,  by  Lewis.  In  Mr.  Thorpe's  recent 
catalogue,  I  observe  the  copy  which  had  "  belonged  to  Geo.  II. 
with  Ware's  Autograph,"  marked  at  3Z.  3s.  This  book,  by  no  means 
of  extreme  rarity,  has  escaped  Brunet ;  as  have  indeed  almost  all  the 
rarer  volumes  connected  with  Irish  history.  Even  the  works  of  Lynch 
and  Carve  are  not  to  be  found  in  the  Manuel  du  Libraire.  And  yet, 
what  work  advances  nearer  to  perfection  than  that  of  BRUNET  ? 

But  the  most  copious  and  valuable  work  relating  to  the  biography 
of  the  Irish  Saints,  is  by  JOHN  COLGAN,  an  Irish  Friar  Mendicant, 
and  Divinity  Lecturer  in  the  University  of  Louvain — under  the  title 
of  Triadis  Thaumaturge,  sive  Divorum  Patricii,  Columba  et  Brigida, 
#c.  Ada.  Lovan.  1647,  vol.  ii.  folio  :  his  third  volume,  printed  first, 
(in  1645)  is  called  "Ada  Sanctorum  Vet.  et  Major  Scotia"*  seu  Hi- 
bernia  Sanctorum  Insula,  &c.  The  first  volume,  properly  so  con- 
sidered, never  appeared.  This  third  is  executed  upon  the  plan  of  the 
BollandistSj  and  contains  the  Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints  for  the 
months  of  January,  February,  and  March.  <e  In  this  last  book  (says 
Bishop  Nicolson)  Colgan  has  hooked  in  most  of  the  old  holy  men  and 
women  in  England  and  Scotland  :  so  that  even  Dempster  himselff 
(in  his  Historia  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Scotorum  Libris  xix.  Paris,  1624, 
folio)  could  not  be  more  intent  on  multiplying  the  Scotch  army  of 


*  In  the  first  edition  of  the  Irish  Common  Prayer,  1608,  folio,  edited  by  Daniel, 
Archbishop  of  Tuam,  it  is  said,  in  the  dedication  to  Sir  Arthur  Chichester,  knight, 
Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland,  "  Though  this  kingdom  were  sometimes  called  Scotia, 
that  is,  in  Greek  darkness— and  now  may  justly  recover  the  ancient  title  of  Scotia 
Major ,  (being  in  greater  darkness)  &c." 

f  As  connected  with  the  DEMPSTERIAN  CONTROVERSY,  there  are  few  pieces,  I 
apprehend,  rarer  than  that  entitled  "  Hibernice  Sive  Antiquioris  Scotia  Vindicte 
adversus  Immodestam  Parecbasim  Thorns,  Dempsteri,  &c.  Antv.  Apud  Herman 
Copman,  1621,  8vo.  Strangely  enough,  Mr.  Heber,  who  has  an  almost  innate 
abhorrence  of  widely  extended  margins,  possesses  this  very  rare  book  on  LARGE 
PAPER. 


IRELAND.]        HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        241 

Girald  Barry,  and  Ware,  and  Stanihurst,*  as  the 
more  ancient  and  regular  historians  of  Ireland,  we  have 

Saints  and  Martyrs,  than  Colgan  of  raising  recruits  for  that  of  his 
own  native  country/'  Irish  Hist.  Library,  p.  40.  A  perfect  copy  of 
Colgan's  work  is  so  rare,  that  Mr.  Thorpe  marks  such  a  one  at 
<^P20.  Mr.  Grenville's  is  in  the  finest  possible  condition. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  some  curious  similar  biography  may 
be  seen  in  Pinkerton's  Vita  Antique?  Sanctorum.  Lond.  1789,  Svo.  : 
only  100  copies  printed.  See  the  Life  of  St.  Columba.  But  in  the 
incorporated  biographies  of  Saints,  let  me  not  omit  the  mention  of  the 
tf  Lives  of  Saints,  written  in  Spanishe,  by  the  Rev.  J.  Alfonso  Vallegas, 
Dominican,  faithfully  translated  into  English,  #c.  with  the  Lives  of  St. 
Patrick,  St.  Brigid,  and  St.  Columba ;  Patrons  of  Ireland.  All  newly 
corrected,  and  adorned  with  many  brazen  pictures  in  this  last  edition. 
Printed  by  John  Cousturier,  1636.  4to.  pp.  945  :  then  a  leaf  of  "  ap- 
probation," and  179  leaves  of  Appendix.  My  friend  Mr.  Heber 
possesses  a  beautiful  copy  of  this  uncommon  book,  in  his  extraor- 
dinary collection  of  works  appertaining  to  Irish  history.  St.  Bridget 
has,  perhaps,  few  works  connected  with  her  biography  more  choice 
and  rare,  than  that  entitled  <f  Brigida  Thaumaturga,  sive  Dissertatio 
Encomiastica  in  laudem  ipsius  Sancta:  partim  archaica  ex  sacra  et 
antiqua  historia  Ecclesiastica  :  partim  etiam  parencetica  ad  alumnos 
Collegiorum.  Paris,  162O,  Svo.  In  Mr.  Heber' s  collection. 

*  GIRALD  BARRY,  (Giraldus  Cambrensis}  Topographia  Hibernia;, 
and  Historia  Vaticinalis  de  Expugnatione  Hibernice,  &c.  The  latter  was 
published  in  the  Anglica,  &c.  of  Camden,  at  Franckfort,  1603,  folio: 
seep.  150,  ante.  G.  Barry's  work,  which  gives  an  account  of  Ire- 
land in  the  12th  century,  was  answered  by  Lynch,  under  the  title 
of  Cambrensis  Eversus,  &c.  for  which,  see  post.  But  Barry's  topo- 
graphical labours  appear  to  the  best  advantage  in  Holinshed's  Chro- 
nicles, translated  and  improved,  with  occasional  notes,  by  John 
Hooker,  alias  Vowel :  vol.  2,  edit.  1586. 

RICHARDI  STANIHURSTI  De  Rebus  in  Hibernia  gestis  Libri  IV. 
Antv.  apud  C.  Plantinum,  1584,  4to.  Concerning  this  work,  consult 
Harris's  Ware,  vol.  iii.  p  38  :  Nicolsons  Irish  Hist.  Library,  part  iii. 
p.  21,  edit.  1736 ;  Keating' s  Pref.  to  his  Hist,  of  Ireland,  1723,  folio. 
Messrs,  Arch  mark  a  copy  at  ll.  Is.  It  is  rarely  found  in  good  con- 

R 


242         HIST0RY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.       [IRELAND. 

few  similar  works  to  notice,  (if  we  except  the  brief  ac- 
count of  Spenser  the  poet)  till  we  reach  the  middle  of 
the  following  century;  when  the  labours  of  Messing- 
ham,  Colgan,  Lombardus,  Hanmer,  Campion,  Stafford, 
Carve,  Lynch,  Caron,  Sirinus,  and  others,  mentioned 
below,*  furnish  us  with  curious  and  copious  details 

dition,  although  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  pick  up  a  fine  and  perfect 
copy  at  Nancy,  bound  in  red  morocco,  for  five  francs.  The  reader 
may  not  object  to  know  that  Stanihurst  was  the  uncle  of  Archbishop 
Usher. 

*  Before  I  dispatch  the  above  list  of  old  Irish  historians  or  an- 
nalists, let  me  make  brief  mention  of  a  few  rare  historical  pieces,  not 
incorporated  in  the  text.  1.  Histories  Catholics  IbernicE  Compendium, 
a  D.  Philippo  Ossullevano  Bearro  Iberno,  Ulyssippone  excusum  a  Petro 
Crasbeeckio  Reg.  Typog.  1621,  4to.  The  arms  of  Austria  in  the  title- 
page.  Mr.  Grenville  and  Mr.  Heber  each  possess  a  copy  of  this 
rare  book.  The  paper  and  type  are  rather  indifferent.  2.  Paraine- 
ticorum  Veterum  Scriptores  Fill.  Insula  ad  lacum  Acronium  Per" 
missu  Superiorum,  }  604,  4to.  This  is  a  very  curious  volume,  and 
Mr.  Bohn  has  availed  himself  of  Mr.  Clarke's  reference  to  this  very 
copy,  as  one  of  the  bijoux  of  the  library  of  Mr.  Grenville,  which 
has  encouraged  him  to  affix  the  price  of  11.  16s.  to  a  good  copy 
of  the  work.  The  second  part  is  full  of  curious  old  Irish  poetry  ; 
and  we  observe  a  copper  cut  of  "  Kvning  Tyro  Von  Schotten"  with 
some  poetry  by  that  monarch.  The  pages  run  consecutively  to 
p.  490.  Then  "  Omissa"  and  "  Index,"  separately.  3.  Analecta 
Sacra  Nova  et  Mira,  De  Rebus  Catholicorum  in  Hibernia.  (Colon. 
1617,  8vo.)  To  which,  add  De  processu  Martyriali  Quorundam  Fidei 
pugilum  in  Hibernia  pro  complemento  Sacrorum  Analectorum.  A  long 
preface,  on  sign.  a.  e.  i.  unpaged :  then  a  new  title,  as  it  were ; 
Catalogus  Sacratorum  Antistitum,  #c.  on  sign,  o  and  u  :  next,  De 
Richardi  Creaghi,  Arch.  Armac.  Prim.  Reg.  Heb.  vita  et  morte  Nota- 
tiones  Mnemonics,  pp.385.  "The  three  parts  (as  here— observes 
Mr.  Grenville)  are  of  the  greatest  rarity.*  The  author  was  David 


*  It  is  clear  that  Bishop  Nicolson  was  ignorant  of  the  publication  of  this  latter 
tract.    He  speaks  of  it  as  if  in  MS. 


IRELAND.]      HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          243 

respecting  the  proceedings — mostly  of  a  melan- 
choly description — which  took  place  during  the  same 

Rooth,  Bishop  of  Ossory,  highly  praised  by  Usher,  to  whom  he  sup- 
plied some  documents  for  the  "  Primordia."  Rivius  published  an 
answer  to  this  book,  so  scarce  that  I  have  seen  no  copy  except  my 
own.  This  answer  was  published  at  London,  in  1624,  4to.  (and 
dedicated  to  Charles  Prince  of  Wales)  under  the  title  of  "  Regiminis 
Anglicani  in  Hibernia  Defensio  adversus  Analecten.  Autore  Tho.  Ry- 
vio.  J.  C.  Regis  Advocato.  Libri  TVes."  Each  book  has  separate 
paginal  numerals.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  is  clean  and  most  beautiful. 
Consult  Nicolson's  Irish  Historical  Library,  1736,  folio,  p.  5. 

I  now  come  to  the  notice  of  the  authors  above  particularly  men- 
tioned j  in  the  chronological  order  in  which  their  works  appeared. 
LOMBARDUS,  de  Regno  Hibernia,  Lovan.  1632, 4to.  One  of  the  rarest 
of  the  Irish  histories.  This  book  was  ordered  to  be  suppressed  and 
prosecuted  by  Lord  Deputy  Strafford,  at  the  direction  of  the  King,  in 
1633  ;  but  the  author  was  already  dead.  See  Harris's  Ware,  vol.  iii. 
p.  103.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  of  this  indifferently  printed  book  is 
fine  and  spotless  j  in  Venetian  morocco,  by  C.  Lewis.  A  short  ac- 
count of  the  life  and  writings  of  Dr.  Peter  Lombard,  Roman  Catho- 
lic Primate  of  Armagh,  was  published  in  the  Anthologia  Hibernica, 
vol.  i.  p.  33.  HANMER,  CAMPION,  and  SPENSER,  &c. — Histories  of 
Ireland.  Dublin,  1633,  folio.  There  are  three  separate  titles  and 
paginations.  Hanmer  and  Marleburrough  occupy  223  pages  j  Cam- 
pion, 138 ;  with  one  of  ef  faultes  escaped ,-"  and  Spenser,  119;  with 
15  pages  of  annotations  and  poetical  addenda.  THOMAS  STAFFORD 
was  author  of  <f  Pacata  Hibernia  ;  Ireland  Appeased  and  Reduced" 
1633,  folio.  This  volume  contains  a  fine  portrait  of  Earl  Carew,  by 
Voerst,  and  another  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  with  some  verses  printed 
beneath.  These  precede  the  title.  The  dedication  to  the  King  is 
signed  by  Thomas  Stafford.  The  Maps  are  the  chief  treasures  of 
this  volume  ;  of  which  there  should  be  18  to  be  complete.  Some  of 
these  maps,  in  giving  bird's-eye  views  of  battles,  sieges,  camps,  and 
of  castles  and  fortified  towns — many  of  the  originals  no  longer  existing 
— are  veiy  curious.  Messrs.  Arch  value  a  perfect  copy,  in  russia 
binding,  at  11.  7s.  NOTE  :  The  five  last  mentioned  works,  with 
a  Life  of  St.  Patrick,  were  handsomely  reprinted,  under  the  title 
of  Ancient  Irish  Histories,  at  Dublin,  in  1809,  in  five  quarto 


244        HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.         [IRELAND. 

century,  in  the  sister  kingdom.     But  while  it  ought 
to  be  duly  noticed,  that  the  greater  number  of  the 

volumes.     The"Paca/a"  was  separately  published  in  1820,   Svo. 

2  vols. 

We  are  now  to  mention  a  few  of  the  principal  labours  of  CARVE,  a 
native  of  Tipperary.  His  Itinerarium,  or  rather  the  first  part  of  it, 
was  published  at  Mentz,  in  1639  :  the  second  part  in  1641 ;  the  third, 
at  Spires,  in  1646.  The  first  was  reprinted  in  1640  :*  but  the  first 
edition  of  the  first  part,  and  the  possession  of  the  second  and  third 
parts — the  whole  forming  3  small  duodecimo  volumes, — is  a  circum- 
stance of  very  rare  occurrence,  even  with  the  most  indefatigable  a-nd 
fortunate  book- collector.  Even  the  second  part  has  made  a  copy 
mount  to  the  price  of  yl.  17*.  6d.  The  three  parts  have  produced,  I 
think,  £21.  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  two  copies  :  one,  in  3  vol.  in  red 
morocco,  including  the  original  edition  of  the  first  part  :  the  other, 

3  vols.  in  1,  in  Venetian  morocco.     Mr.  George  Hibbert  also  pos- 
sesses the  three  parts  complete :  from  the  Macarthy  Library.     Of 
scarcely  less  rarity  is  the  "  Lyra,  sive  Anacephalaosis  Hibernica,"  &c. 
of  the  SAME  AUTHOR  :   printed  atSulzbach  in  1666,  4to.f  This  indif- 
ferently printed  book  contains  5  plates  :  3  topographical :   the  4th,  a 
portrait  of  Charles  1.  (apparently  copied  from  that  in  Heath'sChronicle) 
and  the  5th,  a  portrait  of  Carve  himself;  with  a  long  bushy  beard — 
and  altogether  of  a  "  wild  "  aspect.  \  Of  this  portrait  there  is  a  poor 


*  Mr.  Grenville  remarks,  that  the  reprint  is  the  same  as  the  first  edition  of 
1639  ;  page  for  page,  and  word  for  word ;  excepting  that  it  has  an  additional  de- 
dication, and  at  pp.  113-114,  two  additional  epitaphs  to  Wallenstein,  and  an  ad- 
ditional 35th  chapter  at  the  end  of  the  first  part.  I  may  add,  that  the  mistake  of 
Tripperariensis,  in  the  first  edition,  is  corrected  to  that  of  Tipperariensis  in  the 
reprint. 

f  It  was  first  published  in  1660,  in  the  70th  year  of  the  author's  age,  when  he 
lived  at  Vienna,  and  where  he  died  a  Vicar-Choral  of  St.  Stephen's  Cathedral, 
in  1664.  Carve  was  a  priest  and  apostolic  notary.  Nicolson:  Irish  Hist.  Libr. 
p.  12. 

J  But  in  regard  to  portraits,  whether  true  or  false  in  resemblance,  I  know 
of  none  (unless  those  in  a  scarce  little  volume  entitled  Certamen  Triplex,  1645, 
be  excepted)  like  that  which  adorns  almost  the  first  leaf  of  a  very  scarce  tract  en- 
titled "  R.  P.  Petri  Writi  Sacerdotis  Angli  E  Societ.  Jesu.  Mors  quam  obfidem 
passus  est  Londini,  xxix  Maii,  M.DC.LI."  It  is  a  portrait  of  the  authr,  by  Galle. 
It  is  brilliant  even  to  dazzling.  Why  will  not  many  of  our  able  artists  do  the  like  ? 
Mr,  Heber's  copy  of  this  interesting  book  is  "  de  toute  beaute"  !" 


IIIELAND.]     HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.         245 

books,  from  the  authors  just  mentioned,  are  of  an  ex- 
treme degree  of  RARITY — and  therefore  covetted  with 

«iii(l  faithless  copy,  which  Mr.  Grenville  has  inserted  into  his  own  book 
— besides  having  the  genuine  impression.  Mr.  Hibbert  also  possesses 
this  scarce  piece  of  Carve)  and  Mr.  Heber  possesses  it  uncut.  O 
rare !  A  remarkably  clean  and  sound  copy  of  it  is  at  Althorp. 

We  are  now  to  treat  of  LYNCH,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  of  the 
Irish  Roman  Catholic  writers  and  controversialists.  His  latinised  name 
is  usually  Lucius ;  find  his  principal  work  is  a  sort  of  indirect  attack 
against  Girald  Barry's,  under  the  title  of  ff  Cambrensis  Eversus ;  scu 
potius  Historica  Fides,  in  rebus  Hibernicis,  Giraldo  Cambrensiabrogata, 
$c.  In  quo,  #c.  plerosque  ncevos  inesse  ostendit  Gratianus  Lucius  Hi- 
bcrnicus,"  be.  an.  1662,  folio.  A  long  dedicatory  epistle  to  Charles 
II.,  and  an  Index  of  chapters  (one  leaf)  precede  the  text.  The  text 
occupies  356  pages.  Addenda  2  leaves.  Index  Rerum,  7  leaves.  It 
appears  from  Croft's  catalogue,  p.  371,  n°.  7397>  (as  inserted  by  Mr. 
Grenville  in  his  copy)  that  the  greater  number  of  copies  of  this  work 
seems  to  have  perished  by  the  fire  of  London.  The  book  was,  doubt- 
less, published  abroad.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  is  a  fine  one,  in  Venetian 
morocco  binding.  Lynch  (according  to  Bishop  Nicolson)  "  accuses 
Girald  Barry  of  maliciously  destroying  a  great  many  of  the  old  Irish 
Annals,  whereof  he  had  the  perusal  ,•  and  it  is  thence  justly  observed 
by  Bishop  Stlllingfleet,  (Orig.  Brit.  p.  268,)  that,  if  so,  he  had  better 
advantages,  and  more  authorities  than  Keating.  "  Irish  Hist.  Libr. 
page  2. 

Of  infinitely  greater  rarity  than  the  preceding,  is  the  work  of 
Lynch  entitled  "A/ithinologia,  sive  Veredica  Re[_s~\ponsio  ad  Invectiuam 
Mendacijs  falacijs,  fyc.fcetam  in  plurimos  Antistites,  &$c.  Hibernos.  Eu- 
doxio  Alithinologo  Authore.  Impress.  1664,  4to.  "  One  of  the  dearest 
and  most  rare  of  all  the  Irish  tracts," — says  Mr.  Grenville.  I  find  no 
mention  of  it  in  Nicolson  or  Watt.  A  supplemental  volume  was  printed 
in  1667,  containing  a  title,  1 3  prefatory  leaves,  228  pages  of  text,  and 
9  leaves  of  index  and  errata.  This  first  part  contains  144  leaves, 
and  7  leaves  of  index,  &c.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  is  most  perfect— 
and  brilliantly  bound,  by  C.  Lewis,  in  red  morocco,  with  vellum 
insides. 

But  perhaps  the  VERY  RAREST  of  ALL  Lynch's  pieces,  is  that  en. 
titled  "  Pii  Antistitis  Icon,  slue  De  Vita  et  Morte  R>ni.  /).  FRAN- 


246         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.       [IRELAND- 

avidity  by  the  historical  antiquary,  and  keen  collec- 
tor of  scarce  and  curious  volumes — it  must  also  be 

Cisci  KIROVANI  Alladensis  Episcopi :  Autore  Joanne  Lynchceo  Archi- 
diacono  Tuamensi.  Maclovii,  1669,  12mo.  Mr.  Heber's  unique  copy 
of  this  slender  duodecimo  volume,  (which  is  replete  with  interesting 
details,)  has  a  portrait  of  Kirwan,  (wholly  unknown  to  all  the  Col- 
lectors) executed  by  C.  Hilaer,  in  the  line  manner,  very  rude,  out  of 
drawing,  and  yet  strongly  indicative  of  a  resemblance.  It  represents 
the  original  in  his  72d  year  :  adding,  that  he  died  in  1661.  An  ori- 
ginal letter  of  Dr.  O'Conor,  of  Stowe,  accompanies  this  copy — 
written  to  the  owner  of  it,  in  confirmation  of  its  wonderful  rarity. 
The  place  where  this  book  was  printed  (St.  Malo)  was  the  rendez- 
vous of  the  expatriated  Irish  in  their  way  to  France  and  the  Nether- 
lands—according to  the  author  of  the  letter.  Who  shall  have  the 
courage  to  set  a  price  on  such  a  piece  of  biography  ? 

Of  almost  equal  rarity  with  the  latter  of  Lynch' s  performances,  is 
the  "  Remonstrantia  Hibernicorum  contra  Lovanienses  Ultramontanas- 
que  Censuras"  %c.  of  which  R.  P.  F.R.  CARON,  "  Theologus  Emeri- 
tus," was  the  author ;  and  which  was  published  "  Cum  Lie.  et  Priv. 
Superiorum.  A.  D.  1665,  in  folio.  This  work  was,  doubtless,  printed 
abroad.  Caron  and  Walsh*  were  two  of  the  Catholic  clergy,  who, 
in  opposition  to  the  fierce  writings  of  Nicholas  French,  (and  espe- 
cially to  his  Bleeding  Iphigenia,-\  published  in  1674,  8vo.)  qualified 
their  submission  to  the  Pope,  by  their  abhorrence  of  the  principles 


*  History  of  the  Irish  Remonstrances:  Load.  1674,  folio. 

t  Who,  \  desire  to  know,  is  the  happy,  the  enviable  possessor  of  this  "  bleed- 
ing" treasure  ?  — a  treasure — for  which  my  Lord  Arundel,  the  Right  Hon.  Thomas 
Grenville,  and  Richard  Heber,  Esq.  would  cross  the  roughest  ocean,  even  agitated 
by  equinoctial  gales  !  Tis,  as  t  conceive,  the  rarest  of  Irish  pieces.  "  This 
honest  FATHER  WALSH  ^as  Bishop  Nicolson  remarks)  is  that  same  modern  his- 
torian upon  whom  Mr.  O'Flaherty  has  let  fly  a  whole  chapter  of  remarks — in  his 
Ogygia,  pt.  iii.  c.  27."  However,  among  the  rarer  of  his  pieces  is  the  following,  of 
which  a  copy  will  be  found  in  the  libraries  of  Mr.  Grenville  and  of  Mr.  Heber. 
"  Causa  Valtsiana  Epistolis  Ternis  Pralibata,  Sfc.  futhorc  F.  Pelro  Valesio,  Sfc. 
Lond.  1684,  8vo.  A  perfect  copy  of  a  very  scarce  work,  by  Peter  Walsh,  which 
is  much  oftener  looked  for  than  found  (says  Mr.  Grenville).  The  whole  appendix 
being  unpaged,  must  be  carefully  examined.  This  is  quite  compleat.  The  pagina- 
tion extends  to  p.  350.  Then  the  "  Appendix  Instrumentorum,"  beginning  on  Z. 
and  extending  to  P,  each  letter  in  eights  :  a  blank  leaf  forming  the  last  of  P.  The 
"  Instruments"  are  numerous— with  several  titles.  A  beautiful  copy  is  at  Althorp. 


IRELAND.]     HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.         247 

as  duly  noticed,  that  the  majority,  if  not  almost  the 
entire  number,  of  these  writers,  were  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  faith ;  and  therefore  their  narratives,  or 
their  conclusions,  must  be  received  with  a  mixture 
of  more  than  "  one  grain  of  salt."  Most  of  the  fore- 
going authors  had  their  works  printed  abroad,  as  if  by 
stealth,  and  in  a  very  sorry  garb ;  but  their  rarity  and 

of  the  Irish  Rebels,  and  disclaiming  the  Pope's  supremacy  in  tempo- 
rals. Caron's  book  is  of  prodigious  rarity.  Mr.  Grenville  supposes 
the  entire  impression  of  it  to  have  been  nearly  destroyed  in  the  fire  of 
London  ;  and  knows  of  no  copy  of  the  book,  besides  his  own,  except 
that  at  Stowe.  His  own  copy  was  presented  to  him  by  Thomas  Chol- 
mondeley,  Esq.  of  Vale  Royal.  The  work  is  dedicated  to  Charles 
II. :  and  the  first  four  parts  run  through  266  pages,  consecutively 
numbered.  The  first  XI.  chapters  of  the  5th  part  occupy  94  pages : 
from  the  Xllth  to  the  XVIIIth  chapters  inclusively,  there  are  102 
pages  :  the  paginary  numerals  recommencing  at  ch.  XII.  An  index 
of  4  leaves  concludes  the  work. 

The  work  of  SIRINUS*  ought  probably  to  have  been  noticed  under 
the  account  of  Irish  Saints.  It  is  so  rare,  as  to  have  escaped  Nicol- 
son,  The  title  is  thus  :  fc  Patricii  Flemingi  Hiberni  fyc.  Collectanea 
Sacra  sen  S.  Columbani  Hiberni  Abbatis  fyc.  Necnon  Aliorum  Antique- 
rum  Sanctorum  Acta  et  Opuscula,  nusquam  antehac  edita.,  &c.  Per.  Tho- 
mam  Sirinum"  Lovanii,  166  7,  folio.  A  dedicatory  epistle  to  Cardinal 
Dubois,  2  leaves  :  privilege  of  publication,  1  :  contents,  1  :  followed 
by  a  Brevis  Notitia  de  Collectore,  and  other  pieces,  3  leaves :  ad 
Lectorem,  2  :  Elogia  de  S.  Columbano,  4  :  Hymni,  1  :  all  unnum- 
bered. Then  454  pages  consecutively,  to  the  end  of  the  work  :  in- 
cluding the  index.  The  paper  and  print,  as  usual,  are  indifferent. 
Mr.  Grenville  observes,  that  "  this  is  one  of  the  rarest  and  most  va- 
luable books  of  old  Irish  history  :  he  knows  of  no  other  copy,  except 
that  at  Stowe."  Respecting  the  author,  see  Ware's  Writers,  vol.  ii. 


*  It  may  be  as  well  to  notice  here  a  work  of  R.  BELIN,  entitled  "  Vindiciarum 
Catholicorum  in  Hibernia,  Rerum  in  Hibernia  Gestarum  ab  anno  1641,  ad  annum 
1849."  Paris,  1650,  12mo.  A  rare  book  ;  unknown  to  Nicolson,  and  the  gene- 
rality of  Bibliographers.  I  find  a  copy  of  it  marked  at  21.  12s.  6d.  in  Mr.  Rodd's 
Catalogue  of  1823, 


248         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.     [IRELAND. 

intrinsic  worth,  render  them  acceptable  under  any 
aspect,  provided  they  be  perfect. 

Meanwhile,  requesting  the  inquisitive  reader  to 
avail  himself  of  the  labours  of  Camden  and  Baxter — 
as  not  wholly  irrelevant  to  the  present  subject  —  I  re- 
commend him  to  the  sober  and  intrinsically  valuable 
publications  of  Lord  Castlehaven,  Davis,  Cox,  Capell, 
and  O*  Flaherty  ;  *  and,  in  the  ensuing,  and  last  cen- 

*  CAMDEN  and  BAXTER  may  be  only  incidentally  mentioned,  as  it 
were.  The  labours  of  the  former  are  topographical,  and  will  be 
best  understood  in  the  editions  of  the  Britannia,  by  Gibson  or  Gough. 
Those  of  the  latter  are  paleological,  or  glossarial  —  under  the 
well-known  title  of  "  Glossarium  Antiquitatum  Britannicarum,  sive 
Syllabus  Etymologicus  Antiquitatum  Veteris  BRITANNIA  atque  IBER- 
NIJS  temporibus  Romanorum.  Lond;  1719.  8vo.  With  an  excel- 
lent head  of  Baxter,  by  Vertue,  in  the  frontispiece.  A  most  beau- 
tiful copy  of  this  book,  on  large  paper,  in  old  red  morocco  binding, 
is  marked  by  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  at  31.  3s.  It  was  the  pre- 
sentation copy  to  Dr.  Meade,  and  has  an  additional ms.  dedication 
by  Baxter.  The  Memoirs  of  James  Lord  Audley,  EARL  OF  CASTLE- 
HAVEN,  his  Engagement  and  Carriage  in  the  Wars  of  Ireland  :  from  the 
year  1649,  to  the  year  1651.  Written  by  himself.  Lond.  1680, 12mo. 
pp.  136.  The  Earl  of  Castlehaven's  Review  :  or  his  Memoirs,  &c. : 
enlarged  and  corrected,  with  an  Appendix  and  Postscript.  Lond. 
1  o'84.  pp.  177.»  (not  161 .) — with  an  Appendix  of  seventy-three  pages. 
Reprinted  in  1815.  Dublin,  Svo. :  of  which  there  were  thirty  copies 
on  large  paper.  Mr.  Grenville  has  one  of  these — the  gift  of  Sir  W.  W. 
Wynne,  Bart. :  gorgeously  bound  in  green  morocco,  by  George 
Mullen  of  Dublin. 

Historical  Relations  :  or,  a  Discovery  of  the  true  Causes  why  Ireland 
was  never  entirely  subdued  nor  brought  under  obedience  of  the  Crown  oj 
England  until  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  King  James  of  happy  Me- 
mory. Dublin,  1664,  12mo.  Second  edition.  "  The  author  of  the 
work,  was  SIR  JOHN  DAVIS,  a  learned  man,  and  an  excellent  orator, 
who,  for  his  great  abilities,  was  by  King  James  the  First  made  his 
Solicitor,  and  afterwards  his  Attorney  General  in  this  kingdom  of 


IRELAND.]      HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.         249 

tury,  to  those  of  Keating,  Ware,  Warner,  Musgrave, 
Leland,  Thomas  deBurgo,  O'Halloran,  and  Vallancey. 

Ireland."  Preface.  Lord  Chatham,  in  his  Letters  to  his  Nephew, 
p.  81,  calls  this,  "  a  great  performance,  a  masterly  work,  containing 
much  depth  of  knowledge  of  state  matters,  and  settling  of  countries, 
in  a  very  short  compass."  It  is  a  small  duodecimo  of  255  pages. 

But  of  all  the  smaller  and  more  important  pieces  of  this  period, 
there  is  not  ONE  which  can  come  within  MANY  degrees  of  rarity  of 
that  entitled  "  Unkind  Deserter  of  Loyal  Men,"  Anno  1676,  12mo. 
This  "  Unkind  Deserter"  was  the  Duke  of  Ormond.  What  though 
Mr.  Heber's  copy  be  bound  in  its  pristine  garb,  of  sheep  skin— where 
shall  we  find  a  morocco  volume,  of  the  same  dimensions,  to  come  up 
to  it  in  price  ?  Note  :  the  interior  of  this  same  copy  is  white  through- 
out, and  the  condition  even  crackling. 

The  work  of  RICHARD  Cox,  Esq.  is  entitled  Hibernia  Anglicana, 
or  the  History  of  Ireland,  #c.  to  the  present  time.  London,  1689, 
Folio.  This  book,  to  be  perfect,  contains  two  parts  :  the  first  part, 
having  a  Map,  comprehends  456  pages,  besides  an  Index :  the 
second,  206  pages  j  then  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  with  a  separate 
pagination,  of  211  pages,  besides  four  pages  of  a  table.  Mr.  Gren- 
ville  possesses  this  work  on  LARGE  PAPER,  which  is  of  very  rare 
occurrence.  CAPELL'S  Letters,  written  by  A.  C.  the  Earl  of  Essex 
when  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  in  the  year  1675,  were  published 
at  London  in  1770,  4to.  More  curious,  and  certainly  much  more 
uncommon,  than  either  of  the  preceding  works,  is  that  published 
by  RODERICK  O'FLAHERTY,  Esq.  called  ft  Ogygia,  seu  Rerum  Hi- 
bernicarum  Chronologia.  London,  1685,  4to.  The  whole  of  the 
text,  TOO  pages ;  with  forty- four  pages  of  preliminary  matter.  In 
praise  of  this  work,  consult  Harris's  Ware,  vol.  iii.  271.  But  Bp. 
Nicolson  disports  in  a  very  facetious  vein  concerning  it.* 


*  The  work  is  partly  topographical,  and  partly  historical :  for  the  former,  see 
the  Irish  Hist.  Library,  p.  9. :  for  the  latter,  consult  p.  23.  "  The  author's 
patron,  the  then  Duke  of  York,  afterwards  king  James  II.,  is  encouraged  to  ex- 
pect a  complete  chain  of  his  Royal  Ancestors,  in  a  right  line,  of  an  hundred  and 
twenty-four  generations,  from  Adam :  whereof,  eleven  were  before  the  flood ; 
twenty-six  between  that  epoch  and  their  settlement  here ;  fifty-one  in  Ireland ; 
and  thirty 'six  in  Scotland.  But  afterwards,  he  seems  not  to  be  sure  of  making 
out  the  regal  stem,  without  interruption,  for  above  2700  years."  Ibid. 


250         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.      [IRELAND, 

The  present  century  has  been  enriched  by  the  produc- 
tions of  Plowden,  Gordon,  and  Wakefield.  This  is  a 
sort  of  precis  of  the  chief  historians  of  Ireland  ;*  but  to 

*  KEATING'S  General  History  of  Ireland,  by  Dermod  O'Connor, 
Dublin,  1723,  should  be  in  every  library  5  but  it  is  by  no  means  a 
common  book.  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  it  on  large  paper.  WAR- 
NER'S History  of  Ireland,  including  the  History  of  the  Rebellion, 
London,  1763-7,  4to.  2  vols.  may  be  obtained  for  about  two  or  three 
guineas,  according  to  the  condition.  But,  in  chronological  order, 
I  ought  to  have  mentioned  rather  an  uncommon  book  called  "  Jus 
Primatiale  Armacanum  in  Omnes  Archiep.  Epis."  &c.  assertum  per 
H.  A.  M.  T.  H.  P.  Anno  Dom.  1728,  4to.  From  a  curious  and 
valuable  letter,  by  the  present  Dr.  O'Conor,  to  Mr.  Grenville  — 
inserted  in  Mr.  G's  copy  of  this  book — it  should  seem  that  these 
initials  indicated  ee  Hugo  Ardmachanus  Macmation  Totius  Hiber- 
nise  Primas."  The  first  piece  includes  222  pages,  besides  an  In- 
dex; the  second,  Prosecutio  ejusdem  Argumenti,  125  pages  :  then 
eleven  pages,  with  a  prefix  <e  In  nomine  Domini,"  and  three  leaves 
of  Memoranda  et  Corrigenda. 

No  library,  especially  as  relating  to  IRISH  literature  or  history, 
can  be  considered  as  complete  without  the  labours  of  SIR  JAMES 
WARE  :  who  is  justly  styled  by  Nicolson  "  the  CAMDEN  of  Histo- 
rians, or  Annalists."  His  earlier  works  are  entitled  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Annales,  regnantibus  Hen,  VII.  Hen.  VIII.  Eduardo  VI.  et 
Maria"  Dublin,  1664,  folio:  "  Antiquitates  Hibernica,"  &c.  Londini, 
1658,  8vo.  Edit,  secund.  et  auct.  But  it  is  more  in  the  character 
of  old  Anthony  a- Wood,  that  Ware  will  go  down  to  posterity — 
especially  in  the  publication  under  the  title  of  "  The  whole  Works 
of  Sir  James  Ware,  concerning  Ireland.  Revised  and  Improved  .•" 
and  published  in  three  volumes,  or  parts,  (usually  bound  in  two) 
at  Dublin,  in  1739-1745,  und«r  the  editorial  care  of  Walter  Harris. 
The  first  volume  is  devoted  to  Ecclesiastical  History,  and  con. 
tains  660  pages,  besides  an  Index  and  seventeen  plates.  The 
first  part  of  the  second  volume,  containing  286  pages,  relates  to 
the  Antiquities  of  Ireland  :  the  second  part  of  the  same  volume,  has 
twenty-one  plates,  and  362  pages.  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  this  de- 
sirable work  on  LARGE  PAPER,  of  which  he  conceives  there  are  only 
six  copies.  It  is  splendidly  bound  in  red  morocco  by  C.  Lewis.  I 


IBELAND.]       HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,       251 

such  publications,  I  am  compelled,  bibliographically 
speaking,  to  add  the  mention  of  a  number  of  minor 
very  curious  and  interesting  tracts ;  of  which  the  cele- 

remember  to  have  seen  another  large  paper  copy  in  the  library  at 
Hafod.  The  large  paper  contains  Parry's  dedication  in  Latin,  and 
also  Harris's  dedication  to  the  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  which  Mr. 
Grenville  has  not  discovered  in  the  small  paper  copies  inspected  by 
him.  A  good  copy  of  the  small  paper  is  worth  ll.  7s.  MUSGRAVE'S 
History  of  the  Irish  Rebellion,  1743,  folio ;  was  reprinted  in  1801,  8vo. 
2  vols.  In  the  year  1762  appeared  a  work  of  THOMAS  DE  BURGO, 
entitled  <(  Hibernia  Dominicana ;  sive  Historia  Provincite  Hibernia  Or- 
dinis  Prcedicatorum.  Colon.  Agrip"  1762,  4to.  There  are  xvi.  pages, 
of  introductory  matter.  Then,  797  pages  of  text.  A  "  Supplement," 
of  the  same  date  and  place,  carrying  on  the  pagination  to  950  pages 
concludes.  This  "  Supplement "  is  of  extreme  rarity. 

In  the  year  1778  appeared  a  General  History  of  Ireland,  by  Mr. 
O'HALLORAN  ;  in  2  4to.  volumes :  preceded  by  an  Introduction  in 
1772,  4to, :  three  volumes  in  the  whole.  These  were  reprinted  at 
Dublin  in  1803,  Svo.  in  three  volumes.  But  perhaps,  of  all  the  writers 
upon  Irish  affairs,  philologically  or  historically  considered,  few  have 
written  so  much,  or  conjectured  so  hazardously,  as  the  late  COLONEL 
VALLANCEY;  a  writer,  nevertheless,  of  considerable  acumen,  and 
originality  of  thinking.  His  Collectanea  de  Rebus  Hibernicis,  in 
several  parts,  are  to  be  had  in  four,  or  six  volumes  j  and  I  find  a 
copy  of  the  fourteen  parts  in  four  volumes,  dated  1786,  marked  at 
61.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss.*  Yet  the  account  of 
the  publications  relating  to  Ireland,  in  the  xviiith  century,  cannot  be 
said  to  be  complete  without  the  notice  of  a  few  more  works— or,  in- 
deed, of  many — which  do  not  come  within  the  scope  of  this  publica. 
tion  to  record  :  as  "  Hibernica,  or,  some  ancient  pieces  relating  to  Ire" 
land,  &c.  Dublin,  174 7>  folio.  These  pieces  are  eleven  in  number,  to 
render  the  first  part  of  the  volume  complete — comprising  150  pages. 
The  second  part,  with  131  pages,  is  sometimes  wanting.  Both  parts 
were  reprinted  in  1770,  Svo.  2  vols.  but  with  no  additions.  See  the 
contents  enumerated  in  Mr.  Harris's  Catalogue  oj  the  Library  of  the 


*  Vallancey  published  his  Vindication  of  the  Ancient  Kingdom  of  Ireland,  in 
1786, 8vo. :  which  has  a  Map  at  the  beginning,  and  ten  plates  at  the  end. 


252         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        [!RELAKD. 

brated  Barnabe  Rich*  was  the  first  and  principal 
author.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 

Royal  Institution,  p.  394.  LELAND'S  History  of  Ireland,  1773,  4  to.  in 
3  volumes,  is  the  one  most  usually  read.  PLOWDEN'S,  in  the  same 
number  of  volumes,  appeared  in  1804,  4to.  Mr.  GORDON  wrote  both  a 
history  of  the  Irish  Rebellion  in  1798,  published  in  1801,  Svo.,  and  a 
general  history  of  Ireland  till  the  Union  of  1801.  Lond.  1805,  Svo. 
2  vols.  The  labours  of  Mr.  WAKEFIELD,  which  are  rather  statistical, 
and  extremely  valuable,  were  published  in  1812,  4to.  2  vols.  I 
affix  no  prices  to  these  books,  as  they  are  obtainable  in  almost  every 
bookseller's  catalogue. 

*  The  earliest,  and  in  all  respects  the  most  curious,  of  the  pieces 
of  BARNABE  RICHE,  relating  to  Ireland,  is  that  of  the  date  of  1578, 
called  "  Allarme  to  England,  forcshewing  what  perilles  are  procured 
where  the  people  live  without  regarde  of  Martial  lawe,"  &c.  in  a  small 
4to.  volume,  printed  by  Henrie  Middleton,  for  C.  B.  (perhaps  Chris- 
topher Barker.)  As  there  is  a  particular  account  of  this  volume  in 
the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  i.  p.  508,  &c.  given  by  Mr.  Haslewood, 
I  shall  here  only  content  myself  with  the  following  interesting  ex- 
tracts, and  somewhat  sensible  remarks  therefrom. f  It  should  seem 
that  the  government  of  Ireland,  and  the  System  of  the  Poor  Laws, 
were  for  ever  to  be  the  CHUCES  to  baffle  the  wisdom,  as  well  as 
to  exercise  the  ingenuity,  of  British  legislators. 


f  In  his  dedication  to  Sir  Christopher  Hatton,  Knight,  captain  of  her  Majesty's 
train  bands,  Barnabe  Riche  observes,  "  I  have  here  rashly  and  aduenterously 
taken  upon  me  to  become  a  writer,  wherein  a  great  number  (I  knowe)  will  like- 
wise condemne  me,  and  the  rather  considering  my  simplicitie  and  trayning  vp, 
which  hath  notbene  so  much  with  my  penne,  but  more  with  my  pyke,  nor  in  the 
scholes  amongst  learned  clarkes,  but  rather  in  the  fields  amongst  unlettered  com- 
panions, or,  as  some  will  terme  them;  amongst  a  company  of  rustike  souldiers." 
In  his  address  "  to  the  gentle  reader  "  he  says — "  Such  is  the  delicacie  of  our 
readers,  at  this  time,  that  there  are  none  may  be  allowed  of  to  write,  but  such  as 
haue  been  trained  at  schoole  with  Pallas,  &c.  —  and  for  my  parte  (without  vaunt 
be  it  spoken)  I  have  been  a  trauayler;  I  have  sayled  in  Grauesende  barge  as  farre  as 
Billingsgate ,  I  haue  trauelledfrom  Bucklers  bery  toBasingstocke,  I  haue  gone  from 
S.  Pankeridge  church  to  Kentish  towne  by  lande,  where  I  was  combered  with  many 
hedges,  ditches,  and  other  slippery  bankes,  but  yet  I  could  neuer  come  to  those 
learned  bankes  of  Helicon,  neither  was  I  euer  able  to  scale  Parnassus  hyl,  although 
I  have  trauailed  ouer  Gaddes  hyl  in  Rente,  and  that  sundrie  tymes  and  often." 


IRELAND.]         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        253 

tury,  when  Ireland  exhibited  a  picture  of  the  most 
frightful  desolation  —  especially  between  the  years 

On  the  reverse  of  Diij.  there  is  this  sensible  remark  about  the  ruling 
of  Ireland.  "  In  like  manner  it  hath  been  often  seene,  that  when  a 
rascall  (a  rebell  I  would  tearme  him)  hath  done  many  spoyles,  and 
committed  many  outrages,  yet  in  the  end  hath  been  receiued  vpon 
composition,  and  many  times  haue  their  pardons  begged,  by  some 
that  be  about  the  Lorde  Deputie  :  and  many  times  they  haue  frends 
in  England  to  purchase  them  pardons,  and  to  send  them  ouer :  and 
this  is  the  uery  cause  that  giueth  them  boldnesse  to  doe  yll,  so  that 
there  is  no  assured  trust  to  be  founde  in  the  greatest  number  of  them  : 
but  when  they  may  see  time  and  occasion  to  doe  a  shrewd  turne, 
then  they  get  them  a  c5penie  of  breechless  beggers,  (folowers  they 
cal  them)  when  they  haue  plaid  their  parts  to  the  uttermost, 
they  assure  themselves  that  a  hundred  of  stolen  cowes  will  buy  a 
pardone :  where,  otherwise,  if  all  hope  were  cut  from  them,  and  that 
no  pardons  might  be  granted  vnto  them,  might  without  fauoure 
feele  the  force  of  the  lawe,  without  any  exceptions  from  the  best  to 
the  worst,  and  that  every  one,  like  dutiful  subjects  should  put  to 
their  helping  hande,  to  the  suppressing  of  them,  there  is  no  question 
but  Irelande  would  soon  waxe  ciuil,  and  the  countrie  would  quickly 
growe  to  be  quiet."  Sign.  Diij.  rev. 

On  Diij, 

"  How  lamentable  is  the  case  of  those  that  be  honest,  and 
suche  as  would  gladly  indeuour  them  selves  to  liue  orderly,  whiche 
can  not  so  much  as  enioy  a  poore  flocke  bed  to  lie  upon,  but 
must  content  themselues  with  homelier  beds  than  a  bundle  of 
sweete  strawe :  and,  instead  of  other  cates,  do  only  liue  by  gross 
herbs  and  roots :  —  and  then  to  see  what  labour,  what  toil,  and 
what  pain  they  endure,  but  to  get  sonoe  small  portion  of  money, 
wherewith  to  buy  a  loaf  of  bread,  of  the  which,  neither  he,  his  wife, 
nor  his  children,  shall  neuer  eat  so  much  as  one  crum,  but  must  serve 
to  content  those  idle  rogues — where  the  poor  man  himself,  if  he  be 
able  to  keep  a  cow  for  his  better  relief,  letteth  her  blood  in  a  vein  in 
her  neck,  the  which  blood,  being  boiled  in  a  clod,  serveth  his  turn 
instead  of  the  finest  manchet."  Sign.  Diiij.  A  little  before,  Riche 
observes  —  "  Whosoever  will  think  to  prevail  in  Ireland,  it  must  be 


254        HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        [!BELAND. 

1640  and  1650  —  a  swarm  of  fugitive  publications 
made  their  appearance ;  which  were  only  calculated 

by  using  justice  with  extremity,  and  not  with  lenity."     Our  friend 
Barnabe  perhaps  always  rode  with  "  a  tight  curb." 

Riche's  other  pieces  (though  these  are  by  no  means  the  whole)  re- 
lating to  Ireland,  must  be  summarily  despatched :  "  A  short  Survey 
of  Ireland."  London,  1069  for  1609,  4to.  pp.  56.  "  A  Catholicke 
Conference  betweene  Syr  Taddy  Mac  Mareall  a  Popish  priest  of  Water- 
forde,  and  Patricke  Plaine,  a  young  Student  in  Trinity  Colledge  by 
Dublin  in  Irelande,"  &c.  London,  1612,  4to.  The  subjoined  extract 
may  be  worth  perusal :  *  it  must  be  confessed  that  Sir  Taddy  and 
young  Patrick  speak  plainly  with  each  other.  This  tract  was  not 
known  to  Mr.  Haslewood  when  he  made  his  list  of  Riche's  pieces  in 
the  preface  to  the  Paradise  of  Dainty  Devises.  The  Irish  Hubbub, 
or  the  English  Hue  and  Crie.  London,  1619,  4to.  pp.  56  :  followed 
by  one  leaf  of  "  Aphorismes,  with  other  witty  sentences,"  the  24th 
of  June,  1618  :  but  I  confess  that  these  sentences  do  not  strike  me 
as  either  witty  or  wise.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy,  which  concludes  with 
the  comparison  of  "  a  wanton  wench  "  to  a  trout,  strikes  me  as  being 
imperfect.  A  new  Irish  Prognostication  or  Popish  Callender.  Wherein 
is  described  the  disposition  of  the  Irish,  with  the  manner  of  their  beha- 
mour}  &c.  (A  very  full  and  curious  title)  London,  1624,  pp.  116  : 
— qu.  by  Rich  ?  A  True  and  a  kinde  excuse  written  in  defence  of 


*  Sir  Taddy  introduces  the  prayer  for  salvation  of  souls,  thro' the  intermediation 
of  St.  Thomas  a  Becket,  the  Martyr: — adding  "  for  here  we  make  intercession 
unto  Christ  that  by  the  bloud  which  Thomas  shed,  we  may  come  where  Thomas  is. 
To  which  Patrick  the  Student  replies, "  And  that  is  to  the  infernal  pit  of  hell :  O 
doctrine  of  diveles,  that  doth  teach  the  silly  people  to  fly  from  the  bloud  of  Christ, 
to  seek  their  salvation  in  the  blonde  of  a  Traytor  !  —  a  seditious  wretch,  that  was 
only  canonyzed  by  the  Pope  for  his  trayterous  demeanure  and  disobedience  to  his 
lawfull  prynce"  A  tittle  further,  after  mentioning  the  mediation  of  the  Virgin, 
the  Student  replies :  "  I  doe  not  so  much  wonder  at  that,  Sir  Tady,  when  now,  in  the 
hottest  sunne  shine  of  the  Gospell,  wee  see  almost  every  day  whole  Lordships  to  be 
sould,  and  but  to  uphold  Ladyships:"  fol.  20-21.  The  conference  has  this  angry 
termination.  Pair.  Syr  Tady,  when  I  meane  to  turne  traytor  to  the  King,  I  will 
follow  your  counsayle— I  will  turne  Papist."  Tad. "  And  until  thou  dost  show  thy 
selfe  to  be  a  professed  Papist  indeede,  thou  shalt  find  little  friendshippe  in  Ireland. 
And  so  farewell." 


IRELAND.]       HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        255 

to  put  the  peaceful  in  a  state  of  excitation ,  and  to 
enflame  the  restless  and  turbulent  with  desires  of  yet 
greater  spoliation.  These  ephemeral  productions  were 
usually  accompanied — I  hardly  know  how  to  say 
decorated — with  coarse  copper  cuts* — descriptive  of 

that  Booke,  intituled  a  New  Description  of  Irelande.  By  Barnaby 
Rych,  Gent.  Servant  to  the  Kinge's  most  excellent  Maiestie.  Lond. 
1612,  4to.  :  twenty-five  numbered  leaves. 

*  As  to  the  Pamphlets,  Fugitive  Pieces,  &c.  relating  to  what  was 
called  the  IRISH  MASSACRE  —  and  alluded  to  in  the  text  —  the  task 
were  equally  wearisome  and  fruitless  to  enter  upon  any  thing  like  an 
enumeration  or  list  of  them.  I  will  mention  only  three  with  which 
the  richly  furnished  shelves  of  Mr.  Grenville's  library  supply  me : 
Ireland's  Ivbilee,  or  loyes  lo  Pecan-,  for  Prince  Charles  his  welcome 
home,  SfC.  By  Stephen  lerome,  Domesticke  Chappleine  to  the  Right 
Honourable  Earle  of  Corke.  Dublin,  1624,  4to.  Sect.  IV.  Part  I.  -, 
Sect.  IV.  Part  It.  There  are  few  pious  readers,  and  hearty  wishers 
to  their  country's  welfare,  who  would  not  unite  their  prayers  to  the 
following :  ' '  Oh,  that  as  we  professe,  confesse  one  God,  the  father  of 
all,  one  Christ  the  Redeemer  of  all,  one  spirit,  the  sanctifier  of  all 
the  Elect :  yea,  one  faith,  one  baptisme,  one  hope,  one  life,  one  way 
to  this  life,  as  one  Sunne,  but  one  soule  in  man,  one  Phoenix  in  the 
world,  &c.  so  that  wee  would  as  one,  in  one  minde,  by  one  rule, 
worship  this  God  in  spirit,  in  truth,  in  unitie,  in  uniformitie  of  judge- 
ment and  affections  &c.!  "  p.  81.  There  are  many  wild  and  involved, 
as  well  as  bold  and  striking,  passages:  as  thus,  at  p.  Ill :  "  Oh 
doe  I  beleeve  mine  eyes  and  eares,  that  lions,  eagles,  panthers,  yea 
dragons,  elephantes,  aspes,  dogges,  wolves,  apes,  have  been  thank- 
full  to  their  Eupaters  and  Benefactors,  and  shall  man,  their  pettie 
soveraigne,  be  claudicant  and  heteroclite  ?"  The  instances  of  sup- 
posed fidelity  in  brutes,  which  follow,  are  curious  and  comical 
enough.  But,  the  second  of  the  above  alluded  to  works,  is  of  such 
price,  that  I  will  not  venture  upon  naming  one  third  of  the  sum  for 
which  it  must  be  obtained.  The  title  is  thus  :  The  Teares  of  Ireland ; 
wherein  is  lively  presented,  as  in  a  map,  a  list  of  the  unheard  of 
cruelties  and  perfidious  Treacheries  of  bloud.thirsty  lesuits  and  the 
Popish  Faction.  London,  printed  by  A.  N.for  lohn  Rolhwell,  1&42, 


256       HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        [IRELAND. 

the   cruelties  which  were   said    to  have  been  com- 
mitted by  the  Catholics  on  the  Protestants.     Some  of 

12mo.  The  author  appears  to  be  JOHN  CBAUFORD.  Three  intro- 
ductory pieces,  without  numbers  to  title  pages,  precede  the  text, 
which  has  eighty  numbered  pages.  Thomas  Partington's  letter, 
sworn  to  be  true,  before  a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons,  is 
the  last  of  these  introductory  pieces ;  and  a  perusal  of  it  is  enough 
to  make  the  blood  curdle.  The  PRINTS,  the  great  attraction  of  the 
volume,  illustrate  most  of  the  cruelties  described  in  the  text. 
These  prints  are  twelve  in  number  -y  having  letter  press  at  their 
backs.  They  are  rather  etchings  than  finished  plates,  and  one  plate 
contains  two  subjects  :  such  subjects,  as  one  desires  never  again  to 
see  as  the  representation  of  FACTS  !  They  have,  in  themselves,  very 
trifling  merit  on  the  score  of  art.  They  are  executed  in  a  freer  and 
looser  manner  than  if  they  were  done  by  Hollar  :  and  with  infinitely 
less  ability.  Mr.  Grenville  properly  suspects  their  being  the  produc- 
tion of  Hollar  j  but  as  tf  resembling  rather  those  engraved  in  the 
small  historical  tracts  by  Jenner."  Mr.  G.  observes,  very  justly,  that 
"  the  tears  of  Ireland,  by  Crauford  is,  perhaps,  the  rarest  of  all  the 
historical  tracts  of  this  time."  This  was  Mr.  Bindley's  copy.  Mr. 
Thorpe  possesses  a  copy  of  it,  wanting  the  last  leaf.  It  is  a  wretched- 
ly printed  performance. 

A  third  similar  tract,  but  of  infinitely  less  rarity  and  price,  is 
thus  entitled— ef  The  Barbarous  and  Inhumane  Proceedings  against 
the  Professors  of  the  Reformed  Religion  within  the  dominion  of  Savoy, 
April  7,  1655:"  also,  <f  A  true  Relation  of  the  Bloody  Massacres, 
Tortures,  Cruelties,  #c.  committed  upon  the  Protestants  in  Ireland,  #c. 
Oct.  23,  1641."  Lond.  1655,  4to.  A  most  miserable  perform- 
ance, in  all  respects.  The  copper  cuts  are  worked  on  the  pages  of 
text  5  some  half  dozen  like  those  in  the  Tears  of  Ireland.  The 
others  are  quite  barbarous :  but  the  large  whole  length  of  the  Vienna 
Lady,  "  who  from  eleven  till  twelve  at  night  yelled  out  woe  unto 
you,  woe  unto  you,  often  repeating  those  words,  and  nothing  else"— 
while  ' '  the  bells,  without  help  of  man,  rung  suddenly,  to  the  great 
atfrightment  of  the  people  ** — at  p.  49 — is  something  of  an  exception 
to  the  general  barbarity  of  the  art.  In  the  whole,  fifty-four  pages, 
with  eight  further  pages  of  Names  of  Members  returned  to  the 
Parliament  of  1656. 


IRELAND.]        HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.       257 

these  "  cuts  "  are  literally  too  dreadful  to  look  upon, 
except  that  the  extreme  coarseness  of  their  execution 
renders  them  little  attractive  in  the  estimation  of  the 
curious  in  graphic  lore.  Women  and  children,  butch- 
ered or  burnt,  and  sometimes  both ;  parents  viewing 
the  deliberate  murder  of  their  offspring  by  fire  and 
sword,  or  themselves  rendered  a  similar  spectacle  to 
their  children  :  villages  and  towns  on  fire :  the  rivers 
choked  with  drowned  carcases — the  cross,  the  gibbet, 
and  the  rack  —  in  short,  every  species  of  refinement 
on  cruelty  seems,  if  such  representations  can  be 
trusted,  to  have  been  practised  in  these  recriminating 
and  rebellious  times.  But  a  love  of  truth  compels  me 
to  declare,  that  these  facts  are  handed  down  to  us  by 
ex  parte  evidence.  The  Protestants  are  the  sufferers, 
and  the  Protestants  are  the  authors  of  these  publi- 
cations. It  is  possible  that  the  Catholics  might  have 
had  to  complain  of  occasionally  similar  atrocities  in- 
flicted on  themselves  ;  and  yet  the  voice  of  history 
seems  to  be  silent  thereupon — and  the  philosophical 

The  last  which  I  shall  notice,  is  the  following :  "  An  Accompt  of 
the  Bloody  Massacre  in  Ireland,  #c.  executed  by  the  Irish  Papists  upon 
the  English  Protestants  in  the  year  1642.  London,  licensed  2,3d  De- 
cember, 1678,  and  printed  for  R.  G.  1678,"  4to.  Only  eight  pages.* 


*  Take  a  specimen  of  the  Monstrosities  detailed  in  these,  and  similar,  publica- 
tions. "  Some  English  men's  heads  they  cut  off,  and  carried  them  to  Kilkenny, 
and  on  the  market  day  set  them  on  the  cross,  where  many,  especially  the  women, 
stabb'd,  cut,  and  slash 'd  them.  A  poor  Protestant  woman,  with  her  two  children, 
going  to  Kilkenny,  these  bloody  miscreants  baited  them  with  dogs,  stabbed  them 
with  skeins,  and  pulled  out  the  guts  of  one  of  the  children,  whereby  they  died :  and 
not  far  off  they  took  divers  men,  women  and  children,  and  hanged  them  up ;  one  of 
the  women  being  great  with  child,  they  ripped  up  her  belly  as  she  hanged,  so  that 
the  child  fell  out  in  the  cawl  alive.  Some,  after  they  were  hanged,  they  drew  up 
and  down  till  their  bowels  were  torn  out."  Page  7.  But  enough  of  such  ATROCITIES 
—yea,  more  than  enough  ! 

S 


258      HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.         [IRELAND. 

Hume,  relying  mainly  on  the  unimpeached  authority 
of  Sir  John  Temple,*  indulges  in  a  strain  of  impas- 
sioned eloquence  on  this  occasion,  which  appears  to 
have  been  dictated  by  the  mixed  feelings  of  sympathy 
and  horror.  There  are  few  portions  of  his  Historyt 
in  which  the  language  of  pathos  and  commiseration 
is  more  powerfully  displayed. 

But  great  and  execrable  as  might  have  been  the 
spirit  of  persecution  among  the  Irish  Catholics,  it 
must  not  be  forgotten  that  something  like  a  similar 
spirit  manifested  itself  among  those  of  a  very  opposite 
religious  persuasion  ;  so  that  it  should  seem  as  if,  at 
that  hapless  period,  men  had  transformed  themselves 
into  blood-hounds  of  prey.  The  Presbyterian  sol- 
diery of  Cromwell,  about  eight  years  after  what  is 
called  the  Irish  massacre,  slaughtered,  without  hesita- 
tion and  without  remorse,  the  Protestant  garrisons  of 
Tredah  and  Wexford  ;  leaving  only  one  man  alive,  of 
the  former  town,  "  to  be  a  messenger  of  this  universal 
havoc  and  destruction.'^  A  truce,  however,  to  these 
heart-aching  reminiscences. 

I  must  not  close  this  account  of  publications  relat- 
ing to  the  History  of  IRELAND,  without  the  mention 
of  a  living  author  who  has  long  and  justly  borne  the 
character  of  an  upright  and  intelligent  writer.  I 
allude  (as  the  reader  will  immediately  suppose)  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  CHARLES  O'CONOR,  librarian  to  the  late  Mar- 
quis, and  to  the  presentDuke  of  Buckingham,  atStowe. 

*  His  account  of  the  Irish  Rebellion  is  one  of  the  most  exact  and 
authentic  extant.  It  was  republished,  in  an  improved  state,  by 
Baron  Maseres,  in  a  thin  quarto  volume,  in  1812. 

f  Vol.  vi.  p.  436.     Edit.  1812. 

}  HUME:  vol.  vii,  p.  170.     Edit.  1812. 


IRELAND.]    HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  259 

This  gentleman,  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  —  exclu- 
sively of  various  publications  of  a  temporary  nature,* 
written  with  a  view  to  soften  the  asperities,  and  re- 
concile the  differences,  existing,  at  one  period,  pretty 
strongly  between  the  Protestant  and  Roman  Catholic 
parties — has  more  recently  put  forth  the  first  volume 
of  a  work,  which  is  intended  to  accomplish  for  Ireland, 
what  Bouquet  has  done  for  France.  The  first  volume 
of  his  cc  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores  Veteres"  ap- 
peared, with  copious  prolegomena  and  indexes,  in  the 
year  1814.  It  is  accompanied  by  plates  of  fac-similes 
— chiefly  of  early  Irish  MSS. — and  is,  on  the  whole,  a 
very  creditable  production  for  a  provincial  press.J 
Though  deeply  sunk  into  the  vale  of  years,  and  afflicted 
with  frequent  and  severe  infirmities,  the  ardour  of 
this  venerable  critic  and  antiquary  is  as  keen  as 
ever :  and  we  may  yet  hope  for  a  second  volume  of 
similar  matter,  as  ponderous  and  as  valuable  in  all 
respects. 

It  will  not  be  presumptuous  to  say,  that,  after  all,  a 
FULL  and  COMPLETE  History  of  Ireland,  is  "  a  con- 
summation devoutly  to  be  wished  ;"  but  he  who  shall 

*  Among  these,  are  his  tracts,  or  octavo  volumes,  entitled  "  Co- 
lumbanus  ad  Hibernos  j  and  an  instructive  volume,  entitled  te  Nar- 
rative of  the  most  interesting  Events  in  modern  Irish  History ;  from 
original  MSS.  and  some  Tracts.  Lond.  1812,  8vo. 

f  At  Buckingham,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Stowe,  and  pub- 
lished by  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss.  Of  a  volume,  so  intrinsically  va- 
luable, and  of  such  limited  notoriety  and  circulation,  it  is  fitting  that 
a  brief  outline  should  be  here  submitted  to  the  public.  After  a  short 
address  to  the  Reader,  and  a  dedication  to  the  present  Duke  of 
Buckingham,  (then  Marquis)  there  is  an  "  Epistola  Nuncupatoria  de 
Fontibus  Historic  Genuince  Hibernorum,  Eorumque  Chronologia,  de- 
que Antiquissimis  Codicibus  Literis  Hibernicis  ante  Annum  X,  exaratis." 


260  HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.       [IRELAND. 

embark  in  this  laudable  undertaking,  must  give  very 
many  of  his  days  and  nights  to  the  volumes  of  an 

O'CONOR. 

This  epistle  contains  cclvi  pages,  followed  by  an  index,  which  con- 
cludes at  p.  cclxxvi.  5  and  is  replete  with  much  curious,  recondite, 
and  interesting  lore.  It  contains  five  plates  of  fac-similes  of  Irish 
MSS.  beginning  with  one  of  the  Vllth  century.  The  ff  Epilogue"  to 
the  Epistle,  devoted  to  an  account  of  the  latter  moments  and  dying 
injunctions  of  the  author's  late  noble  patron,  does  equal  honour  to 
the  head  and  heart  of  the  author  himself.  We  have,  next,  the  first 
part  of  the  Prolegomena,  occupying  clxxxiv.  pages ;  replete  with  a 
variety  of  historical  and  philological  intelligence.  The  second  part  of 
the  Prolegomena  ensues  :  ' '  in  qua  Domesticorum  Annalium  Chronolo- 
gies Rationes,  Codices,  Carmina,  et  Scriptorum  Tempora  ad  Trutinam 
revocantur."  This  extends  to  clxxxvi.  pages  :  an  index,  terminating 
at  p.  ccvii.  concluding  the  volume.  These  portions,  separately,  make 
the  volume  extend  to  about  650  pages.  From  which  the  reader  per- 
ceives that  the  text  of  the  ANCIENT  HISTORIANS  is  yet  to  commence. 


SCOTLAND.]      HITORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  261 


HISTORY  OF  SCOTLAND. 

THE  account  of  the  more  ancient  and  popular  histo- 
ries of  Scotland  is  attended  with  fewer  difficulties 
than  that  relating  to  the  Sister  Kingdom ;  while,  in 
the  investigation  of  this  subject,  we  become  acquainted 
with  more  interesting  and  romantic  details.  Scotland 
has  found  nearly  as  many  old  chroniclers  in  verse  as 
in  prose;  and  her  BORDER  HISTORY*  is  one  which 
equally  interests  the  reader  on  either  side  of  the 
Tweed.  Her  mountains,  her  crags,  her  castles,  and  her 
fortresses,  have  been  all  immortalised  in  poetry— 
while  the  hardy  achievements  of  their  possessors  have 
alike  formed  subjects  for  the  drama  and  romance. 

Yet,  in  the  number  of  her  more  ancient  historians, 
Scotland  is  neither  fertile  nor  particularly  distin- 
guished. Making  only  brief  mention  of  the  Chroni- 
cles of  HOLYROOD  and  MAILROS,  we  may  consider  JOHN 
BARBOUR,  (who  flourished  in  1380,)  as  the  father  of 
regular  Scotch  history ;  although  that  history  be  known 
to  the  world  as  a  metrical  composition,  under  the  name 

*  Read  Mr.  Ridpath's  Border  History,  1776,  4to.  ll.  Us.  6d.  as  a 
good  introduction  to  this  subject ;  and,  above  all,  let <f  the  Young 
Man"  feel  his  imagination  warmed,  as  well  as  his  curiosity  excited, 
by  the  perusal  of  the  interesting  notes  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  the 
Minstrelsy  of  the  Scotish  Border,  published  in  three  octavo  volumes — 
and  frequently  reprinted.  I  consider  these  notes  as  a  most  admirable, 
and  hitherto  unrivalled,  style  of  HISTORICAL  ILLUSTRATION  -,  and  we 
occasionally  discover  in  them,  more  than  faint  gleams  of  that  infor- 
mation and  (f  incidental  story,"  which  burn  so  brightly,  and  warm 
us  so  thoroughly,  in  the  Scotch  historical  novels . . .  now  pretty  gene- 
rally supposed  to  be  by  the  hand  of  the  same  writer. 


262          HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.     [SCOTLAND. 

of  The  Bruce.*  JOHN  FORDUN  is  the  next  chronicler, 
and  the  first  legitimate  historian  of  Scotland,  in  prose. 
His  Scotichronicon  (for  the  publication  of  which  Bi- 
shop Nicolson  was  exceedingly  anxious)  has  been 
twice  edited.-}-  The  Chronicle  O/'WYNTOWN,  in  Scot- 
tish verse,  may  be  the  next  history  deserving  notice. 

*  First,  of  the  chronicles  of  Holy  Rood  and  Mailros.  Wharton 
published  the  former  in  the  first  volume  of  his  4nglia  Sacra,  under 
the  title  of  Chronicon  S.  Crucis  Edin burgensis ;  and  Fulman  the  latter, 
in  the  first  volume  of  what  is  called  Gale's  Scriptores,  &c.  :  but  I  re- 
commend the  READING  Collector  to  throw  an  eye  of  curiosity  over 
what  Nicolson  has  written  in  his  Scottish  Historical  Library,  p.  28  : 
edit.  1736.  Secondly,  of  Barbour.  The  best  edition  of  the  Metrical 
Chronicle,  above  alluded  to,  is  that  by  Pinkerton,  under  the  title  of 
"  The  Bruce  j  or,  the  History  of  Robert  I.  King  of  Scotland."  Writ- 
ten in  Scotish  verse,  by  John  Barbour.  London,  1790,  8vo.  3  vols. : 
"  the  first  genuine  edition,  published  from  a  MS.  dated  1489,  with 
notes  and  a  glossary:"  Mr.  Pinkerton's  preface  tells  us  that  twenty 
editions  had  been  published  since  the  first  impression  of  it,  in  1616,  at 
Edinburgh  :  but  all,  more  or  less,  inaccurately.  Mr.  Ellis,  in  his  Spe- 
cimens, &c.  has  done  this  work  greater  justice*  than  either  Warton  or 
Henry  j  while  the  researches  of  Lord  Hailes  impress  us  with  a  very 
favourable  notion  of  the  veracity  of  the  text. 

f  When  Bishop  Nicholson  wrote  his  account  of  the  existing  MSS. 
of  Fordun — earnestly  wishing  for  a  printed  publication  of  the  Chro- 
nicle— only  a  small  portion  of  it  had  appeared  in  the  third  volume  of 
Gale  and  Fulman.  His  account  is,  in  other  respects,  sufficiently  in- 
teresting. On  consulting  the  note  at  p.  220,  the  reader  will  observe 
that  the  best  edition  of  Fordun  is  that  edited  by  Goodall,  at  Edin- 
burgh, in  1759,  folio,  2  vols. ;  of  which  a  good  copy  may  be  obtain- 
ed for  about  \l.  10s.  5  but  Mr.  Rodd  marks  it,  in  his  catalogue  of 
1823,  at  18s.  half-bound,  uncut. 


The  opening  of  it  is  very  fine  and  animating  : 

Ah,  FREEDOM  is  a  noble  thing  ! 
Freedom  makes  man  to  have  liking. 
Freedom  all  solace  to  man  gives, 
HE  lives  at  ease  that  FREELY  lives  ! 


SCOTLAND.]     HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          2C3 

MAIR  or  MAJOR  follows  ;  and  HECTOR  BOECE,  very 
much  his  superior,  is  the  next  in  succession.  Belovv^ 
I  have  given  a  brief  account  of  the  publications  of 

*  First,  of  WYNTOWN.  The  only  edition  worth  possessing — and  that, 
as  remarkable  for  the  beauty  of  the  printing  as  for  the  accuracy  of  the 
text— bears  the  following  title  : — DE  Orygynale  Cronykil  of  Scot- 
land, be  windrow  of  Wyntown,  Priowr  of  Sanct  Serfis  ynche  in  Loch 
Levyn.  Nowjirst  published  with  notes,  a  glossary,  #c.  By  David  Mac- 
pherson*  London,  1795,  royal  8vo.  2  vols.  This  edition  contains 
an  elaborate  glossary,  learned  notes,  and  an  index.  The  printer  was 
Bensley.  It  is  by  no  means  rare.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a 
copy  of  it,  in  russia,  at  31  10s.  There  were  some  few  impressions 
struck  off  on  LARGE  PAPER,  of  a  quarto  size ; — similar  to  those  of  the 
reprint  of  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  by  the  late  John  Leyden.  Se- 
condly, of  MAJOR.  His  "  Histories  Majoris  Britannia,  tarn  Anglia 
quam  Scotiae,"  was  first  printed  by  Badius  Ascensius,  at  Paris,  in 
1521.  The  best  edition  is  that  published  by  Freebairn,  at  Edinburgh, 
in  1740,  4to.  Prefixed  to  this  edition,  and  probably  to  that  at  Paris 
also,  are  some  monkish  Latin  rhymes,  by  William  Baston,  an  Eng- 
lish Carmelite  monk,  upon  the  battle  of  Bannockbourn.f  Major's 
book  is  of  ordinary  occurrence,  and  worth  about  10s.  6d. 

Thirdly,  and  somewhat  more  copiously,  of  HECTOR  BOECE,  or 
Boethius.  "  Scotorum  Historic,  Libr.  xix.  Hectore  Boethio  Auctore" 
Paris,  Jacob  du  Puy,  1575,  folio:  but  first  published  at  the  same 
place  in  1526,  by  Badius  Ascensius,  having  only  xvii.  books.  The 
second  impression,  contains  the  continuation  of  John  Ferrers,  a 
Piedmontese.  This  work  was  translated  into  the  Scottish  language 
by  John  Bellenden,  between  the  years  1530  and  1533,  ancl  printed 


*  From  a  MS.  in  the  British  Museum.  "  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  (observes 
the  Editor)  to  give  any  thing  which  might  deserve  to  be  called  the  Life  of  Wyn- 
town  :  but,  from  want  of  materials,  I  can  do  little  more  than  draw  into  one  point 
of  view,  what  may  be  gathered  from  his  own  work."  Pref.  ix. 

t  The  metrical  colophon  of  the  poet  is  thus  : 

Sum  Carmelita,  Baston  cognomine  dictus* 
Qui  doleo  vita,  in  tali  strage  relictus. 
Si  quid  deliqui,  si  quse  recitanda  reliqui 
Haec  addant  hi  qui  non  sunt  sermonis  iniqui. 


264         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.       [SCOTLAND. 

the  works  of  these  writers.  GEORGE  BUCHANAN  is 
justly  considered  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of 

by  Davidson,  royal  printer  to  James  V.*  somewhere  about  the  year 
1538-40,  under  the  title  of  the  History  and  Chroniklis  of  Scotland ; 
for  which  the  reader  may  consult  Herbert's  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iiii. 
p.  1474.  This  work,  or  translation,  is  printed  at  Edinburgh ;  in  a 
coarse  gothic  type,  having  the  arms  of  Scotland  rudely  cut  as  a  fron- 
tispiece, and  a  composition  of  a  religious  descriptionf  at  the  end.  Few 
copies  are  exactly  alike,  even  in  the  phraseology.  They  are  of  exces- 
sive rarity  j  and  Lord  Spencer  could  not  obtain  his  copy,  from  the 
Roxburghe  Collection  (Bibl.  Roxburgh.  n°.  8687,)  under  the  sum  of 
e£65.  That  in  the  library  of  Mr.  Towneley  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Laing,  of  Edinburgh,  for  s£S5.  Mr.  Heber  and  Mr.  G.  Chalmers, 
each  possess  a  copy.  It  was  in  the  Harleian  Collection,  but  does  not 
appear  to  be  in  the  British  Museum.  Scotland  boasts,  (and  with  equal 
propriety  and  justice)  of  possessing  two  copies  ON  VELLUM — which  are 
thus  described  in  the  advertisement  to  the  beautiful  reprint  of  this 
work, published  at  Edinburgh  in!823.— "  Of  Bellenden's  Boece,  there 
are  two  copies  in  Scotland,  printed  UPON  VELLUM  :  one  is  preserved  in 
the  library  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,  "  and  a  more  splendid  speci- 
men of  early  typography,  and  of  antique  binding,  cannot  well  be 
imagined.  The  vellum  upon  which  it  is  printed,  is  stainless,  and 
the  breadth  of  the  margin  would  satisfy  the  most  fastidious  and 


*  Of  the  first  set  of  STATUTES,  or  BLACK  ACTS,  as  they  are  called — (and  I  en- 
treat the  reader's  attention  to  Bishop  Nicolson's  account  of  them,  p.  100.)  printed 
by  Davidson,  for  King  James,  only  one  copy  is  known  ;  and  that  copy  is  upon 
VELLUM  : — preserved  in  the  Advocate's  Society,  at  Edinburgh.  My  friend,  Mr.  G. 
Chalmers,  possesses  (with  the  exception  of  this  first  set)  a  comely  collection  of 
these  black  acts — down  to  the  date  of  1593,  by  Waldegrave  :  viz.  from  1566-7  : 
1576-81  :  They  are  thin  small  folios  — and  were  once  inspected  by  that  gallant 
Bibliopolist  Mr.  Constable,  of  Edinburgh,  with  a  hundred  guinea  cheque  ready  to 
lay  down,  by  way  of  exchange  :«— but  "  Procul  o  procul,  este  profanum  /"—ex- 
claimed their  veteran  possessor. 

•f-  I  cannot  unite  in  the  very  warm  praise  bestowed  upon  this  cut  by  the  editor 
of  the  Edinburgh  reprint  of  the  book.  Many  past  and  present "  Xylogaphers  " 
(or  wood-cutters)  could  do  infinitely  better  ;  although  I  admit  that  Mr.  Lizars 
has  made  an  admirable  copy  of  it,  on  a  reduced  scale.  There  is  great  spirit  in  the 
general  design  of  the  original ;  but  greater  delicacy  and  truth  are  frequently  dis- 
played in  the  wood-cutters  of  Basle  and  Lyons,  about  the  same  period, 


SCOTLAND,]      HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        265 

his  country,  both  as  a  poet  and  an  historian  ;  but  a 
good  deal  before  the  appearance  of  his  history,*  there 
were  published  two  or  three  historical  pieces  of  a  con- 
temporaneous character,  which  are  now  sought  after 
with  uncommon  avidity.  The  antiquarian  reader  will 
probably  anticipate  the  Expedition  into  Scotland,  pub- 
lished in  1544-48 :  of  which  PATTEN  was  the  author 
of  the  latter.-f-  How  shall  I  venture  upon  an  outline, 

princely  Collector.  The  boards  bear  the  following  incription  :  JA- 
COBUS QUINTUS  REX  SCOTORUM,  and  on  the  title-page,  the  initials 
I.  R.  appear  in  MS.  They  are,  in  all  probability,  in  the  hand-writing 
of  that  monarch,  to  whom  the  volume  appears  to  have  belonged." — 
Advertisement)  p.  vii.  The  other  copy,  miserably  <(  cobbled"  in  the 
binding,  is  in  the  library  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh  3  and  is,  in 
all  respects,  of  an  inferior  description.  But  the  vicinity  of  our  own 
metropolis  boasts  of  another  membraneous  copy.  At  Ham-House, 
near  Richmond,  (the  residence  of  the  Countess  of  Dysart)  there  is  a 
third,  and  a  not  inglorious  copy,  of  Bellenden'sBoece,  UPON  VELLUM  ! 
And  in  what  Book- Company  does  this  gem  disport  itself?  !  !  ! 

The  REPRINT  of  this  scarce  volume,  (comprehending  Bellenden's 
translation  of  Titus  Livius)  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  productions 
of  the  BALLANTYNE  PRESS.  It  forms  three  quarto  volumes,  of  the 
size  of  the  Palace  of  Pleasure,  and  Mirror  for  Magistrates.  Let  me 
trust  that  there  is  at  least  one  copy  of  it  UPON  VELLUM. 

*  Thejirst  edition  of  George  Buchanan's  history  was  printed  by 
Arbuthnot,  at  Edinburgh,  in  1582,  folio ;  and,  again,  fuller  and 
more  correctly,  at  Geneva,  in  the  following  year  :  but  the  best  edi- 
tion is,  doubtless,  that  published  at  Leyden,  in  1725,  4to.  2  vols. 
under  the  editorial  care  of  Ruddiman  and  Gronovius,  on  the  basis  of 
the  previous  folio  edition  of  1715,  exclusively  edited  by  Ruddiman. 
These  two  latter  editions  of  Buchanan,  of  which  copies  on  large 
paper  are  not  very  common,  contain  ALL  his  works.  Let  Nicolson, 
however,  p.  4O,  by  no  means  be  overlooked  j  as  he  balances  the 
praises  and  censures  of  critics,  respecting  Buchanan,  with  an  even 
and  pains-taking  hand.  A  copy  of  the  folio  edition  may  be  worth 
II.  Is. 

t  Mr.  Beloe,  Anecdotes  of  Literature)  &c,  vol.  ii.  p,  345,  notices 


266         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.      [SCOTLAND. 

even,  of  the  numerous,  or  rather  innumerable  pam- 
phlets, tomes,  and  broadsides,  relating  to  the  fate  of 
the  unfortunate  QUEEN  MARY?*  The  invincible 

only  one  edition — of  the  date  of  1544 — of  this  work  j  but  there  was 
a  second  edition  in  1548 — under  the  title  of  the  "  Expedition  of  the 
Duke  of  Somerset,  by  W.  P  alien .-"  both  impressions  being  in  the 
Roxburghe  Library  :  the  former  selling  for  30  guineas,  and  the 
latter  for  2 1/.  Mr.  G.  Chalmers  possesses  a  copy  of  the  latter. 
Mr.  Beloe  tells  us  that,  at  the  sale  of  West's  library,  the  first  tract 
was  bought  for  18*.  6d. :  and  at  that  of  a  portion  of  Mr.  Wodhull's 
books,  in  1803,  for  16Z.  16s. — the  identical  copy  purchased  by  the 
Duke  of  Roxburghe.  Mr.  Isaac  Reed  had  a  copy,  obtained,  as  Mr. 
Beloe  imagines,  for  the  very  diminished  sum  of  2s.  6d.  Copies  of 
both  editions  are  in  the  library  of  Mr.  Heber.  See  Typog.  Antiq. 
vol.  iii.  p.  458.  iv.  p.  8.  These  rare  books  were  unknown  toNicolson. 
The  work  was  reprinted  in  1798,  4to.  among  the  "  Fragments  of 
Scotish  History.'1 

*  Of  the  well  known  black  letter  tract  of  Buchanan's  Detectioun  of 
the  Duinges  of  Marie  Queue  ofScottis,  there  were  at  least  two  editions  : 
one  printed  in  1572,  the  other  without  date.  The  Roxburghe  copy  of 
the  former  was  sold  for  2£.  12s.  6d.,  the  latter  for  2/.  10s.  In  Mr. 
Rodd's  last  catalogue,  I  find  several  of  these  pieces  thus  described-— 
ee  1404,  MARY  QUEEN  OF  SCOTS.  Ane  Detectioun  of  the  Duings  of 
Marie  Quene  of  Scottes,  touchand  the  Murder  of  hir  Husband,  by  G. 
Buchanan,  black  letter,  no  date — The  Copie  of  a  Letter  written  by  one 
in  London  to  his  Friend  concernying  the  credit  of  the  late  published 
Detection  of  the  Doynges  of  the  Ladie  Marie  of  Scotland,  no  date — 
The  effect  of  the  declaration  made  in  the  Guildhall,  by  M.  Recorder 
of  London,  concerning  the  late  attempts  of  the  Quenes  Majesties  evill, 
seditious,  and  disobedient  Subjectes,  1571. — A  Letter  concerning  the 
Marriage  of  the  D.  of  Norfolk  to  Quene  Mary,  by  R.  G.  1571. — A 
Discourse  touching  the  pretended  Match  betwene  the  Duke  of  Nor- 
folkeand  the  Queene  of  Scottes,  1571 5  ( 'these  two  last  want  the  titles) 
a  rare  and  curious  collection  in  blue  morocco,  61.  6s.  12mo.  Yet  must 
the  reader  not  fail  to  bear  in  mind  <f  The  Scottish  Queen's  Buriall," 
1587,  Lond.  12mo.  no  date  :  (s@9.  9s.  at  the  Roxburghe  sale)  and 
the  very  rare  Latin  piece  relating  to  Mary,  of  which  OBERTUS 


SCOTLAND.]     HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        267 

perseverance  and  gallant  spirit  of  such  men  as  Mr. 
George  Chalmers  and  Mr.  Richard  Heber,  have  not 
yet,  I  suspect,  enabled  those  gentlemen  to  admit  that 
their  Scottish  Collection,  in  this  department,  is  com- 
plete! LESLEY,  as  much  the  friend,  as  Buchanan  was 
the  enemy,  of  Queen  Mary,  put  forth  his  work  a  few 

BARNESTAPLE  was  the  author,  and  which  was  published  at  Cologne 
in  1627,  8vo.  Mr.  Thorpe  bravely  marks  a  copy  of  it,  bound  in 
morocco,  at  ^4.  4s. 

I  have  above  mentioned  the  publication  of  printed  BROADSIDES,  &c. 
It  is  here  in  my  power  to  make  mention  of  a  volume — beyond  all 
praise  and  beyond  all  price  —  containing  official  instruments,  in  the 
black  letter,  relating  to  almost  all  public  topics  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth.  This  volume  is  in  the  Bodleian  library,  and  has  been  of 
comparatively  recent  discovery.  My  friend  Dr.  Bliss,  one  of  the 
librarians,  in  displaying  its  CHARMS,  expatiated  upon  it  with  the 
correct  taste  and  natural  enthusiasm  of  a  well -versed  English  Bibli- 
ographer 3  and  the  public  will  shortly  be  benefitted  by  some  curious 
excerpts  from  it,  in  his  Reliquiae  Hearniana.  Tom  Hearne  himself 
would  have  gone  half  crazed  at  the  very  sight  of  it  —  and  especially 
at  the  extraordinary  PORTRAITS*  which  it  contains.  But  my  more 
immediate  business  is  with  Queen  Mary.  Among  these  broadsides, 
is  a  Proclamation  against  her,  and  the  house  of  Guise,  for  supporting 
her  claim  to  the  crown  of  England.  te  And  consyderyng  the  sayde 
house  of  Guise,  for  theyr  owne  priuate  aduauncement,  hauynge  no 
other  meane  to  practyse  the  same,  but  by  exaltyng  of  theyr  nece  the 
Quene  of  Scottes,  in  whose  respect  they  intermeddle  with  the  gouer- 


*  These  portraits  are,  Elizabeth,  by  Delarum  ;  Lord  Darnley  and  M.  Queen  of 
Scots,  by  Elstrack  :  Mary,  au  oval,  in  a  large  broadside,  on  the  top  and  bottom  of 
which  are  printed  epigrams,  "  In  effigiem  Marias,  &c.  Londini,  typis  I.  Norton  i 
The  Earle  of  Nottingham,  1588,  very  large  broadside  ;  no  name,  but  **  To  be 
soulde  at  ye  horse  shew  in  pater  noster  row  :"  Robert,  Earl  of  Essex ;  on  horse 
back,  and  very  large  and  fine :  Thomas  Howard,  Dul  e  of  Norfolk,  between  the 
pillars,  a  print  of  extraordinary  rarity.  I  will  not  pretend  to  fix  a  price  for  such 
graphic  gems.  Mr.  Woodburn,  as  he  once  gazed  upon  them  with  a  throbbing 
heart  and  a  well  replenished  purse,  "  sighed  and  looked,  sighed  and  looked,  and 
sighed  ...  IN  VAIN  !  " 


268         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.      [SCOTLAND. 

years  before  the  appearance  of  the  History  of  Bucha- 
nan ;  namely,  in  1575,  and  1578,  at  Rome ;  and,  in  fact, 
he  should  have  here  taken  precedence.  Bishop  Nicol- 
son  gives  us  encouragement  to  peruse  Lesley  with 
more  than  ordinary  interest.*  On  entering  the  seven- 
teenth century,  we  must  begin  with  the  notice  of 
MELVIL,  followed  by  that  of  SPOTISWOOD  ;  although 
proper  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  careful  re- 
searches of  JOHNSTON,  and  to  the  humbler  chronicle 
of  MONIPENNIE.^ 

naunce  of  Fraunce  at  this  present,  haue  thus  injuriously  and  inso- 
lently set  forth,  and  in  tyme  of  peace  continued  in  publyke  places  the 
armes  and  clayme  of  these  kyngdomes  of  Englande  and  Irlande,  in 
the  name  of  their  nece  the  Quene," — &c.  &c.  Now,  prefixed  to  this 
Proclamation,  in  the  Bodleian  volume,  is  a  drawing  of  the  arms  of 
Mary,  quartered  with  those  of  England  and  France,  which  purports 
to  be  one  of  the  copies<  "sent  out  of  ffr  ounce  in  July  1559,"  In  a 
metrical  inscription  at  the  bottom,  Mary  is  called 

"  Off  Scotland  queene,  and  of  Ingland  also, 
Off  Ireland  als'  God  haith  providit  so." 

If  my  memory  do  not  deceive  me,  I  have  somewhere  (either  in  the 
Bibliomania  or  Decameron)  noticed  this  very  book  5  as  being  in  the 
possession  of  some  one  to  whom  Lord  Oxford  offered  100  guineas  for 
it — but  ineffectually. 

*  A  good  copy  of  Lesley,  ee  de  moribus,  $c.  Scotorum,"  1578,  4to. 
is  marked  at  ll.  7s.  in  the  recent  catalogue  of  Messrs,  Lackington 
and  Co.  If  however  the  reader  happen  to  get  possession  of  the  same 
author's  work  on  the  Right  and  Title  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  1584, 
Svo.  let  him  know  that  Mr.  Laing  not  only  calls  it  "  VERY  BARE," 
but  affixes  to  it  the  price  of  e£5.  15s.  6d. 

f  In  order  of  time  we  should  notice  MONIPENNIE  5  the  more  so,  as 
he  seems  to  have  escaped  Watt.  I  find  his  Chronicle  and  Descrip- 
tion of  Scotland,  Lond.  1612,  4to,  j  Short  Description  of  the  Isles  oj 
Scotland,  ("  very  rare  "  and  a  MS.  Chronicle  of  him,  selling  at  the 
Roxburghe  sale  (n°.  8697)  for  £3.  65.  A  copy  of  the  first  work, 


SCOTLAND.]     HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.          269 

It  was  not,  however,  till  the  eighteenth  century,  that 
the  History  of  Scotland  received  its  due  and  full  share 
of  investigation.  The  names  of  Mackenzie,  Wodroiv, 
Anderson,  Lindesay,  Maitland,  Robertson,  Guthrie, 
Dalrymple  and  Pinherton,  are  familiar  to  the  collec- 
tors of  Scottish  history ;  and  have  been  more  or  less 
perused  by  the  assiduous  student  in  the  same  depart- 

(called <f  scarce")  is  marked  at  ggl.  Is.  in  Mr.  Rodd's  last  catalogue ; 
and  a  copy  of  <(  Certaine  Matters  concerning  the  realme  of  Scotland, 
composed  together  as  they  were,  A.  D.  1597/'  Lond;  1603,  with  a 
morocco  back,  is  valued  at  £2.  2s.  in  the  last  catalogue  of  Messrs. 
Arch.  It  is  the  first  edition  of  the  work.  Let  DAVID  HUME'S 
ff  General  History,  continuing  to  the  Death  of  James  VI."  Lond. 
1657*  folio,  (first  published  at  Edinb.  in  1617)  have  also  a  place  in 
a  library  tolerably  complete  with  Scotch  history.  Bishop  Nicolson 
calls  it  ' '  the  best  in  this  class " — but  falling  far  short  of  the  spirit 
of  that  author's  other  works.  The  Memoirs  of  Sir  JAMES  MELVIL, 
of  Hall  Hill,  Lond.  1683,  is  important  in  very  many  repects  to 
possess.  Burnet  calls  the  author  a  generous  and  virtuous  man. 
A  good  copy  may  be  had  for  12s.  Spotiswood's  Church  History, 
Lond.  1655  j  again  1677 — must,  on  no  account,  be  omitted  in 
the  historical  department  of  Scotland  ;  and  let  MIDDLETON'S  appen- 
dix to  it,  incorporated  in  the  latter  edition,  always  be  found  in  your 
copy  of  the  work.  Messrs.  Fayne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy  of  it,  bound ' 
with  Burnet's  Memoirs  of  the  Dukes  of  Hamilton,*  1677>  folio,  in  one 
volume,  at  £2.  5s. 

Let  me  here  briefly  mention  DRUMMOND'S  (of  Hawthorden)  His- 
tory of  Scotland,  Lond.  1655,  with  plates  of  James  I.,  II.,  III.,  IV., 
V.,  by  Gay  wood.  A  good  copy  may  be  worth  £l.  5s.  It  is  re- 
printed in  the  collection  of  Drummond's  Works,  published  in  1711, 
folio. 

*  By  Gilbert  Burnet,  Bishop  of  Salisbury  :  having  a  portrait  of  James  Duke  of 
Hamilton  as  a  frontispiece ;  and  another  of  Charles  I.,  by  Faithorne,  opposite 
p.  153  :  one  of  the  commonest,  but  nevertheless  one  of  the  most  spirited,  of  that 
engraver's  productions.  This  book  contains  Letters,  Instructions,  and  other  papers 
written  by  the  unfortunate  royal  author.  Copies  on  LARGE  PAPER  usually  pre- 
sent us  with  fine  impressions  of  these  portraits. 


270        HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.     [SCOTLAND. 

ment.     I  have  endeavoured,  below,*  to  give  the  best 
editions  of  the  labours  of  these  respective  writers ; 

*  I  will  first  dispatch,  and  as  courteously  as  possible,  the  two 
MACKENZIES;  each  christened  George.  The  first,  who  published  the 
Lives  and  Characters  of  the  most  eminent  Writers  of  the  Scots  Nation. 
1708-22,  three  vols.  folio,  was  a  Physician.  His  work,  found  com- 
plete, is  not  of  very  ordinary  occurrence :  the  third  volume  being 
usually  missing.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  perfect  copy  in  three  vols., 
at  41.  4s.  -,  and  Mr.  Laing  marks  a  similar  one  ' {  new  bound  in 
russia,  extra"  at7/.  7s.  After  all,  they  are  unseemly  tomes;  and  the 
third  is  compelled  to  walk  on  stilts  to  keep  pace  with  its  compa- 
nions. The  other  Mackenzie  (Sir  George)  was  an  eminent  lawyer, 
and  historian.  He  is  called,  in  the  title-page  of  his  works, le  emi- 
nent and  learned,"  and  his  works  were  published  in  two  folio  vo- 
lumes, in  1716.f  There  has  been  recently  put  forth,  from  the  MS. 
of  this  author,  his  <f  Memoirs  of  the  Affairs  of  Scotland  from  the  Res- 
toration of  King  Charles  II.,"  &c.  Edinb.  4to. ;  edited  with  great 
care,  and  printed  with  considerable  elegance.  The  MS.  was  brought 
to  the  shop  of  a  grocer  in  Edinburgh,  and  purchased  by  him  for  the 
humblest  purposes  of  his  trade  j  but  owing  to  many  entire  leaves 
having  been  cut  out,  there  is  a  lamentable  hiatus  in  the  history,  from 
the  year  1663  to  1669.  See  Pref.  Edinb.  Monthly  Mag.  N°.  III., 
June  1817  j  and  Edinb.  Mag.  April,  1820.  A  masterly  and  highly 
interesting  criticism  on  this  valuable  work  appeared  in  the  Edinb. 
Review,  N°.LXXI. 

Briefly  noticing  "  the  Martial  Achievements  of  the  Scots  Nation, " 
by  PATRICK  ABERCROMBY,  M.  D.  Edinb.  171 1^  folio,  2  vols.  (now 
an  uncommon  work)  I  proceed,  not  only  to  the  notice,  but  to  the 
strong  recommendation,  of  WOD ROW'S  History  of  the  Sufferings  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland.  Edinb.  1721,  folio,  2  vols.  Considering  that, 


•f  In  this  edition  of  Mackenzie's  works,  are  omitted  his  earliest  publication 
entitled  "  Aretina,  or  the  Serious  Romance,"  1661,  12mo.  and  a  political  tract "  on 
the  discovery  of  the  Fanatick  Plot"  1684,  folio.  Among  the  miscellaneous  con- 
tents of  these  volumes,  it  will  be  difficult  to  find  any  number  of  original  articles  at 
all  approaching  to  that  of  the  manuscripts  stated  to  have  been  in  the  possession  of 
the  publisher.  Preface,  (p.  iv.)  to  Sir  G.  Mackenzie's  Memoirs  of  the  Affairs  of 
Scotland,  1821, 4to. 


SCOTLAND.]     HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.         271 

adding,  here,  that  there  are  several  minor  authors, 
which,  from  their  omission,  must  not  be  supposed  as 

even  without  the  warm  eulogy  pronounced  on  this  work  by  Mr.  Fox, 
in  his  historical  labours,  these  volumes  have  long  richly  deserved 
republication,  one  is  surprised  that  so  valuable  a  work,  in  so  repul- 
sive a  garb  (for  it  is  most  wretchedly  printed)  has  been  suffered  to 
remain  without  improvement.  A  new  edition  of  Wodrow  (now 
becoming  excessively  rare)  may  be  no  unprofitable,  as  well  as  a 
highly  creditable,  speculation  to  a  Scotch  bookseller  :  the  more  so, 
as  Wodrow  (according  to  Dr.  Watt)  <f  left  numerous  mss.  behind 
him,  which  are  preserved  in  some  of  the  public  libraries  of  Scotland, 
and  testify  his  pre-eminence  and  research."  He  was  Minister  of  the 
Gospel  at  Eastwood.  ANDERSON'S  Collections  relating  to  the  History 
of  Mary  Queen  of  Scotland,  were  published  in  four  quarto  volumes, 
in  1727  :  with  an  explanatory  index  of  obsolete  words.  A  friend  of 
mine  once  bought  a  copy  out  of  sheets  and  bound  the  work  ff  in 
BLACK  morocco,  with  BLOOD  coloured  insides."  Such  was  his  order 
to  the  binder  3  and  poor  George  Faulkener  was  that  binder.  Mr. 
Laing  marks  a  copy,  in  calf  gilt  binding,  at  £\.  14s.  LINDESAY'S 
(of  Pitscottie)  History  of  Scotland,  Edinb.  1728,  folio,  may  be  worth 
e£l.  Is.  in  good  condition.  MAITLAND'S  History  and  Antiquities  of 
Scotland,  If 57,  folio,  are  worth  a£2.  2s.  in  a  sound  condition  5  but 
the  same  author's  History  of  Edinburgh,  with  map  and  plates,  1753, 
folio,  is  worth  full  as  much  money  3  owing  to  its  comparative 
scarcity. 

The  name  of  ROBERTSON  as  an  historian,  whether  of  Scotland, 
America,  or  Charles  V.,  need  only  be  mentioned  to  insure  it  due  at- 
tention and  respect.  His  History  of  Scotland  is  doubtless,  by  far,  the 
most  popular  history  extant  3  and  first  appeared  in  4to.  in  1759,  in 
2  vols.  The  reimpressions  have  been,  I  had  almost  said,  innumer- 
able 3  but  it  may  be  as  well  to  notice  and  recommend  the  seventeenth 
edition,  with  corrections  and  additions,  and  to  which  is  prefixed  an 
account  of  the  life  and  writings  of  the  author  by  Dugald  Stewart  3  in 
1806,  8vo.  3  vols.  GUTHRIE'S  General  History  of  Scotland  came 
out  in  numbers,  and  appeared  complete  in  1767,  8vo.  ten  volumes. 
It  was  reprinted  in  1771  3  but  is  now  rarely  consulted.  DALRYM- 
PLE'S  Annals  of  Scotland,  from  the  accession  of  Malcolm  III.  to  that 


272         HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.     [SCOTLAND. 

excluded  from  the  legitimate  list  of  Scotch  historians. 
Descending  to  our  own  times,  we  are  at  once  in- 
structed and  gratified  by  the  successful  labours  of 
Laing,  M'Crie,  and  Cook ;  and  descending  yet  more 
closely  upon  recent  publications,  we  cannot  fail  to 
offer  the  meed  of  praise  to  the  truly  gigantic  labours 
of  Mr.  GEORGE  CHALMERS  ;  who,  in  his  Caledonia, 
(now  pursuing  its  steady  course  through  the  press) 
seems  disposed  to  leave  no  department  untouched, 
and  no  event,  historical  as  well  as  local,  unrelated 
or  unnoticed.  This  gentleman  is  the  Atlas  of  Scotch 
antiquaries  and  historians;  bearing  on  his  own 
shoulders  whatever  seems  to  have  been  collected, 
and  with  pain  separately  endured,  by  his  predeces- 
sors ;  *  whom,  neither  difficulties  tire  nor  dangers 
daunt :  and  who,  in  a  green  and  vigorous  old  age,  is 

of  the  House  of  Stewart,  was  published  in  1776,  in  two  quarto 
volumes :  again,  in  the  same  form,  in  1779  -,  and  latterly  in  1797> 
8vo.  three  vols.  The  historical,  philological,  and  antiquarian  la- 
bours of  Sir  David  Dalrymple,  Bart,  afterwards  LORD  HAILES,  are 
such  as  entitle  their  author  to  the  foremost  rank  among  his  highly 
distinguished  contemporaries.  PINKERTON'S  Enquiry  into  the  History 
of  Scotland,  Lond.  1789,  8vo.  2  vols  3  was  reprinted  at  Edinburgh, 
with  improvements,  in  1814  :  but  it  is  an  inferior  work  to  his  His- 
tory of  Scotland,  from  the  accession  of  the  Stuarts  to  Mary,  3797,  4to. 
2  vols.  His  Iconographia  Scotica,  1797*  8vo.  and  Scottish  Gallery  of 
Portraits,  1799,  4to.  must  of  course,  in  chronological  order,  be 
added  to  the  preceding.  I  have  not  affixed  prices  to  these  works, 
because  they  are  generally  of  ordinary  occurrence  in  the  shops  of  our 
principal  booksellers. 

*  To  begin  with  Mr.  LAING.     The  best  edition  of  his  History  of 
Scotland  is  that  of  1819,  8vo.  four  vols.  with  a  preliminary  Disserta- 
tion respecting  Mary's  participation  in  the  murder  of  Darnley.     It 
is  a  work  particularly  rich  in   illustrative  notes.     The  Rev.  Mr 
M'CRIE'S  Life  of  John  Knox,  Edinb.  1813,  Svo.  2  vols  5  and  his  Life 


SCOTLAND.]     HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.        273 

yet  laying-  the  foundation  of  works  for  the  enlarge- 
ment of  a  legitimate  fame,  and  the  edification  of  a 
grateful  posterity.  His  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  is  the 
last,  and  a  very  recent  production  of  his  pen,  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  his  country. 

of  Andrew  Melville*  with  ecclesiastical  and  literary  illustrations  re- 
lating to  Scotland,  1819,  8vo.  2  vols.  must  undoubtedly  find  places 
in  every  well  chosen  collection  of  Scottish  literature. 

DR.  COOK'S  History  of  the  Reformation  in  Scotland,  published  at 
Edinburgh  in  1811,  8vo.  in  three  vols.  is  a  work  which  cannot  fail  to 
be  gratifying  to  all  lovers  of  that  branch  of  historical  enquiry  ;  espe- 
cially as  it  is  allowed  to  be  executed  with  equal  talent  and  imparti- 
ality. In  the  last  place,  I  have  to  notice  the  Caledonia  of  Mr.  GEORGE 
CHALMERS,  of  which  three  stupendous  quarto  volumes  have  already 
appeared  $  and  of  which  a  fifth  will  complete  this  gigantic  under- 
taking. The  late  Dr.  Whittaker,  himself  an  accomplished  antiquary, 
reviewed  it  in  the  ivth  volume,  (p.  342,)  of  the  Quarterly  Review.  The 
"  VIRIDIS  SENECTUS  "  of  the  Author  leads  us  to  hope  that  he  will  give 
us  yet  some  further  "  by  play,"  in  addition  to  his  Life  of  Queen  Mary 
— a  work,  upon  which  Mrs.  Benger  has  drawn  more  largely  than  its 
learned  author  was  disposed  to  expect  or  is  prepared  to  approve. 


*  "  Dr.  M'CRIE,  the  well-known  author  of  the  Lives  of  Knox  and  of  Melville, 
whose  curiosity  in  whatever  concerns  the  history  of  this  country  is  for  ever  active 
and  indefatigable,  and  whose  distinguished  intelligence  and  sagacity  are  united  to 
the  most  liberal  and  communicative  spirit."  Pref.  p.  vi.  to  the  newly  printed 
"  Memoirs  of  the  Affairs  of  Scotland  by  Sir  G.  Mackenzie,  Knight. 


[274  ] 


HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY. 

Having,  in  the  more  immediately  preceding  pages, 
furnished  both  "  THE  YOUNG  "  and  "  THE  OLD  "  with 
tolerably  full  particulars  respecting  the  various  Col- 
lections of  History,  and  Histories  themselves,  con- 
nected with  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  Scotland — it 
remains,  as  a  sort  of  necessary  supplemental  matter, 
to  furnish  the  studious,  in  this  department  of  book- 
collecting,  with  a  few  HELPS  to  BRITISH  HISTORY,  by 
means  of  Acts  of  Parliament,  Records,  and   State 
Papers,  &c.     Of  WALES,  no  particular  mention  need 
be  necessary ;  except  to  observe  that  the  histories  of 
that  country  by  LLOYD  and  ENDERBIE  are   the  al- 
most only  exclusive  works  connected   with  it.     It 
must  however  be  conceded,  that  much  of  historical 
information  is  conveyed  in  the  pages  of  Pennant  and 
Dr.  Meyrick.* 

*  LLOYD'S  Historic  of  Cambria  was  published  in  the  black  letter, 
in    a    4to.  volume,    1584,   with    wood-cuts,    spiritedly  designed : 
and  I  find,  what  is  called  a  LARGE  PAPER  copy  of  it,  marked  at 
51.  5s.  in  Mr.  Thorpe's  catalogue,  n°.  12294.     The  best  edition  is 
that  of  1774,  8vo.  worth  about  14s.      ENDERBIE'S   Cambria   Trium~ 
phans'f  being  the  ancient  and  modern  British  History,  1661,  folio, 
was,  in  former  times,  of  exceedingly  high  price ;  but  Mr.  Baxter's 
beautiful  reprint  of  it  in  181O,  folio  —  of  which  there  are  copies  on 
LARGE  PAPER,— (of  truly  gigantic  dimensions)  has  materially  con- 
tributed to  lower  the  price.     Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy 
("  very  neat  ")  of  the  first  edition  at  51.  5s. :  and  of  the  reprint  on 
large  paper,  in  boards,  at  41.  14s.  6d.     Messrs.  Arch  diminish  the 
price  of  the  latter  to  41.  4s. :  and  mark  an  "  Index  to  complete  the 
former  edition,"  at  ll.  Is.     To  these,  add  Warrington's  <e  History  of 


ACTS,  &c.]    HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.  275 

Reverting  therefore  to  these  general  historical 
Helps,  let  us  begin  with  Acts  of  Parliament  and  Year 
Books,  publications  of  these  appearing  in  the  infancy 
of  the  Art  of  Printing.  But  I  will  not  insist  upon  the 
securing  of  specimens  of  this  kind  from  the  presses  of 
Caxton,  Machlinia,  VTynkyn  de  Worde,  andPynson:* 

Wales ',"  1786,  4to.  and  Mr.  Robert's  "  Chronicle  of  the  Kings  of  Bri- 
tain, 1810,  4to.  about  \l,  15s.  each.  Dr.  MEYRICK'S  History  and 
Antiquities  of  Cardiganshire,  published  in  1810,  4to.  is  replete  with 
much  interesting  intelligence.  Of  PENNANT'S  Tour  in  Wales,  1778, 
4to.  two  vols.  it  were  idle  to  speak  in  commendation. 

*  Brief  and  imperfect  notices  of  the  Statutes  printed  by  Caxton 
appear  in  the  recent  edition  of  the  Typographical  Antiquities,  vol.  i. 
p.  354  5  but,  since  the  publication  of  that  work,  a  perfect  set  of  the 
Statutes,  passed  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.,  up  to  the  death  of 
Caxton,  (149O-1)  was  obtained  by  Lord  Spencer,  and  will  be  found 
particularly  described  in  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  iv.  p.  344,  &c. 
Machlinia  printed  the  Statutes  in  the  first  year  of  Richard  IllJ  of 
which  a  copy  is  in  the  library  of  the  Inner  Temple.  I  know  of  no 
other.  What  are  called  the  Nova  Statuta,  printed  by  the  same 
printer,  in  one  thick  folio  volume,  has  been  described  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  11,  with  a  fac-simile  of  one  page  of  the  types.  The 
fine  copy  of  it,  described  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  iv.  p.  384,  was 
purchased  by  me,  of  Mr.  Clarke  the  law  bookseller,  some  ten  or 
twelve  years  ago,  for  71.  7*»  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Devonshire 
purchased  his  Lordship's  duplicate,  in  1814,  for  272.  6s.  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy  at  13 1.  13s. 

WYNKYN  DE  WORDS  published  a  small  folio  volume,  of  twenty- 
seven  Acts  passed  in  the  eleventh  year  of  Henry  VII.,  of  which  a 
description  appears  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  iv.  p.  415  :  but  he  also 
published  other  Acts— as  late  as  the  nineteenth  year  of  Henry's 
reign ;  for  an  account  of  which,  consult  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii. 
p.  391-2.  PYNSON  was  a  more  voluminous  printer  of  these  early 
Statutes,  as  his  situation  of  "  King's  Printer"  would  lead  us  to 
expect  j  and  in  his  time  began  the  publication  of  YEAR  BOOKS  — or 
Reports  of  law  proceedings  in  the  several  terms  throughout  the  year. 
Consult  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  570-4.  Lord  Spencer  possesses 


276  HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.    [ACTS,  &c. 

it  being  sufficient  to  avail  ourselves,  in  order  to  main- 
tain  the  characters  of  antiquaries,  with  the  Collection 

some  specimens  of  his  Statutes  and  Year  Books  (see  Bibl.  Spencer. 
vol.  iv.  p.  431.2)  which  I  should  not  pronounce  to  be  of  excessive 
rarity.  My  friend  Mr.  Douce  possesses  a  noble  copy  of  the  former  : 
but  I  strongly  recommend  an  inspection  of  the  list  of  Statutes,  of 
this  period,  to  be  found  in  the  Biblioth.  Harleiana,  vol.  ii.  p.  648,  and 
in  the  law  catalogues  of  Messrs.  Worrall,  Clarke,  and  Butterworth. 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  RastelFs  Collection  of  Statutes,  a  fine 
copy,  at  ll  Us.  6d.  Printed  for  the  Societie  of  Stationers,  1615, 
folio. 

But,  to  the  professed  Collector  of  STATUTABLE  LORE,  it  will  of 
course  be  material  to  enrich  his  library  with  the  publications  recently 
put  forth,  under  the  authority  of  Parliament,  beginning  with  the  year 
1810  j  and  of  which  nine  volumes  have  already  appeared.  These 
are  cumbrous  tomes  for  a  limited  collection  5  and  will  be  exceed- 
ingly costly  into  the  bargain,  if  they  are  accompanied  by  the  Rotuli,* 
and  Placita,  and  Calendaria,  contemporaneously  published  by  the 
same  authority.  The  "  Rotuli  Parliamentorum"  being  the  Rolls  of 
Parliament  from  Edward  I.  to  Henry  VII.,  in  six  folio  volumes,  are 
doubtless  very  important  "  HELPS  "  to  the  history  of  our  country. 
See  Clarke's  Cat.  p.  158.  The  Parliamentary  Debates  and  State  Trials 
will  necessarily  be  found  in  every  senatorial  library.  The  Taxatio  Ec- 
clesiastica,  1802,  folio,  and  the  Valor  Ecclesiasticus,  1810-17,  3  vols., 
folio,  may  also  be  thought  necessary  to  a  well  furnished  historical 
library ;  and  although  these  be  dear  volumes,  separately  to  purchase, 
yet  they  often  come  in  "  at  the  fag  end"  of  a  sale  by  auction,  so  as 
to  be  procured  in  boards  at  a  very  moderate  sum.  But  then,  the 
binding — this  is  indeed  Cf  THE  RUB  !  " 

But  whether  the  whole,  or  any,  of  these  ponderous  folios  find 
admittance  into  the  libraries  of  "  the  Young"  or  f(  the  Old," let  me 


*  Of  exceedingly  great  intrinsic  worth  are  the  Rotuli  Scotia,  published  under 
the  care  of  Thomas  Thomson,  Esq.  at  Edinburgh,  in  two  folio  volumes,  1814-1819 : 
and  the  Acts  of  Parliament  of  Scotland,  edited  by  the  same  gentleman,  in  seven 
folio  volumes — wanting  the  first.  May  this  great  undertaking  soon  reach  its  com- 
pletion. Scotland  may  be  justly  proud  of  the  Editor,  under  whose  eye  it  moves 
leisurely,  but  cautiously  and  correctly  along.  See  p.  264,  as  to  the  BLACK  ACTS. 


ACTS,  &c.]     HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY  277 

of  the  Statutes  published  by  William  Rastell,  towards 
the  middle  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  a  collec- 
tion, which  well-read  judges  of  this  lore  have  pro- 
nounced to  be  essentially  necessary  to  the  library  of 
an  Antiquary  as  well  as  Lawyer.  I  will  descend  at 
once  to  comparatively  modern  times;  and  recom- 
mend the  edition  of  the  Statutes  by  Ruffhead,  conti- 
nued by  Riinnington.  * 

I  now  come  to  RECORDS  :  and  where  is  the  experi- 
enced bibliographer  who,  standing  at  my  elbow,  would 
not  immediately  exclaim  —  "  begin  with  PRYNNE  !"-f" 

entreat  ALL  denominations  of  sensible  Collectors  to  purchase  the 
most  important  work  which  has  yet  been  published,  with  reference 
to  British  history,  antiquities,  laws,  and  customs.  I  mean  the  recent 
edition  of  DOMESDAY  BOOK,  1783— 1816,  in  4  folio  volumes,  with 
indexes,  and  a  general  introduction,  by  Henry  Ellis,  Esq.  keeper  of 
the  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum.  The  praises  bestowed  upon  the 
value  of  the  PRECIOUS  ORIGINAL  MS.,  from  Spelman  down  to  Black- 
stone,  are  sufficient  to  make  every  enlightened  Collector  anxious  to 
possess  it.  I  find  a  copy  of  it,  in  3  vols.  with  russia  backs,  marked 
at  91.  9s.  in  the  last  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Arch,  no.  248,  where  a 
tolerably  copious  list  of  parliamentary  publications,  with  their  prices, 
will  be  found  :  but  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  as  the  regular  publishers, 
necessarily  possess  a  more  extensive  collection.  The  history  of  these 
public  records  is  given  in  the  first  and  third  volumes  of  Savage's 
Librarian.  The  good  taste  of  Miss  Currer  has  led  her  to  enrich  her 
fine  library  with  most  of  these  Helps  to  British  History. 

*  Ruffhead's  edition  was  published  in  1763,  in  nine  volumes  \  to 
which  Mr.  Serjeant  Runnington  added  a  sequence  of  volumes,  in 
1800,  forming  eighteen  vols.  4to.  in  the  whole.  This  original  edi- 
tion, brought  down  to  the  present  times,  with  the  continuations  of 
Messrs.  Tomlins  and  Raithby,  forming  twenty-six  vols.  in  the  whole, 
is  now  worth  601.  An  entire  edition  was  published  by  Mr.  Run- 
nington in  1786,  &c.  in  fourteen  volumes,  down  to  the  Union  :  valued 
at  <Z\l.  by  the  booksellers. 

f  PRYNNE  shall  have  his  due  j  as  far  as  relates  to  his  Records. 


278  HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.       RECORDS, 

His  monitory  voice  shall  be  obeyed  :  but  is  he  aware 
of  the  niceties,  and  difficulties,  and  even  contradic- 

Letthe  reader  first  consult  Oldys1  s  British  Librarian,  p.  11-21 :  for  an 
account  of  the  plates,  abridgements  of  prefaces,  and  summaries  of 
chapters.  Both  Oldys  and  Mr.  Harris  (Catalogue  of  Royal  Institution 
Library,  p.  390.)  quote  the  quaint  language  of  Bishop  Nicolson's 
English  Historical  Library,  p.  165,  respecting  the  third  volume  of 
Prynne :  not  necessary  to  be  here  repeated.  The  first  volume  of 
Prynne  was  printed  in  1666,  the  last  in  1670,  The  greater  part  of 
the  first  volume  perished  in  the  fire  of  London  j  as  an  advertisement 
to  the  reader,  added  to  those  copies  which  escaped,  testifies.  This 
advertisement,  as  below,*  is  copied  from  Oldys.  It  has  been  sup- 
posed that  not  more  than  twenty  perfect  copies  of  this  work  are 
known  to  exist.  Such  was  Tom  Rawlinson's  observation  to  West : 
but,  like  many  similar  remarks,  appertaining  to  bibliography,  it  re- 
quires something  of  more  substantial  proof  to  confirm  it.  f  Almost 
all  our  great  private  collections  contain  this  work.  Perhaps  the  most 
perfect  and  desirable  copy  in  existence,  is  that  in  the  library  at  Wor- 
lingham,  in  Suffolk,  now  the  residence  of  Lord  Gosford,  which 


*  "  At  the  end  of  this  volume  is  an  advertisement  to  the  reader,  intimating,  that 
the  late  fire  (of  London)  having,  in  three  days  space,  turned  88  parishes  and  their 
churches,  with  the  cathedral  church  of  this  glorious  city,  to  ashes ;  and  among 
other  losses  and  mischiefs  to  the  several  Companies  of  the  city,  most  of  all  endam- 
aged  the  Company  of  Printers  and  Stationers,  most  of  whose  habitations,  store- 
houses, shops,  stocks,  and  books  were  not  only  consumed,  but  their  ashes  and 
scorched  leaves  conveyed  aloft  and  dispersed  by  the  wind,  to  places  above  16 
miles  distant,  to  the  admiration  of  beholders ;  and  that  among  millions  of  other 
books,  thus  suddenly  destroyed,  while  our  author  was  busy  in  securing  the  public 
records  of  the  kingdom,  his  printer's  house,  with  most  of  the  printed  copies  of  this 
tome,  when  finished  at  the  press  (all  except  the  tables  to  it),  as  likewise  the  second 
tome,  formerly  published,  and  of  the  first  book,  and  third  tome,  (wherein  he  had 
made  some  progress)  were  there  burnt  together  with  it ;  not  above  70  of  them 
being  rescued  from  the  fire,  to  the  author's  damage  near  2000/. ;  wherefore  he  did  not 
print  his  intended  tables  for  so  few  copies  of  this  tome,  till  God  should  enable  him 
to  reprint  it,  especially  since  the  pages  of  the  reprinted  volume,  (by  reason  of  some 
additions)  will  vary  from  these  already  printed,  so  make  the  tables  unsuitable 
thereto." 

f  By  the  way,  if  70  copies  of  the  first  volume  (by  much  the  SCARCEST  of  the 
three)  were  preserved,  there  is  surely  every  reason  to  conclude  that  there  are  at 
least  50  perfect  copies  of  Prynne's  Records  yet  in  existence  ? 


STATE  PAP.]     HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.        279 

tions,  which  attend  the  enquiry  into  a  legitimate  copy  of 
Piynne's  Records?  Is  he  aware  that  there  are^  even  yet, 

library  (mentioned  more  than  once  in  these  pages — see  p.  27)  was 
first  collected  by  Sir  Francis  Bernard,,  during  the  time  of  Cromwell. 
The  copy  in  question  was  given  to  the  Earl  of  Anglesey,  according 
to  the  following  autograph  of  the  Donee. — "  Anglesey,  Aug.  1,  1665, 
Given  me  by  my  worthy  friend  the  author.'*  This  first  volume  is 
bound  in  blue  morocco,  with  gilt  leaves,  having  the  royal  arras  on 
the  outside  of  the  cover. 

The  second  volume  has  the  Earl's  inscription,  as  to  its  being  given 
to  him  by  the  author  in  November,  1666.  It  is  bound  in  calf,  with 
the  leaves  speckled,  and  has  the  royal  arms  on  the  outside.  The 
third  volume  bears  this  inscription,  in  the  Earl's  han d- writing : 
<(  Anglesey,  July  9,8, 1670.  18.  Mr.  Prynne's  owne  corrected  booke." 
The  CORRECTIONS  appear  to  be  few  and  unimportant  5  accordingto  the 
three  places,  or  passages,  to  which  I  have  referred  by  the  insertion  of 
slips  of  paper.  At  pages 773, 775  the  original  or  UNCUT  MARGINS  are 
preserved  j  from  which  the  full  width  appears  to  be  ten  inches,  and 
(as  at  p.  77  5)  the  full  length  about  fourteen  five-eighths  ;  but  the  se- 
cond volume  measures  only  fourteen  one-eighth,  by  nine  one-eighth. 
This  third  volume,  which  is  dedicated  to  the  Earl  of  Anglesey,  Sir 
Harbottle  Grimston,  &c.  is  in  calf  binding,  without  the  royal  arms. 
Tom  Osborne  marked  a  copy,  (which  he  chose  to  call  large  paper)  in 
his  sheet  catalogue  of  1759,  at  2  ll. :  and  the  second  and  third  volumes, 
alone,  at  6Z.  6s.  A  more  recent  catalogue  (that  of  Mr.  Triphook,  of 
3822)  marks  the  second  and  third  volumes  at  12Z.  12s.  with  an  offer 
of  20Z.  for  the  procuring  of  the  first.  Thus  the  collector  will  imme- 
diately perceive  that  the  FIRST  volume  of  Prynne's  Records  is  the  great 
rarity  to  possess.  At  public  auctions,  the  prices  for  perfect  copies 
have  a  good  deal  varied :  that  of  the  late  Right  Hon.  Denis  Daly,  in 
1792,  having  <f  the  frontispiece  complete,  gilt,  broad  border  of  gold," 
was  sold  for  SO/.  15s.  See  the  Bibliomania,  p.  554.  At  the  sale  of 
theMerly  Library,  in  1813,  it  reached  its  highest,  and  a  most  extra- 
vagant price :  namely,  1 52/.  The  copy  was  handsomely  bound  in 
russia,  and  I  purchased  it  for  the  late  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes,  Bart,  who 
was  so  anxious  to  possess  it,  that  he  authorised  me  to  go  as  far  as 
200  guineas.  There  is  a  noble  copy  of  it  at  Althorp,  in  the  Bodleian 
Library,  in  the  library  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  and  in  that  of  the  Royal 
Institution.  The  Duke  of  Devonshire  possesses  a  fine  copy  of  these 


280  HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.     [RECORDS, 

many  who  are  sharpening  their  swords  of  controversy, 
and  contending  for  certain  and  certain  desiderata,  to 
identify,  what  they  are  pleased  to  call,  a  complete  copy 
of  these  very  desirable,  but  most  exceedingly  scarce, 
volumes  ?  No  matter :  let  it  be  roundly  asserted, 
and  as  roundly  received,  that  there  exists  but  one 
paper  of  Prynne,  and  that  the  scarcity  of  the  copies  is 
not  so  tremendously  great  as  overheated  Prynnites 
have  imagined.  I  have  said  every  thing  in  the  pre- 
ceding note  to  stimulate  the  curious  to  the  search, 
and  to  comfort  those  in  the  possession,  of  this  extraor- 
dinary production. 

Of  the  works  which,  about  the  period  of  the  Civil 
Wars,  detail  important  events,  it  is  right  to  mention 
that  by  THOMAS  MAY  ;  whose  History  of  the  Long 
Parliament,  1647,  folio,  is  pronounced,  by  Lord 
Chatham  "  to  be  a  much  honester  and  more  instruc- 
tive book  of  the  same  period  of  history,  than  Lord 
Clarendon's."* 

Records,  magnificently  bound  by  C.  Lewis,  in  blue  morocco.  Mr. 
Grenville's  beautiful  copy  (recently  bound  in  red  morocco,by  the  same 
skilful  artist)  came  from  the  Duke  of  Grafton's  library,  where  it  was 
purchased  for  ~6l.  13s.  Mr.  Dent  is  also  the  fortunate  possessor  of  a 
copy;  and  another  is  in  the  Archiepiscopal  Library  at  Lambeth. 
At  a  recent  sale  of  Sir  Eardley  Wilmot's  books,  at  Mr.  Evans's,  a 
copy  attained  the  sum  of  100  guineas.  The  reader  may  consult  the 
Bibliogr.  Decameron,  vol.  iii.  p.  400,  and  Mr.  Clarke's  Repertorium 
Bibliographicum,  p.  254,  respecting  the  only  copy  that  is  known  to 
exist  (at  Stowe)  of  a  portion  of  the  ivth  VOLUME  of  these  Records. 
I  imagine  that  many  of  the  great  private  libraries  —  especially  old 
family  ones  —  contain  them  :  and  yet,  that  of  Blickling,  in  Norfolk, 
(so  rich  in  Pnjnniana}  has  only  the  two  latter  volumes.  More  sur- 
prising still,  the  British  Museum  has  it  only  in  this  imperfect  state : 
see  the  Catlaogue  of  that  library,  vol.  v.  sign.  3  E. 

*  Letters  to  his  Nephew ;  p.  59.  1809.     But  this  opinion  is  much 
qualified,  if  not  a  good  deal  neutralised,  by  the  criticism  of  the  noble 


STATE  PAP.]      HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.       281 

Contemporaneously  with  Prynne  and  May,  toiled 
several  very  wonderful  antiquaries  and  collectors  in 
the  cause  of  BRITISH  History.  The  names  of  Rush- 
worth,  Rymer,  Spelman,  Digges,  UEwes,  and  Nalson, 
adorned  the  latter  half  of  the  seventeenth  century ; 
and  their  publications,  as  briefly  stated  below,*  evince 

editor  (Lord  Grenvillc)  of  this  instructive  little  volume.  That  au- 
thority remarks,  that  May's  book  <(  cannot  by  any  means  be  consi- 
dered as  an  impartial  work.  It  is,  however,  well  worthy  of  being 
attentively  read ;  and  the  contemptuous  character  given  of  it  by  Lord 
Clarendon,  (Life,  vol.  i.  p.  35)  is  as  much  below  its  real  merit,  as 
Clarendon's  own  history  is  superior  to  it."  When  the  observations 
at  p.  131,  were  written,  respecting  the  great  work  of  Clarendon,  the 
masterly  estimate  of  the  author's  character,  by  the  noble  editor  (see 
p.  xix.  &c.)  of  these  Letters,  had  escaped  my  recollection.  A  good 
copy  of  May's  book  is  worth  about  \l.  6s. 

*  "  RUSHWORTH  and  RYMER,  to  whose  collections  our  history 
stands  so  deeply  indebted,  must  have  strongly  felt  thisliterary  ardour, 
for  they  passed  their  lives  in  forming  them  :  till  Rymer,  in  the  utmost 
distress,  was  obliged  to  sell  his  books  and  his  50  volumes  of  MSS. 
which  he  could  not  get  printed  j  and  Rushworth  died  in  the  King's 
Bench,  of  a  broken  heart  -,  many  of  his  papers  remain  unpublished. 
His  ruling  passion  was  amassing  state  papers,  and  he  voluntarily 
neglected  great  opportunities  of  acquiring  a  large  fortune,  to  this  en- 
tire devotion  of  his  life."  D' Israeli's  Calamities  of  Authors  j  vol.  i. 
p.  262.  First,  of  Rushworth.  The  earliest  editions  of  his  Historical 
Collections,  from  1618  to  1648,  including  Lord  Stratford's  trial,  ap- 
peared in  1659-82 :  in  8  folio  volumes.  They  were  re-printed  in  1692, 
1701  :  and  again,  for  the  third  and  last  time,  in  1721,  in  the  same 
number  of  volumes.  This  last  is  considered  to  be  the  best  edition  ; 
and  a  good  copy  of  it  may  be  worth  8/.  8s.  At  Althorp,  and  in  many 
other  private  collections,  it  is  on  LARGE  PAPER.  Messrs.  Lacking- 
ton  and  Co.  mark  a  copy  of  this  kind  at  3  U.  10s.  I  know  not, 
wherefore — but  so  it  was — that,  when  at  College,  I  used  to  devote 
many  a  day,  and  frequently  the  greater  part  of  a  night,  to  the  read- 
ing of  RUSHWORTH.  The  account  of  the  travels  of  Prince  Charles 
and  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  in  Spain,  and  of  the  intrigues  of 


HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.     [RECORDS, 

the  extent  of  their  diligence,  and  the  value  of  their 
collections. 

At  the  opening  of  the  eighteenth  century,  we  are 

Gondomar,  in  promoting  and  thwarting,  by  turns,  the  intended 
match  of  the  former  with  the  Infanta — is  not  a  little  amusing :  while 
the  speeches  of  King  James,  to  his  parliament,  paint  the  speaker  to 
the  very  life.  One  day  or  other  the  pages  of  Rushworth  may  be 
made  instrumental  to  the  semi-fictions  of  the  author  of  Waverley  j  as 
they  are,  so  constantly  and  so  abundantly,  to  the  facts  of  Hume. 

OfRYMER,  who  was  a  sort  of  philologist*  as  well  as  antiquary, 
it  will  be  only  necessary  to  observe,  that  the  first  edition  of  his 
Foedera  was  published  at  London,  in  1704-35,  in  20  folio  volumes  : 
a  second,  and  a  much  better,  edition  appeared  in  1727*  in  tne  same 
number  of  volumes :  a  third,  and  by  much  the  best,  as  having  a 
complete  and  useful  index  to  the  work,  was  published  at  the  Hague, 
in  a  smaller  type,  in  1745,  in  10  folio  volumes ;  and  I  observe  a 
f '  neat "  copy  of  it  marked  at  12Z.  125.  in  the  last  catalogue  of 
Mr.  Thorpe.  A  fourth,  and  doubtless  the  best  edition  (with  addi- 
tions and  corrections)  is  now  in  progress,  under  the  editorial  care  of 
Dr.  ADAM  CLARKE  and  Mr.  HOLBROOKE  ;  of  which  four  parts  are 
already  published.  The  printing  of  this  costly  .and  elaborate  work  is 
greatly  to  the  credit  of  the  press  of  Messrs.  Strahan  and  Spottiswood, 
the  now  reigning  royal  printers.  With  Rymer,  is  usually  procured 
the  "  Acta  Regia;"  being  Rapin's  extracts  from  that  work,  for  the 


*  Among  the  miscellaneous  pursuits  of  Rymer,  dramatic  criticism  seems  to  have 
had  peculiar  charms  for  him.  He  wrote  upon  the  Tragedies  of  the  last  Age,  1678, 
1692,  8vo.  and  a  Short  View  of  Tragedy,  1693,  8vo.  In  the  latter  performance, 
he  ventured  to  "  deal  damnation"  upon  Shakspeare — and,  in  particular,  criticised 
his  Othello.  The  judicious  editor  of  the  Retrospective  Review,  1820,  8vo.  com- 
mences his  work  with  a  lively  notice  of  these  performances  of  Rymer.  The  very 
first  extract  will  afford  a  most  amusing  specimen  of  what  may  be  found  in  this  re- 
view. "The  chief  weight  of  Rymer's  critical  vengeance  (says  the  editor)  is  wreaked 
on  Othello.  After  a  slight  sketch  of  the  plot,  he  proceeds  at  once  to  speak  of  the 
moral,  which  he  seems  to  regard  as  of  the  first  importance  in  tragedy.  Rymer's 
words  are  these  :  "  Whatever  rubs  or  difficulties  may  stick  on  the  bark,  the  moral 
use  of  this  fable  is  instructive.  First,  this  may  be  a  caution  to  all  maidens  of  qua- 
lity, how,  without  their  parents'  consent  they  run  away  with  blackamoors.  Se- 
condly, this  may  be  a  warning  to  all  good-natured  wives,  that  they  look  well  to 
their  linen.  Thirdly,  this  maybe  a  lesson  to  husbands,  that  before  their  jealousy 
be  tragical,  the  proofs  may  be  mathematical !  !  " 


STATE  PAP.]     HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.  283 

struck  with  those  labours — deviating  from  their  re- 
spective professional  pursuits — which  have,  in  some 
sort,  consecrated  the  names  of  Burnet  and  Somers  ; 
the  former,  Bishop  of  Salisbury ;  the  latter,  Lord 
High  Chancellor  of  England.  It  would  be  foreign  to 
my  purpose  to  enumerate  even  a  fifth  part  of  the  mul- 
tifarious labours  of  Burnet ;  but  his  History  of  his  own 
Times,*  must,  next  to  that  of  the  Reformation,  (al- 

History  of  England — in  one  folio  volume,  1732,  edited  by  Stephen 
Whatley.  A  good  copy  may  be  worth  2/.  2s.  There  is  also  an  edi- 
tion of  it  in  4  vols.  8vo. 

The  best  edition  of  SPELMAN'S  Concilia,  &c.  is  that  by  Wilkins,  in 
ITS?*  in  four  vol.  folio,  and  worth  about  41  4s.  The  work  itself  is 
beyond  all  praise.  Sir  DUDLEY  DIGGES'S  Compleat  Ambassador,  1655, 
folio,  may  be  obtained  for  about  18s.  j  and  with  this  work,  the  "  Ca- 
bala sive  Scrinia  Sacra,"  being  letters  of  Illustrious  Persons,  &c.  from 
the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  to  Charles,  1663,  folio,  may  be  procured  at 
about  12s.  SirSiMONosD'EwEs'  Journal  of  all  the  Parliaments  during 
the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  &c.  1708,  folio  —  best  edition,  with 
frontispiece— is  worth  about  1 1.  8s.  It  is  a  truly  excellent  performance. 
A  report  was  not  long  ago  current,  that  some  original  MS.  matter 
had  been  discovered,  as  likely  to  form  a  valuable  acquisition  to  it. 
NALSON'S  Impartial  Collection  of  the  Great  Affairs  of  State,  from 
1639,  to  the  death  of  Charles  I.  was  published  in  2  folio  volumes,  in 
1682  }  of  which  a  good  copy  is  worth  about  a  guinea  and  a  half 

SUBNET'S  History  of  his  own  Times  was  first  published  in  1724- 
32,  in  2  folio  volumes,  after  the  death  of  the  author.  Of  this  edition 
there  are  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER,  somewhat  common,  and  sufficiently 
cheap.  To  enumerate  the  succeeding  editions,  till  the  recent  one 
edited  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Routh,  and  published  at  Oxford,  in  6  volumes, 
8vo.  were  a  fruitless  and  indeed  unnecessary  task  j  since  this  last 
edition  is  so  improved,  in  additions  and  corrections,  by  the  notes  of 
Lord  Dartmouth,  Lord  Hardwicke,  Speaker  Onslow,  *  &c.  (to  say 
nothing  of  those  of  the  learned  Editor)  that  it  must  necessarily  super- 


It  is  true,  there  are  notes  by  DEAN  SWIFT;  T>ut,  in  general,  they  are  so  trashy 


284        HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.     [STATE  PAP. 

ready  noticed)  be  considered  as  his  most  important 
legacy  to  posterity :  and  whatever  be  its  defects,  it 
cannot  fail  to  be  always  esteemed  as  a  popular  and 
instructive  performance.  The  Collection  of  Tracts 
relating  to  the  Constitution  of  this  country,  of  which 
LORD  SOMERS  was  the  avowed  Editor  or  Collector,* 

sede  every  preceding  impression.  I  must  however  inform  the 
curious  that,  of  Mr.  Evans's  reprint  of  the  original  text,  in  1809, 
there  were  fifty  copies  struck  off  on  LARGE  PAPER,  of  an  imperial 
octavo  size  ;  which  are  now  become  so  scarce,  that  I  know  not  when 
a  copy  of  this  kind  has  occurred  for  purchase  at  a  public  sale.  It  is 
found  splendidly  bound  in  russia,  in  the  Althorp  library,  and  ano- 
ther similar  copy  graces  the  shelves  of  that  of  the  Right  Hon.  T. 
Grenville.  But  the  LARGE  PAPER  of  the  Oxford  edition  of  1823  will, 
in  a  few  years,  be  as  scarce :  since,  of  the  fifty  copies  printed,  one 
half  of  that  number  were  disposed  of  as  presents  :  and,  at  this 
moment,  the  very  few  purchasable  copies  in  town  cannot  be  pro- 
cured under  \Lll.  12s.  The  book  is,  in  all  respects,  most  creditably 
and  even  handsomely  published. 

*  I  refer  the  diligent  reader  to  Mr.  Chalmers's  account  of  this  Col- 
lection, in  his  Biographical  Dictionary,  vol.  xxviii.  p.  214  :  from  which 
it  appears  that  the  Pamphlets,  reprinted  in  this  Collection,  were 
selected  by  Lord  Somers,  and  published  by  Cogan  in  1748,  in 
sixteen  4to.  volumes :  about  thirty-two  years  after  the  death  of  his 
Lordship.  They  used  to  be  the  ' '  great  guns  "  of  all  the  old  exten- 
sive private  libraries ;  and  I  have  seen  them  in  every  possible  form 
or  character  of  binding.  Till  the  reprint,  in  1809-16,  in  13  4to. 
volumes,  under  the  editorship  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  they  have  been 
known  to  bring  upwards  of  sixty  guineas.  Now,  they  have  sunk 


and  abusive,  that  I  do  fondly  hope  they  will  never  be  reprinted.  They  betray 
the  splenetic  effusions  of  a  thoroughly  prejudiced,  and  in  part,  depraved  mind. 
Luckily,  they  are  very  short.  Those  of  Lord  Dartmouth  are,  occasionally,  suffi- 
ciently caustic  ;  but  they  are  curious  and  instructive ;  while  the  observations  of 
Lord  Hardwicke  and  Speaker  Onslow  evince  the  temper  of  a  gentleman,  and.  . . 
almost  the  feelings  of  a  friend.  Why  do  we  not  oftener  see  the  capital  initial  R., 
at  the  feet  of  the  notes  ?  Dr.  Routh  is  not  less  "  VERSATISSIMUS-"  in  the  history 
of  Burnet's  times,  than  in  that  of  the  Apostolical  Fathers. 


MISCELLAN.]    HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.       285 

is,  in  truth,  a  splendid  and  lasting  monument  of  the 
judgment  and  patriotism  of  that  great  man.  Volu- 
minous as  is  this  Collection,  it  was,  till  its  recent  re- 
publication,  among  the  scarcest  and  highest  priced 
works  of  a  well  chosen  library. 

Not  altogether  foreign  from  the  immediate  object 
of  our  pursuit,  nor  wholly  dissimilar  to  the  important 
work  just  mentioned,  is  a  publication,  long  and  well 
known  under  the  title  of  the  HARLEIAN  MISCEL- 
LANY,* in  eight  quarto  volumes.  This  work  too,  like 
its  predecessor,  was,  till  the  reprint  of  it,  of  excessive 
rarity  and  price ;  and  as  a  considerable  portion  of  it 
may  be  deemed  literary,  I  hardly  know  any  one  col- 
lection, or  set  of  volumes,  likely  to  be  productive  of 
more  varied  entertainment — especially  if  the  reader 
have  a  philological  turn.  From  my  own  experience, 
I  can  assert  that  the  pleasing  and  instructive  variety 
contained  in  it,  has  cheered  the  languor  of  sickness, 
and  enlivened  the  gloom  of  solitude.  But  let  there 
not  be  a  moment's  hesitation  in  securing  the  enlarged 
reprint,  under  the  editorial  care  of  Mr.  Park.-f-  The 

comparatively  very  low  in  price  j  and  the  reprint  has,  on  this  score, 
much  the  advantage  in  having  the  pieces  arranged  chronologically 
and  according  to  their  subject  matter.  The  additional  pieces  are  de- 
noted by  an  asterisk.  In  no  Collection,  of  the  least  historical  pre- 
tence, let  these  Tracts  of  Lord  Somers  be  found  wanting.  A  neatly 
bound  copy  is  worth  2U.  There  were  six  copies  only  printed  on 

THICK  PAPER. 

*  An  historical  account  of  this  Miscellany  will  be  found  in  the  re- 
print presently  to  be  mentioned.  But  it  should  be  remembered,  that 
a  collection  of  these  Harleian  pamphlets  and  tracts,  relating  to  Bri- 
tish History,  was  published  in  one  vol.  4to.  1792;  and  is  worth 
about  I/.  10s. 

t  Of  this  re-publication,  in  ten  handsome  quarto  vols.   (and  now 


286         HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.  [STATE  PAP. 

eighteenth  century  was  scarcely  less  fertile  than 
its  predecessor,  in  the  class  of  historical  pioneers. 
Then  appeared  the  labours  of  Madox,  PTinwood, 
Forbes,  Thurloe,  and  the  editors  of  the  well  known 
Strqffbrd,  Burghley,  Sydney,  and  Clarendon  Papers  ; 
while  the  name  of  Hardwicke  dignified  the  latter  part 
of  the  same  century :  and  yet,  nearer  its  close,  the 
taste  and  judgment  of  Mr.  LODGE  have  shewn  us, 
how,  in  his  "  Illustrations  of  British  History,  "^j-  dur- 
ing the  sixteenth  century,  the  Letters  and  Papers  of 

sinking  gradually  into  a  state  of  exhaustion,)  500  copies  were  struck 
off  $  containing  two  volumes  of  ADDITIONAL  matter,  with  a  general 
index  to  the  whole.  The  reprint  of  the  old  tracts  has  also  the  advan- 
tage of  exhibiting  these  tracts  in  the  chronological  order  in  which  they 
were  composed.  A  well  bound  copy  in  calf  is  worth  about  two 
guineas  per  volume.  There  is  ONE  copy,  and  one  copy  only,  on 
LARGE  PAPER,  of  a  folio  form  3  which  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Harding,  the  projector  of  the  reprint.  This  quarto  reprint 
was  succeeded  by  another  in  8vo.  in  12  vols.  :  but  without  the  addi- 
tional matter.  There  are  large  paper  copies  of  the  8vo.  impres- 
sion of  Mr.  Ion.  With  this  work  should  also  be  found  the  Nugee 
Antiques,  or  a  Collection  of  Historical  Papers  of  HARRINGTON,  in 
1804,  Svo.  2  vols.  edited  by  the  same  gentleman. 

f  Let  us  begin  with  MAD  ox's  Formulare  Anglicanum,  or  a  Collec- 
tion of  Ancient  Charters  and  Instruments  from  the  Norman  Conquest 
to  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. : — published  in  1702,  folio:  a 
work  of  long  established  reputation,  and  worth  about  2Z.  25.,  in 
fine  condition.  To  this  may  be  added,  by  the  same  author,  the 
Firma  Burgi ;  an  Historical  Essay  concerning  the  Cities,  Towns, 
and  Boroughs  of  England,  1726,  folio,  of  which  I  observe  a  fine 
copy,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  in  russia,  marked  at  61.  6s.  in  the  last  cata- 
logue of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  :  on  small  paper,  Mr.  Laing  values 
it  at  1Z.  10^.  Madox  wrote  a  History  of  the  Exchequer;  of  which  the 
best  edition  is  that  of  1769,  4to.  2  vols  :  but  a  new  edition  of  this 
work,  or  rather,  an  entirely  new  work  on  the  same  subject,  is  a 
great  desideratum  with  historical  antiquaries.  Next  for  SIR  RALPH 


MISCELLAN.]      HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.       287 

State  may  be  made  instrumental  at  once  to  amuse- 
ment and  instruction. 

WINWOOD'S  Memorials  of  State  Affairs  in  the  reigns  of  Elizabeth  and 
James,  1725,  folio,  three  vols. :  an  exceedingly  common  book ;  and 
so  moderate  in  price,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  that  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
value  a  copy  of  this  description  at  31.  3s.  There  is  one  of  the  best 
portraits  (of  Winwood)  prefixed  to  the  work,  which  Vertue  ever 
engraved  :  a  little  hard  and  metallic,  but  clear,  bright,  and  appa- 
rently faithful  —  exhibiting  a  countenance  replete  with  shrewdness 
and  intelligence.  FORBES'S  Letters  and  State  Papers  of  Queen  Eli' 
zabeth  and  her  Ministers,  1740,  folio,  2  vols.  may  be  worth  1Z.  1  Is.  6d. 
in  good  condition  ;  and  I  find  a  LARGE  PAPER  copy  of  it  marked  at 
double  this  sum  only  in  Mr.  Laing's  catalogue  of  1822.  THURLOE'S 
Collection  of  State  Papers  from  1638  to  1660,  with  his  Life  by  Dr. 
Birch,  1742,  in  seven  vols.  folio,  is  perhaps  among  the  commonest, 
but  most  valuable  of  publications  of  this  description.  A  good  copy 
is  worth  41.  14*.  6d. — especially  if  it  be  in  the  fine,  old  calf,  broad 
border  of  gold,  binding,  with  marbled  leaves,  as  we  sometimes  find 
them  when  obtained  from'old  family  libraries.  At  Althorp  it  is  (as  is 
almost  every  thing  else)  on  LARGE  PAPER. 

The  EARL  OF  STRAFFORDE'S  State  Papers  and  Dispatches,  were 
collected  and  published  by  Knowler  in  1739,  folio,  2  vols.  Those  of 
LORD  BURGHLEY,  from  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  to  the  year  1596, 
were  also  published  in  2  volumes  j  one  in  1740,  by  Haynes,  and 
the  other  in  1749,  by  Murdin.  A  good  copy  of  either  is  worth  about 
1Z.  165.  LORD  CLARENDON'S  State  Papers,  1767,  folio,  3  vols. 
(see  p.  210,  ante)  are  worth  about  a  guinea  per  volume :  and  very 
little  more  on  LARGE  PAPER. f  The  SYDNEY  FAMILY  Collection  of 


1 1  remember  being  mightily  cheered,  one  morning,  by  the  sight  of  a  most 
beautiful  set  of  Thurloe,  Burghky,  Forbes,  Clarendon,  &c.  bound  out  of  sheets, 
in  white  calf,  by  Charles  Lewis,  and  standing  on  the  shelves  of  Mr.  Triphook. 
Ere  the  shades  of  the  evening  of  that  same  day  had  prevailed,  these  inviting 
tomes  had  taken  their  departure  ...  for  the  well  garnished  library  of  *  *  *.  There 
now  stand— ready  to  march  off,  at  the  beck  of  the  first  gallant  purchaser — in 
the  same  sparkling  attire,  from  their  primitive  condition . . .  the  General  Dictionary, 
including  Bayle,  the  Biographia  Britannica,  by  Kippis  and  by  Birch,  with  Wei- 
ford's  Memorials:  the  latter  lots  forming  twenty- three  folio  volumes,  the  former 
fifteen.  Now,  let  the  reader  unite  these  thirty-eight  tomes,  in  imagination, 
with  the  twenty-six  folio  volumes  of  the  Universal  Ancient  and  Modern  History, 


288  HELPS  TO  BRITISH  HISTORY.     [ACTS,  &c. 

Letters  and  Memorials  of  State,  in  the  reign  of  Mary,  Elizabeth,  James, 
and  the  two  Charles's  were  collected  and  published  by  the  well  known 
Arthur  Collins  in  1748.,  folio,  2  vols. :  and  are  worth  about  %l,  12s.  6d. 
The  Editor  (says  Mr.  D'Israeli)  **  passed  his  life  in  rescuing  these 
wrecks  of  antiquity  ;  in  giving  authenticity  to  our  history,  or  contri- 
buting fresh  materials  to  it — but  his  midnight  vigils  were  cheered  by 
no  patronage,  nor  his  labours  valued,  but  when  the  eye  that  pored 
on  the  mutilated  MS.  was  for  ever  closed."  Calamities  of  Authors, 
vol.  i.  p.  262.  The  EARL  OF  HARDWICKE'S  Miscellaneous  State 
Papers,  from  1501  to  1726,  were  published  by  a  descendant  in 
1778,  4to.  2  vols.  :  of  which  a  well  bound  copy  is  worth  about 
II.  16s.  The  Earl  had  himself  printed,  (not  published)  Sir  DUDLEY 
CABLTON'S  State  Papers,  in  one  4to.  volume,  1757 :  which  is  worth 
about  I/.  Is.  Nor  let  MACPHERSON'S  State  Papers,  1776,  4to.  2  vols. 
be  omitted  j  for  they  contain  matter  of  historical  importance.  A 
good  copy  may  be  worth  ll.  18s.  The  Illustrations  of  British  History . 
by  Mr.  LODGE,  are  now  worth  a  guinea  per  volume,  in  fair  calf  bind- 
ing. I  remember  them,  twenty  years  ago,  selling  for  one-third  of 
that  sum  : — the  set  complete.  A  more  worthy  feeling  and  a  purer 
patriotic  taste  now  prevail,  respecting  these  laudable  efforts  of 
patient  diligence  and  judicious  selection.  Such  works  are  as  the 
pillars  which  serve  at  once  to  strengthen  and  adorn  the  edifices  of 
HISTORY  :  and  few  countries  can  boast  of  such  aids  and  embellish- 
ments as  OUR  OWN. 


described  to  be  in  the  same  condition,  at  the  same  bookseller's,  at  page  131, 
ante,  and  can  he  conceive  a  more  comforting  set  of  historical  works,  whether  to 
gladden  the  eye,  or  to  instruct  the  understanding  ? 


[  289  ] 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 

As,  on  stepping  across  the  Channel,  we  necessarily 
land  on  the  opposite  coast  of  France,  so,  after  enume- 
rating the  chief  historians,  and  Historical  Helps  of  our 
own  country,  I  proceed  to  the  enumeration  of  those  of 
our  immediate  Neighbours.  It  cannot  however  be  de- 
nied, that,  inimitable  as  those  neighbours  are  in  their 
Memoirs,  they  are,  comparatively  with  ourselves,  de- 
ficient in  the  solid  materials  of  HISTORY.  Nor  is  it 
agreed  among  themselves  who  is  their  best  historian. 
Mezerai  and  Daniel  take  the  lead;  and  Velly  and 
Anquetil  are  the  chief  recent  historians ;  but  who  will 
presume  to  compare  the  text  of  the  two  latter  with  the 
polished  pages  of  Hume,  or  the  instructive  researches 
of  Henry  ? 

In  Collections,  or  Bodies  of  History,  the  French  are 
rich  and  strong ;  and  very  much  our  superiors.  Du- 
chesne  was  the  Twysden,  or  rather  Gale,  of  France ; 
but  when  BOUQUET  laid  the  foundation-stone,  and 
saw  the  rising  walls,  of  his  Recueil  des  Historiens  des 
Gaules,  he  planned  a  work,  which  places  him,  if  we 
except  Muratori,  quite  at  the  head  of  all  antiquarian 
historians  ;  and  it  is  gratifying  (and  to  myself,  in  par- 
ticular, most  delightful)  to  add,  that  his  labours  are 
continued  with  equal  spirit  and  success,  by  the  pre- 
sent venerable  and  truly  learned  Dom  Bria!  :*  a 
name,  which  ought  to  be  dear,  as  it  is  highly  honour- 

*  I  look  back  upon  the  few  hours,  cut  out  of  a  busy  sojourning  in 
Paris,  devoted  to  this  amiable  man,  as  among  the  most  pleasing  of 
those  consumed  in  France. — See  Tour>  vol.  ii.  p.  423. 

U 


290  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE, 

able  to  France.  I  entreat  both  "  the  Young  and  the 
Old/'  never  to  allow  themselves  to  be  satisfied  until 
they  have  the  Historice  Francorum  Scriptores  coetanei 
(1 636,  folio,  5  volumes)  of  Duchesne ;  or  rather — 
provided  it  make  not  too  desperate  an  inroad  on  the 
purse — to  possess  themselves  of  the  work  of  Bouquet, 
now  increased  to  1 8  folio  volumes — 1738-1822.*  I  will 
not  insist  upon  both ;  because  I  know  that  Bouquet 
must  be  an  imported  work,  and  because  huge  folio 
volumes  are  not  imported  without  a  weighty  expense. 
Bouquet  is  however  common  at  Paris,  and  generally 
bound  in  handsome  mottled  calf,  with  gilt  on  the 
leaves  ;  and  purchasable  for  about  £21. 

If,  however,  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  suit  the 
taste  or  the  purse  of  the  Collector,  let  there  be  an 
effort  made  to  catch  hold  of  the  Collection  Universelle 
de  Memoires  relatifs  a  rhistoire,  1 785, 8vo.  72  volumes. 
With  these  desultory  volumes,  the  lover  of  ancient 
history  may  lounge  as  he  list :  may  take  up  one,  and 
gently  or  roughly  lay  down  the  other,  without  doing 
injury  to  the  tomes,  or  breaking  materially  the  thread 
of  his  narrative, — unless  he  take  a  stride  from  Charle- 
magne to  St.  Louis  at  one  effort.  And  most  parti- 
cularly would  I  recommend  the  Tables  chronologiques 
de  Diplomes,  Chartres,  8$c.  concernant  rhistoire  de 
France  by  De  Brequigny,  1769,  3  vols.  folio.  But  the 
recommendation  of  this  latter  supposes  the  Collector 
to  be  something  of  a  determined  historical  antiquary. 
I  come  to  particular  histories  of  France.  Passing 
over  the  six  folio  volumes  of  Duplelx,  Hist.  Generate 
rfe  France,  1646-63,  in  6  folio  volumes — which  is  now 

*  Consult  p.  1402  ante. 


HISTORY  OP  FRANCE.  291 

only  read  by  the  curious,  and  by  those  who  love  the 
occasional  satirical  glances  of  the  author,  especially  in 
the  history  of  Henry  IV. — let  me  advise  "  the  Young 
Man," — but  at  any  rate  "  the  Old  Man" — to  procure 
the  best  edition  of  Mezerai,  in  3  folio  volumes,  1643,* 

*  Of  MEZERAI,  a  few  particulars  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the 
reader.  He  was  bred  to  arms  j  but  an  insatiable  love  of  study  con- 
verted his  sword  and  carbine  into  printed  books  and  manuscripts.  Ab- 
sorbed in  this  pursuit,,  he  meditated  his  History  of  France,  but  an  ex. 
cess  of  application  produced  a  dangerous  disorder.  Cardinal  Richlieu, 
who,  midst  all  his  intrigues  and  tergiversations,  had  the  merit  of  pro- 
jecting or  patronising  some  of  the  most  splendid  publications  inFrance, 
patronized  Mezerai.  A  donation  of  500  crowns  by  him  to  the  histo- 
rian, stimulated  Mezerai  to  redoubled  exertions  in  the  completion  of 
his  history.  He  had,  moreover,  through  the  interests  of  the  Cardinal, 
a  pension  of  4000  livres,  from  the  court ;  and,  on  the  death  of  Con- 
rart,  was  appointed  permanent  Secretary  to  the  French  Academy.  He 
completed  his  history,  which  he  began  in  his  thirty-second  year,  and 
afterwards  worked  at  the  Dictionary  of  the  Academy.  He  died  in 
1683,  in  his  73d  year. 

Never  was  a  man  more  singular,  or  fuller  of  bizarrerie,  than  Me- 
zerai. His  countenance,  figure,  and  dress,  were  almost  equally  re- 
pulsive. He  was  once  stopped  as  a  vagabond,  by  the  overseers  of 
the  parish,  and  commanded  to  follow  them.  So  far  from  being  dis- 
pleased at  this  adventure,  it  amused  him,  and  he  entered  into  the 
joke  exceedingly.  "  Gentlemen,  (said  he)  I  cannot  well  accompany 
you  on  foot,  but,  as  soon  as  they  have  put  a  wheel  to  my  carriage, 
I'll  accompany  you  wherever  you  please."  One  of  his  oddities  was, 
to  work  by  candle-light,  even  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  summer  j  and  he  always  attended  his  visitors  to  the 
street-door,  on  parting — holding  the  lighted  candle  in  his  hand. 
Strolling  through  the  small  village  of  Chapelle,  in  the  way  to  St. 
Denis,  along  with  some  of  his  friends,  they  all  stopped  at  a  public- 
house,  of  which  the  master's  name  was  Le  Faucheur..  Mezerai  saw 
in  this  man  what  none  of  his  friends  could  perceive^  and  took  a  vio- 
lent fancy  to  him.  He  used  to  go  and  spend  whole  days  with  him  : 
and,  in  his  future  habits  of  study,  it  was  observable  that  a  well 


292  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 

which  contains  many  curious  particulars ;  but  of 
which  the  abridgement  has  nearly  superseded  the  origi- 
nal impression.  Mezerai  loved  truth,  but  would  not 
take  much  pains  to  discover  it ;  depending  rather 
upon  the  texts  of  his  predecessors.  Yet  he  had  cou- 
rage and  integrity ;  and  gains  in  energy  what  he  loses 
in  accuracy.  There  is,  however,  a  coarse  thread 
which  runs  through  all  his  narrative  ;  and  those  who 
call  him  the  Tacitus  of  France,  seem  to  mistake 

replenished  bottle,  as  well  as  alighted  candle,  was  by  the  side  of  him. 
He  concluded  his  intimacy  with  his  bacchanalian  friend,  by  making 
him  his  resi  duary  legatee  :  to  the  great  mortification  of  his  relations. 

Mezerai  was  extremely  susceptible  of  cold.  His  friend  Patru  met 
him  one  morning,  when  it  was  freezing  very  hard,  and  asked  him, 
"  how  he  found  himself?  "  "  I  must  run  away  from  you,  immedi- 
ately, (replied  the  historian)  for  I  am  at  L."  This  enigmatical  reply 
was  explained  to  Patru.  Mezerai  kept  behind  his  arm  chair,  imme- 
diately on  the  setting  in  of  winter,  a  dozen  pair  of  stockings,  tic- 
ketted  from  A  to  M.  On  getting  out  of  bed  he  always  consulted  his 
barometer — and  according  to  the  greater  or  less  degree  of  cold,  put 
on  so  many  many  more,  or  fewer,  pair  of  stockings.  Thus,  he  had 
on  eleven  pair  when  he  met  his  friend  Patru. 

Of  his  HISTORY,  it  should  seem  that  the  second  edition,  in  1683, 
is  more  ample  and  correct  $  but  the  text  does  not  display  so  many 
bold  and  hardy  sentiments.  The  collector  will  necessarily  consult 
Brunet  for  the  particulars  of  a  perfect  copy  of  the  first  edition,  of 
1643.  The  curious  in  fine  books  bite  greedily  at  LARGE  PAPER  copies 
of  this  first  edition,  especially  when  in  a  splendid  state.  The  ne  plus 
ultra  copy  of  this  kind  is  supposed  to  be  that  in  the  collection  of  Mr. 
Beckford — obtained  at  the  sale  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton's  library,  for 
eglOS.  See  Clarke's  Repertorium  Bibliographicum,  p.  223.  Earl 
Spencer  and  Mr.  Grenville  possess,  each,  a  fine  similar  copy.  The 
small  paper  may  be  worth  from  about  61. 16s.  6d.  to  101. 10s.  accord- 
ing to  its  condition  and  binding.  Messrs.  Bosange  and  Co.  mark  a 
fine  copy,  in  French  calf  binding,  quite  complete,  at  a£l2.  The 
second  edition,  although,  strictly  speaking,  in  an  historical  point  of 
view  perhaps  more  valuable,  scarcely  brings  3 /.  13s.  6d. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  293 

vulgarity  for  strength.  His  work  may  be  thought,  in 
some  measure,  a  reflex  of  the  motley  features  of  his 
life. 

After  Mezerai,  comes  FATHER  DANIEL  ;  whose  his- 
tory of  France,  in  17  quarto  volumes,  1755,  does  not 
seem,  in  the  estimation  of  French  critics,  to  entitle 
its  author  to  a  very  great  share  of  praise.  Daniel  is 
considered  to  be  a  very  common-place  historian,  suffi- 
ciently sensible,  but  sufficiently  plodding  ;  and  better 
versed  in  military  than  in  civil  affairs.  His  style  is 
without  animation,  and  his  sentiments  without  force. 
His  mistakes  in  the  names  of  small  towns  and  vil- 
lages, and  in  the  minor  operations  of  armies,  are  per- 
haps venial ;  but  the  false  colours  in  which  he  paints 
battles  of  great  importance,  admit  of  no  apology. 
Like  his  predecessor,  his  abridgment  is  more  admired 
than  his  unabbreviated  text.  This  abridgment  ap- 
peared in  14  volumes,  in  12mo.  Daniel  Lombard 
published  a  quarto  volume  in  1723,  containing  a  com- 
parison between  these  two  historians. 

Before  I  touch  upon  the  performance  of  VELLY,  it 
may  be  as  well  briefly  to  notice,  but  with  the  warm 
commendation  which  it  merits,  the  Nouvel  abrege 
Chronologique  de  Vhistoire  de  France,  by  the  President 
HENAULT,  which  first  appeared  in  1768,  4to.  2  vols. 
but  of  which  there  have  been  repeated  reimpressions. 
"  There  is  no  class  (says  M.  Barbier)  to  whom  this 
work  may  not  be  useful ;  the  military,  the  civil,  the 
political,  the  magisterial,  and  the  ecclesiastical,"  &c. 
But  that,  which  constitutes  the  chief  charm  of  these 
pages,  is,  the  delineations  of  character,  the  reflections, 
and  those  notices — scattered  with  so  much  art — which 
give  a  soul  as  it  were,  to  a  body,  in  other  respects 


292  HISTORY  OF  FIUNCE. 

dry  and  repulsive.*  The  joint  productions  of  VELLY, 
VILLARET,  and  GARNI  ER,  must  now  be  noticed.  Velly 
died  on  the  completion  of  the  8th  volume  ;t  and 
Villaret  (whose  love  of  reflexions  would  have  made  his 
work  almost  interminable,)  followed  his  fate  on  the 
completion  of  the  reign  of  Louis  XL  Gamier  put  the 
finishing  stroke  to  it  in  1786,  on  carrying  the  work 
down  to  the  reign  of  Charles  IX.  The  history  was 
published  in  16  volumes  in  quarto,  and  33  in  duode- 
cimo. In  1804,  some  Tables  were  published  in  one 
volume  4to.  and  three  volumes  in  duodecimo.  No  li- 
brary indeed,  which  aspires  to  the  character  of  being 
properly  furnished  with  French  history,  can  be  com- 
plete without  the  labours  of  Velly;  who,  forsaking 
the  beaten  path  of  detailing  the  mere  personal  histo- 
ries of  kings,  struck  out  into  a  new  road  (in  which  he 
was  probably  followed  by  our  Henry)  wherein  the  ori- 
gin of  parliaments,  of  laws,  customs,  manners,  arts, 

*  Bibl.  d'un  Homme  de  Gout,  vol.  iii.  p.  376. 

f  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  name  of  Velly  appears  to  a 
"  Collection  of  Portraits  of  Illustrious  Men,  relating  to  the  History  of 
France,"  in  4to.  8  volumes.  And,  while  I  am  on  the  subject  of 
graphical  illustration  of  French  history,  let  the  curious  remember 
David's  work,  in  5  quarto  volumes,  1787,  and  Le  Bas  figures,  with 
explanations  by  Gamier,  17S5,  in  large  4to.  Montfaucon's  Monar- 
chic Frangoise  cannot  fail  to  be  in  every  well-stocked  library;  but,  if 
ever  such  a  work  be  republisoed  in  France,  the  engravings  will, 
doubtless,  be  executed  with  more  attention  to  accuracy  of  detail. 
Montfaucon's  work,  in  5  volumes  folio,  is  usually  found  with  the 
Antiquites  Expliquti,  in  10  vols.  by  the  same  author.  A  good  copy, 
of  both,  on  small  paper,  may  be  worth  *£35.  One  of  the  finest  copies 
in  England,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  is  in  the  library  of  Mr.  Dent  j  but  Mr. 
Hayley's  similar  copy,  bought  by  the  Earl  of  Sefton  for  102Z.  18s, 
was  of  a  very  extraordinary  description. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  295 

and  sciences,  was  explored.  Gamier  is  thought  to  be 
less  brilliant,  although  he  is  less  verbose  than  Vil- 
laret*  They  were,  on  the  whole,  a  most  respectable 
historical  triumvirate. 

To  the  foregoing  I  shall  add  the  respectable  name 
of  ANQUETIL  ;  who,  at  the  command  of  Bonaparte, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighty,  sat  down  to  the  com- 
position of  a  History  of  France,  which  should  treat 
more  particularly  of  national  events,  with  an  almost 
entire  exclusion  of  such  as  were  connected  with  other 
countries.  The  work  appeared  in  1805,  in  fifteen 
duodecimo  volumes  ;  and  if  the  style  of  it  be  not  the 
most  elegant,  it  is  the  most  complete  in  itself,  and  the 
most  commodious  to  consult. 

Of  MEMOIRS,  or  partial  Histories  of  France,  the  list 
is  endless.  Nor  can  it  be  denied  that  many  of  these 
Memoirs  form  by  far  the  most  interesting  and  in- 
structive portions  of  French  History.  The  names  of 

*  FANTIN  DESODOARDS  continued  the  history  of  Velly  and  Villa- 
ret,  &c.  to  the  death  of  Louis  XVI.  in  eighteen  handsome  8vo. 
volumes,  1819 — worth  about  11.  fs.  These  had  previously  appeared 
in  a  duodecimo  form,  in  twenty-six  volumes,  1808 ;  and  sell  for 
about  41.  14s.  6d.  in  boards.  But  MILLOT'S  elementary  historical 
works,  relating  to  France,  England,  Germany,  and  the  Troubadours, 
&c.  are  worth  possessing  in  part,  or  in  whole;  and  a  complete  collec- 
tion of  these  works,  handsomely  printed  by  Didot,  was  published  in 
1820,  8vo.  in  twelve  vols.  61. 

It  is  necessary  to  make  mention  of  a  Collection  Universelle  de 
Mtmoires  particuliers  relatifs  a  I  Hist,  de  France— in  sixty-seven  vols. 
8vo.  to  which  add,  Chronol  Septem.  3  vols. :  Tables,  2  vols. :  in 
all,  seventy-two  vols.  —  of  which  a  fine  copy,  in  French  calf  bind- 
ing, marbled  leaves,  is  marked  at  451.  in  the  recent  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  Bosange  and  Co.  A  new  edition  of  this  work  is  in  the 
press. 


296  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 

Joinville,  Godefroy,  Gaillard,  Lenglet  du  Fresnoy, 
Castlenau*  Goulart,and  Davila,  (to  mention  no  more) 
excite  attention  and  respect  towards  every  work  to 
which  they  are  attached ;  and,  if  we  come  to  Histories 
of  particular  periods,  that  of  DE  THOU  in  the  "  History 
of  His  Own  Times'1 f  is  alone  entitled  to  enthusiastic 
admiration.  It  is  a  work  which  can  perish  only  with 
the  tongue  in  which  it  is  written,  and  with  the  nation, 
a  portion  of  whose  history  it  developes. 

And  thus  much  for  the  leading  publications  con- 

*  His  work  was  published  at  Brussels,  in  1731,  in  three  folio 
volumes,  and  is  now  quite  common  among  us.  It  is  full  of  many 
curious  particulars. 

f  f(  Historiarum  sui  Temporis  Li6."cxxxviii.  ab  anno,"  1543-1607- 
The  best,  and  only  estimable  edition,  is  that  of  Buckley,  in  1733, 
folio.  This  text  was  translated  into  French  by  I.  B.  Le  Mascrier, 
&c.  in  1734,  in  sixteen  4to.  volumes.  The  edition  of  Buckley  merits 
a  little  more  notice.  There  is  at  Al thorp  a  most  magnificent  copy  of 
it,  in  red  morocco  French  binding,  with  gilt  on  the  leaves,  upon 
LARGE  PAPER  j  from  an  inspection  of  which  I  gather  the  following 
particulars.  Among  the  contributors  to  the  vignettes,  or  head  and  tail- 
pieces, was  Alexander  Pope,  the  fruits  of  whose  bounty  appear  at  the 
end  of  the  first,  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  volumes.  At  the  end  of 
Buckley's  Epistolary  address  to  Dr.  Mead,  to  whom  the  work  is 
dedicated  with  great  propriety,  the  bard  of  Twickenham  is  desig- 
nated as  <f  Alexander  Pope  armiger,  Anglicorum  poetarum  hujus 
temporis  facile  princeps."  It  appears  further  that  Henry  Wood/all 
printed  the  first  volume  ;  Samuel  Richardson  the  second ;  James  Bet- 
tenham  the  third 5  James  Roberts  the  fourth;  and  Thomas  Wood 
the  fifth.  I  do  not  discover  the  name  of  any  printer  to  the  sixth  and 
seventh  volumes.  Prefixed  to  Thomas  Carte's  letter  to  Dr.  Mead, 
there  is  a  vignette  of  the  interior  of  a  library.  Does  it  represent  that 
of  Dr.  Mead  ?  At  the  end  of  the  seventh  volume,  there  is  a  good 
deal  of  pleasing,  miscellaneous  matter,  relating  to  DE  THOU,  and  to 
he  literature  of  the  age :  such  as  Letters,  Memorials,  Memoirs,  and 
Justificatory  pieces.  From  this  portion  of  the  work,  I  availed  my- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  297 

nected  with  the  History  of  France.  I  say  the  leading 
—  or  such  as  are  more  popular,  and  better  known — 
because  it  would  be  impracticable  to  embody,  in  the 
pages  of  a  work  like  the  present,  a  twentieth  part  even 
of  essential  works,  connected  with  French  history, 
as  an  antiquary  would  consider  them  ;  and  because  a 
glance  at  Fontette's  edition  of  Le  Long's  Dictionnaire 
Historique  de  la  France,  in  five  folio  volumes,  1768, 
wholly  devoted  to  a  CATALOGUE  of  works  appertain- 
ing to  the  History  of  France  —  under  every  possible 
form  and  modification — will  alone  be  sufficient  to 
justify  the  omission  of  a  more  particular  account  of 
such  works  in  the  present  publication.  It  may  how- 
self  also  of  some  curious  particulars  relating  to  De  Thou's  library, 
which  are  mentioned  in  the  Bibliographical  Decameron,  vol.  ii. 
p.  476-480.  For  a  further  notice  of  the  "  History,"  consult  the 
Bibliomania)  p.  486. 

It  may  be  worth  adding,  that  Dr.  Mead's  own  copy  of  the  edition 
of  Buckley,  which  had  been  illustrated  with  prints  collected  by  Gul- 
stone,  and  was  afterwards  bound  in  green  morocco  by  the  latter,  was 
sold  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Towneley's  library,  in  1814,  (see  n°.  856  of 
the  catalogue)  for  53/.  11s.  Mr.  Payne  has,  at  this  moment,  Count 
Hoym's  beautiful  copy,  on  large  paper)  which  had  been  Mr.  Watson 
Taylor's)  marked  at  2 ll.  Another  thing  may  be  worth  briefly  no- 
ticing. I  learn,  from  the  communication  of  a  most  intelligent  cor- 
respondent, that  there  is  only  a  very  part'al  English  translation  of 
De  Thou's  invaluable  work.  In  the  years  1729-1730,  one  Bernard 
Wilson,  Vicar  of  Newark  and  Prebendary  of  Lincoln,  published  his 
version  of  only  twenty-six  books  of  De  Thou's  text,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  desisted  from  the  remainder  for  want  of  sufficient  encourage- 
ment. It  may  be  as  well  to  notice  the  best  edition  of  the  Storia  delle 
Guerre  civili  di  Francia  O^DAVILA  ;  namely,  that  of  1733,  fol.  2  vols. 
worth  Zl.  IVs.  6d.  Of  course,  the  works  of  FROISSART,  MONSTRE- 
LET,  and  JOINVILLE,  &c.  (all  particularly  noticed  at  page  160-5,  ante) 
must  not  fail  to  be  especially  procured  and  consulted. 


298  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 

ever  be  essential  to  mention,  that  six  octavo  volumes 
of  a  History  of  France  are  already  published,  from 
the  popular  pen  of  SISMONDI. 

Of  course,  it  is  not  my  immediate  province  to  touch 
upon  French  TOPOGRAPHICAL  works.  These,  how- 
ever, form  an  essential  feature  of  history,  as  much  with 
foreigners  as  with  ourselves  ;  and  the  French  may  be 
said  to  be  rich  in  such  a  department.  Among  these, 
I  recommend  to  the  attention  of  the  curious  reader 
such  as  respect  the  triumphal  entries  — or  what  we 
call  ROYAL  PROGRESSES — of  the  French  monarchs  into 
the  several  cities  ;  and  especially  those  of  Normandy. 
One  of  the  most  pleasing,  and  at  the  same  time  most 
splendid,  works,  would  be  that  which  should  be  con- 
nected with  the  triumphant  entries  of  Francis  /.,  and 
the  second,  third,  and  fourth  Henries ;  and  I  do,  in 
particular,  conjure  my  very  excellent,  and  at  the 
same  time,  learned  and  competent  friends,  Messrs. 
Le  Prevost,  De  Langon,  Lair,  Riaux,  and  others  —  to 
set  about  such  a  work  with  all  imaginable  alacrity. 
Nor  let  them  doubt  of  its  success.  In  such  a  per- 
formance, there  will  be  a  general  rivalry  for  its  sup- 
port ;  and  our  Norman  neighbours  will  not  be  angry 
with  us,  if,  in  this  respect,  we  give  them  more  sub- 
stantial encouragement  than  fair  words. 


Brief  as  may  be  the  preceding  Summary  of  the  best 
historical  works  relating  to  FRANCE,  there  are  never- 
theless few  libraries  which  contain  them  all.  And 
yet,  whoever  casts  even  a  cursory  glance  upon  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  299 

pages  of  Struvius,  Buder,  and  Meusel,*  will  be  sur- 
prised to  find  how  exceedingly  superficial  such  a  sum- 
mary is,  and  what  infinite  efforts  are  requisite  for  a 
solid  and  complete  body  of  Scrlptores  de  Rebus  Fran- 
cogallicis.  It  may  be  doubted  whether  the  Royal 
Library  at  Paris  contain  one-third  of  the  absolutely 
requisite  number. 

*  Bibliotheca  Historica,  1783-1802,  8vo.  eleven  vols.  The  second 
of  the  sixth,  and  the  whole  of  the  seventh,  eighth,  ninth,  with  the 
latter  part  of  the  tenth  volume — each  volume  averaging  7OO  pages — 
are  filled  with  an  account  of  authors,  and  list  of  books,  which  relate 
more  or  less  to  the  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE  ;  necessarily  including 
public  and  private  biographies,  antiquities,  &c.  And  then,  when  the 
reader  thinks  of  Fontettes  BibliothZque  Historique  de  la  France, 
expanded  into  five  folio  volumes  (1768-78)  upon  the  basis  of  one 
folio  volume  by  Le  Long  in  1719— one  is  easily  convinced  of  the  dif- 
ficulties even  of  collecting  the  knowledge  which  is  abroad  in  the 
world.  Let  it  also  be  remembered  that  more  than  forty  years  have 
already  elapsed  since  the  labours  of  Fontette,  and  about  twenty  since 
those  of  Meuselius.  What  have  not  RECENT  EVENTS  called  forth  ? 
The  pamphlets  relating  to  the  French  Revolution  alone,  would  fill  the 
largest  Diligence,  in  and  out,  which  travels  between  Paris  and  Italy. 
The  late  Marquis  of  Lansdowne  possessed  an  almost  incalculable 
number  of  them.  Mr.  Perry  was  also  rich  in  the  same  lore,  as  his 
collection  of  them  brought  the  sum  of  641.  Is.  at  the  late  sale  of  his 
library. 

The  reign  of  Bonaparte  produced  marvellously  splendid  publica- 
tions connected  with  the  Empire  over  which  he  ruled  ;  and  it  has 
often  struck  me,  as  at  least  an  odd  occurrence,  that  there  should  have 
been  no  engraved  series  of  his  COINS  and  MEDALS.  What  would  not 
the  pencil  of  Laguiche,  and  the  burins  of  Girardet  and  Lignon  have 
effected  with  such  a  subject  ? 


[  300  ] 


HISTORY  OF   SPAIN. 

In  order  to  give  even  a  tolerably  complete  outline 
of  the  leading  works  connected  with  the  History  of 
this  interesting  country,  it  would  be  requisite  to  seat 
oneself  in  the  library  of  Lord  Holland,  or  of  the  Poet 
Laureat,  or  of  Mr.  Heber,  or  of  that  of  our  Ambassador 
at  Paris  ;*  so  richly  furnished  are  these  respective  Col- 
lections in  Spanish  and  Portuguese  lore.  There  is  so 
much  of  a  love  of  ancient  Romance  and  Chivalry  mixed 
up  with  a  study  of  this  subject — the  real  or  ideal  heroes 
of  that  country  have  so  long  engaged  our  attention  and 
perhaps  won  our  hearts — add  to  which,  the  local  cha- 
racter of  either  country,  with  its  castles,  mountains, 
deep  and  lonely  valleys,  rushing  torrents,  and  rapid 
rivers — that  we  take  up  its  civil  and  military  annals, 

*  By  a  fatality  which  I  know  not  how  to  account  for,  but  of  which 
the  result  chagrined  me  a  good  deal  at  the  time  of  the  publication,  I 
omitted  to  give  an  account  of  a  few  of  the  rarer  books  in  the 
library  of  Sir  Charles  Stuart,  the  British  Ambassador,  in  my  notice 
of  private  libraries  at  Paris,  in  the  Bibliographical  Tour.  Sir  Charles 
gave  me  free  admission  to  his  collection  3  and  my  ms,  notices  are 
rather  full  than  scanty.  But  such  an  account  would  be  now  ren- 
dered superficial  and  unnecessary  5  as  I  learn  that  his  Excellency  has 
printed  a  Catalogue  of  his  Library  for  private  distribution  only.  His 
Spanish  and  Portuguese  books  are  at  once  numerous  and  choice. 
And  here  I  may  be  allowed  to  make  something  of  an  amende  honor- 
able, by  the  notice  of  a  very  beautiful,  curious,  and  interesting 
quarto  volume,  printed  by  Sir  Charles  at  his  own  expense,  from 
the  MSS.  of  Leonardus  Chiensis,  and  Godefridus  Langus,  being  an  ac- 
count of  the  Capture  of  Constantinople  by  Mahomet  II.  The  only 
copies  of  this  work  which  I  have  seen  in  England,  are  those  in  the 
libraries  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford  and  Earl  Spencer. 


HISTORY  OF  SPAIN.  301 

under  the  persuasion,  or  delusion,  (if  you  will)  of 
finding  them  tinged  with  something  of  the  romantic 
cast  of  character  of  its  ancient  heroes,  and  of  the 
adventures  in  which  they  were  engaged. 

But  this  work  is  chiefly  bibliographical:  a  truce, 
therefore,  to  such  a  strain.  Let  us  begin  with  the 
mention  of  a  publication,  which  will  be  found  as  a 
sort  of  master  key  to  unlock  the  treasures  of  many  of 
which  it  makes  honourable  mention.  I  mean  the 
Bibliotheca  Hispana  Vetus  et  Nova  of  ANTONIO,*  in 
four  handsomely  printed  folio  volumes  ;  and  then 
lay  the  foundation  of  the  historical  pile,  by  the  first 
printed  labours  of  old  RODERICUS  SANCTius.f  Be  it 
however  premised,  that  the  immediately  ensuing  list 
relates  to  works  which  exclusively  belong  to  Spain. 
And  first,  of  Chronicles ;  whether  of  the  country  at 

*  Morhoff  considers  the  labours  of  ANTONIO  as  models  of  compo- 
sition in  their  way.  Polyhist.  Literar.  vol.  i.  p.  203-4  :  edit.  1747« 
M£m.  de  VInst.  vol.i.  651.  The  first  edition  of  the  work  above 
mentioned  was  in  1672  and  1696  :  the  latter  and  best  edition,  in 
1783-8,  folio,  4  vols.  But  this  work  of  Antonio,  if  it  be  valuable,  is 
unluckily  rare  and  dear.  A  neat  copy  of  it  is  marked  at  12J.  12s.  in 
the  recent  catalogues  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  and  Messrs.  Arch.  I 
never  saw  but  one  copy  of  it  upon  LARGE  PAPER  j  and  that  one  is  mag- 
nificently bound  in  red  morocco,  in  the  library  of  Francis  Freeling, 
Esq.  To  the  foregoing,  let  there  be  added  the  BibliothecaArabico-His- 
pana  Escurialensis  MICHAELIS  CASIRI,  Matrit.  1760,  2  vols. :  a  work 
of  equal  interest  and  merit  in  its  way  j  and  of  which  I  observe  a  very 
neat  copy,  with  marble  leaves,  marked  at  41. 14s.  6d.  in  the  catalogue 
of  Mr.  Thorpe. 

f  RODERICUS  SANCTIUS.  His  Historia  Hispanica  was  first  pub- 
lished by  Ulric  Han,  at  Rome,  in  4to.  probably  not  long  after  the 
death  of  the  author,  in  1470.  A  particular  account  of  this  edition 
(which  Meuselius  says,  t(  must  be  ranked  among  very  rare  books.") 
will  be  found  in  the  5th  or  Supplemental  volume  of  the  Bill.  Spen- 


302  HISTORY  OF  SPAIN7. 

large,  or  of  a  few  of  the  more  famous  king's  by  whom 
it  was  governed.*  There  is  a  very  charm  in  that 

cerlana,  p.  254.  The  history  has  been  considered  "rather  a  work  of 
piety,  than  of  elegance  of  composition,"  by  Marian;  and  will  be 
found  reprinted  in  the  collections  of  Biel  and  Schott:f  of  Meuselius's 
Bibl.  Historica,  vol.  vi.  part  i.  p.  115,  is  sufficiently  copious  about 
the  author. 

*  "  Notwithstanding  the  fortunate  circumstances  which  combined 
to  revive  the  taste  for  historical  composition  in  Spain,  the  noble 
authors  of  the  SPANISH  CHRONICLES  in  very  few  instances  rose  above 
the  vulgar  chronicle  style.  They  faithfully  adhered  to  the  language 
of  the  historical  books  of  the  bible.  In  nothing  is  their  poetic  talent 
disclosed,  except  in  a  better  choice  of  expression  than  is  to  be  found 
in  the  common  chronicles,  which  were  in  general  written  by  monks. 
Spirited  and  adequate  historical  description  was  totally  unknown  to 
them.  They  all  wrote  in  nearly  the  same  manner.  Facts  were 
heaped  on  facts,  in  long  monotonous  sentences,  which  uniform- 
ly commenced  with  the  conjunction,  and.  Occasionally,  indeed,  the 
writers  of  these  chronicles  seem  to  have  made  attempts  to  imitate  the 
ancient  historians  ;  for  at  every  favourable  opportunity  little  speeches 
are  put  into  the  mouths  of  the  characters  they  record  j  but  these 
speeches  are  given  either  in  the  language  of  Scripture  or  the  law. 
Thus  wrote  the  illustrious  Perez  de  Guzman,  who  was  celebrated 
among  the  poets  of  his  age  ;  and  thus  wrote  the  grand  Chancellor 
of  Castille,  Pedro  Lopez  de  Ayala,  who  is  better  known  than  the 
former  as  an  historian,  in  consequence  of  having  compiled  from  ancient 
chronicles  a  connected  history  of  the  kings  of  Castile  of  the  four- 
teenth century. \ — Bouterwek's  History  of  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
Literature,  vol.  i.  p.  138,  edit.  1823. 


t  A  copy  of  the  "  Rerum  Hispanicarum  Scriptores  Aliquot,  of  BELUS,  3  vols.  in 
1,  Francof.  1579,  folio,  is  in  the  library  of  the  Royal  Institution.  Mr.  Harris's 
Cat.  p.  330,  where  the  writers  are  specified.  SCHOTT'S  Hhpania  Illustrate,  was 
published  at  Francfort  in  1603,  in  4  folio  volumes,  and  a  copy  may  be  worth 
21.  12*.  6d 

£  "  One  may  become  acquainted  with  these  old  Spanish  chronicles  with  more 
facility  than  formerly ;  for  during  the  last  thirty  years  the  greater  part  of  them 
have  been  re-printed.  A  folio  edition  of  the  copious  chronicle  of  Peres  de  Guz- 
man was  printed  at  Valencia,  in  the  year  1779,  with  an  elegance  which  proves  the 


HISTORY  OF  SPAIN.  303 

word  to  the  ear  of  a  book -collector  ;  who>  if  he  be  of 
the  thorough  bred  English  breed,  neither  eats,  drinks, 

I  do  not  pretend  to  enumerate  one-tenth  part  of  these  older, 
rarer,  and  costlier  Chronicles ;  but  as  the  curious  "  en  font  grand 
cas,"  I  must  expatiate  some  little  thereupon.  One  of  the  earliest  is 
that  of  <f  DEL  REY  D.  PEDRO,"  by  Lopez  de  Layala,  at  Seville,  in 
1493,  folio  j  exceedingly  rare.  Stepping  over  the  threshold  of  the 
XVth  century,  we  notice  the  very  rare  Chronicle  of  the  KINO  DON 
RODRIGO,  published  at  Seville,  in  1511,  folio  ;  again  at  Valladolid  in 
1527,  folio  j  concerning  which  I  am  at  a  loss  to  give  one  word  of 
advice  as  to  price,  or  intrinsic  worth,  or  curiosity  ;  only  that  a  copy 
of  the  second  edition  (but  not  of  the  first)  was  in  the  Harleian 
Collection.  Of  the  Chronicle  of  the  CID,  (so  admirably  made  fami- 
liar to  English  readers  by  the  translation  of  Mr.  Southey,  1808,  4to. 
and  so  ably  criticised  in  the  first  number  of  the  Quarterly  Review)  the 
edition  of  1593,  printed  at  Burgos,  was  sold  for  131.  55.  at  the  White 
Knights  sale :  but  Mr.  Thorpe  has  more  than  once  recently  marked  it 
at  41. 14s.  6d.  Of  King  Pedro,  &c.  and  Don  Juan  I.  abovementioned, 
the  Pamplona  edition  of  1591,  folio,  is  marked  at  41.  4s.  by  Mr. 
Thorpe,  and  at  2Z.  2s.  by  Mr.  Bohn :  an  edition  of  1590,  of  JUAN 
EL  SEGUNDO,  (appearing  not  in  that  of  1591)  is  valued  at  31.  3s. 
by  the  former  bookseller  :  but  see  part  iii.  of  his  catalogue,  nos. 
1763-6.  Then  comes  the  Chronicle  "  DEL  REY  DON  ALONZO  EL 
SABIO  Y  SANCHO  EL  BRAVO,"  printed  at  Valladolid,  1554,  folio:  with 
bold  and  spirited  wood-cuts,  of  which  I  observe  a  fine  morocco,  in 
Lewisian  binding,  marked  at  fl.  17s.  6d.  in  part  i.  no.  6096.  But 
we  must  not  forget  a  somewhat  rarer  volume  in  the  chronicled 
feats  of  ALONZO  EL  ONZENO,  of  which  the  Valladolid  impression 
of  1551,  folio,  was  sold  for  a£20.  at  the  sale  of  the  White  Knights 
Library.  A  later  edition,  printed  at  Toledo  in  1595,  folio,  is  marked 
at  2Z.  2s.  in  Mr.  Thorpe's  catalogue,  part  i.  n°.  149.  But  this 
Chronicle,  as  well  as  most  of  the  earlier  ones,  is  reprinted  in  the 
Madrid  reimpression,  published  by  Sancha,  in  17S7,  6  vols.  4to. 
And  then,  what  must  be  said  of,  or  given  for,  the  Chronicle  of  the 


patriotic  zeal  of  the  editors  :  the  chronicle  of  Ayala  was  printed  tMadrid  in  the 
same  year.  Literature  is  indebted  for  this  revival  of  the  fathers  of  Spanish  His- 
tory, to  the  efforts  of  the  Historical  Academy  of  Madrid."— Ibid. 


304  HISTORY  OF  SPAIN, 

nor  sleeps,  unless  he  have  his  "  dear  Chronicles  "  com- 
plete. The  date  of  the  oldest  printed  Chronicle  of 
Spain, is  that  of  1482,  and  the  author  was  DIEGO  DE  VA- 
LERA.*  This  work  was  reprinted  several  times,  in  the 

GREAT  CAPTAIN  GONZALO  HERNANDEZ  DE  CORDOVA,  printed  in  1584> 
folio,  at  Alcala? — and  of  the  not  less  ferocious  brandisher  of  the  trun- 
cheon, ycleped  DON  PEDRO  GONZALEZ  DE  MENDOZA,  published  by  the 
very  erudite  Doctor  Pedro  de  Salazar,  at  Toledo,  in  1625,  folio,  and 
in  his  79th  year  :  .  .  .  . 

When  spectacle  on  nose  was  seen, 
And  velvet  cap  of  emerald  green 
Enclosed  a  scull  as  white  as  snow. 
And  silver  beard  did  stream  below, 
As  forked  as  Jove's  bolt. . .  - 

(Excerptiana.) 

Mr.  Thorpe  fearlessly  marks  a  fine  copy  of  this  picturesque-looking 
old  gentleman's  labours  at  31.  3s.  It  was  in  morocco  binding  in  the 
Harleian  Library. 

On  retrospection,  I  am  well  nigh  ashamed  of  this  scanty  list  of 
doughty  Spanish  Champions  :  well  knowing  what  my  friends  ATTI- 
cus,  HONORIO,  and  PALMERIN  possess,  relating  to  the  same  heroes ; 
and  how  the  modern  PARUNZETTO  is  building  a  castle  of  granite,  en- 
closing a  chamber  of  porphry,  scagliolo,  and  black  marble,  commixed, 
in  which  to  suspend  the  portraitures  of  these  champions,  drawn  from 
the  life  j  and  to  deposit  choicest  copies,  UPON  VELLUM,  of  the  earliest 
publications  which  record  their  mighty  achievements.  But,  myjore. 
sent  work  is  any  thing  but  a  ee  BIBLOGRAPHICAL  ROMANCE."  Even 
five  weeks  ago  only,  the  same  resistless  Collector  acquired  a  most  ex- 
ceedingly gorgeous  and  Grolierised  copy,  upon  vellum,  of  that  chival- 
rous tome  which  displays  the  coat-armoury  of  Spanish  Knights,  and 
was  put  forth  by  Mendez  Silva,  under  the  title  of  "  Poblacion  General 
de  Espana,  sus  Trofeos,  Blasones,  y  Conquistas  Heroycas."  Madrid,  1645, 
folio — of  which  I  notice  a  good  copy,  valued  at  the  unappalling  sum 
of  31.  3s. ,  in  a  certain  catalogue  recently  put  forth  from  Pall  Mall. 

*  The  first  edition  of  Don  Diego  de  Valera's  "  CEONICA  DE 
ESPANA,  abridged  by  the  command  of  Isabella,  Queen  ofCastille,"  was 
published  by  Alonso  del  Puerto,  in  the  black  letter,  in  1482,  folio ;  a 
book  of  excessive  scarcity.  The  second  edition  came  out  at  Burgos, 


HISTORY  OF  SPAIN.  305 

fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries.  Then  followed  the  la- 
bours ofCARBONELL,  BEUTER>  DE()CAMPO,VAS,EUS  and 
GARIBAY,&C.  with  divers' others,*  enriching  the  six- 

in  1487 '*  folio  j  the  third  at  Toulouse,  in  1489 — of  all  which  editions 
Meuselius  was  ignorant.  The  fourth  appeared  at  Saragossa,  in  1493, 
the  earliest  noticed  by  Meuselius  :  —  the  fifth  was  published  at  Sala- 
manca, in  1495  5  the  sixth  at  Seville,  in  1527 — both  unknown  to 
Meuselius,  It  was  republished  at  Seville  in  1534,  folio,  of  which 
second  edition  Mr.  Thorpe  marks  a  copy  at  41.  4s. :  a  third  impres- 
sion came  forth  at  the  same  place,  in  1567  j  and  precisely,  in  the 
same  year,  at  Saragossa,  was  published,  what  looks  very  much  like 
a  similar  work,  under  the  title  of  "  Chronica  de  Los  Reyes  Catholicos 
Don  Hernando  y  Donna  Ysabel :  a  good  copy  of  which  very  rare 
book  is  marked  at  91.  9s.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  andEoss. 
Concerning  Diego  de  Valera,|  Meuselius  seems  to  regret  that  An- 
tonio (Bibl.  Vet.  torn.  ii.  p.  206^  has  dwelt  rather  upon  the  life,  than 
the  labours,  of  this  ancient  chronicler. 

*  P.  M.  CARBONELL  :  "  Chroniques  de  Espanya,  que  tracta  dels 
nobles  e  envictissms  Reyes  de  Gots  y  gestes  de  aquells  y  dels  Contes  de 
Barcelona  e  Reyes  de  Arago.  Barcelona,  1536,  1547;  each  edition 
in  folio,  and  each  (especially  the  first)  very  rare.  Consult  Antonio's 
Bibl.  Nova  -}  vol.  ii.  p.  175.  BEUTEB  first  came  out  with  his  te  First 
Part  of  the  History  of  Valencia,  treating  of  the  Antiquities  of  Spain,  #c." 
at  Valencia,  1538,  folio.  The  author  intended  to  add  two  other  parts, 
but  he  changed  his  mind,  and  remodelled  the  whole,  much  for  the 
better,  in  the  Castilian  language  :  calling  it  "  Primera  Parte  de  la 
Cronica  General  de  toda  Espana :  y  especialmente  del  Reyno  de  Va- 
lencia" #c.  En  Valencia,  1550,  folio  :  again,  in  the  same  place,  in 
1604.  The  second  part  appeared  in  1556  :  but  the  edition  of  1563 
should  seem  to  be  ideal.  No  copy  of  the  labours  of  Carbonell  and 
Beuter  appears  in  the  Harleian  catalogue :  but  I  find  there,  (vol.  ii. 
n°.  8481)  "  the  twenty- two  books  of  the  Memorable  Affairs  of  Spain, 
by  Lucio  Marineo ;  published  at  Alcala  de  Henares,  in  1593,  folio: 
Meuselius  mentions  an  earlier  edition,  at  the  same  place,  (Compluti) 
in  1533.  See  his  Bibl.  Historica,  vol.  vi.  part  i.  p.  118-120. 


I  He  put  the  finishing  stroke  to  his  Chronicle  in  the  year  1481,  in  the  porch  of 
St.  Mary,  (at  Cadiz)  when  he  had  completed  his  79th  year. 

X 


306  HISTORY  OF  SPAIN. 

tee  nth  century  with  a  great  number  of  chronological 
productions,  which  are  now  of  the  greatest  difficulty 
to  find  in  an  entire  and  sound  state. 

The  name  of  FLORIAN  DE  OCAMPO  is  justly  entitled  to  eminence. 
This  able  and  honest  historian  first  edited  the  Chronicle  of  Spain, 
compiled  by  MARTINI  DE  CORDOVA,  which  was  published  at  Zamora 
in  1541,  folio,  (a  very  rare  book — a  copy  in  the  Harl.  Libr.)  and 
published  his  own  "  Five  First  Books  of  the  General  Chronicle  of 
Spain,"  at  the  same  place,  in  1544  5  and  at  Medina  del  Campo,  in 
1553  j  and  again  at  Alcala,  in  1578,  each  edition  (I  believe)  being 
in  4  thin  folio  volumes.  A  copy  of  the  last  edition  only  was  in  the 
Harleian  Library.  They  are  all  scarce  books,  and  written  in  the  Spa- 
nish language.  VAS^US  wrote,  in  Latin,  ((f  stilo  baud  ingrato")  his 
Chronicle  of  the  Spanish  Affairs,  published  at  Cologne  in  1567,  8vo. 
enlarged  in  1577,  8vo. — to  be  found  in  Bel's  Collection.  GARIBAY 
published  (in  the  Spanish  language)  "  A  Compendium,  or  Abridge- 
ment of  the  Chronicles  and  General  History  of  the  Kings  of  Spain  /' 
at  Antwerp,  1571*  in  four  folio  volumes  j  a  work  of  great  intrinsic 
worth,  and  rare  occurrence  in  a  perfect  condition.  It  was  republished, 
in  4  folio  volumes,  at  Barcelona,  in  1628  ;  and  (says  Meuselius) 
whatever  Antonio  and  Lenglet  du  Fresnoy  may  say  to  the  contrary, 
there  never  was  a  third  edition  of  it.  Meuselius's  account  (borrowed 
from  Antonio)  of  the  plan,  energies,  judgment,  and  talents  of  Gari- 
bay,  will  make  the  ff  young  man"  sigh,  and  the  e< old  man"  weep, 
if  he  do  not  speedily  become  master  of  one  or  the  other  of  the  edi- 
tions here  specified  j  and  yet  I  look  in  vain  for  a  copy  of  Garibay  in 
many  of  our  richest  bibliopolistic  catalogues. 

But  ere  we  turn  our  backs  on  CHRONICLES,  let  us  bestow  one 
minute's  attention  on  that  of  the  "  Coronica  de  los  Moros  de  Espana," 
published  at  Valencia,  in  1618,  folio,  of  which  JAYME  BLED  A  was  the 
author.  The  subject  is  full  of  frightful  interest,  and  the  author  is 
called  by  Meuselius  "  the  torch  and  trumpet  "  by  which  the  expul- 
sion of  the  Moors  was  effected.  Bleda  was  one  of  their  most  inve- 
terate enemies.  His  book,  nevertheless,  contains  some  very  curious 
particulars  ;  which,  (I  suppose)  together  with  its  rarity,  caused  Col. 
Stanley's  copy  of  it  —  "  remarkably  fine,  splendidly  bound  in  russia, 
by  R.  Payne,"  to  produce  the  sum  of  71. 10s.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 


HISTORY  OF  SPAIN.  307 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  ap- 
peared a  few  of  the  multifarious  productions  of  the 
most  accomplished,  most  courageous,  but  most  tyran- 
nical nobleman  of  the  age.  It  is  of  DIEGO  HURTADO  DE 
MENDOZA,  author  of  the  famous  Life  of  Lazarillo  de 
Tormes,*  that  I  would  thus  be  understood  to  speak. 
He  was  no  professed  chronicler  or  historian  ;  but  his 
account  of  the  War  of  Grenada^  of  which  he  was 
almost  an  eyewitness,  is  considered,  with  great  justice, 
to  be  among  the  most  valuable  productions  of  that 
period — whether  for  purity  of  style,  or  importance  of 
matter. 

But  towards  the  end  of  the  same  century,  appeared 
the  solidly  valuable  volume  of  MARIANA  ;  a  name,  which 

mark  a  fine  copy  of  it  in  russia,  with  joints,  at  4l.  4s.  Was  not  this 
book  translated  into  English  by  Taubman,  in  1687,  8vo.  ?  And  let 
us  not  forget,  that  a  4to.  volume,  descriptive  of  the  expulsion  of  the 
Moors  from  Spain,  was  published  at  Pampeluna,  in  1613,  by  Marco 
de  Guadalajara:  See  Bibl.  Harl.  vol.  ii.  n°.  8511. 

*  JBouterwek  (History  of  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Literature,  vol.  i. 
p.  205,  edit.  1823)  tells  us,  that  the  only  editions  of  the  "  Vida  de 
Lazarillo  de  Tormes,"  now  in  circulation,  are  printed  after  that  pub- 
lished at  Saragossa,  in  the  year  1652,  with  De  Luna's  corrections 
and  continuations.  De  Luna  added  a  second  part  to  the  story ;  for 
Mendoza,  in  his  maturer  years,  never  felt  inclined  to  finish  the  comic 
work  which  he  had  commenced  in  his  youth.  Was  Bouterwek  aware 
that  the  FIRST  EDITION  of  this  brilliant  little  performance,  by  Men- 
doza, was  published  at  Burgos,  in  1554,  12mo.  : — and  that  a  certain 
Noble  Duke,  at  the  sale  of  the  library  of  a  certain  gallant  Colonel, 
gave  thirty  guineas  for  a  copy  of  this  little  black  letter  bijou  ? 

f  Guerra  de  Grenada,  %c.  Escrivfola  D.  Diego  Hurtado  de  Mendoza, 
Valencia,  1776,  4to.  Best  edition  :  containing  the  best  life  of  its  ex- 
traordinary, but  bloody-minded  author.  Gesner,  in  his  Pandects,  (if 
my  memory  do  not  deceive  me)  has  a  dedication  to  him  ;  and  so  has 
the  younger  Aldus,  in  one  of  his  portions  of  the  Philosophical  Works 


308  HISTORY  OF  SPAIN. 

reflects  lustre  on  Spanish  history.  The  labours  of 
Mariana  have  been  the  foundation  of  those  of  many 
subsequent  publications — abridged  or  amplified,  more 
or  less — under  the  name  of  the  same  historian  ;  and  at 
this  day,  I  believe,  those  who  possess  what  is  called 
the  last  and  best  edition  of  Mariana,  possess  a  work 
which  is  daily  rising  in  estimation,  price,  and  rarity.* 

of  Cicero.    The  preceding  work  obtained  for  the  author  the  name  of 
the  SPANISH  SALLUST. 

•  MARIANA  is  the  Father  of  SPANISH  HISTORY — properly  so  called. 
His  work  first  appeared  in  the  Latin  language  at  Toledo,  in  1592, 
folio.      According  to  the  Harleian  Catalogue,  vol.  ii.  n°.  8489,  this 
edition  contained  only  twenty  books,  and  the  remaining  ten  books 
were  published  at  Franckfort  in  1606.  Yet  Brunet  says,  some  copies 
have  the  date  of  1592,  with  five  of  these  additional  books ;  and  other 
copies  a  fresh  title  page,  dated  1 595,  with  the  same  five  additional 
books.      And  let  the  careful  collector  beware,  that  this  EDIT.  PR  IN. 
of  Mariana  (1592)  is  not  only  the  rarest,  but  the  most  correct  and 
valuable,  of  all  the  impressions  of  the  author,  especially  in  the  Latin 
tongue.     It  was  translated  by  the  AUTHOR  HIMSELF,  with  additions 
and  corrections,  into  the  Spanish  language,  and  published  at  Toledo,  in 
2  folio  volumes,  in  1601. f  Of  this  edition,  a  copy,  in  red  morocco,  was 
sold  for  41. 10s.  at  the  sale  of  the  White  Knights  Library.  Before  the 
year  1700,  there  were  at  least  six  reimpressions  of  this  Spanish  version; 
of  which  the  third  reimpression,  at  Madrid,  in  1623,  folio,  2  vols.  was 
the  last  published  during  the  life  of  the  author.*     In  the  year  1699, 
Captain  John  Stevens  translated  this  version  into  our  language,  in 
folio,  and  a  copy  of  it  may  be  seen  in  the  library  of  the  Royal  Institu- 
tion.    Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy  of  this  translation,  on 

LARGE  PAPER,    at  2Z.  125.   6d, 


t  See  an  excellent  account  of  the  merits  of  Mariana's  History  in  Souterwek't 
History  of  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Literature;  vol.  i.  p.  455,  &c.  1823.  8vo.  2  vols. 
Mariana,  after  the  example  of  Cardinal  Bembo,inhis  History  of  Venice,  wrote  his 
history  first  in  Latin,  and  afterwards  translated  it  into  Spanish.  Of  the  Latin  edition, 
a  very  elegant  folio  was  published  in  1738.  The  Spanish  names  of  persons  and 
places  are,  however,  latinized  in  a  manner  so  artificial,  as  to  render  them  no  less 


HISTORY  OF  SPAIN.  309 

The  very  opening  of  the  eighteenth  century  wit- 
nessed the  labours  of  I.  DE  FERRERAS.  His  history 
occupies  sixteen  quarto  volumes  ;  but  where  one  will 
read  this  historian,  one  hundred  will  consult  Mariana. 
A  yet  more  elaborate  production  appeared  in  the  His- 
toria  deEspana  of  MASDEU,  in  1783,  in  20  vol.  4to. : 
and  this,  I  believe,  is  the  last  historical  work*  which 

I  pass  by  all  reimpressions  of  the  Spanish  text,  till  I  come  to  that 
of  1780,  published  by  Ibarra,  at  Madrid,  in  two  folio  volumes,  with 
the  tables  of  Summaris.  A  more  beautiful  book  has  rarely  issued 
from  the  Spanish  press  :  and  it  is  worthy,  in  all  respects,  of  the  re- 
putation of  Ibarra.  There  is  a  delicious  copy  of  it  at  Althorp,  upon  fine 
or  LARGE  PAPER,  bound  in  French  red  morocco.  But  by  far  the  best 
and  most  important  edition  of  Mariana,  is  that  with  the  "Critical  Notes 
and  Chronological  Tables "  of  NOGUERA  Y  RAMON,  published  by 
patriotic  subscription  at  Valencia,  in  1783 — 1796,  in  9  thin  folio 
volumes.  Complete  sets  of  this  edition  are  difficult  to  find.  The 
magnificent  set  of  Colonel  Stanley,  f '  bound  in  seven  volumes  $  in 
black  morocco,  [wherefore  black  ?]  by  Walther,"  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Drummond,  for  e£22.  A  perfect  set  is  at  Althorp.  An  edition, 
most  ably  continued  by  I.  M.  Miniana,  was  published  at  Madrid  in 
1794,  in  10  vols.  8vo.  and  may  be  had  for  a  reasonable  sum,  accord- 
ing to  the  binding.  See  Meusel.  Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  vi.  p.  137. 

*  I  will  briefly  dispatch  the  above  authors.  The  work  of  Ferre- 
ras  was  published  under  the  title  of  ' f  Synopsis  Historica  Chronologica 
de  Esparia,  at  Madrid,  in  1700 — 1732,  in  16  quarto  volumes.  This 
is  a  work  of  more  labour  than  intrinsic  worth.  In  the  same  space 
the  author  might  have  written  a  complete  history  of  the  Spanish 
nation.  De  Ferreras  was  sorely  beset  by  antagonists  of  various  de- 
scriptions, during  its  progress  j  but  he  defended  himself  with  one  of 
Homer's  sevenfold  shields,  and  bade  them  defiance ;  scribbling  on, 
doggedly  and  undauntedly,  to  the  very  last.  His  toil  was  his  hap- 


unintelligible  than  the  names  in  Cardinal  Bembo's  history  . .  .The  diction  of  Ma- 
riana is  perfectly  faultless,  his  descriptions  picturesque,  without  poetic  ornament ; 
and  hii  narrative  style,  may,  on  the  whole,  be  accounted  a  model."  p.  457. 


310  HISTORY  OF  SPAIN. 

has  been  published  on  the  Continent,  exclusively  re- 
lating to  Spanish  history.  In  our  own  country,  in 
the  present  century,  we  boast  of  the  MOST  SPLENDID 
work,  of  any  period,  connected  with  that  interesting 
kingdom  ;  I  mean,  Mr.  MURPHY'S  magnificent  folio 
volume,  published  in  1816,  and  devoted  to  the  Antiqui- 
ties of  the  Arabs  in  Spain :  a  work,  beyond  all  price,  if 
the  brilliancy  and  beauty  of  the  plates  be  considered.* 
The  author  published  the  History  of  the  Mahometan 

piness.  The  five  latter  volumes  contain  some  valuable  matter,  from 
an  anonymous  but  erudite  author. 

Of  MASDEU'S  'c  Historia  critica  de  Espana,  y  de  la  cultura  espa- 
nolat"  published  at  Madrid,  in  1*83 — 1797,  in  20  vols.  4to.  I  am 
not  able  to  pronounce  one  syllable  in  commendation.  On  the  con- 
trary, Meuselius  dismisses  it — from  what  he  had  seen  of  it— in  no 
very  courteous  manner  :  Bill.  Hist.  vol.  vi.  part  i.  p.  162  :  and  Brunet 
merely  gives  the  title. 

*  Too  much  can  hardly  be  said  in  commendation  of  this  extraor- 
dinary and  most  exquisite  work  3  which  contains  1OO  engravings 
(chiefly  by  Fittler  and  Landseer)  illustrative  of  the  most  remarkable 
remains  of  architecture,  sculpture,  painting,  mosaics,  &c.  of  the 
Arabians  in  the  Peninsula.  The  author  devoted  the  best  part  of 
an  active  life  to  researches  in  Spain  and  Portugal,  connected  with 
the  antiquities  of  either  country  j  but  he  did  not  live  to  witness  the 
publication  of  this  his  MOST  MAGNIFICENT  labour.  At  the  present 
moment,  I  hardly  know  any  thing  of  the  kind  to  compare  with  it. 
The  interiors,  described  both  by  the  pencil  and  pen,  have  the  effect 
of  enchantment.  A  delicacy,  brilliancy,  singularity,  and  even  daz- 
zling richness,  are  the  characteristics  of  most  of  them.  What  has 
been  before  said  (Bibliogr.  Decameron,  vol.  ii.  p.  391,)  may  be  re- 
peated, in  regard  to  this  wonderful  volume.  The  most  melancholy 
part  of  the  history  attached  to  it,  is,  the  prodigious  diminution  of  the 
original  price.  It  was  published  at  40  guineas.  It  may  now  be  procured 
for  less  than  one  half  of  that  sum :  but  its  merits  continue  to  be  of  the 
same  high  cast  of  character.  How  much  one  of  these  interiors  eclipses 
the  mongrel  intermixture  of  gothic  and  semi-gothic,  of  all  ages, 
which  we  have  been  lately  accustomed  to  behold  in  a  certain  edifice— 


HISTORY  OF  SPAIN.  311 

Empire  in  Spain,  1816,,  4to.  The  History  of  the 
Moors  in  Spain,  by  WILLIAM  BOURKE,  in  1811,  4to. 
may  not  be  considered  an  inappropriate,  or  unpro- 
fitable work  :  while  the  once  highly  praised,  and  yet 
not  forgotten,  Travels  of  William  Townsend  in  Spain, 
should  always  be  considered  as  of  sterling  and  un- 
changeable value. 

The  name  of  SPAIN  has  been  indeed  of  late  years 
familiarised  to  Englishmen,  in  a  manner  not  to  be 
easily  eradicated  from  the  annals  of  either  country ; 
while  that  of  the  illustrious  CHIEFTAIN,  by  whose  unpa- 
ralleled military  talents  the  country  in  question  has 
been  made  the  scene  of  so  many  splendid  victories  over 
the  first  Marshals  of  the  age  ....  will  necessarily  fur- 
nish hints,  and  lead  to  the  collection  of  materials, 
from  which  the  more  RECENT  history  of  Spain  cannot 
fail  to  be  rendered  of  the  greatest  possible  interest  to 
posterity.  Mr.  Southey's  History  of  the  Peninsular 
War  has  gallantly  led  the  way  to  the  completion  of 
a  series  of  works,  *  which  may  prove  nearly  as  inte- 
resting to  other  countries  as  to  our  own. 

built  on  the  plan  of  an  abbey,  but,  in  fact,  intended  for  the  exclusive 
domestic  residence  of  a  Gentleman  and  his  Dwarf  ? 

And  here,  ere  we  take  leave  of  JAMES  CAVANAH  MURPHY,  (a  name, 
united  with  all  tender  and  all  honourable  reminiscences  !)  let  me 
notice  his  "  Plans,  Elevations,  Sections,  and  Views  of  the  Church  of 
Batalha,  in  the  province  of  Estramadura,  in  Portugal;''  with  the 
history  and  description  of  the  building,  by  F.  L.  de  Souza  :  to  which 
is  prefixed  an  Introductory  Discourse  upon  the  principles  of  Gothic 
architecture.  There  are  twenty-seven  plates.  Add  to  this,  the  same 
author's  "  Travels  in  Portugal,  in  the  years  1789 — 1790."  Lond. 
1795,  4to.,  with  twenty-four  plates.  These  latter  publications  are 
obtained  at  very  reasonable  prices,  and  should  be  in  the  libraries  of 
all  men  of  cultivated  taste,  with  well  garnished  purses. 

*  A  SERIES  OF  WORKS,  illustrated  with  engravings,   (somewhat 


312  HISTORY  OF  SPAIN. 

after  the  plan  of  the  Campaigns  of  Marlboro'  and  Eugene,)  devoted 
to  the  PENINSULAR  WAR,  would  indeed,  if  properly  conducted  and 
executed,  be  productive  of  equally  delightful  and  beneficial  results. 
But  the  expense  must  ever  (I  fear)  deter  from  the  undertaking  $  unless 
our  government  (as  France  did,  in  the  time  of  Napoleon)  in  part 
patronise  it.  I  have  seen  sketches,  and  finished  drawings,  by  a 
Young  Officer — himself  a  participator  in  every  scene  delineated— 
which  [would  form  admirable  illustrations  of  Mr.  Southey's  pages : 
if  indeed  they  could  be  brought  within  the  compass  of  a  quarto 
volume.  The  only  work  of  any  importance  (which  I  have  seen) 
connected  with  this  subject,  and  illustrated  by  plates,  or  rather 
etchings,  is  that  of  CAPTAIN  BATTY,  under  the  title  of (f  Campaign  of 
the  Left  Wing  of  the  Allied  Armyt  in  the  Western  Pyrenees,  and  South 
of  France,  in  the^years  1810 — 14."  Lond.  1823.,  4to.  I  am,  of 
course,  incompetent  to  pronounce  judgment  on  the  intrinsic  value  of 
a  work  of  this  kind  5  although  it  had  such  charms  for  me,  that  I 
borrowed  tf  an  hour  or  twain"  of  the  night,  to  add  to  the  day — in 
order  to  read  it  through  at  one  sitting  :  and  I  fancied  that  the  Duke 
of  Wellington  planned  and  conducted  his  marches,  sieges,  and  battles, 
with  the  same  facility  and  success  as  Phillidor  played  his  most  brilliant 
games  of  chess.  And  through  what  a  ROMANTIC  country  —  was  this 
magnificent  campaign  conducted,  and  brought  to  a  brilliant  close  !  ? 
The  views  of  Captain  Batty  are  well  chosen ;  and  although  the 
necessary  effect  of  etchings  (as  in  many  of  the  best  prints  of  Rem- 
brandt) gives  us  too  dense  a  shadow  in  some  places,  and  too  flicker- 
ing a  light  in  others,  yet,  on  the  whole,  these  plates  are  extremely 
gratifying,  and  in  some  instances  master-like.  But  Li  the  account  of 
PICTURESQUE  PUBLICATIONS  relating  to  Spain,  let  me  not  omit  to 
mention  — with  the  warmth  of  commendation  which  they  merit — the 
Views  in  Spain,  drawn  upon  stone,  by  Messrs.  Westall,  Harding, 
and  Hullmandel,  from  Sketches  made  on  the  spot  by  EDWARD 
HAWKE  LOCKER,  Esq.  in  the  autumn  of  1813— now  in  the  course  of 
publication,Jat  16s.  a-number.  Lovelier  specimens  of  the  lithogra- 
phic art  (against  which,  by  the  by,  few  entertain  stronger  objections 
than  myself)  or  more  romantic  scenery,  connected  with  great  mili- 
tary events,  have  been  rarely  submitted  to  the  approving  voice  of  the 
public.  I  strongly  recommend  these  elegant  numbers  to  all — inter- 
ested in  the  recent  history  of  Spain. 


[  313  ] 


HISTORY  OF  PORTUGAL. 

Brief  as  may  be  the  preceding  account  respecting 
the  best  Histories  of  Spain,  I  fear  both  the  youthful 
and  elderly  Collector  will  be  disposed  to  censure  the 
more  palpable  brevity  of  that  respecting  PORTUGAL. 
My  object,  in  both  instances,  must  be,  exclusively, 
utility  ;  and  although  a  fuller  detail  might  be  yet  more 
useful  —  it  would  be  incompatible  with  the  object 
of  this  work  to  admit  it.  In  regard  to  Portugal,  there- 
fore, after  requesting  my  "  young "  reader  to  whet 
his  appetite  for  the  keener  relish  of  the  belles-lettres 
luxuries  of  both  Spain  and  Portugal,  by  the  perusal  of 
Mr.  Southeys  Travels*  in  these  countries,  I  must  ex- 
hort him  to  procure,  with  all  imaginable  earnestness, 
anxiety,  and  delight — and  with  a  fearless  disregard  of 
its  expense — the  Bibliotheca  Lusitana  Historica,  Cri- 
tica,  e  Chronologica  of  BARBOSA  MACHADO  :*f-  a  work, 

*  <f  Letters  written  during  a  short  residence  in  Spain  and  Portugal, 
with  some  account  of  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Poetry,"  1797^  8vo.  A 
fair  copy  may  be  worth  10s.  6d.  Who  does  not  wish  such  a  work  to 
be  enlarged,  by  a  revisitation  of  the  same  countries,  by  the  same 
traveller? 

f  The  very  mention  of  this  invaluable  work  throws  ONE  of  my 
most  intimate  bibliographical  friends,  and  knight- companions  of  the 
Roxburghe  Round  Table,  into  inconceivable  ecstacies :  the  more  so, 
peradventure,  because  his  copy  of  it  (containing  the  fourth  volume) 
is  the  only  complete  copy  in  this  country.  Lord  Holland,  Mr. 
Southey,  and  Mr.  Frere,  are  not,  I  believe,  blessed  quite  to  this 
extent  of  book-felicity.  The  work  in  question  (in  vain  looked  for 
among  the  displays  of  auction  rooms,  and  in  the  repertories  of  book- 
sellers—for  which  Mr.  Bohn  rummaged  Bavaria,  and  Mr.  John 


314  HISTORY  OF  PORTUGAL. 

beyond  all  competition  and  beyond  all  praise ;  but, 
till  of  late  years — and  even  perhaps  at  this  present 
moment — of  the  most  extreme  difficulty  of  acquisi- 
sition.  This  is  the  great  Oracle  for  him  to  consult ; 
especially  if  he  be  deeply  versed  in  the  Portuguese 
language. 

Secondly,  as  to  HISTORIES,  I  shall  mention  only 
three  ;  but  the  first  of  these,  (of  which  the  foundation 
was  laid  by  DE  BRITO)  complete  in  all  its  parts,  and 
in  good  preservation,  will  make  the  reader  thoroughly 
versed  in  the  history  of  Portugal,  down  to  the  year 
1423.  From  that  period,  the  labours  of  La  Clede 
and  of  Antonii  Caietani  de  Sousa  will  carry  his 
acquaintance  with  it  down  to  the  middle  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century.  Hence,  to  the  present  times,  the 
helps  are  neither  few  nor  uncommon.  To  begin  with 
BERNARDO  DE  BRITO.  His  portion  of  the  work  about 
to  be  described,  comprehends  only  two  parts,  or  vo- 
lumes ;  of  which  the  first  bears  the  title  of  "  Monar- 
chies Lusitana  composta  por  Frey  Bernardo  de  Brito, 
&c. :  the  first  part  appeared  in  1597,  the  second  in 
1609.  The  second  and  third  parts  were  compiled  and 
published  by  ANTONIO  BRAND AO,  in  1632 :  the  fifth 
and  sixth  parts  by  FRANCISCO  BRANDAO,  in  1650- 

Payne,  Italy,  to  no  purpose)  has  the  general  title  of <e  Bibliotheca  Lu- 
sitania  Historica,  Critica,  e  Chronologica.  Na  qual  se  comprehende 
a  Noticia  dos  Authores  Portuguezes,  e  das  Obras,  que  compuserad 
desde  o  tempo  da  promulgate  da  Ley  da  Graca  ate"  o  tempo  pre- 
zente,  &c.  por  DEOGO  BARBOSA  MACHADO.  Lisloa  •  1741-1759, 
folio.  The  seven  indexes  in  the  fourth  volume  are  the  neplus  ultra  of 
diligence,  exactness,  and  general  utility.  Meuselius,  Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  v. 
parti,  pi  104,  is  at  once  copious  and  encomiastic  respecting  this 
work,  Brunet  calls  it  te  rare  in  France."  Rare  indeed  it  is — not 
in  France  only,  but  in  England,  iu  Germany,  and  Portugal  itself. 


HISTORY  OF  PORTUGAL.  315 

1672:  the  seventh,  by  RAPHAEL  DE  IESUS,  in  1683: 
the  eighth  part  appeared  in  1729,  with  many  improve- 
ments and  corrections  of  the  seventh  part,  by  EMA- 
NUEL  DOS  SANTOS  —  the  most  learned  and  competent 
of  all  the  successors  of  Bernardo  de  Brito.*  Emanuel 
also  composed  a  ninth  and  tenth  part;  neither  of 

*  I  will  here  briefly  give  an  account  of  this  valuable  performance. 
BERNARDO  DE  BRITO  was  a  Cistercian  monk.  The  first  part  of  his 
work  (above  entitled)  was  printed  in  1597,  in  the  Monastery  of  Al- 
cobaga,  a  town  in  the  province  of  Estramadura,  and  famous  for  the 
sepulture  of  the  ancient  Kings  of  Portugal,  f  Some  copies  of  this  first 
volume  have  the  title  of  Geografia  Antigua  da  Lusitania,  with  a  dif- 
ferent pagination,  and  the  same  date,  with  the  word  Alcoba$a,  only. 
The  second  part  or  volume  was  published  at  Lisbon,  in  1609  5  and 
both  parts  were  reprinted  there  in  1690,  folio.  The  third  and  fourth 
volumes  were  compiled  by  ANTONIO  BRANDAS,  also  a  Cistercian 
monk ;  and  were  printed  at  Lisbon  in  1632,  folio,  2  vols.  This 
brings  the  history  down  to  the  year  1279,  only.  FBANCISCO  BRAN- 
DAS  contributed  the  fifth  and  sixth  parts  or  volumes,  published  at 
Lisbon  in  1672.  This  brings  the  history  down  to  1325.  The 
seventh  part  was  composed  by  RAPHAEL  DE  IESUS,  a  Benedictine 
monk,  at  Lisbon,  in  1683.  The  same  writer  (who  died  in  1693)  also 
compiled  the  eighth  and  ninth  parts,  but  they  were  deemed  un- 
worthy of  publication  j  and  indeed  the  seventh  part,  published  by 
him,  is  the  weakest  portion  of  the  whole  performance.  Superior  to 
all  his  predecessors,  with  the  exception  of  Bernardo  de  Brito,  was 
the  continuator  EMANUEL  DOS  SANTOS,  who  compiled  the  eighth, 
ninth,  and  tenth  parts,  which  bring  the  history  down  to  the  year 
1423,  but  of  which,  it  should  seem,  only  the  eighth  part  was  pub- 
lished, under  the  title  of  Monarchic*  Lusitania,  Parte  VIII.  Lisboa, 
1729,  folio.  Thus  the  ninth  and  tenth  parts  are  yet  desiderated  in 
print.  The  work  is  pronounced  by  G.  Ernesti  de  Franckenau  to  be 
"  monumentum  aere  perennius."  A  complete  copy  of  it,  as  far  as  it 
goes,  may  be  worth  12J.  12s. 


t  The  history  of  this  celebrated  monastery  was  published  at  Coimbra,  1710, 
folio,  part  i. :  —  the  second  part  at  the  same  place  in  1724.  The  first,  under  the 
title  GiAkoba^a  Illustrada:  the  second,  ofdlcobafa  Vindicada. 


316  HISTORY  OF  PORTUGAL. 

which,  it  should  seem,  has  been  committed  to  the 
press.  At  least,  Meuselius,  in  his  Supplement  (Vol. 
xi.  p.  78)  adds  nothing  to  his  previous  intelligence 
on  this  subject.  The  same  Meuselius  has  marshalled 
the  authorities  of  Antonio,  Schmauss,  Barbosa  Ma- 
chado,  Freytag,  and  Clement — to  say  nothing  of  that 
of  Gerhard  Ernesti  de  Franckenau  —  in  the  warmest 
commendation  of  this  elaborate  performance. 

DE  LA  CLEDE'S  Histoire  Generate  de  Portugal  was 
published  in  two  volumes  quarto,  and  in  eight  vo- 
lumes 8vo.,  1735.  As  this  work  appears  to  have  met 
with  considerable  approbation  in  the  Nova  Acta  Eru- 
dit.  An.  1744  (from  which  Meuselius  borrows  his  cri- 
ticism) and  as  the  price  of  it  is  sufficiently  reasonable. 
I  recommend  its  purchase  to  all  classes  and  all  ages 
of  readers.  *  The  work  of  ANTONII  CAIETANI  DE 
SOUSA  is  of  a  more  important  cast ;  comprehending  a 
greater  quantity  of  matter,  displaying  a  greater  range  of 
research,  and  evincing  a  more  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  laws,  customs,  antiquities,  and  earlier  records 
of  the  country.  It  appeared  in  twelve  large  quarto 
volumes,  at  Lisbon  1735-47,  under  the  title  of  "  His- 
toria  Genealogica  da  Casa  Real  Portugueza  desde  a 
sua  origem  ate  o  prezente  com  as  Familias  illustres" 
&c. :  to  which  work  was  added  a  very  extraordinary 
supplement,  by  the  same  author — called  "  Provas 
da  Historia  genealogica  da  Casa  Real  Portugueza, 
tiradas  dos  Instrumentos  dos  Archivos  do  Torre  do 
Tombo"  &c. ;  published  at  Lisbon,  in  1739,  in  six 
quarto  volumes.  Barbosa  Machado  (vol.  i.  p.  228  ; 

*  This  useful  work  was  translated  into  the  Portuguese  language, 
and  published,  with  notes,  at  Lisbon,  in  1797,  in  sixteen  octavo 
volumes. 


HISTORY  OF  PORTUGAL.  317 

vol.  iv.  p.  28)  is  full  of  commendation  upon  this  very 
admirable  genealogical  and  diplomatic  performance. 

Lastly,  he  who  wants  to  dig  deeper  into  Portuguese 
History,  by  exploring  inedited  or  unpublished  mate- 
rials, will  do  well  to  possess  the  Collecao  de  Uvros 
ineditos  da  historia  Portugueza,  publicados  por  IOSE 
CORREA  DE  SERRA,  at  Lisbon,  in  1790,  in  three  folio 
volumes.  And  thus  much  for  the  histories  of  Por- 
tugal. 


[3181 


HISTORY  OF  ITALY. 

Mr.  D'Israeli,  in  his  New  Series  of  Curiosities  of 
Literature,*  has  devoted  a  short  but  animated  chapter 
to  THE  ITALIAN  HISTORIANS.  It  is  clear  that  Machi- 
avel  is  a  mighty  favourite  with  him  ;  and  his  attach- 
ment to  that  historian  seems,  in  some  measure,  to 
increase,  in  proportion  to  the  feeling  of  his  having 
been  unjustly  "  calumniated  :"-*-"  the  great,  (says  he) 
may  we  add,  the  calumniated,  Machiavel  ?"  Be  it  so. 
My  present  purpose  is  merely  to  give  almost  the 
briefest  possible  list  of  general  Histories  of  Italy ; 
leaving  the  chronicles  of  its  numerous  provinces, 
cities,  towns,  villages,  and  parishes,  to  be  sought  after 
by  the  diligent  Collector  more  exclusively  attached  to 
such  a  pursuit.  In  our  own  country,  the  example  of 
Sir  Richard  Colt  Hoare,  Bart,  has  taught  us  what 
may  be  done  by  individual  energy  and  perseverance.*}- 

*  Vol.  ii.  p.  237.  ft  It  is  remarkable  (says  the  above  authority) 
that  the  country,  which  has  long  lost  its  political  independence,  may 
be  considered  as  the  true  parent  of  modern  history.  The  greater 
part  of  their  historians  have  abstained  from  the  applause  of  their 
contemporaries,  while  they  have  not  the  less  elaborately  composed 
their  posthumous  folios,  consecrated  solely  to  truth  and  posterity." 

-j-  The  catalogue  of  his  own  collection  of  Italian  Historians  and 
Topographers  was  privately  printed  in  1812;  and  afforded  an  extra- 
ordinary proof  of  the  diligence  and  taste  of  the  Collector;  especially 
when  we  consider  that  the  researches  of  that  same  Collector  have 
been  almost  exclusively  confined  to  BRITISH  ANTIQUITIES  -—  so  as 
to  make  him  a  very  bibliographical  DRUID.  Sir  Richard's  larger 
library,  confined  almost  wholly  to  British  Topography  and  History, 
(and  of  which  TWENTY-FIVE  copies  only  of  a  private  catalogue  were 


HISTORY  OF  ITALY.  319 

As  heretofore,  I  shall  begin  with  COLLECTIONS;  and, 
at  the  head  of  all,  and  of  every  thing  of  a  similar  de- 
scription, stand  the  Scrrptores  Rerum  Italicarum,  col- 
lected by  the  immortal  MURATORI  *;  a  name,  which 

printed)  is  just  the  perfect  specimen  of  what  an  English  country 
gentleman,  devoted  to  such  pursuits,  should  strive  with  all  his  might 
and  main  to  possess.  I  have  passed  more  than  ONE  pleasing  and 
profitable  hour  in  the  splendid  room  which  contains  the  library  in 
question. 

*  If  ever  the  taste  and  perseverance  of  modern  times  should  give 
us,  in  one  compressed  and  full-sized  octavo  volume,  a  good  literary 
life  of  MuRATORi,f  it  could  not  fail  to  be  generally  instructive.  At 
once  the  friend  as  well  as  the  protege*  of  Charles  Borromeo — and 
equally  the  friend  and  correspondent  of  Magliabecchi,  Mabillon, 
Papebroch,  Maffei,  and  Quirini — what  would  not  a  life  of  nearly 
fourscore,  (as  was  Muratori's)  devoted  to  such  society,  in  the  inter- 
vals of  stupendous  labour,  put  us  in  the  possession  of  — » if  its  de- 
tails were  faithfully  and  judiciously  developed?  !  But  my  object 
must  be  strictly  bibliographical.  Although  Muratori  lived  to  publish 
FORTY -six  FOLIO  VOLUMES,  thirty-four  quartos,  and  thirteen  octavos, 
I  have  here  only  to  notice  those  which  are  connected  with  his  His- 
tory and  Antiquities  of  Italy.  The  Rerum  Italicarum  Scrip  tores  were 


f  "  The  name  of  MURATORI  will  be  for  ever  connected  with  the  literature  of  his 
country.  Above  sixty  years  of  his  peaceable  life  were  consumed  in  the  exercises 
of  study  and  devotion :  his  numerous  writings  on  the  subjects  of  history,  antiqui- 
ties,  religion  ^morals,  and  criticism,  are  impressed  with  sense  and  knowledge,  with 
moderation"and  'candour.  He  moved  in  the  narrow  circle  of  an  Italian  priest ; 
but  a  desire  of  freedom,  a  ray  of  philosophic  light  sometimes  breaks  through  his 

own  prejudices  and  those  of  his  readers The  more  strenuous  labours  of 

his  life  were  devoted  to  the  general  and  particular  history  of  Italy.  His  Antiqui- 
ties, both  in  the  vulgar  and  the  Latin  tongue,  exhibit  a  curious  picture  of  the  laws 
and  manners  of  the  middle  age ;  and  a  correct  text  is  justified  by  a  copious  Appen- 
dix of  authentic  documents.  His  Annals  are  a  faithful  abstract  of  the  twenty- 
eight  folio  volumes  of  original  historians ;  and  whatsoever  faults  may  be  noticed 
in  this  great  collection,  our  censure  is  disarmed  by  the  remark,  that  it  was  under- 
taken and  finished  by  a  SINGLE  MAN.  Muratori  will  not  aspire  to  the  fame  of  his- 
torical genius :  his  modesty  maybe  content  with  the  solid,  though  humble  praise, 
of  an  impartial  critic  and  indefatigable  compiler."  GIBBON  :  Miscellaneous  Works, 
vol.  iii.  p,  365-7.  Edit.  1814. 


320  HISTORY  OF  ITALY. 

might  have  been  introduced  with  the  happiest  pos- 
sible effect  in  the  recent  publication  just  alluded  to. 

published  in  1723-1751  in  twenty-five  folio  volumes,  usually  bound 
in  twenty-eight  or  twenty-nine:  the  three  first  volumes  are  fre- 
quently bound  in  two  parts,  each  3  the  twenty-fourth  volume  has  an 
Appendix :  the  twenty-fifth  volume  does  not  always  accompany  the 
set.  Let  this  be  well  attended  to.  But  with  Muratori  must  be  pro- 
cured., what  is  called  the  supplement  or  continuation  of  TARTINI, 
Florent.  1748-70  :  two  vols.  folio  :  and  the  Accessions  of  MITTARELLI 
published  in  1771,  in  one  folio  volume,  at  Venice ;  and  then  .  . .  "  to 
REST  .  .  in  peace!" 

A  word  or  two,  now,  about  the  pecuniary  value  of  these  wonderful 
tomes.*  Until  the  peace  of  1814-15,  there  was  no  procuring  them, 
scarcely  even  for  ff  money  "  —  for  "  love,"  in  such  cases,  is  entirely 
out  of  the  question.  Yet,  I  believe  it  was  in  the  time  of  war,  when 
my  friend  Mr.  Heber  achieved,  of  all  fortunate  achievements  the 
most  fortunate,  that  of  purchasing  a  set  of  Muratori  (alone)  for—- 
guess, gentle  reader? — no,  thou  canst  NOT  guess  — for,  THREE  POUNDS 
EIGHTEEN  SHILLINGS  and  SIXPENCE  !  !  !  I  might  ask,  who  was  in  the 
room  besides  Mr.  Heber  (Mr.  Leigh  was  in  the  chair)  when  the 
hammer  fell  upon  this  lot?  Of  course,  NOBODY.  There  seems  to 
be  no  copy  of  Muratori  in  the  Roxburghe  or  White  Knights  Collec- 
tion ;  but  in  that  of  Mr.  Willet  (the  Merly  Library)  a  copy  in  twenty- 
seven  volumes,  in  vellum  binding,  was  sold  for  39/.  18s.j  and,  as  far 
back  as  the  Pinelli  sale,  a  copy  on  LARGE  PAPER  was  sold  for  36/. 
Recently,  the  Scriptores  of  Muratori  have  appeared  in  the  catalogues 
of  our  booksellers.  Mr.  Bohn  marks  a  copy  in  twenty-nine  volumes, 
in  vellum  binding,  at  351. :  and  Mr.  Thorpe,  with  the  addition  of 
Tartini,  in  thirty-one  volumes,  ' '  uniform  and  complete"  at  the  same 
sum.  My  friend  Mr.  Petrie  imported  his  copy,  in  similar  attire,  for 
pretty  nearly  the  same  sum.  I  have  just  before  said,  that  a  studious 
Collector  in  the  possession  of  the  Scriptores  of  Muratori,  with  the 


*  To  their  immortal  honour,  several  noblemen  generously  contributed  towards 
the  expenses  of  this  work.  Not  fewer  than  sixteen  of  them  gave  4000  crowns 
a- piece.  Nouv.  Diet.  Hist.  vol.  viii.  p.  512.  What  "mighty  acts /'might  not 
similar  bounty,  in  this  country— the  WEALTHIEST  in  the  world— produce,  if  di- 
rected into  similar  channels ! 


HISTORY  OF  ITALY.  321 

But  Muratori  was  himself  an  Annalist ;  and  his  united 
labours  place  him  in  the  highest  class  of  Italian  His- 
torians. The  names  of  MACHIAVEL  and  GCJICCIARDINI 
are,  it  is  true.,  the  most  popular  of  those  of  the  same 

supplemental  volumes  of  Tartini  and  Mittarelli,  might — "  to  REST 
...  in  peace  5"  but  I  do  not  think  his  slumbers  would  be  quite  so 
sweet,  unless  the  Antiquitates  Italics  Medii  JEvi  of  the  first* —  pub- 
lished in  1738-1742,  in  six  folio  volumes — also  accompanied  the 
Scriptores  :  and  of  this,  I  perceive  a  very  neat  copy  marked  at 
7/.  175.  6d.  in  the  catalogue  of  Mr.  Bohn.  At  thesale  of  theMerly 
library,  a  similar  copy  was  sold  for  Si.  18s.  6d. 

Yet  the  night's  "  rest  "  would  be  still  more  perfect,  if  the  NOVKS 
Thesaurus  Veterum  Inscriptionum,  in  praicipuis  earundem  Collect  lonibus 
hactenus  prtftermissarum,  Milan,  1739,  folio,  4  vols.  were  united  to 
the  preceding — especially  as  these  portly  tomes  may  be  obtained  for 
about  51.  bs.  Various  were  the  critiques  upon  this  work,  to  \\hich 
the  cautious  Muratori  wisely  vouchsafed  not  a  reply.  The  Annall 
d" Italia,  by  the  same  great  man,  was  published  in  twelve  quarto  vo- 
lumes, at  Milan,  1744-49 :  and  are,  by  no  means,  scarce  or  dear.  The 
work  was  published  at  Lucca  in  176C3-70,  in  fourteen  large  quarto 
tomes  -j  of  which  the  thirteenth  contains  a  supplement  from  1750  to 
176*2.  The  fourteenth  is  occupied  by  tables  :  again,  another  edition 
appeared  at  Munich,  in  1761,  4to.  twelve  vols. :  with  some  critical 
prolegomena  of  Catalan! ;  and  a  fourth  reimpression  came  out  at 
Naples  in  1773,  4to.  14  vols.  None  of  these  works  exceed  75.  a  vo- 
lume. A  CONTINUATION  of  these  Annals  was  published  by  Oggeri 
Vincenti,  at  Rome,  in  5  vols.  8vo.,  1790.  Brunet  (to  whom  I  am 
indebted  for  this  latter  information)  says,  that  an  edition  of  Muratori's 
works  was  printed  at  Arezzo,  in  1767-SO,  in  thirty-six  4to.  volumes ; 
and  another  re-impression  of  his  works  appeared  at  Venice,  in  1790- 
1810,  in  forty-eight  octavo  volumes  :  of  which  the  Annals  of  Italy 
occupy  thirty-three  volumes,  including  the  six  volumes  which  bring 
the  work  down  to  18O5.  And  thus  much  for  MUJRATORI. 


*  "  Les  Savans  ont  trouve*  beaucoup  de  fautes  et  de  m£prises  dans  ce  recueil : 
ou  en  a  releve*  plusieurs  dans  les  Journaux."  Nouv.  Diet.  Hist.  edit.  1804.  vol. 
viii.  p.  512.  The  work  was  reprinted  at  Arezzo,  but  in  a  much  less  beautiful 
manner,  in  seventeen  vols.  1777, 4to. 

y 


322  HISTORY  OF  ITALY. 

class  of  writers  ;  but  the  former  has  confined  his  his- 
torical researches  (strictly  so  considered)  to  the  City 
of  Florence  :*  his  Prince,  and  Reflections  on  the  First 
Ten  Books  ofLivy,  being  the  works  in  which  the  acute- 
ness  of  his  apprehension  and  the  depth  of  his  judg- 
ment are  more  particularly  developed. 

*  "  The  great  NICOLO  MACHIAVELLI,  whose  name  is  in  no  danger 
of  being  buried  in  oblivion.  This  celebrity  is  his  due,  as  a  man  of 
profound  thought,  and  as  the  most  eloquent  historian,  and  most 
skilful  politician  that  Italy  has  produced."  SISMONDI  :  Translated 
by  T.  Roscoe,  Esq.  1823,  vol.  ii.  p.  224.  "  In  his  History  of  Flo- 
rence, dedicated  to  Pope  Clement  VII.,  he  instructed  the  Italians  in 
the  art  of  uniting  the  eloquence  of  history  with  depth  of  reflection. 
He  has  attached  himself,  much  less  than  his  predecessors  in  the  same 
line,  to  the  narration  of  military  events ;  but  his  work,  as  a  history  of 
popular  passions  and  tumults,  is  a  masterpiece ;  and  Machiavelli  has 
completed,  by  this  noble  example  of  his  theories,  his  analysis  of  the 
human  heart."  Ibid.  The  account  of  his  Principe,  in  these  pages, 
is  very  interesting.  Of  the  History  of  Florence,  the  first  edition 
seems  to  be  either  that  of  Rome,  in  1531-2,  quarto,  by  Blado  —  or 
that  by  the  Juntas  in  1532,  4to. :  which  latter  contains  the  Florentine 
History  alone.  I  take  this  to  be  a  rare  and  precious  little  book  -,  as 
well  as  the  Principe  of  the  same  date — and  yet,  probably  rarer  than 
either,  is  the  Discorsi  sopra  la  prima  Deca  di  Tito  Livio — printed  the 
year  preceding.  The  edition  of  Venice  of  1540,  published  by  the  Aldine 
Family,  four  parts  in  two  small  octavo  volumes,  (each  described  by 
Renouard)  containing  all  his  works,  is  very  scarce  to  procure  com- 
plete :  and  yet  scarcer  (according  to  Brunet)  is  the  reprint  of  this 
edition,  of  1546,  containing  the  same  parts.  But  it  should  seem 
that  the  genuine  edition  of  1550,  4to.  (Rome)  2  vols.  is  yet  prefer- 
able. A  fine  copy  of  it,  in  red  morocco,  was  sold  for  51.  10s.  at  the 
sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library:  but  the  GRAND  edition  of  the  whole 
of  Machiavel's  works,  is  that  published  at  Milan,  by  the  enterprising 
and  high-spirited  Luigi  Mussi,  with  additions,  in  eleven  large  quarto 
volumes,  1S1O,  &c.  of  which  there  are  only  2OO  copies  on  fine  vellum 
paper,  eight  on  blue  paper  (horrible  heresy  !)  and  twelve  on  common 
paper.  Can  Mr.  Disraeli  "  rest  in  peace  "  without  one  of  the  200 


HISTORY  OF  ITALY.  323 

As  an  historian,  in  the  usual  acceptation  of  that  word, 
GUICCIARDINI  may  be  considered  the  first  of  those  of 
Italy:  but  such  was  the  jealousy  or  the  fear  of  the 
higher  classes  of  his  countrymen,  that  the  text  of  hishis- 
tory  continued  in  a  very  mutilated,and  palpably  corrupt 
state,  till  upwards  of  two  centuries  after  his  death.* 

copies  of  THIS  edition  of  his  beloved  Machiavelli,  bound  in  blue  mo- 
rocco ?— • orthodoxy  itself ! 

*  Niceron,  who  has  unluckily  (and  I  may  say,  perhaps,  unac- 
countably) passed  over  the  names  of  Machiavelli  and  Muratori — in 
his  incomparable  <f  M^moires  pour  servir  d  IHistoire  des  Hommes  II- 
lustres" — has  given  us,  as  usual,  a  satisfactory  account  of  the  publi- 
cations of  the  works  of  GUICCIARDINI— "  the  lieutenant-general  of 
the  papal  army,  who  had  been  so  close  and  so  indignant  an  observer 
of  the  Roman  cabinet," — says  Mr.  Disraeli.  The  first  edition  of 
the  te  Istoria  $  Italia  di  FT.  Guicciardini,"  was  published  in  a  hand- 
some folio  volume,  by  Torrentino,  at  Florence,  in  1561.  It  was 
published  after  the  death  of  the  author,  by  his  nephew,  Agnolo 
Guicciardini,  and  dedicated  to  Cosmo  de'  Medici,  Grand  Duke  of 
Florence.  This  edition  is  neither  complete  nor  correct}  but  the 
curious  are  anxious  to  possess  it,  because  (says  Niceron,  vol.  xvii. 
p.  106)  there  are  passages  in  it  which  have  been  omitted  in  other 
subsequent  editions.  Formerly  it  was  rare  and  high  priced.  Indeed, 
now,  it  is  of  uncommon  occurrence.  It  contains  only  sixteen  books 
of  the  history  j  and  was  reprinted  the  same  year,  at  the  same  place, 
in  two  8vo.  volumes.  The  history,  in  fact,  extends  only  from  the 
year  149O,  to  1526  j  but  as  Guicciardini  had  written  four  more  books, 
bringing  it  down  to  1532,  the  nephew  promised  to  publish  them: 
and  although  an  edition  appeared  at  Venice,  in  1563,  4to.  it  was 
still  but  an  imperfect  work.  In  1564,  the  four  latter  books  first 
appeared,  at  Venice,  by  G.  de  Ferrari,  in  4to.  followed  by  summary 
notices,  and  numerous  annotations  by  Papirio  Picedi,  at  Parma,  the 
same  year,  in  4to.  Then  appeared  the  Venetian  edition,  by  Giolito, 
1 567,  4to.  incorporating  the  whole.  Further  than  this  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  push  the  bibliographical  history  of  Guicciardini's  famous  work 
— as  the  whole  was  considered  to  be  in  a  most  corrupt  and  obscure 
state,  till,  from  the  editorial  care  of  the  Canon  Pio  BONSJ,  and  from  an 


324  HISTORY  OF  ITALY. 

The  Revolutions  of  Italy,  by  DENINA,  will  be  found 
useful  in  a  library  of  any  pretension  to  this  class  of 
collecting;  as  well  as  the  History  of  Western  Italy, 
by  the  same  writer,  which  was  published  in  1809,  in 

uncastrated  MS.  preserved  in  the  Magliabecchi  library,a  new  and  PER- 
FECT  EDITION  appeared  at  Florence,  in  1775,  4to.  4  vols :  and  un- 
less both  "  young"  and  "  old  "  possess  this  edition,  they  have  not 
the  legitimate  text  of  Guicciardini.  The  late  Colonel  Stanley,  who 
dearly  loved  to  have  the  best  works  of  the  best  writers  in  the  best 
possible  condition,  had  this  Florence  edition  of  Guicciardini  upon 
LARGE  PAPER,  "  bound  in  blue  morocco,  (but  of  sheets}  by  Walther ;" 
and  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Protheroe  of  Bristol,  for  2'2L  Is.  at 
the  sale  of  the  Colonel's  library,  in  1813.  An  ordinary  copy,  well 
bound,  is  worth  41.  14s.  f'd.  This  edition  was  reprinted  at  Milan,  in 
]  803,  in  10  octavo  volumes  ;  a  copy  of  which  may  be  had,  in  boards, 
at  about  2/.  10s.  Our  FENTON'S  English  version  of  Guicciardini,  pub- 
lished at  London  in  1618,  folio,  did  not  escape  Niceron.  I  find  a  copy 
of  Ftnton's  translation  selling  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  library, 
(n°.  S'-204)  for  5s.  6d.,  and  I  once  let  slip  a  golden  opportunity  of 
securing  Master  Fenton's  "  Historic  of  Guicdardin,"  bound  in  deli- 
cious old  blue  morocco,  with  gilt  on  the  leaves,  for  3s.  6d* 


*  In  regard  to  the  works  of  ARETIX,  ALONDUS,  POGGIO,  aud  BEMBO,  connected 
with  the  more  ancient  and  partial  histories  of  Italy,  I  do  not  conceive  it  necessary 
here  to  enter  upon  them.  The  Bibl.  Speuceriana,  vol.  iv.  p.  441,  iii.  p.  190-1, 
vii.  p.  22,  will  supply  a  tolerably  copious  account  of  the  earlier  editions  of  the  two 
former,  and  Mr.  Shepherd's  Life  of  Poggio  will  afford  abundant  details  respecting 
the  latter  With  regard  to  further  particulars,  as  to  the  HISTORY  OF  FLORENCE, 
let  the  names  of  Adriani,  Nardi,  Nerli,  Segni,  Benedetto  Varchi,  and  above  all 
Giannone — as  their  labours  appear  narrated  in  the  instructive  pages  of  Mr.  D' Is- 
raeli—be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the  student  of  Italian  literature  in  par- 
ticular. The  fourth  volume  of  Brunei,  p.  368-376,  (to  say  nothing  of  Sir  R.  C. 
Hoare's  Catalogue)  will  give  the  reader  some  notion  of  the  almost  infinite  number 
and  variety  of  LITERARY  AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL  HISTORIES  of  the  various  Provinces 
and  Cities  in  Italy  :  a  field  of  collecting,  rich,  perhaps  beyond  comparison,  for  the 
"  Young  "  and  wealthy  Bibliomaniac  to  indulge  in  !  The  history  of  the  CHURCH 
ESTATES  alone,  of  Italy,  would  form  a  library  of  no  very  diminutive  dimensions. 
And  above  all,  those  TICTURESQUE  VOYAGES! — but  search  the  catalogues  of 
Messrs.  Treuttel  and  Wurtz,  and  Bosange  and  Co. 


HISTORY  OF  ITALY.  325 

six  octavo  volumes.*  Nor  let  Bossi's  Ancient  and 
Modern  Italy,  now  in  a  course  of  publication,  (Milan) 
1819,  8vo.  12  vols.)  be  dismissed  from  a  library, 
where  previous  and  more  elaborate  performances  have 
not  a  place.  But  probably,  after  all — and  especially 
among-  young  and  timid  Collectors — the  possession  of 
SISMONDI'S  History  of  the  Italian  Republics,  published 
at  Paris,  in  sixteen  octavo  volumes,  will  be  sufficient 
to  satisfy  the  ordinary  passion  for  the  knowledge  of  Ita- 
lian History ;  especially  when  the  highly  popular 
work  by  the  same  author,  and  byGiNGUENE,  relating 
the  History  of  Italian  Literature,  have  a  contiguous 
place  on  the  same  shelf.  I  affix  no  prices  to  these 
latter  works,  because  they  are  of  common  occurrence, 
and  in  a  constant  state  of  succession,  and  may  be  had 
in  all  forms  and  varieties  of  binding,  at  the  principal 
French  booksellers  in  London. 

I  am  abundantly  sensible  that,  on  a  subject  of  such 
variety,  and  even  intensity  of  interest,  as  ITALY,  the 
preceding  remarks  afford  but  feeble  helps  towards  an 
exact  knowledge  of  the  best  historians  of  that  country: 
a  country,  to  a  contemplation  of  the  future  glories  of 

*  DESTIXA'S  Rivoluzioni  d' Italia  was  published  at  Torino  in  1769, 
4to.  3  vols. ;  and  may  be  worth  I/.  10s.  in  neat  binding.  A  copy  of 
it,  ox  VELLUM,  divided  into  five  volumes,  was  sold  at  the  Valliere 
sale  for  300  francs ;  and  again  (the  same  copy)  at  the  Macarthy,  for 
320  francs.  This  work,  which  is  in  good  repute,  has  been  reprinted 
with  a  continuation,  at  Venice,  in  1800,  in  5  octavo  volumes.  The 
Abbe  Jardin,  translated  it  into  French  in  1771 — 5,  in  8  duodecimo 
volumes.  The  History  of  Western  Italy  was  also  published  at  the 
same  place,  (Torino)  and  may  be  worth  [1.  lls.  Gd.  in  boards.  Bru- 
net  says  that,  FAXTIN  DESODOARDS;  (by  whom  a  History  of  France 
appeared  in  1808,  see  p.  295,  ante)  published  a  History  of  Italy,  in 
1803,  8vo.  9  vols.  "  which  is  indicated  by  him  for  want  of  a  better," 


326  HISTORY  OF  ITALY. 

which,  the  Sibyllean  prophetess  roused  the  curiosity, 
and  excited  the  noblest  feelings,  of  the  founder  of  the 
Roman  empire . . . 

Nunc  age,  Dardaniam  prolem  quae  deinde  sequatur 
Gloria,  qui  maneant  IT  ALA  de  gente  nepotes 
Illustres  animas &c. 

We  have  of  late,  indeed^  witnessed  two  publications, 
which  have  rendered  the  shores  of  Italy  extremely 
attractive  to  an  English  traveller:  I  mean,  the 
publication  of  Mr.  EUSTACE  and  of  Mr.  FORSYTH.* 
They  are  both  too  well  known,  and  too  generally 

•  One  of  the  most  beautiful,  and  really  instructive,  works  of  its 
kind;  in  this  country,  is  that  of  "  A  Picturesque  Tour  of  Italy,"  from 
the  Drawings  of  JAMES  HAKEWELL,  Architect,  and  J.  M.  W.  TURNER, 
R.  A.  of  a  quarto  form — comprising  sixty-three  engravings.  Those 
who  possess  proof  impressions  (on  India  paper)  of  this  fascinating 
work,  will  have  reason  to  congratulate  themselves  every  time  they 
open  the  volume  to  their  admiring  friends.  The  English  scarcely  visit 
any  place  but  they  adorn  it.  CAPTAIN  BATTv'swork,  of  a  similar  cha- 
racter, is  extremely  elegant  and  pleasing ;  less  costly,  and  less  par- 
taking of  the  higher  beauties  of  art :  but  sufficiently  stimulant  to 
send  at  least  three  score  of  English  virtuosi  every  year  scampering 
across  the  Alps  ! 

But  shall  WE  ever  publish  any  thing  fully  equal  to  the  er  Voyage 
Pittoresque  des  lies  de  Sidle,  de  Malte,  et  de  Lipari,"  of  HOUEL?  in 
four  grand  folio  volumes,  with  280  engravings,  1782-7:  and  of  which 
a  very  fine  copy,  with  prime  impressions  of  the  plates,  may  be 
worth  hard  upon  35  guineas  !  Or,  again,  what  is  to  be  said  of  the 
yet  more  wonderful  works  of  LABORDE — in  the  picturesque  style  ? 
As  thus :  "  Tableaux  de  la  Suisse,  ou  Voyage  pittoresque  fait  dans  les 
treize  cantons  du  corps  Helve'tique."  Paris,  1780 — 6,  in  four  superb 
folios,  often  expanded  into  five —when  the  four  hundred  and  thirty 
plates,  with  which  they  are  embellished,  are  bound  up  with  the  text. 
I  observe,  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Treuttel  and  Wurtz,  a  UNIQUE 
copy  of  this  work,  "  with  the  cuts  coloured,"  valued  at  ^160 — but 


HISTORY  OF  ITALY.  327 

admired,  to  render  any  eulogium  of  them  here 
necessary;  but  I  cannot  help  remarking-,  that  the 
attic  brevity  of  the  latter  may  be  of  greater  ser- 
vice to  the  majority  of  readers,  than  the  sentimental 
expansion  of  the  former.  Italy  is  worth  a  hundred 
visitations,  on  a  hundred  different  accounts  ;  and  the 
treasures  of  her  PUBLIC  LIBRARIES,  in  particular, 
which  are  almost  wholly  unknown  to  the  Scholar  and 
Bibliographer,  would  afford  materials  wherewith  to 
enrich  many  a  comely  volume,  and  to  gratify  many  an 
enthusiastic  reader. 

an  ordinary  copy,  at  £40.  And  then,  for  the  same  traveller's 
"  Voyage  pittoresque  et  historique  de  VEspagne,  in  the  same  number 
of  volumes — published  in  48  livraisons,  of  which  46  are  already  ex- 
tant— at  ]  1.  5s.  the  livraison  :  but  upon  vellum  paper,  with  impres  • 
sions  before  the  letter,  at  5Z.  16s.  each.  Laborde's  "  Mouumens  dt. 
la  France,"  is  a  work  worthy  of  its  precursors.  It  will  be  complete 
in  36  livraisons,  or  3  folio  volumes  :  at  9,1.  5s.  the  livraison.  But, 
am  I  not  wandering  (though  not  very  widely)  from  ITALY  ? 


[  328  ] 


HISTORY  OF  GERMANY. 

THE  reader  will  at  oneglance  observe.that  this  account 
of  the  Historians  of  Germany  is  not  only  very  little 
proportioned  to  the  magnitude  and  population  of  that 
country,  but  that  it  is,  on  a  comparison  with  the 
accounts  of  preceding  countries,  brief,  if  not  superfi- 
cial. Two  obvious  reasons  have  led  to  the  adoption 
of  this  plan  :  the  one,  that,  in  the  estimation  of  the 
English,  the  regions  of  Bavaria,  Austria,  Hungary  and 
Bohemia,  are,  comparatively  with  those  of  France, 
Spain,  Portugal,  and  Italy,  but  sparingly  visited  ;*  and 
therefore,  a  detailed  account  of  their  best  historians 
would  be  less  likely  to  be  perused  :  the  other  reason 
is,  that  the  "number,  weight,  and  measure,"  of  these 
historians  themselves,  utterly  defy  enumeration.  But, 
on  the  other  hand,  it  ought  to  be  readily  conceded, 
that  there  is  no  country  in  the  world  which  is  divided 
into  more  important  departments,  enriched  by  more 

*  As  a  proof  of  this,  I  will  mention  that,  in  the  lists  of  publica- 
tions of  Voyages,  Travels,  and  Histories,  furnished  me  by  two  of  the 
greatest  publishers  in  Europe — Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  and  Mr. 
John  Murray — scarcely  one  in  thirty  (on  a  comparative  estimate)  re- 
lates to  GERMANY.  Indeed,  with  the  exceptions  of  the  Travels  in 
Hungary,  by  Dr.  Clarke  and  Dr.  Bright,  Mr.  Jacob's  View  of  Agricul- 
ture, Statistics,  fyc.  and  Society  of  Germany,  (all  admirable  works)  and 
an  Autumn  near  the  Rhine,  or  Sketches  of  Courts,  Society,  and  Scenery, 
in  Germany,  (of  less  magnitude,  but  very  amusing)  I  am  at  present 
unacquainted  with  any  which  relate  to  the  country  in  question  : 
nor,  strictly  speaking,  do  the  works  of  Mr.  Jacob  and  the  author  of 
the  Autumn,  &c.  appertain  to  Germany,  in  the  view  in  which  that 
country  is  considered  in  the  above  text. 


HISTORY  OF  GERMANY.  329 

interesting  cities,  towns,  monasteries,  and  castles,  and 
blessed  with  a  more  fertile  soil,  than  that  which  is  wash- 
ed by  the  waters  of  the  Danube.*  Add  to  which,  the 
remembrance  of  its  language,  its  antiquities,  its  former 
renown,  from  the  time  of  Caesar  to  that  of  Charles  Vs\* 

*  The  DANUBE,  the  noblest  river  in  Europe,  visits,  in  its  course, 
1500  miles  of  the  united  territories  of  Bavaria,  Austria,  and  Hun- 
gary. The  Rhine,  more  talked  of,  because  more  contiguous,  and 
more  frequently  visited,  can  boast  of  only  one-third  of  such  an  ex- 
tent of  course.  But  its  picturesque  beautiesf  are  said  to  atone  for  its 
comparatively  limited  boundaries.  They  may  do  so ;  yet  a  friend 
will  quickly  shew  (I  trust)  that  the  Danube  is  not  wholly  divested  of 
such  attractive  charms  j  for  its  banks  are  often  studded  with  castles, 
monasteries,  and  princely  mansions ;  and  with  undulating  and  wood- 
skirted  hills.  Let  me  here  be  understood,  that  I  purposely  make  no 
mention  of  the  UPPER  DIVISIONS  of  Germany.  I  leave  the  Maine, 
the  Wesery  the  Elbe,  and  the  Oder,  to  roll  their  sinuous  courses 
through  Prussia  and  Saxony,  and  to  bring  the  wealth,  with  which 
the  thousand  vessels  that  flit  along  those  rivers  are  charged,  to  the 
respective  ports  of  Frankfort,  Hamburgh,  and  Bremen :  thence  to 
glitter  in  the  palaces  of  Berlin  and  Dresden.  It  is  not  essential  to  this 
work  to  carry  my  researches  to  the  further  banks  of  the  Rhine. 

f  Every  reader  of  taste  will  immediately  think  of  Dr.  ROBERTSON'S 
famous  biography  of  this  Emperor  j  of  which  all  praise  is  idle,  and  all 
censure  vain.  It  is  doubtless  a  master-piece  of  research,  of  reflection, 
and  of  composition  ;  but  the  fruits  of  subsequent  critics  and  authors, 
in  pretty  nearly  the  same  departments  have,  I  humbly  submit,  taught 
us  that  the  value  of  the  first  volume  of  this  celebrated  work  (so  con- 
stantly selected  for  commendation)  is  not  quite  of  that  high  and 


•f  Among  the  works  which  give  us  a  lively,  and  as  I  learn,  a  just  notion  of  the 
BEAUTIES  OF  THE  RHINE,  is  that  published  by  Mr.  Ackerraan,  called  "  The  Rhine ; 
an  Historical  and  Characteristic  Tour  of,  from  Mentz  to  Coblentz,  embellished  with 
twenty-four  highly  coloured  engravings"  4to  41.  4s.  boards.  The  plates  are  aqua 
tint,  coloured  after  nature,  and  most  deliciously  inviting  to  a  residence  or  ramble 
among  such  combined  beauties  of  art  and  nature.  I  have  heard  GREAT  THINGS 
of  Mr.  Turner's  drawings  of  this  lovely  scenery  ! 


330  HISTORY  OF  GERMANY. 

— its  alliances  with  the  ancient  Republics  of  Italy — its 
genial  atmosphere  and  unobscured  skies  : — all  these 
considerations  render  the  soil  of  GERMANY  fertile  of 
reflection  and  amusement  to  the  observing  traveller. 

But  my  present  duty  is  confined  within  narrow 
limits ;  and  I  hasten  only  to  submit  to  Cf  the  Young," 
rather  than  "  the  Old/'  collector — inasmuch  as  the 
opportunities  of  examination  of  references  are  seized 
upon  and  pursued  with  greater  zeal  and  activity  from 
twenty-five  to  sixty,  than  from  sixty  downwards — I 
hasten  only  to  submit  a  comparatively  brief  list  of 
Collections  of  German  Historians — premising  that  the 
united  labours  of  Struvius,  Buder,  and  Meuselius  (in 
the  Bibliotheca  Historica,  1783,  8vo.)  do  not  include 
an  account  of  histories  or  travels  relating  to  the  Ger- 
man territories.*  In  regard  to  Germany  in  general, 

commanding  character  which,  from  the  force  and  even  prejudices  of 
education,  we  have  been  in  the  habit  of  considering  it.  The  truth  is, 
that  Robertson  was  one  of  the  very  first  English  historical  archaeo- 
logists, if  I  may  so  speak,  who  had  access  to  the  inedited  treasures  of 
a  few  of  the  libraries  in  Italy  ;  and  the  public  were  both  surprised 
and  delighted  at  the  complexion  of  such  generally  unknown  trea- 
sures. 1  could  mention  living  authors,  without  any  wish,  or  even 
thought,  of  drawing  comparisons — who  have,  since  the  time  of  Ro- 
bertson, made  us  acquainted  with  yet  happier  illustrations  of  an- 
cient history.  It  is  the  plan  and  style  of  Robertson's  Charles  V.  by 
which  we  are  chiefly  instructed  and  charmed.  Gibbon  has,  with  his 
usual  felicity,  criticised  the  latter ;  but  an  elaborate  and  powerfully 
drawn  comparison  between  Robertson  and  his  predecessors  and  con- 
temporaries, executed  by  no  mean  hand,  will  be  found  in  the  Monthly 
Review,  vol.  20,  1796. 

*  The  work,  when  complete,  according  to  Brunet's  supposition, 
will  occupy  30  volumes  ;  but,  as  twenty  years  have  elapsed  since 
the  last  volume,  it  will,  in  all  probability,  continue  in  its  present  state. 
As  far  as  it  goes,  it  is  beyond  every  degree  of  comparison  superior  to 
Du  Fresnoys  Methode  pour  etudier  VHistoire,  1772,  l^mo.  25  vol. 


HISTORY  OF  GERMANY.  331 

secure  the  following  authors :  SCHARDIUS,  De  Rebus 
German-iris,  Basil,  1574,  folio,  3  vols. :  recently  be- 
come a  rare  book.  MEIBOMIUS,  Rerum  Germani* 
carum  Libri  Tres.  Helmest,  1688,  folio,  3  vols. 
FREHERI  Rerum  Germanicarum  Scriptores,  Argent. 
1717,  folio,  three  vols.  B.  G.  STRUVII  Corpus  Hlstor. 
Germ,  fence,  folio,  two  vols. :  prefixed,  is  a  Bibllotheca 
Scriptorum  Rerum  Germanicarum,  which  renders 
these  volumes  the  more  acceptable.  Pistorii  Rer. 
German.  Script,  aliquot  insignes,  Ratlsb.  1726-31, 
folio,  3  vols.  an  admirable  work ;  and,  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  learned  and  tasteful  antiquary,  more 
admirable  yet  is  SCHOETTGENIUS'S  Diplomataria  et 
Scriptores  Hist.  Germ.  Medii  JEvi.  Altenb.  1753, 
folio,  three  volumes.*  Nor,  on  any  account,  must  the 
Scriptores  Rerum  Germanicarum  of  MENCKENIUS 
Lips.  1728,  folio,  three  vols.  be  forgotten. 

The  preceding  are  the  sturdier  and  larger  works 
appertaining  to  Germany.  They  are  as  the  oaken 
forest,  in  which  the  Student  may  saunter  and  disport 
himself  as  it  pleaseth  him.  If  he  like  to  come  forth 

*  I  do  not  affix  a  price  to  every  work  above  specified  ;  but  I  appre- 
hend that  I  am  tolerably  correct  in  valuing  them  at  about  15s.  per  vo- 
lume. In  some  instances,  according  to  condition,  they  will  bring 
greater  prices  :  thus,  in  his  very  copious  and  instructive  catalogue  of 
1823,  Mr.  Bohn  marks  (t  a  fine  copy  in  vellum  "  of  Pistorius  at 
31.  13.  6d. :  and  a  half  bound  uncut  copy  of  MENCKENIUS  at  2Z.  2s. 
but  neat  in  vellum  at  3l.  3s.  But  let  me  not  omit  the  mention  of 
the  Vet.  Script.  Rer.  Germanicar.  of  REUBERUS,  published  in  one 
folio  vol.  at  Hanover,  in  1619  ;  and  of  which  a  copy  was  sold  for 
2Z.  12s.  6d.  at  the  Roxburghe  sale.  It  contains  the  lives  of  Charle- 
magne and  Orlando,  by  the  Pseudo-Turpin,  with  various  metrical 
Chronicles. 


332  HISTORY  OF  GERMANY. 

into  open  lawns,  or  sunny  parterres,  he  may'recline 
upon  the  eleven  quarto  volumes  of  BARRE'S  Histoire 
Generals  dnAllemagne,  Paris,  1748  :  or  DE  LA- 
VEAUX'S  translation  of  the  unfinished  history  of 
Schmidt  in  the  German  language :  or,  if  he  be  master 
of  that  same  language,  he  may  recreate  himself  with 
HAEBERLIN'S  Modern  History  of  Germany,  published 
at  Halle,  in  1774-91,  octavo,  in  twenty-one  vols.  and 
continued  to  the  year  1804,  in  seven  additional  vo- 
lumes by  the  BARON  DE  SENKENBERG  :  while  the  un- 
ostentatious French  work  of  FRERON  (Histoire  de 
V Empire  d'Allemagne  depuis  Charlemagne  jusqua  rtos 
jours)  in  eight  duodecimo  volumes,  1771,  &c.  shall 
not  be  found  an  unwelcome  fire-side  companion. 

I  am  now  to  speak  of  the  Government,  rather  than 
of  the  particular  country  so  designated,  of  AUSTRIA  ; 
and  in  this  I  include  the  kingdoms  of  BAVARIA,  HUN- 
GARY, and  BOHEMIA.  I  will  begin  with  the  collections  of 
FEZ  and  BELL  ;  men  of  indefatigable  research  and  un- 
wearied patience.  FEZ  pu bli shed  his  Scriptores  Rerum 
Austriacarum,  at  Leipsic,  in  1^21,  folio,  three  vols. :  an 
excellent  work,  of  which  every  historical  student  will 
have  need.  BELL  is  the  author  of  the  following: 
Prodromus  Antiquce  et  Novas  Hungarian,  1723,  folio  : 
Notitia  Hungarian  Novce,  Vienn.  1735,  folio,  4  vols. : 
Scriptores  Rerum  Hungaricarum,  Vmdob.  \  746,  folio, 
3  vols.,  all  admirable  works  ;  but,  with  the  exception 
of  the  second,  better  calculated  for  a  public  than  a 
private  library.*  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  An- 

*  Yet  more  indefatigable  than  Bell,  was  PRAY.  His  Annals  re- 
lating to  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  HUNGARY  occupy  seven  folio 
rolumes  :  of  which  the  five  volumes  of  Dissertations  on  the  ancient 


HISTORY  OF  GERMANY.  333 

nalcs  Austria?  Veteris  et  Novce  of  CALLES,  published 
in  four  thin  folios  at  Vienna,  in  1750 — but  the  HOUSE 
OF  AUSTRIA  has  in  particular  received  due  homage 
and  respect  from  the  labours  of/.  L.  Kraft  and  Mr. 
Archdeacon  Coxe.  * 

The  capital  of  Austria  possessed  a  distinguished 
antiquary  in  KOLLARIUS,  whose  Analecta  Monumen- 
torum  Omuls  ^Evi  Vlndobonensia,  t^indol).  1760,  folio, 
2  vols./f-  I  do  especially  recommend  to  the  attention 
of  the  archaeologist.  It  may  be  possessed,  perad- 
venture,  for  a  couple  of  sovereigns.  But  Vienna  has 
recently  LOST  the  MAN,  ^  who,  under  imperial  patron- 
Annals  of  Hungary,  published  at  Vienna  in  1764-1770,  and  the 
History  of  the-  Kings  of  Hungary,  Buda,  1801,  8vo.  in  three  vols.  are 
the  principal.  Fray's  works  are  by  no  means  of  common  occurrence, 
either  here  or  upon  the  continent. 

*  This  intelligent  and  industrious  Historian  published  his  House  of 
Austria  in  1807,  4to.  3  vols. :  to  which  may  be  added  the  Kings  of 
Spain  of  the  House  of  Bourbon,  1813,  4to.  3  vols.  His  other  Works 
do  not  come  within  this  particular  department  5  but  they  are  numerous 
and  instructive.  The  author  is  now  «'  in  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf" 
of  years,  but  not  of  intellect. 

f  Kollarius  was  the  Editor  of  Lambecius's  Commentaries  concern- 
ing the  MSS.  in  the  Imperial  Library  at  Vienna  j  but  has  added  little 
to  the  labours  of  his  predecessors.  This  latter  work  appeared  in 
1766— in  eight  folio  volumes.  The  Analecta  is,  doubtless  a  prefer- 
able performance.  But  what  might  not  VIENNA  accomplish,  in  the 
way  of  HISTORICAL  ILLUSTRATION,  if  some  of  its  wealthier  nobility, 
with  the  Emperor  at  their  head,  would  come  forward  with  a  proper 
patriotic  impulse  on  the  occasion  ? 

\  That  man  wasBARTSCii.  From  the  number  of  pages,  together 
with  a  PORTRAIT,  devoted  to  the  notice  of  Bartsch  in  the  third 
volume  of  my  Tour,  the  reader  will  nutura'ly  sympathise  with  me  in 
the  intelligence  that,  before  the  publication  in  question  reached 
Vienna,  the  amiable  object  of  my  little  Memoir  was  NO  MORE.  He 
died  suddenly,  of  an  apopletic  fit.  He  was,  in  fact,  a  short,  thick- 


334  HISTORY  OF  GERMANY. 

age,  and  with  an  highly  cultivated  taste  for,  and 
knowledge  in,  the  fine  arts  —  added  to  a  very  sober 
judgment  and  active  zeal  in  matters  of  antiquarian 
research  —  might  have  done  wonders  for  the  establish- 
ment of  her  fame,  as  the  repository  of  some  of  the 
most  interesting  specimens  of  antiquity. 

As  to  BAVARIA,  (to  which,  for  the  sake  of  the  2£>lacft 
,  I  will  attach  SUABIA  in  the  subjoined  note*) 


eet  man,  and  liable  to  such  a  calamitous  visitation.  I  owe  him,  or 
rather  his  memory,  much  more  than  I  have  hitherto  expressed.  He 
was  a  constant,  kind,  and  active  correspondent  :  and  assigned  no 
limits  to  his  wishes  and  actions  to  befriend  you.  I  have  yet.  a  con- 
siderable number  of  his  letters,  written  in  the  neatest  manner,  and 
with  an  accuracy  and  attention  to  business  that  could  not  be  ex- 
ceeded. I  will  not  dissemble  that  one  of  the  GREATEST  pleasures  I 
had  anticipated  in  the  publication  of  the  Tour,  was,  his  perusal,  and 
as  I  trusted,  approbation,  of  the  manner  in  which  his  merits  and 
kindnesses  were  recorded.  But  "  Diis  aliter  visum  est.  .  .  !  " 

Nor  was  the  death  of  Mr.  Bartsch  the  only  loss  of  that  kind  which 
I  was  doomed  to  experience.  Poor  Mr.  Bernhard,  one  of  the  intelli- 
gent public  librarians  at  Munich,  was  also  taken  hence  ere  the  work 
in  question  reached  him.  But  the  death  of  Bartsch  was  more  than  a 
private  calamity.  His  country,  in  his  death,  has  lost  a  most  dili- 
gent, correct,  and  praise-  worthy  archaeologist,  with  a  taste  and  know- 
ledge of  ART,  such  as,  almost,  to  render  rivalry  hopeless.  Yet  the 
gentle,  the  kind-hearted,  the  thoroughly  bibliographical  BERNHARD  ! 
f(  What,"  indeed,  "  are  the  hopes  of  man  ?" 

*  It  is  the  work  of  GERBERT,  under  the  title  of  Historia  Nigra 
Sylva,  (Typis  Blascensis)  ,  1783-8,  in  3  quarto  volumes,  to  which  I 
allude  —  and  which,  much  rather  than  Mariana's  History  of  Spain, 
(see  p.  309)  should  be  always  bound  in  black  morocco.  What  deeds 
of  mystery  and  of  amazement  —  what  objects  of  terror,  of  grandeur, 
or  of  preternatural  character  —  what  enchanted  palaces  and  what 
haunted  castles  —  what  animals,  bipedical  as  well  as  quadrupedical— 

(Sub  pedibus  mugire  solum,  et  juga  .  .  .  moveri 
Silvarum,  visseque  canes  ululare  per  umbras.) 


HISTORY  OF  GERMANY.  335 

what  shall  we  say* — when  we  find  a  row  of  twenty-two 
goodly  quarto  volumes,  entitled  BAVARIAN  MONU- 
MENTS, put  forth  at  Munich  between  the  years  1763 
and  1813?  Now,  whether  to  possess  these,  is  one 
thing :  but  that  a  sight  of  them  should  beget  an  ap- 
petite to  possess  something  relating  to  that  highly- 
interesting  country,  is  another,  and  a  most  undeniable 
thing :  and  therefore  let  the  historical  student  avail 
himself  of  the  judicious  notices  in  OFFELIUS'  Rerum 
Boicarum  Scriptores,  Aug.  Vind.  1763,  folio,  2  vols. : 
and  if  he  be  seriously  and  piously  inclined,  above  all 
things  let  him  secure  a  fine  tall  copy,  with  brilliant 
impressions  of  the  plates,  of  the  Bavaria  Sancta  of 
RADERUS,*  published  at  Munich  in  1615,  in  3  thin 
folio  volumes ;  to  which  he  may  add  the  Bavaria  Pia, 
published  at  the  same  place  in  1628,  folio,  in  one 
volume.  I  consider  the  Annales  Boicce  Gentis  of 
ALDZREiTTERandBRUNNER,  Francof.  1710,  folio,  as  a 
little  too  remote  and  old  fashioned  in  their  specula- 
tions to  be  of  any  positive  use  to  the  reader. 

Thus  have  I  travelled  bibliographically,  through 

characterise  and  haunt  <e  this  boundless  contiguity  of  shade." !  !  ! 
But  Mr.  Washington  Irving,  (if  report  speak  true)  will  shortly  give 
us  more  than  a  "  sketchy"  account  of  these  things. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Thesaurus  Rcrum  Suevicarum  of  'WAGE- 
LIMES,  Lidaug.  1756,  4  vols.  folio,  will  supply  the  antiquary  with 
much  to  set  his  heart  at  rest  respecting  Suabian  Antiquities. 

*  Of  this  beautiful  and  interesting  wo/k,  a  particular  account,  to- 
gether with  two  fac-similes  of  some  of  its  embellishments,  is  given 
in  vol.  iii.  p.  221-3,  of  the  Bibliographical  Tour.  Such  a  copy  of  it 
as  that  at  Althorp,  bound  in  blue  morocco  by  Lewis,  will  rarely  be 
seen.  The  first  two  volumes  of  it,  in  very  fine  condition,  were  sold 
at  a  late  sale  in  Pall  Mall,  for  2/.  12*.  6d.  The  cuts  are  by  Ralph 
Sadeler. 


836  HISTORY  OF  GERMANY. 

these  three  great  countries — to  which  I  must  be 
allowed  to  add  the  notice  of  a  few  works  not  strictly 
within  their  limits ;  for  who,  that  has  sailed  or  saun- 
tered along  the  castled  crags  of  the  RHINE,  and  rested 
himself  in  the  picturesque  old  city  of  Mentz,  would 
not  be  anxious  to  turn  over  the  gossiping  leaves  of 
SERRARIUS'S  Res  Moguntince,  Libri  V.  published  at 
Franckfort  in  1722,  in  3  folio  volumes  ?  Then  again, 
the  Scriptores  Rerum  Brunswicensium,  of  which  the 
famous  LEIBNITZ  was  the  editor,  published  by  him  at 
Hanover,  in  1707,  folio,  3  vols.* — and  which  should 
seem  to  have  stimulated  Gibbon  to  his  well  known 
essay  on  the  Antiquities  of  the  House  of  Brunswick — 
who,  I  say,  that  has  received  a  highly  polished 
education,  would  not  strive  to  discipline  himself  in 
such  tastes  and  studies  as  would  cause  his  name  to 
be  ranked  with  some  of  the  great  ARCHAEOLOGISTS  and 
HISTORIANS  named  in  the  more  immediately  preced- 
ing pages  of  this  work?  Who.  above  all,  that  is 
blessed  with  large  patrimonial  possessions — of  the 
deeds  of  whose  ancestors  the  page  of  history  is  often 
full  and  instructive  —  who,  of  this  gallant  class  of 
readers  and  collectors,  would  not  prefer  the  devotion 

*  This  is  becoming  a'  rare  book  j  and  may  be  worth  31.  13s.  6d. 
"  The  genius  and  studies  of  LEIBNITZ  (says  Gibbon)  have  ranked 
his  name  with  the  first  philosophic  names  of  his  age  and  country ; 
but  his  reputation,  perhaps,  would  be  more  pure  and  permanent,  if 
he  had  not  ambitiously  grasped  the  whole  circle  of  human  science." 
..."  The  Annals  of  Brunswick,  of  the  empire,  of  the  ancient  and 
modern  world,  were  present  to  the  mind  of  the  historian  ;  and  he 
could  turn  from  the  solution  of  a  problem,  to  the  dusty  parchments 
and  barbarous  style  of  the  records  of  the  middle  age."  (Antiq.  of  the 
House  of  Brunswick:)  Post.  Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  361:  but  see  par- 
ticularly p.  568,  of  the  same  volume. 


HISTORY  OF  GERMANY.  337 

of  wealth  to  the  collection  of  materials  for  local  and  per- 
sonal history,  to  the  hazard,  turmoil,  expense,  waste, 
and  thankless  ness,  of  gaining  half  the  ELECTIONS  in  the 
kingdom ! — 

One  self-approving  hour  whole  years  outweighs, 
Of  rabble-greetings,  and  of  loud  huzzas  ! 

Sed  quo — tendis  ?  The  ground  trembles  beneath  my 
feet ....  and  I  recede.* 

*  On  a  revision  of  the  immediately  preceding  pages,  I  find  some- 
thing to  correct,  and  something  to  add.  Of  the  corrections,  Fres- 
noy's  work,  (p.  330,  last  line  of  note)  is  said  to  be  in  25,  instead  of 
15  volumes  :  and  at  page  335  (note  line  5)  the  barbarous  word  of 
WAGELIMES  occurs  for  WAGELINUS.  For  the  additions,  the  Corpus 
Historicum  of  STRUVIUS,  (p.  331.)  is  set  forth  in  very  tempting  co- 
lours in  Mr.  Bohn's  Catalogue,  n°.  8279*  and  two  copies  of  it  appear 
at  2/.  2s.  each.  I  possess  the  best  edition  of  it  in  1753,  in  two  vols. 
4to.  and  am  prompt  to  number  it  among  the  most  useful  and  satis- 
factory works  of  literary  bibliography.  After  a  copious  and  useful 
index,  at  the  end  of  the  second  volume,  there  is  a  Notitia  Suevice 
Antiques  of  which  my  copy  ends,  imperfectly,  at  page  120.  At  page 
331,  ante,  line  8  of  note,  no  notice  is  taken  of  an  enlarged  edition  of 
REUBERUS'S  work,  in  1726,  folio  5  of  which,  ff  almost  all  the  copies 
except  those  that  were  sold  at  the  last  Fair,  (1726)  were  consumed 
by  a  fire,  which  lately  broke  out  in  the  city  of  Frankfort."  New 
Memoirs  of  Literature,  vol.  iv.  p.  151.  In  the  notice  of  FEZ,  (page 
333,)  I  have  omitted  to  urge  the  reader  to  secure  a  good  and  reason- 
ably  marked  copy  of  his  ff  Thesaurus  Anecdotorum  Novissimus,  seu 
Veterum  Monumcntorum,  ex  Germanicis  Bibliothecis  Collectio.  "  Aug. 
Find.  1721,  folio,  6  vols.  of  which  a  neat  copy  is  marked  at  the  sum 
of  41.  4s.  in  the  catalogue  of  Mr.  Laing  of  Edinburgh.  A  fine  copy 
of  it  is  at  Althorp,  and  another  very  fine  one  in  his  Majesty's  Li- 
brary. 


[838  ] 


NORTHERN   HISTORIES.* 

IT  may  be  doubted  whether,  at  any  one  period  of 
public  curiosity,  a  greater  intensity  of  interest  has 
been  manifested,  than  at  the  present  moment,  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  physical  and  moral  proper- 
ties of  the  NORTHERN  WORLD  :  with  its  vegetable, 
its  animal,  and  mineral  productions.  An  English- 
man may,  I  think,  dwell  with  more  than  common 
complacency  on  the  events  which  have  recently  taken 
place  in  this  quarter  of  the  globe.  He  may  indulge 
a  well  founded  triumph  on  the  success  of  the  efforts 
of  his  countryman  ;  a  success,  not  commensurate,  it 
is  true,  with  the  sanguine  and  too  extravagant  expec- 

*  Under  this  title  are  comprised  brief  accounts  of  DENMARK,  NOR- 
WAY, SWEDEN,  and  RUSSIA.  It  is  as  impossible  for  the  bibliographer, 
as  for  the  naval  adventurer,  to  circumnavigate  the  globe.  The 
above  countries  are  incorporated  in  these  pages,  to  the  exclusion  of 
the  more  southern  : — first,  because  they  are  of  a  more  peculiar  cast 
of  character,  and  more  intimately  connected  with  the  history  and 
antiquities  of  our  own  country  j  and,  secondly,  because,  of  recent 
years,  voyages  of  discovery  to  the  Northern  Sea  have  become  ob- 
jects of  NATIONAL  PATRONAGE.  In  regard  to  ICELAND,  I  trust  that 
I  am  equally  satisfying  my  own  conscience,  and  the  good  taste  of  the 
public,  if  I  give  an  unqualified  recommendation  of  the  recent  works 
upon  this  country,  by  Sir  George  Mackenzie,  Bart.  (1810,  4to.)  and 
Dr.  Hooker,  (1813, 8vo.)  :  gentlemen,  competent,  in  every  respect,  to 
the  successful  execution  of  the  tasks  which  they  undertook.  These 
works  are  obtainable  for  about  21.  12s.  6d,  $  and  I  presume  them  to 
be  on  the  shelves  of  all  Collectors  of  Voyages.  As  to  GKEENLAND, 
(making  mention  of  Torfaeus  hereafter)  may  I  not  rest  satisfied  with 
the  exclusive  recommendation  of  the  translation  (by  the  pious  and 
learned  Gambold)  from  the  high  Dutch  of  old  Crantz,  in  1767,  2  vols. 
8vo.  with  cuts— worth  about  18*  ? 


NORTHERN   HISTORIES.  339 

tations  of  some — but  fully  equal  to  the  sober  and  well 
founded  wishes  of  the  greater  part.  Nature  has,  and 
perhaps  ever  will  have — as  long  as  the  world  shall 
last — her  impassable  and  insurmountable  barriers  : 
and  if,  in  any  one  portion  of  the  globe  more  than 
another,  it  is  in 

stemming  towards  the  POLE, 

that  the  navigator  has  to  contend  with  those  impe- 
diments, which  at  once  appall  his  fancy  and  impede 
his  progress.  He  may  double  again  and  again  the 
stormy  Cape ;  but  the  prow  of  his  vessel  is  broken  into 
splinters  before  the  "  thick  ribbed"  iceberg.  On  this, 
more  than  on  any  other  subject,  or  point  of  navigation, 
we  are  forbidden  to  yield  to  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Ro- 
man poet ; — "  POSSUNT  qnia  posse  VIDENTUR." 

England,  therefore,  ranks  among  her  heroes  "  of 
bold  daring,  and  high  emprise,"  the  names  of  PARRY 
and  FRANKLIN  ;"*  men,  who  have  perhaps,  equalled 

*  Those  who  have  been  in  the  habit  of  reading  Mr.  Campbell's 
very  beautiful  poem  of  fe  The  Pleasures  of  Hope,"  must,  in  the  course 
of  their  perusal  of  the  voyages  of  the  above  celebrated  travellers, 
have  been  equally  struck  with  the  truth  of  the  imagery,  and  of  the 
feelings,  of  the  poet.  Take  the  following  lines — and  apply  them  to 
Captain  Parry  —  as  you  suppose  him  to  be  ploughing  the  northern 

ocean : 

Cold  on  his  midnight  watch  the  breezes  blow 
From  wastes  that  slumber  in  ETERNAL  SNOW. 
And  again  : 

And  waft,  across  the  wave's  tumultuous  roar, 
The  wolf's  long  howl  from  Oonolaska's  shore.t 


t  It  so  happens  that  these  lines  are  as  melodious  in  structure  as  they  are  ex- 
quisite in  imagery.  The  first  couplet  cannot  be  exceeded :  no,  not  in  the  Eloisa 
of  Pope.  In  the  last  verse  of  the  second  couplet,  you  really  hear  the  howling  of 
the  wolf— and  rush  below  to  your  cabin  fire-side. 


340  NORTHERN  HISTORIES. 

in  their  line  of  research,  what  their  fellow-travellers 
Park  and  Burckhardt  — in  widely  different  directions 

But  whatever  might  have  been  the  hardships  of  both  travellers  (and 
those  of  Captain  Franklin  were  assuredly  the  more  severe)  their 
fondest  hopes  and  wishes,  respecting  the  mode  of  the  reception  of 
their  labours,  AT  HOME,  were  realised  to  the  fullest  extent.  The  me- 
tropolis of  England  was  scarcely  less  agitated  on  the  news  of  the 
victories  of  the  Nile  and  Salamanca,  (putting  those  of  Trafalgar  and 
Waterloo  out  of  the  pale  of  all  comparison)  than  it  was  on  the  eve  of 
the  publications  of  the  travellers  in  question.  The  house  of  Mr. 
Murray,  the  publisher,  was  in  a  state  of  siege.  A  constant  ingress  and 
egress  of  bibliopolistic  Mercurii  below  —  and  of  gentlemen,  learned 
in  philosophy,  the  fine  arts,  and  circumnavigation,  above  —  marked 
the  anxiety  which  prevailed,  and  INSURED  the  prosperous  sale  which 
was  to  follow.  The  day  of  sale  came :  but  that  day  (as  is  usual  on 
like  occasions)  was  preceded  by  a  dinner — the  grand  panacsea  for 
all  sorrows,  and  the  provoker  of  all  gallantry  of  spirit,  in  England. 

Postquam  prima  quies  epulis  .  .  . 

the  sale  began,  Now  the  work  of  Captain  Parry  was  a  three-guinea 
and  a  haif4to.  volume;  and  ere  the  clock  had  struck  seven,  1500  copies 
were  disposed  of!  Again  j  that  of  Captain  Franklin  was  a.  four - 
guinea  book  ;  yet  not  fewer  than  900  copies  were  bona  fide  purchased 
ere  the  company  broke  up  ;  and  within  fe  a  little  month"  of  that  fes- 
tive evening,  60O  more  copies  were  sold.  It  is  now  almost  a  rare  book. 
What  triple  honour  was  here  displayed  ?  —  the  authors,  the  publisher, 
and  the  public,  coming  in  for  a  large  share  of  credit,  profit,  and  in- 
struction, on  the  occasion. 

Such  things  occur  in  NO  other  country  in  the  world  ;f  and  they  are 
&s  much  TESTS — yea,  in  all  respects,  tests  of  a  higher  and  more  com- 


1 1  beseech  Mr.  D'  Israeli  to  chronicle  this,  and  similar  things,  in  a  future  edi- 
tion of  his  Curiosities  of  Literature.  They  will  become  exceedingly  interesting  to 
posterity.  Time  mellows  these  anecdotes  as  it  does  a  raw  picture.  They  may 

appear  glaring  at  first— but how  eagerly  we  read  the  account  of  the  sale  of 

Pope's  translation  of  the  Iliad,  and  (to  mention  no  other  instance)  of  Gibbon's  own 
account  of  the  number  of  copies  struck  off,  or  subscribed  for,  of  his  Decline  and 
Fail  ?  In  regard  to  the  first  edition  of  Paradise  Lost,  it  is  well  known  that  three 
different  title-pages  were  obliged  to  be  struck  off,  in  order  to  make  it  GO  DOWN  with 
the  public  1  It  has  indeed  "  gone  down"  in  the  most  triumphant  manner. 


NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  341 

— have  accomplished  in  theirs :  thus  bringing  the  floes 
and  icebergs  of  the  Polar  sea,  as  vividly  before  the 
reader's  imagination,  as  were,  heretofore,  the  sand 
and  deserts  of  Africa.  But,  interesting  as  may  be  this 
subject,  to  a  large  portion  of  very  curious  readers,  I 
am  forbidden,  from  the  nature  of  my  work,  to  do  any 
thing  more  than  present  them  with  an  outline  of  those 
historians,  from  whom  the-  general  and  particular  his- 
tories of  Denmark,  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Russia,  may 
be  obtained  ;  and  in  the  pages  of  whose  works  there 
will  be  doubtless  found  a  due  mixture  of  fable  and  of 
truth. 

Among  the  writers  of  General  History,  OLAUS 
MAGNUS  stands  at  the  head.  He  succeeded  his  brother 
John  as  Archbishop  of  Upsal,  and  is  supposed  to  have 

mandingcast  of  character —  of  national  wealth  and  prosperity,  as  are 
the  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  vessels,  constantly  displaying  their 
streamers  on  the  bosom  of  the  Thames,  and  as  constantly  and  deeply 
laden  with  "  the  wealth  of  either  Ind."  But,  to  return  to  the  works 
of  Captains  Parry  and  Franklin.  There  are  octavo  editions  of  both, 
each  in  2  vols. — either  published,  or  in  the  course  of  publication. 
Let  me  hope  they  will  not  be  denuded  of  prints.  Mr.  Murray  wields 
u  mighty  sceptre,  and  can  accomplish  mighty  things.  But  I  must 
not  conclude  this  half  festive  and  half  literary  note,  without  the 
strong  recommendation  of  Mr.  SCORESBY'S  Account  of  the  Arctic 
Regions  — 1819,  8vo.  2  vols. — the  fruit  of  seventeen  voyages  to  the 
Polar  Seas  —  (nil  mortalibus  arduum  !)  and  especially  of  Mr.  BAR- 
ROW'S Chronological  History  of  Voyages  into  the  Polar  Regions ,  in 
8vo.  price  12s. :  a  work,  perfect  of  its  kind.* 


*  To  the  above  list — (how  impossible  is  it  to  avoid  mixing  up  Voyages  and 
Travels  with  History  ? )  must  be  added  the  previous  Voyage  of  Discovery  for  the 
purpose  of  exploring  Baffin's  Bay,  &c.  by  CAPTAIN  Ross,  in  quarto  price  31.  13s.  6d. 
with  thirty-two  coloured  plates.  This  publication  gave  rise  to  a  controversy 
which,  I  believe,  has  been  long  and  wisely  forgotten :  but  either  party  will  feel 
more  or  less  strengthened  in  his  positions,  on  the  result  of  Captain  Parry's  first 


842  NORTHERN  HISTORIES. 

acted  an  important  part  in  the  Council  of  Trent :  being 
a  hearty  hater  of  the  Protestants.  Of  his  life,  and 
indeed  of  his  labours,  little  is  known.  His  work  De 
Gentibus  Septentrionalibus*  first  published  at  Rome 

*  A  copy  of  this  work,  as  was  to  be  expected,  appears  in  the  Bill. 
Harl.  vol.  i.  n°.  71 6O — but  it  does  not  appear  (as  was  not  to  be  ex- 
pected) in  the  rich  sprinkling  of  Northern  literature  and  history  to 
be  found  in  the  collection  of  the  late  Dr.  Heath.  Niceron  has  cer- 
tainly paid  the  author  off  in  few  but  pretty  sharp  words  :  namely,  that 
"  he  crammed  into  his  book  all  the  marvellous  things  he  could  hear, 
or  see,  without  caring  one  jot  about  their  truth."  Mtmoires,  &c.  vol. 
xxxv.  p.  321.  Yet  Messrs.  Rivington  and  Cochrane,  in  their  recent 
very  copious  and  excellent  catalogue,  fear  not  to  mark  a  copy  of  this 
work  at  31.  3s.:  see  n°  .15177-  The  italic  adjuncts  to  the  copy  do  in- 
deed tell  us  that  it  is  in  "  old  wooden  binding."  Mr.  Bohn  mea- 
sures his  way  with  extreme  caution,  and  even  philosophy  —  in  his 
estimation  of  the  price  of  this  book.  Although  his  italics  denote  the 
copy  to  contain  ' '  a  profusion  of  wood  cuts,"  yet  he  qualifies  his  panegy- 
ric by  the  price  of  1 Z.  Is.  He  has  another  copy,  "  slightly  stained  with 
a  mended  title"  for  185. :  and  the  Basil  edition  of  1567,  with  "  edges 
a  little  worn,  stamped  binding"  (such  are  the  niceties  of  bibliope- 
gistic  distinctions)  at  I/.  5s.  To  another  copy  of  the  Basil  edition, 
he  adds  the  MUSCOVY  of  POSSEVINUS,  1587,  folio  :  2  vol.  in  1,  "  fine 
copies,  in  white  monastic  binding,  stamped  on  the  sides" — for 
2Z.  12s.  6d.  :  observing  that  "  copies  are  usually  marked  at  from 
41.  4s.  to  5/.  5s."  This  is  but  candid  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Bohn. 

I  must  be  brief  with  the  remaining  general  historians  of  the  North. 
SNOBRO  is  a  great  name,  in  spite  of  Ritson's  sneer,  f  His  "  History 
of  the  Northern  Kings''  was  given  to  the  world  by  Peringskiold,  at 


royage.  Mr.  Murray  is  also  the  publisher  of  Captain  Ross's  book.  Can  it  be 
therefore  a  matter  of  surprise,  that  the  publisher's  villa,  at  Wimbledon,  is  strewed 
with  seal  skins,  and  lined  with  skulls  and  horns  of  the  elk  and  rein-deer — together 
with  the  canoes,  spears,  and  darts  of  the  Esquimaux  ?  Most  assuredly  Mr.  Murray 
has  richly  earned  these  trophies. 

f  Ritson  said  "  'tttas  a  good  name  for  a  snorer,  or  dreamer  "  I  suspect  he  never 
looked  into  the  author.  Read  Mallet's  eulogy  on  this  "  Snorer,"  as  judiciously 
extracted  by  Mr.  Bohn,  in  his  catalogue  -  no.  8209 — where  one  volume  only  of 
the  work  in  question  is  marked  at  II.  \ls.6rf.  And  here,  let  me  ask  why  that 


NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  343 

in  1555,  folio,  yet  finds  purchasers  at  a  good  price, 
especially  if  it  be  in  fine  condition.     Requesting  the 

Stockholm,  in  1697.*  in  two  folio  volumes  j  and  this  is  now  become 
a  rare  work.  A  copy  of  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Priestley  at  the 
sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library  for  fl.  Messrs.  Rivington  and  Cochrane 
tempt  us  with  "  a  fine  copy,  in  calf  extra,  marbled  leaves,"  for 
61.  6s^ :  but  Messrs.  I.  and  A,  Arch  hold  out  the  more  irresistible 
temptation  of  a  good  copy,  in  calf  binding,  at  the  mitigated  price  of 
5/.  5s.  See  the  recent  catalogues  of  these  respective  (and  highly  re- 
spectable) booksellers.  Of  the  NORWEGIAN  Dynasty  of  Kings,  by 
the  same  author,  a  word  or  two  in  a  subsequent  page.  On  the 
richly  furnished  shelves  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  you  look  and 
sigh  in  vain  .  .  .  for  a — SNORRO  ! 

Of  other  general  works,  procure  the  Wandalia  of  KRANTZIUS, 
Franco/.  1580 :  the  Sarmatice  Europece  Descriptio  of  GAGUINUS, 
Spira,  1581  :  (written  in  a  sweet,  pure  style  of  latinity,  according 
to  Starowolscius)*  the  Chronica  Slavorum  of  Steinheim,  Francof.  ad 
Moen.  1581 ;  the  Orbis  Gothicus  of  PRJETORIUS,  published  at  Olive 
Kloster,  1688  :f  —  all  in  folio  —with  some  minor  works,  each  and 
all  to  be  had  at  comparatively  moderate  prices  :  but  these  works 
afford  food  rather  for  the  Antiquary  and  Critic,  than  for  the  common 
reader. 

Yet  I  am  almost  peremptory  in  the  injunction  that  both  te  the 
Old"  and  tf  the  Young"  reader,  place  upon  their  shelves  the  Mtfmoires 
sur  la  Langue  Celtique  of  BULLET,  in  3  folio  volumes,  1754,  and 
worth  about  61.  16s.  6d. — as  a  masterpiece  of  philological  erudition, 
and  as  the  basis  of  very  much  that  is  valuable  and  entertaining  in 
Northern  Literature.  To  these,  they  may  add  a  not  less  instructive 
work  of  its  kind  :  the  Thesaurus  Antiquitatum  Teutonicarum,  Ecclesi- 


very  able  and  accurate  bibliographer,  Brunei  Fils,  describes  this  work  but  as  in 
one  volume,  and  attaches  the  diminutive  price  of  15fr.  to  it  ?  He  ought  to 
accompany  the  next  polar  expedition,  to  atone  for  such  a  kraken  of  an  error.  See 
his  incomparable  Manuel,  vol.  iii.  p.  351. 

*  1  gain  all  this  intelligence  from  the  Bibl.  Harleiana,  vol.  i.  p.  392.  The  work 
of  Gaguin  has  a  number  of  curious  plates ;  a  copy  of  it  was  sold  at  Dr.  Heath's 
sale  for  10s.  only 

t"  Typis  Monasterii  Olivennsf"  a  copy  was  »old  at  Dr.  Heath'*  sale  for 
I/.  3*. 


344  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.          [DENMARK. 

ordinary  reader  to  rest  satisfied  with7" the  account  of 
these  Northern  histories  which  appears  in  the  llth, 
12th,  and  13th  volumes  of  the  Modern  Universal 
History,  in  folio  —  I  must  exhort  the  curious  and  cri- 
tical reader  to  leave  "  no  stone  unturned"  in  his 
endeavours  to  possess  a  copy  of  the  copious,  impartial, 
and  learned  labours  of  STRITTERUS,  as  specified  in  the 
subjoined  note.* 

DENMARK. 

Begin  with  old  SAXO  GRAMMATICUS.  Get  a  fine 
copy  of  his  jirst  edition  of  the  History  of  Denmark, 
printed  in  the  Latin  tongue,  in  1514,  folio  ;-r~  but  at  any 
rate  you  must  riot  think  of  paying  your  respects  at  the 
court  of  Copenhagen,  unless  you  can  assure  the 
Danish  monarch  that  you  possess  a  sound  and  perfect 

asticarum,  et  Litterariarum  of  SCHILTER,  folio,  1728,  three  volumes: 
and  worth  hard  upon  5/  5s. :  while,  to  the  full  as  instructive  as  either,  is 
the  Chronologia  de  rebus  Sueci<r}  Dani<E,  Norvegiue  of  MESSENIUS, 
with  the  notes  of  Peringskiold  in  2  folio  vols.  170O-*of  which  a  copy 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Priestley  at  Dr.  Heath's  sale  for  31.  3s.  Messrs. 
Rivington  and  Cochrane  mark  it  at  1 05.  6d.  less. 

*  tf  Memorise  Populorum,  olim  ad  Danubium,  Pontum  Euxinum, 
Paludem  Mceotidem,  Caucasum,  #c.  et  inde  magis  AD  SEPTEMTRIONES 
INCOLENTIUM,  e  Scriptoribus  Hist.  Byz.  erutce  et  digestce,  1771-9,  4to. 
four  volumes.  A  masterly  analysis  of  this  work  will  be  found  in 
Meusel's  Bill.  Hist.  vol.  v.  p.  111-122  :  and  Mr.  Evans  (who  first 
directed  my  attention  to  it)  had  a  copy  of  it,  in  his  catalogue  of 
1802,  "  new  and  very  neat"  marked  at  5Z.  15s.  6d.  It  has  become 
rare  in  this  country. 

f  This  volume  has  escaped  Brunet.  It  is  a  beautiful  book,  and  an 
old  acquaintance  of  mine,  as  a  fac-simile  of  one  of  its  capital 
initials  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  xxxvii,  will  readily  prove.  In 
fine  condition,  it  may  be  worth  I/.  Is.  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co. 
value  it  at  10s.  6d.  only  :  Cat.  1822,  n<>.  231. 


DENMARK.]         NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  345 

copy  of  the  lest  edition  of  this  work,  with  the  notes  of 
Stephens^  put  forth  in  1644,  folio.  It  will  make  but 
a  slender  inroad  on  your  purse.  *  Next,  look  out 
sharply  for  the  Danish  Annals  and  Danish  Monu- 
ments published  by  OLAUS  WORMIUS,  in  1643  f  ;  and 
covet,  more  vehemently  than  either,  the  truly  valu- 
able productions  of  TORF^US.  You  have  a  familiar 
introduction  to  them  in  the  subjoined  note.J  The 

*  A  good  copy  is  worth  about  1Z.  11  s.  6d.  At  the  sale  of  Dr. 
Heath's  library,  it  was  bought  for  the  London  Institution  for  1Z.  6s. 
Mr.  Bonn  marks  it  at  1 1.  105.  in  vellum  —  with  an  extract  from  Du 
Fresnoy  as  a  whetter  for  a  purchaser.  Messrs.  Rivington  and  Coch- 
rane  mark  it  "  neat "  at  1Z.  165.  Those  who  will  read  an  account  of 
Saxo  Grammaticus  in  Mr.  Chalmers's  Biographical  Dictionary,  may 
easily  satisfy  themselves  of  the  value  of  this  historian.  Why  has 
Niceron  neglected  him  ?  And  why  has  the  Biographical  Dictionary 
of  Caen  given  so  bald  an  account  of  him  ?  The  writers  of  the  latter 
work  (edit.  1804)  are  surprised  that  Saxo  should  have  written  such 
good  Latin  in  the  xnth  century !  They  were  well  read  critics, 
doubtless.  But  respecting  TORF-EUS,  they  are  outrageously  super- 
ficial. 

f  A  good  copy  of  either,  (being  folio  volumes)  is  worth  1Z.  Is.  The 
Danica  Literatura  Antiquissima,  &c.  with  cuts,  published  in  1636,  at 
Amst.  4to.  is  worth  nearly  double  the  money.  It  contains  a  Disser- 
tation on  the  ancient  Danish  Poetry.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  have, 
at  this  moment,  an  excellent  copy  of  it  at  the  well-judged  price  of 
1Z.  165. 

j  When  Monsieur  Brunet  Fils  favours  us  with  a  fourth  edition  of 
his  Manuel,  he  will  doubtless  remodel  his  article  of  TOR  RE  us  —  in- 
asmuch as  all  the  prices  there  attached  to  the  works  of  this  renowned 
antiquary  and  historian,  are  rated  by  him  greatly  below  the  mark. 
For  the  sake  of  juxta-position  I  will  mention  them  as  they  respect 
both  Norway  and  Denmark;  In  1702,  4to.  appeared  his  Series 
Dynastiarum  et  Regum  Danite :  worth  about  1 05.  6d.  but  selling  at 
Dr.  Heath's  sale,  in  extra  binding  by  Walther,  for  1 Z.  35.  In  17O7 
appeared  the  Trifolium  Historicum,  sen  Dissertatio  Historica  de  tribus 
Regibus  Gormo  Grand^vo,  &c.  4to.  an  uncommon  book ;  but 


346  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.         [DENMARK. 

name  of  BARTHOLIN  is  deservedly  celebrated  in  the 
annals  of  Danish  Literature,  Medicine,  and  Jurispru- 
dence. My  business  is  only  with  Thomas  (the  son  of 
the  famous  physician  *)  who  followed  the  latter  pur- 
suit ;  and  who,  in  his  curious  work  "  De  Causis  con- 
temptce  a  Danis  adhuc  Gentilibus  Mortis ;  Hafnice, 
1689,  4to.  hath  most  pleasingly  and  learnedly  treated 
of  that  curious  subject.  Again,  if  Heraldry  be  among 
the  favourite  pursuits  of  the  historical  reader,  let  him 
look  closely  into  the  Breviarium  Equestre  of  BIRCH- 
ERODIUS,  who  expatiates  with  rapture  on  the  origin, 
progress,  and  splendour  of  the  Order  of  the  Elephant. 

not  so  rare  as  the  Historia  Finlandice  Antiquce,  1/05,  l^mo.  of  which 
a  copy  at  Caillard's  sale  (says  Brunet)  was  sold  for  thirty-six  francs. 
The  grand  work  of  Torfseus  is  his  Historia  Rerum  Norvegicarum, 
published  in  1711*  in  4  folio  volumes,  and  usually  bound  in  two.  A 
copy  of  this  scarce  work  was  sold  for  81.  at  Dr.  Heath's  sale,  and  is 
marked  at  71-  17*.  6d.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs,  Rivington  and 
Cochrane.  With  this  work  should  be  possessed  the  Orcades,  1715, 
folio,  of  the  same  writer  5  and  worth  about  \l.  5s.  In  1777*  4to. 
appeared  the  Note  Posteriores  of  Torfaeus  on  his  Series  Regum 
Danicce  j  worth  about  95.  6d.  ALL  these  publications  came  forth  at 
Copenhagen.  But  I  had  well  nigh  forgotten  his  Veteris  Groenlandia 
Descriptio,  published  with  cuts  in  1706,  small  octavo,  of  which  I  once 
possessed  a  large  and  lovely  copy,  bound  in  green  morocco  (as  was 
most  fitting)  with  gilt  on  the  leaves  .  .  .  "  FUIMUS  ! " 

*  The  works  of  this  Physician  are  elaborately  detailed  by  Watt 
in  his  Bibliotheca  Britannica  ;  and  are,  with  one  exception,  almost 
exclusively  professional :  shewing  the  extraordinary  activity  as  well 
as  knowledge  of  their  author.  That  "  one  exception  "  is  the  only 
thing  expatiated  upon  by  Brunet.  Thomas  Bartholin,  who  may  be 
considered  as  the  JOHN  HUNTER  of  the  North,  died  in  16SO.  Con- 
sult Chalmers  5  as  the  Diet.  Biographique  of  Caen  is  lamentably 
jejune.  A  well  written  and  impartial  life  of  Bartholin  would,  even 
now,  be  an  acceptable  gift  both  to  the  public  and  to  the  profession 
in  particular. 


DENMARK.]          NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  347 

His  work  was  published,  with  plates,  at  Copenhagen, 
in  1704,  folio,  and  an  uncommon  book  it  is.  Bartho- 
lin  is  picked  up  for  a  few  shillings.  Denmark,  on  the 
whole,  is  rich  in  historical  lore.  Whatever  was  the 
scantiness,  or  were  the  defects,  of  preceding  periods, 
the  eighteenth  century  witnessed  some  publications 
which  would  have  done  credit  to  the  most  civilised 
and  powerful  nations  on  the  globe.  It  is  true,  that 
Torfaeus  led  the  way  ;  but  the  three  quarto  volumes 
of  the  Gesta  et  Vestigia  Danorum  extra  Daniam,  put 
forth  at  Leipsic  in  1540,  roused  MALLET  to  the  exe- 
cution of  the  history  of  his  country,  and  of  the 
Northern  Antiquities:  while  these  were  exceeded 
equally  in  splendour,  utility,  and  extent,  by  the  meri- 
torious labours  of  LANGEBECK  ;*  whose  "  Collection 

*  The  above,,  in  due  order :  but  a  word  or  two  of  previous  publi- 
cations. Who  has  not  heard  the  sound  of  the  <f  Tuba  Danica  of 
Randulffus, "  1644,  folio  ? —  nor  read  the  Leges  Antique  Aulicce  Nor- 
vegorum  8$  Danorum  of  Resenius,  1673,  4to.  an  admirable  work — in 
the  Danish  and  Latin  languages  ?  with  the  Historia  Compendiosa  of 
the  Kings  of  Denmark,  to  the  time  of  Christian  IV.,  published  in  the 
Latin  language,  at  Leyden  in  1695,  4tc.  As  to  the  above— the 
Gesta  et  Festigia  Danorum  extra  Daniam,  may  be  worth  about 
2Z.  12s.  6d.  It  is  now  of  rare  occurrence.  MALLET  is  the  great 
modern  historian  of  Denmark.  His  Introduction  to  the  History  of 
that  country  was  published  in  the  French  language  at  Copenhagen 
in  1755,  4to.  His  History,  in  the  same  language,  was  published 
three  years  afterwards  in  three  quarto  volumes  :  a  rare  work,  with 
the  third  volume— and  worth  3  J.  135.  6d.  His  Northern  Antiquities,  * 
a  most  curious  work,  was  translated  into  English  and  published  in 


*  This  work  is  pronounced  by  Ritson  (I  quote  from  memory)  to  be  "  stuffed 
with  lies  from  one  end  to  the  other."  There  are,  assuredly,  fictions  enough  in  it, 
as  there  are  in  Homer :  but  cannot  the  truth  be  severed  from  the  falsehood  ?  And, 
do  not  even  these  falsehoods,  in  some  degree,  illustrate  the  truth  ?  The  ground  of 
Riteon'i  abuse  was,  simply,  because  Bishop  Percy  took  a  part  in  the  publication. 


348  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [NORWAY. 

of  Writers  of  Danish  Affairs  in  the  Middle  Ages'  ap- 
peared in  seven  folio  volumes  at  Copenhagen  in  1772- 
1792.  It  is  said  that  the  present  venerable  and  learned 
Dr.  Thorkelin,  principal  librarian  of  the  Royal  Li- 
brary at  Copenhagen,  seldom  pronounces  the  name  of 
Langebeck,  without  passing  his  hand  across  his  eyes, 
or  placing  it  on  his  heart.  This  is  as  it  should  be. 


NORWAY. 

Norway  will  scarcely  detain  us  two  minutes.  Of 
late  years,  the  shores  of  this  country  have  been  rarely 
visited  ;  and  that  stupendous  chain  of  eternally  snow- 
capt  mountains,  which  separates  it  from  Sweden,  and 
of  which  the  lower  parts  are  alternately  darkened 
by  forests  of  fir,  *  and  relieved  by  gladsome  pastures 

1770,  in  2  octavo  volumes,  under  the  editorial  care  of  Bishop  Percy; 
and  has  been  more  than  once  reprinted.  LANGEBECK'S  Scriptores 
Rerum  Danicarum  MediiJEvi,  published  at  Copenhagen  in  1772-92, 
is  now  become  a  work  of  uncommon  occurrence.  The  copy  of  it,  in 
Dr.  Heath's  library,  was  sold  for  61.  8s.  6d.  The  editor  was  doubt- 
less the  Bouquet  of  Denmark.  Dr.  THORKELIN  has  published  a 
Danish  and  Anglo-Saxon  poem  by  Beowulf,  (with  Latin  verses 
and  indexes)  of  the  feats  of  the  Kings  of  Denmark  in  the  third 
and  fourth  centuries,  from  a  MS.  in  the  Cotton  Library.  It  was  pub- 
lished in  1815,  4to.  and  is  marked  in  boards  by  Mr.  Bohn  at  ll.  5s. 
My  friend  Mr.  Douce  is  yet  the  correspondent  of  this  amiable  and 
learned  Septuagenarian ;  between  whom  and  Earl  Spencer  many  book 
presents  and  bibliographical  civilities  have  passed.  From  the  destruc- 
tion of  his  library,  in  the  bombardment  of  Copenhagen  during  the 
siege,  Dr.  Thorkelin  has  but  too  just  grounds  of  remembrance  of  that 
tremendous  occurrence. 

*  Is  the  reader — or  rather,  are  all  my  readers — aware  that  the 
proudest  feature  of  a  first  rate  man  of  war,  is  the  produce  of  Norway  > 


NORWAY.]         NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  349 

—  this  marvellous    portion   of  the  globe  seems    (as 
if  fashion  should  rule  the  waves  as  well  as  the  land) 
to  have  no  attractive   charms   for   the   enterprising 
travellers  of  the  south.     On  throwing  an  eye  over  the 
extraordinary  list  of  Voyages  and  Travels  put  forth  by 
the  TWO  most  celebrated  booksellers  in  Europe,  I  find 
no  notice  of  Norway.     Very  recently,  indeed,  a  work 
has  appeared  under  the  following  title :  Travels  through 
Sweden,  Norway,  and  Finmark,  to  the  North  Cape,  in 
the  Summer  of  1820.     By  A.  DE  CAPELL  BROOKE, 
M.  M.  1823.     This  is  a  handsomely  printed,  and  an 
instructive  volume ;  but  perhaps  of  equal  interest,  as 
well  as  of  more  scientific  attainment,  is  the  perform- 
ance of  BARON  VON  BUCK,  a  Prussian — whose  Travels 
in  Norway  and  Lapland  appeared  in  a  4to.  volume, 
with  Notes,  Illustrations,  and  Maps,  by  Mr.  Jameson, 
in  1813 ;  and  may  be  worth  2/.  2s.  in  comely  binding. 
Of  the  ancient  historians  of  Norway,  we  must  be 
contented  chiefly  with  TORREUS  and  SNORRO.     The 
celebrated  work  of  the  former  has  been  already  no- 
ticed ;*  and   of  the  latter — (the  son  of  the  Author 
upon   the  Northern   Kings)    it   will   be   only  essen- 
tial to  say,  that,   in   the  possession  of  his  Historia 
Regiim  Norvegice  ;  Hafnice,  1 777,  folio,  5  vols.,  you 
have  in  all  respects  the  most  valuable  work  extant  in 
regard  to  Norway. f     The  history  of  its  revolutions, 

I  allude  to  the  mast :  for  strength,  straitness,  and  altitude,  we  must 
always  have  recourse  to  the  NORWAY  FIR. 

*  See  page  345. 

f  "  Snorroi,  Sturlae-Filii,  Historia  Regum  Norvegicorum,  Islandice, 
Danice,  etLatint,  ct  Schoning.  Haunia,  1778,  1813,  &c.  Folio.  Messrs. 
Arch  mark  a  copy,  "  four  vols.  in  three,  "  calf,  at  1[l.  \ls.  6d. :  but 
Messrs.  Rivington  and  Cochrane,  adding  another  volume  of  the  date 


350  NORTHERN   HISTORIES.  [SWEDE*. 

up  to  its  union  with  Sweden  in  1814,  has  been  satis- 
factorily accomplished  by  Catteau  Calleville,  at  Paris, 
in  1818,  2  octavo  volumes.  But  defective  as  may  be 
the  link  of  Norwegian  Historians,  the  country  under 
discussion  boasts,  in  the  work  of  PONTOPPIDAN,  of  one 
of  the  noblest  volumes  extant  connected  with  Natural 
History.  This  magnificent  book  was  published  at 
London  in  1755,  folio.* 

SWEDEN. 

This  country  is  sufficiently  fruitful  in  literary  lore. 
If  it  have  not,  in  the  developement  of  its  history,  all 
those  hardy  and  original  traits  which  characterise  the 
Danish  annals,  it  contains,  nevertheless,  a  body  of  in- 
struction and  amusement,  of  which  those  who  have 
not  read  Puffendorf,  Vertot,  and  Voltaire,  can  have  no 
adequate  conception.  Of  late  years,  indeed,  the  his- 

of  1818,  mark  a  copy,  sewed,  at  12Z.  12*.  -,  ff  and  very  neat  in  calf," 
at  15Z.  155.  Here  is  a  tremendous  difference  of  valuation,  indeed  ! 
The  fifth  volume,  it  is  true,  contains  the  history  of  OLD  HACO  j  but 
are  the  memoirs  of  that  ancient  gentleman  worth  such  an  additional 
sum  ?  I  predict  however  that,  before  the  year  of  our  Lord  183O,  not 
a  SNORRO  will  be  found  in  the  archives  of  our  booksellers. 

*  Mr.  Bohn  marks  this  book  at  2/.  2s. :  Messrs.  Rivington  and 
Cochrane  atSZ.  3s.,  and  Messrs.  Payne  andFoss,  "  2  vols.  in  1,  neat," 
at4Z.  4s. :  adding  another  copy,  on  fine  paper,  with  the  margin  of  the 
second  vol.  "  slightly  wormed  "  at  5Z.  5s.  I  own  I  should  be  for  this 
latter,  in  spite  of  the  insinuating  worm,  against  all  the  field !  Dr. 
Heath's  copy  produced  41.  19s.  Brunet  does  not  notice  a  large 
paper  copy  :  but  such  a  one  (and  I  believe  it  is  UNIQUE)  exists  in  the 
magnificent  library  at  Althorp.  It  is  bound  in  two  volumes,  in  calf 
binding.  The  Glossarium  Norvagicum,  Germ,  et  Lat.  1749,  12mo. 
was  by  a  different  author,  of  the  same  name. 


SWEDEN.]  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  351 

toryof  this  country  has  become  more  particularly 
interesting  ;  and  it  will  be  the  wisdom  of  its  present 
reigning-  Monarch  to  consolidate  and  perpetuate,  as 
far  as  human  means  may,  the  strength  of  the  Empire 
by  the  encouragement  given  to  PATRIOTIC  LEARNING. 
As  an  earnest  of  future  glory,  I  hail  the  appearance  of 
the  first  volume  of  the  National  Writers  of  Sweden, 
by  Fant,  published  under  the  auspices  of  the  King.* 

Among  the  earlier  writers  on  Swedish  History,  we 
may  notice  the  performances  of  MESSENIUS,  LOCCE- 
NIUS,  ELRIC  OLAUS,  ERLANDUS,  SCHEFFER,  and  VERE- 
LIUS  ;-}-  writers,  whose  works  rather  belong  to  the 

*  Scriptores  Rerum  Sueciarum  Medii  Mm,  edidit  E.  M.  FANT, 
Holmicc  et  Upsalia,  1818,  folio,  vol.  i.  Of  this  volume,  I  never  saw 
a  copy  j  nor  is  it  at  present  to  be  found  on  the  shelves  of  the  Althorp 
Library.  Among  the  earlier  collections  of  Swedish  writers  was  that 
of  GOLD  AST  us,  published  in  1727.»  folio  :  of  which  a  copy  reached 
only  the  moderate  sum  of  9s.  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library. 

f  Let  us  consider  these  old  fashioned  gentlemen  in  the  order  in 
which  their  publications  appeared  :  but  first,  suppose  "  the  Young 
Man  "  exercise  his  ingenuity,  and  gratify  his  love  of  novelty,  by  turn- 
ing over  the  "  Regnorum  Suecia?,  Gothiae,  Magnique  Ducatus  Fln- 
landitf  8$c.  Descriptio  Nova,  1656,  adorned  with  cuts  j  and  then  exa- 
mine the  more  stately  and  satisfactory  work  entitled  SUECIA  ANTIQUA 
ET  HODIERNA,  published  at  Stockholm,  in  three  folio  volumes.  He 
may  afterwards  purchase,  or  not,  the  works  of  the  above  authors  as 
follow.  Scandia  Illustrata,  MESSENII  ;  with  notes,  by  Peringskiold. 
Holmiae,  1700,  folio  :  Chronicon  Episcoporum,  EJUSDEMJ  1611,  8vo. 
LOCCENII  Hist.  Rerum  Sueciar.  et  Antiquit.  Sueo-Guth.  Holm. 
1654,  8vo.  A  copy  is  in  the  library  of  the  London  Institution. 
Suecice  Regni  Leges  Provinciates,  &c.  EJUSD.  Holm.  1672,  folio  :  a 
curious  and  uncommon  book:  »ee  Bibl.  Harleian.  vol.  i.  n°.  7207. 
Histories  Suecance,  &c.  usq.  ad  Car.  II.  Libr.  IX.  #c.  Franco/,  et  Lips. 
1676,  folio.  By  the  same  Author ,  and  equally  rare  and  valuable. 
ELRICI  OLAI  Historia  Suecorum  Gothorumque.  Holm.  1654,  12mo. 
This  book  was  edited  by  Loccenius.  A  copy  of  it  was  purchased  by 


352  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [SWEDEN. 

cabinets  of  the  curious,  than  to  the  libraries  of  gene- 
ral Collectors.  The  note,  just  referred  to,  will  accord- 
ingly be  read  only  by  such  a  class  of  Virtuosi  or 
Antiquaries.  I  hasten,  therefore,  to  the  Biographies 
of  CHRISTINA,  GUSTAVUS  VASA,  and  CHARLES  XII •; 
because,  in  the  first  place,  these  biographies  contain 

Mr.  Heber  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library  for  6s.  6d.  ISRAEL  ER- 
LANDI  Vita  S.  Erici  Suecia  Regis,  16~5,  8vo.  A  copy  is  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  same  gentleman  from  the  same  library. 

The  name  of  SCHEFFER  stands  deservedly  high  among  the  writers 
of  Northern  History  j  and  there  are  several,  I  believe,  of  the  same 
name.  The  History  of  Lapland  is  probably  more  generally  known  j 
but  the  Harleian  Catalogue  furnishes  me  with  the  following  of  John 
Scheffer,  relating  to  Sweden.  De  Antiquis  Verisque  Regni  Sueciae 
Insignibus.  Lib.  sing.  Holm..  1678,  folio  :  Upsalia  cujus  Occasione 
plurima  in  Religione,  Sacris,  Festis,  illustrantur.  Upsal.  1666,  8vo. 
De  Situ  8f  Focabulo  Upsalia,  &c.  Holmia,  1678,  8vo.  Neither  of 
this  writer,  nor  of  the  following  yet  more  curious  one,  do  I  find  any 
works  in  the  well-stocked  library  of  the  late  Dr.  Heath.  It  is  of 
VERELIUS  of  whom  I  am  about  to  speak ',  and  whose  Manductio 
Compendiosa  ad  Runographiam  Scandicam  Antiquam  recte  intelligent 
dam,  Upsal,  1675,  small  folio,  is  considered  by  my  friend  Mr.  Douce 
as  exhibiting  the  performance  of  the  "  Coryphaeus  of  Northern  lore  :" 
indeed,  as  he  pronounced  these  words,  he  thrice  flourished  his  Runic 
staff,  or  wand,  round  his  head  !  And  yet  ~—  that  same  deeply- versed 
antiquary  could  not  put  into  my  hands  (as  he  did  the  te  Manductio") 
the  "  Index  Lingua  Scytho-Scandicce,  sive  Gothics,  ex  vet.  mon.  collect. 
1691,  folio — which  Rudbeck  republished  in  his  Atlantica  j  nor  was  I 
furnished,  by  him,  with  the  same  author's  fe  Hervarar  Saga,  seu  Mu- 
lieris  bellicose,  Hervora  dicta,  Historia,  Ling-Suec.  cum  Interp.  Lat. 
et  Notis;  Upsal,  1672,  folio.  But  these  "SAGA*"  plunge  the 
bibliographer  into  an  unfathomable  and  interminable  ocean  of  re- 
search. If,  however,  the  heart  of  the  enterprising  "  Young  Man  " 


*  Messrs.  I.  and  A.  Arch  once  had  a  snug  corner  of  their  valuable  stock  of 
books  devoted  to  these  "  Saga  "  --  but  the  NORTHERN  MAMA  put  them  quickly  to 
flight :  to  the  equal  joy  of  their  past  and  present  possessors. 


SWEDEN.]  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  353 

some  of  the  most  curious  particulars  of  Swedish  his- 
tory ;  and  because,  in  the  second  place,  we  have 
hardly  any  regular  history  of  that  country  till  we 
catch  hold  of  the  little  elegantly  printed  (Elzevirean) 
production  of  the  Life  of  Christina,  published  in 
1667,  12mo.*  An  Englishman,  however,  may  solace 
himself  with  the  sensibly  written  History  of  Sweden 
which  appears  in  the  twelfth  volume  of  the  Modern 
Universal  History,  in  folio,  and  in  the  twenty-ninth 
and  thirtieth  volumes  in  octavo. 

Next  comes  PUFFENDORF,  a  host  in  himself;  his 
"  Swedish  Affairs"  and  "  Transactions  of  Gustavus 
Adolphus"~\-  being  works  (especially  the  latter)  with- 

fail  him,  in  these  confined  but  curious  researches,  I  beg  and  entreat 
that  when  a  good  copy  of  the  Monumenta  Sueo-Gothica  (with  no 
stinted  sprinkling  of  curious  cuts)  of  PERINGSKIOLD,  Stockh.  1710, 
folio,  turns  up — he  will  give  as  much  as  Mr.  Priestley  did,  at  Dr. 
Heath's  sale,  to  become  its  purchaser — namely,  %l.  10s. 

*  Before  the  appearance  of  the  rare  little  Elzevir  volume  above 
noticed,  there  was  published  an  Italian  History  of  Christina,  at 
Modena,  in  1656,  4to. :  now  become  a  rare  book ;  seeBibl.  Heath,  no. 
2510.  Four  years  afterwards  appeared  an  English  work  under  the 
following  title,  "  The  History  of  Christina  Queen  of  Swedeland,  with 
the  Reason  for  her  Abdication  and  Motives  of  her  Conversion  to  the 
Church  of  Rome,"  1660,  8vo.  Bibl.  Harl.  vol.  i.  n°.  7220.  But 
the  most  splendid  and  perfect  work,  relating  to  this  celebrated  Queen, 
was  published  in  the  French  language,  ff  Me*moires  de  Christine) 
Reine  de  Siiede,  (recueillis  par  Archenholz}  Amst.  1751,  4to.  4  vols. 
with  cuts,  including  portraits  5  and  of  which  a  copy  was  bought  by 
Earl  Gower  at  Dr.  Heath's  sale  for  9,1.  12s.  Christina  has  recently 
had  more  honours  paid  to  her  memory.  I/acombe  published  a  short 
history  of  her  in  1762,  12mo. ;  and  Catteau  Calleville  in  1815,  Svo. 
2  vols. 

t  First,  of  his  "  Commentariorum  de  Rebus  Suedds  Libr.  xxiv.  ab 
expedit.  Gustavi  Adolphi  Reg.  in  Germaniam  ad  Abdicationem  Chris- 
tinae,  first  published  at  Utrecht,  in  1686,  folio  j  and  afterwards  at 

A  A 


354  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [SWEDE*. 

out  which  no  historical  collection  can  be  considered 
as  complete.  We  approach  VERTOT  ;  whose  Hlstoire 
des  Revolutions  de  Suede,  was  first  published  in  1734, 
4to.  Its  reimpressions  are  very  numerous.  About  the 
same  period  came  out  VOLTAIRE'S  popular  Hlstoire  de 
Charles  XII ;  of  which  the  editions  are  almost  innu- 
merable ;  and  which  indeed  may  be  considered  one 
of  the  most  instructive  and  admirably  written  works  of 
modern  times. * 

Of  recent  execution,  we  have  indeed  nothing  abso- 
lutely full  and  instructive  relating  to  Sweden  :  at 
least,  I  am  unacquainted  with  any  such  production. 
But  I  cannot  close  these  observations,  however  im- 
perfect, without  making  some  mention,  and  enforcing 
the  recommendation,  of  the  celebrated  work  called 

Franckfort  on  the  Main,  1705,  folio.  A  work  of  great  and  justly 
founded  reputation.  No  historian  or  commentator  on  Swedish  affairs 
excels  Puffendorf.  A  good  copy  of  the  latter  edition  may  be  worth 
\l.  105.  The  <f  Res  gesicc  Caroli  Gustavi  Sueciae  Regis,"  was  printed 
at  Nuremberg,  in  1696,  folio,  two  vols.  and  again  at  the  same 
place  in  1729  ;  of  which  latter,  a  copy  produced  31.  10s.  at  the  sale 
of  Dr.  Heath's  library.  It  has  many  plates.  A  French  version  ap- 
peared at  Nuremberg  in  two  vols.  the  year  after  the  first  Latin  ver- 
sion :  Bibl.  Harl.  vol.  i.  n°.  7211. 

But  the  GREAT  GUSTAVUS  has  more  recent  historians.  Harte  pub- 
lished his  history  in  1759,  4  to.  which  has  been  reprinted  in  Svo. — a 
work  strongly  recommended  by  Lord  Chesterfield  ;  and  Mauvillon 
published  his  history  from  the  MSS.  of  Archenholz,  at  Amst.  1764, 
12mo.  4  vols.  or  4to.  1  vol. 

*  The  most  copious,  and  intrinsically  valuable,  history  of  Charles 
XII.  is  that  by  NORDBERG,  published  in  the  French  language  at  the 
Hague,  in  1?4S,  4to.  4  vols. :  and  worth  about  \l.  18s.  or  2J.  2s.  To 
this,  and  to  similar  works,  let  me  add  "  Mtmoires  pour  servir  ct  la 
connoissance  des  affaires  de  la  Suede  (par  CanzlerJ  in  5776,"  Dresd. 
two  parts,  in  quarto. 


SWEDEN].  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  355 

OLAI  RUDBECKII  ATLANTICA,  published  in  four  folio 
volumes,  at  Upsal,  in  1675-1698,  *  and  of  which  per- 

*  The  "  Atlantica,  sive  Manheim  vera  Japheti  posteriorum  sedes  ac 
patria"  of  RUDBECK  is  doubtless  among  the  GREATEST  GUNS  of  a 
well  chosen  collection.  Brunet,  by  the  assistance  of  an  amusing  and 
instructive  work  called  "  "  Voyage  de  deux  Frangais  au  Nord  de 
V Europe,"  1788,  (qu  ?)  has  given  a  very  particular  and  faithful 
account  of  this  extraordinary  production.  The  main  features  of 
a  perfect  and  desirable  copy  are  these.  There  are  three  different 
titles  to  the  first  volume:  one  has  the  date  of  1675  ;  another,  that  of 
1679,  purporting  to  be  a  second  edition— but  in  fact  precisely  like  the 
volume  with  a  previous  date,  having  only  seven  additional  leaves  at 
the  end.  There  is  a  third  title  page  without  any  date — and  all  these 
title-pages  were  found  in  the  Valliere  copy,  which  produced  1351 
francs — a  sum  exceeding  that  of  any  other  copy  sold  in  France,  This 
copy  had  other  peculiarities,  presently  to  be  noticed,  and  chiefly  the 
index  to  the  third  volume,  for  which  the  keen  Collector  must  be  on 
the  constant  look  out.  Debure  never  saw  any  copy  with  this  Index, 
but  that  of  Gaignat.  It  will  be  found,  I  believe,  in  the  copies  of  his 
Majesty,  Earl  Spencer,  Mr.  Grenville,  and  Mr.  G.  Hibbert,  and  I 
suspect  that  a  similar  copy  graces  the  Chatsworth  Library  The 
Atlas,  which  was  fast  published,  should  contain  forty- three  plates; 
or  rather  forty-one  leaves,  including  two  Chronological  tables,  which 
follow  the  forty-third  plate.  The  fifth  plate  is  never  found ;  but 
there  is  a  duplicate  of  the  twenty-fifth. 

And  now,  a  word  about  the  fourth  volume.  It  is  in  fact  almost 
UNFINDABLE  j  as  only  three  or  four  copies  are  supposed  to  have  sur- 
vived the  fire  which  consumed,  not  only  the  author's  MS.  (with  the 
foregoing  exception)but  the  WHOLE  OF  THE  IMPRESSION  after  the  third 
sheet  of  the  second  alphabet  had  been  struck  off.  These  perished 
with  a  great  number  of  copies  of  the  third  volume  ;  so  that  the  first 
two  volumes  of  Rudbeck  are  often  found  (as  in  the  Harleian  Collec- 
tion) without  the  third.  All  the  more  eminent  libraries,  sold  within 
these  dozen  years,  did  not  contain  it.  My  printer  furnishes  me  with 
the  following  notice  from  his  interleaved  De  Bure : 

"  De  Bure  is  certainly  mistaken  in  asserting  that  there  are  no 
printed  copies  of  the  4th  vol.  of  Rudbeck's  Atlantica.  Mr.  Dryan- 
der  has  often  seen  the  copy  which  is  in  the  University  Library  at 


356  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [SWEDEN. 

feet  copies  are  cherished  with  a  sort  of  enthusiastic 
fondness,  only  exceeded  by  the  possession  of  a  perfect 
set  of  the  peregrinations  of  DE  BRY.  Happy  is  that 
man,  but  happier  yet  that  well-versed  Bibliomaniac, 
who,  on  pointing  to  his  perfect  Rudbeck,  says,  that 
"  his  blood  and  treasure  have  not  flowed  in  vain  in 
the  acquisition  of  such  an  object."  Great  conquests 
can  only  be  obtained  by  great  expenditures.  And  so 
he  hastens  to  open  his  black-letter  tomes,  of  which,  in 
all  probability,  he  is  unable  to  read  one  word  of  the 
original  text,  however  he  may  grapple  with  the  Latin 
version.  I  cannot  in  my  heart  help  avowing  that,  the 
printing  and  embellishments  of  this  work  are  most 
provokingly  repulsive.  Yet  I  must  not  be  supposed 
to  raise  the  feeblest  sound  against  its  intrinsic  worth. 

Upsala,  containing,  as  far  as  Mr.  Dryander  can  remember,  about  130 
pages.     In  the  library  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Stockholm  is 
another  copy,  as  may  be  seen  from  Rounadler's  Catalogue  (of  his 
library  given  to   the  Academy)  page  4,  no.  48-52,  where  are  the 
1,  2,  3,  volumes,  and  of  the  4th,  as  much  as  has  been  printed — to- 
gether with  the  plates  in  a  5th  vol.     Mr.  Dryander  has  also  been  told 
that  one  copy  is  in  the  possession  of  Professor  Aurivilliers  at  Upsala, 
and  that  one  was  in  the  library  of  the  late  Dr.  Hawswolff,  rector  of 
St.  Clara  in  Stockholm,  which  was  bought  at  the  sale  of  his  books, 
either  for  some  public  library  or  some  private  person  in  Germany. 
This  accounts  for  four  copies,  which  Mr.  Dryander  has  been  told  to 
be  the  only  existing,  and  also  that  they  do  not  all  contain  the  same 
number  of  sheets.     In  Upsala  it  is  believed  that  the  copy  in  the 
public  library  there  is  the  completest  j  but  as  Mr.  Dryander  has  not 
seen  any  of  the  others,  he  has  no  proof  of  it."     Mr.  Towneley's  fine 
copy,  bound   in  five  volumes,*  in  red  morocco,  produced   eighty 
guineas ;  and  I  cannot  suppose  such  a  copy  to  be  now  fallen  in  price. 
Mr.  Grenville's  copy  was  obtained  for  a  considerably  less  sum,  from 
the  sale  of  Prince  Palm's  library,  at  Ratisbon,  in  1819. 


*  There  was  a  duplicate  of  the  first  volume,  having  no  date 


[357  ] 


RUSSIA. 

The  last  and  not  the  least  of  the  Empires  of  the 
North;  whose  history  may  be  worth  the  sedulous  at- 
tention of  the  Student,  is  RUSSIA  :  an  Hercules  in  its 
infancy.  Of  its  strength  and  power  in  maturity,  no 
political  foresight  can  venture  to  form  any  satisfac- 
tory prediction.  As  an  empire,  influencing  the  des- 
tinies of  the  other  parts  of  Europe,  its  history  scarcely 
extends  beyond  the  last  century ;  although  of  the 
Affairs  of  Muscovy  we  have  a  work  of  nearly  three 
hundred  years  standing.  I  allude  to  that  of  SIGIS- 
MUND  Baron  of  HERBERSTEIN  ;  which  was  succeeded, 
about  half  a  century,  by  a  Body  of  the  Historians  of 
the  same  country.* 

*  Take  the  following  account  of  these  works.  te  Sigismundi  Li- 
beri  Baronis  in  Herberslein  rerum  Muscoviticarum  Commentarii>  Basil. 
1556,  folio.  I  find,  however,  a  copy  of  this  work  of  the  date  of 
1551,  in  the  catalogue  of  Dr.  Heath's  library,  n°.  2537,  where  it  is 
said  to  contain  ff  cuts  and  a  curious  portrait  of  the  first  Russian  King 
who  was  converted  to  Christianity."  The  copy  was  in  antique  bind- 
ing, and  was  purchased  by  Mr.Evans  for  <2/.  17s.  The  ' '  Muscovitica^ 
rum  Rerum  Scriptores  unum  in  corpus  congesti,  &c.  curis  Marnii  8s  Au- 
briiy"  was  published  at  Franckfort,  in  16OO,  folio  3  and  Isaac  Vossius's 
copy  of  this  work  was  bought  by  the  London  Institution  at  Dr. 
Heath's  sale  for  195.  6d.  To  these  let  me  here  add  a  couple  of 
lines  by  noticing  the  work  of  LASITZKI  de  Russorum  Muscovitarum  # 
Tartarorum  Religione  et  Ritibus,  Spirse,  1582,  4to. :  a  rare  book,  and 
if  in  sound  condition,  well  worth  a  golden  guinea.f 


t  In  a  sub-note,  I  may  be  allowed  to  whisper  in  the  ear  of  the  very  curious  Col- 
lector, that  one  or  two  SCARCE  BOOKS  belong  to  the  class  of  those  which  treat  of 
the  Affairs  of  MUSCOVY.  As  this:  "  Vlfeldii  Lcgatio  Moscovitica"  4to.  Franc.  1608,.' 


358  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [RUSSIA. 

I  am  anxious,  in  this  bibliographical  sketch  of 
works  bearing  on  Russia,  that  (t  the  Young  Man" 
should,  in  the  first  place,  provide  himself  with  the 
Atlas  Russicus,  published  by  the  Imperial  Academy 
at  Petersburg  in  1743,  which  he  may  obtain  for  about 
21.  2s. ;  and  that  he  should  afterwards  study  well  the 
works  of  D'ANVILLE  and  the  MARQUIS  GABRIEL  DE 
CASTE LNAU.  *  upon  the  ancient  and  modern  histories 
of  this  vast  Empire.  Let  him  then  throw  more  than 
a  cursory  glance  over  the  Description  de  toutes  les 
nations  de  V Empire  de  Russie,  published  in  1776,  in 
three  quarto  volumes  ;  and  especially  let  him  lose  no 
opportunity  of  securing  a  good  and  moderately-priced 
copy  of  a  work — which  perhaps  may  supersede  all  pre- 
vious similar  works — en  titled  Histoire  de  la  Russie  An- 
cienne  et  Moderne,  par  N.  GABR.  LE  CLERC,  published 
at  Paris  in  1783,  in  6  vols.  4to.,  with  an  Atlas,  in  folio .-f- 

*  Whatever  D'ANVILLE  wrote,  is  worth  purchasing  and  worth 
reading.  His  work  in  question  is  styled  :  "  L 'Empire  de  Russie,  son 
origine  et  ses  acroissemens"  Paris,  1772,  12mo.  The  modern  work 
by  the  Marquis,  bears  this  title :  "  Essai  sur  Vhistoire  ancienne  et 
mcderne  de  la  nouvelle  Russie :  Statistique  des  provinces  qui  la  com- 
posent :  Odessa,  &c.  Voyage  en  Crimee.  Paris,  1820,  8vo.  3  vols. — 
with  plates,  ll.  Is.  in  boards. 

f  The  volumes  above  specified  may  be  worth  about  12*.  each  :  but 
I  suspect  a  well  bound  copy  of  the  latter  work  is  not  to  be  obtained 


There  is  a  striking  similarity  between  the  account  given  by  this  Author  of  the 
Tartars  and  that  drawn  by  Pallas  in  our  own  days  ;  which  proves  that  the  manners 
of  the  Tartars  had  undergone  very  little  variation  in  more  than  a  century.  JQm- 
rium  Itineris  Moscovice  magnif.  Dom.  Ignac.  Christ,  de  Guarient,  Sfc.y  anno  1678, 
descriptum  a  J.  G.  Korbio,  a  small  thin  folio.  Vienna,  1700.  This  very  rare  book 
was  suppressed  at  the  instigation  of  Peter  the  First,  on  account  of  the  anecdotes  it 
contains  of  the  Russian  Court.  In  his  History  of  the  Rebellion  of  the  Strelitzes, 
the  Author  informs  us  that  the  Czar  beheaded  eleven  of  the  rebels  in  ten  days 
with  his  own  hand!  I  know  not,  just  now,  where  to  point  out  any  other  copy  of 
either  of  these  works  than  those  in  the  well  Delected  Library  of  hit  late  Majesty. 


RUSSIA.]  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  359 

He  may  then  set  to  work  in  chronological  order  ;  and 
putting  the  pretty  little  Strawberry  Hill  edition  of 
LORD  WHITWORTH'S  Account  of  Russia,  in  1710, 
(printed  in  1758, 12mo.)  into  his  pocket,  or  post  chaise, 
as  an  out-of-door  companion,  he  will  sit  solidly  and 
steadily  down  to  GENERAL  MANSTEIN'S  Memoirs  of 
Russia  from  1727  to  1744  with  Maps  and  Plans,  pub- 
lished in  1773,,  *  4to.  which  will  be  found  to  contain 
a  great  deal  of  valuable  and  correct  information. 

We  now  reach  the  order  of  time  in  which  the  best 
edition  of  BELL'S  Travels  from  Petersburgh  to  diuerse 
parts  of  Asia,  appeared  ;  namely,  in  1763,  2  vols.  4to, 
printed  by  the  respectable  family  of  the  Foulises/t*  and 
about  twenty  years  afterwards  came  out  the  Travels 
of  Mr.  ARCHDEACON  COXE,  in  Poland  and  Russia,  in 
3  vols  4to,  1784,  with  maps  and  cuts.  But  the  splen- 
dour and  celebrity  of  all  travels  in  Russia,  performed 
by  Englishmen,  has  been  exceeded  by  that  of  the  late 
and  deeply  lamented  Dr.  EDWARD  CLARKE — through 
Russia,  Tartary,  and  Turkey  :  first  published  in  1810- 
12,  in  four  quarto  volumes ;  and  succeeded,  till  within  a 
short  time  of  the  author's  death,  by  publications  of  other 
Travels  in  the  Holy  Land,  Hungary,  and  Bohemia.  % 

under  41.  14s.  6d.  To  such  works  add  the  following  :  Tableau  his- 
torique,  gfographique,  militaire  et  naval,  de  la  Russie,  par  D.  DE  RAY- 
MOND, Paris,  1812,  8vo.  2  vols.  Dictionnaire  Gfographique  et  His- 
torique  de  V Empire  des  Russies,  par  VSEVOLOJSKYS^  Moscou,  1813, 
8vo.  2  vols. 

*  A  copy  of  this  work,  bound  in  russia,  was  bought  by  Mr.  Payne 
at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library  for  \l.  Us.  6d.  It  is  a  long  time 
since  1  have  met  with  a  good  copy  of  it. 

f  Dr.  Heath's  copy  of  this  work  was  bought  by  Sir  Richard  Bo- 
rough for  2Z.  12s.  6d.  It  is  the  best  edition. 

t  Of  works  of  such  recent  and  general  notoriety,  it  wore  perhaps 


360  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [RUSSIA. 

It  is  surely  not  too  much  to  aver,  that  few  Travellers 
have  obtained  so  large  and  so  general  a  reputation  as 

unnecessary  to  enter  into  any  very  elaborate  detail ;  yet  it  is  not  less 
honourable  to  the  British  public,  than  to  the  author's  memory,  that, 
within  the  comparatively  short  period  of  fourteen  years,  so  many  edi- 
tions, in  a  quarto  and  octavo  form,  should  have  appeared  of  these 
truly  interesting  travels.  This  FACT  is  alone  a  test  of  their  value. 
The  reader  may  be  gratified  with  the  following  analysis  : 

VOLUME  I.  RUSSIA,  TARTARY,  TURKEY.  First  Edition  :  1810, 
4to.  Second  Edition,  1811,  4to  Third  Edition,  1813,  4to.  Fourth 
Edition,  1816,  8vo. 

VOLUME  II.  GREECE,  EGYPT,  and  the  HOLY  LAND.  Section  the 
First.  First  Edition,  1812,  4to.  Second  Edition,  1813,  4to.  Third 
Edition,  1817,  8vo. 

VOLUME  III.  THE  SAME  COUNTRIES.  Section  the  Second.  First 
Edition,  1813,  4to.  Second  Edition,  1817,  8vo. 

VOLUME  IV.  THE  SAME  COUNTRIES.  Section  the  Third :  to 
which  is  added  a  Supplement,  respecting  the  Author's  Journey  from 
Constantinople  to  Vienna,  containing  his  Account  of  the  Gold  Mines 
of  TRANSYLVANIA,  in  HUNGARY.  First  Edition.,  1816,  4to.  Second 
Edition,  1818,  8vo. 

VOLUME  V.  DENMARK,  SWEDEN,  LAPLAND,  FINLAND,  NORWAY, 
and  RUSSIA.  Section  the  First.  First  Edition,  1819,  4to. 

VOLUME  VI.  THE  SAME  COUNTRIES.  Section  the  Second,  First 
Edition,  1823,  4to.  A  review  of  this  Second  Section  appeared  in 
the  October  Number,  1823,  of  the  Edinburgh  Review.  All  the  pre- 
ceding volumes  have  been,  I  believe,  elaborately  and  ably  reviewed  in 
both  the  Edinburgh  and  Quarterly  critical  Journals. 

Such  are  the  works  of  the  late  lamented  DR.  EDWARD  CLARKE. 
Another  volume,  too  closely  connected  with  the  preceding,  is  about 
to  be  added :  I  mean,  that  of  HIS  LIFE,  with  posthumous  disquisi- 
tions, for  which  a  large  and  liberal  subscription  has  already  been  set 
on  foot.  The  Travels  of  Dr.  Clarke  are  published  in  a  very  unos- 
tentatious manner,  in  respect  to  paper,  printing,  and  embellishments. 
Each  of  these,  considering  the  prices  of  the  volumes,  might  have  been 
on  an  improved  scale :  nor  am  I  quite  satisfied  with  the  LARGE  PAPER, 
inasmuch  as  it  should  have  presented  us  with  a  more  decided  differ- 
ence from  the  small.  In  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Harding,  Mavor, 


RUSSIA.]  NORTHERN  HISTORIES'.  361 

Dr.  Clarke.  His  style  is  easy  and  perspicuous.  His 
facts  are  striking,  interesting,  and  instructive :  and  if 
the  matter  contained  in  such  a  formidable  series  of 
quartos  might  have  received  a  salutary  compression, 
we  must  not  lament  that  too  much,  rather  than  too 
little,  has  been  said  upon  subjects,  which  had  some- 
thing more  than  the  mere  charm  of  novelty  to  ensure 
them  a  popular  reception.  Scepticism  was  up  in 
arms  about  the  contents  of  the  first  volume,  which  re- 
presented the  Russ  to  be  almost  a  compound  of  fraud 
and  filth  ;  and  had  the  author  ventured  to  Petersburg, 
while  his  text  was  fresh  in  the  memories  of  its  in- 
habitants, he  might  have  been  rewarded  by  a 
ducking  in  the  waters  of  the  Neva.  Yet  when  tempo- 
rary prejudices,  and  temporary  views  and  interests 
shall  have  subsided,  the  name  of  CLARKE  will  be  held 
in  more  than  ordinary  estimation  by  a  grateful  pos- 

and  Lepard,  I  observe  a  copy  of  the  quarto  impressions  (1810-15) 
on  small  paper, le  bound  in  crimson  morocco,  extra"  (it  should  have 
been  dark  green  or  dark  blue  morocco)  marked  at  twenty-five  guineas. 
The  octavo  volumes  are  published  at  about  1 5s.  each  j  and  eight  vo- 
lumes, in  this  form,  including  Russia,  Tartary,  Greece,  Egypt,  and 
the  Holy  Land,  are  marked,  in  calf  binding,  at  8Z.  8s.  in  the  last 
catalogue  of  Messrs.  I.  and  A.  Arch. 

But  the  name  of  Clarke  will  be  for  ever  connected  with  ancient 
CLASSICAL  LITERATURE.  His  labours  upon  the  tomb  of  Alexander, 
and  on  the  fragment  of  a  colossal  statue  of  Ceres  (the  latter  presented 
by  him  to  his  own  University,  Cambridge)  are  learned  and  ingenious ; 
yet,  even  higher  honour  is  due  to  their  author,  by  his  having  pro- 
cured a  very  important  MS.  of  the  GREEK  RHETORICIANS,  now  in 
the  British  Museum ;  and  the  MOST  PRECIOUS  MS.  extant  of  PLATO  : — 
a  MS.  over  which  Person  hung  with  rapture,  and  Mr.  Gaisford  yet 
indulges  in  visions  of  classical  inspiration !  It  is  preserved  in  the 
Bodleian  Library.  Upon  the  whole,  if  HUMBOLT  be  the  first,  CLARKE 
is  the  second  Traveller  of  his  age. 


362  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [RUSSIA. 

terity.  If  some  facts  and  statements,  in  those  meri- 
torious volumes  to  which  his  imperishable  name  is 
affixed,  appear  to  be  distorted,  or  given  upon  loose  tes- 
timony—  and  doubtless  much,  in  the  earlier  volumes, 
requires  great  qualification  and  correction  —  there  is 
on,  the  other  hand,  an  abundance  of  matter,  which, 
while  it  has  been  highly  conducive  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  science,  has  displayed  the  keen  and  penetrat- 
ing observation,  the  hardy  enterprise,  and  the  invin- 
cible perseverance  of  the  Author.  That  Dr.  Clarke, 
will  LIVE,  in  the  purest  sense  of  the  word,  cannot  be 
doubted  for  an  instant. 

But  among  the  works  which  treat  of  the  History  of 
Russia,  we  must  not  omit  those  that  relate  to  the 
Lives  or  Memoirs  of  Peter  the  Great  and  Catharine 
II. ;  characters,  equally  extraordinary  of  their  kind, 
and  under  whose  sceptres  the  Russian  Empire  may  be 
said  to  have  attained  a  more  formidable  ascendancy 
throughout  Europe.*  Both  French  and  English  Memo- 

*  Besides  the  celebrated  work  of  VOLTAIRE,  upon  the  former — 
which  has  been  published  in  all  forms  and  sizes,  and  of  which  the 
popularity  need  not  here  be  dwelt  upon — the  French  have  published 
various  works.  Journal  de  Pierre  le  Grand,  &c.  Lond.  17*3,  8vo. 
2  vols.  M^moires,  &c.  by  SUNANNOI,  Amst.  1740,  12mo.  5  vols. 
Anecdotes  Originates,  Strasb.  1787,  8vo.  But  the  most  esteemed 
work,  (which  is  in  German)  is  that  of  De  Halem,  published  at 
Munsterin  1803-5,  8vo.  3  vols.  Of  Catharine,  the  Histoire,  &c.  by 
CASTERA,  in  180O,  3  vols. :  and  the  Mtmoires  secrets  of  MASS  ox, 
Paris,  1800-3,  8vo.  4  vols.  are  among  the  principal :  while  a  French 
version  of  Mr.  Tooke's  well  known  history  of  the  same  extraordinary 
character  appeared  at  Paris  in  1804,  Svo.  in  six  vols.  Mr.  Tooke's 
history  of  Russia  to  the  Succession  of  Catherine  II,,  was  published  in 
two  octavo  volumes.  His  reign  of  Catherine,  in  three  octavo  vo- 
lumes. These  are  in  a  constant  state  of  republication — and  are  de- 


RUSSIA.]  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  363 

rialists  have  entered  upon  this  fertile  field  ;  and  among 
ourselves,  few,  I  believe,  have  been  rewarded  by  the 
reputation  which  has  followed  the  labours  of  the  late 
Mr.  WILLIAM  TOOKE.  Yet  the  modern  traveller,  who, 
of  all  others,  seems  to  have  exhausted  the  natural  and 
civil  history  of  Russia,  is  PALLAS  ;  a  German,  and 
worthy  in  all  respects  to  be  classed  among  the  most 
accurate  describers  of  this  country.  The  French  have 
been  most  active  in  versions  of  his  text,  and  the  pages 
of  Brunet*  supply  a  rich  harvest  of  the  labours  of 
that  traveller's  pen. 

It  is  yet  possible  that  "  the  Old  Man,"  whose  eyes 
might  be  speedily  wearied  by  looking  into  the  greater 
part  of  the  preceding  works,  would  be  desirous  of  turn- 
ing over,  in  the  calm  leisure  of  country  retirement,  a 
few  of  the  more  splendid  and  striking  publications, 
which  display  the  manners,  customs,  and  dress,  of  the 
Russians.  If  this  be  the  case,  let  him  hasten  to  secure 
the  Histoire  de  Russie  en  ^figures ,  Paris,  1799,  4to.  3 
vols.  of  which  the  celebrated  DAVID  is  the  author;  and 
if  the  small  and  similar  work  of  BRETON,  in  eight 
octodecimo  volumes,  published  in  1813,  be  deemed 
insufficient,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  satisfaction 
to  be  derived  from  the  larger  volumes  of  HEMPEL  and 
HOUBIGANT.  ^  Of  other  similar  works,  now  in  pro- 
serving  of  all  the  reputation  which  they  have  acquired.  The  authr 
was  a  long  resident,  and  a  close  observer  of  what  he  saw,  at  Peters- 
burgh. 

*  Vol.  iii.  p.  6.  I  doubt  whether  a  101.  note  would  not  put  the 
collector  in  possession  of  the  principal  works  of  Pallas.  His  travels 
into  the  Southern  part  of  the  Russian  Empire  were  translated  into 
our  tongue  ;  Lond.  1802-12  :  2  vols.  4to. 

f  The  work  of  the  former  author  came  out  in  a  grand  quarto  vo- 


364  NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  [Russia. 

gress,  the  enumeration  would  unnecessarily  occupy 
too  large  a  portion  of  these  pages. 

lume,  in  1805,  at  Leipsic;  and  is  called  Tableaux  Pittoresques  des 
Mocursj  des  Usages,  fyc.  des  Russes.  But  Hempel  published  another 
work,  called  Description  de  tons  les  Peuples  qui  sont  sous  la  domination 
d'Alexandre  I.  Paris,  4to.  But  a  yet  more  splendid  work,  of  a 
description  similar  to  the  first,  was  published  in  London  in  three 
folio  volumes;  and  at  Paris  (ft  Les  Peuples  de  la  Russie")  1812,  in 
two  folio  volumes.  Houbigant's  work  came  out  in  1817,  folio,  under 
the  title  of  (<  Mceurs  et  Costumes  des  Russes."  Yet  this  list  comprises 
scarcely  a  third  part  of  such  publications  :  but  enough,  and  perhaps 
more  than  enough,  has  been  said  for  the  accommodation  of  the  gene- 
rality of  purses ! 


[  3G5 


VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS. 

IT  is  reported  of  an  Indian,  while  incautiously 
gliding  in  his  canoe,  towards  the  rapids  which  are 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  falls  of  NIAGARA,  that, 
finding  himself  within  the  irresistible  vortex  of  those 
falls,  he  ceased  making  any  efforts  of  resistance: 
but,  placing  his  paddle  by  the  side  of  him,  within 
his  little  bark,  and  lying  on  his  back,  he  quietly 
awaited  the  fate  which  it  was  impossible  to  escape : — 
and  was  precipitated  into  eternity  .  .  .  down  the  cen- 
tral horse-shoe  fall.*  The  author  of  this  work  is  not 

*  The  "  horse-shoe  fall "  is  the  greater  of  the  two  falls  of  the  river 
Niagara,  and  is  on  the  British  or  Canadian  side  of  it.  It  is  advan- 
tageously seen  from  two  points  of  view  :  the  one,  from  Goat  Island, 
a  small  piece  of  cultivated  land,  which  separates  the  two  falls — and 
the  other,  from  the  Table  Rock,  projecting  about  fifty  feet  on  the 
Canadian  shore — and  immediately  commanding  a  view  of  both  falls, 
and  of  the  Rapids  $  but  more  particularly  of  the  great  horse-shoe,  or 
semicircular  fall  —  which  is  about  600  yards  across,  and  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  deep.  The  arch,  made  by  the  latter  fall,  is 
about  fifty  feet  from  the  perpendicular  base  5  and  under  this  arch, the 
hardy  traveller  frequently  ventures — stunned,  as  if  all  the  guns,  fired 
at  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  were  discharged  at  the  same  moment.  The 
fall,  on  the  American  side,  to  the  left  of  Goat  island,  is  comparatively 
perpendicular,  gaining  somewhat  in  height  what  it  loses  in  width : 
being  only  300  yards  across,  but  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  feet 
high.  Here  is  therefore  a  body  of  water  —  in  short,  a  huge  river — 
of  half  a  mile  in  width,  precipitating  itself  into  a  channel,  or  stream, 
which  is  discharged  in  the  Lake  Ontario.  But  the  greater,  or 
horse-shoe  fall,  is  the  more  tremendous  object  5  in  the  description 
which  travellers  seem  to  exhaust  all  their  powers  of  comparison  and 
expression. 


366  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS. 

very  unlike  the  Indian  in  question  . .  in  regard  to  being 
propelled  by  an  irresistible  bibliographical  impulse. 
HISTORY,  VOYAGES,  and  TRAVELS,  are  so  closely  con- 
nected, that  it  is  impossible  to  avoid  the  two  latter  in 
the  enumeration  of  the  chief  treasures  of  the  former . . 
and  accordingly  I  find  myself  inevitably,  but  safely  and 

I  know  of  no  one  description,  however,  which  exceeds,  for  liveli. 
ness,  spirit,  and  propriety  of  colouring,  that  which  was  furnished  me 
by  a  female  friend,  last  summer,  immediately  after  visiting  the  spot. 
I  should  previously  observe,  that  the  Rapids,  in  their  obviously  de- 
scending, and  more  tremendous,  force  (and  into  which  the  poor 
Indian's  canoe,  above-mentioned,  was  precipitated)  are  about  fifty 
feet  above  the  edge  of  the  falls  -,  so  that,  the  whole  body  of  descend- 
ing water  may  be  said  to  be  about  210  feet  high.  Its  immense  width 
takes  away  even  from  this  height.  But,  for  the  description  just 
alluded :  "  I  wish  I  could  convey  to  you,  (says  my  friend)  a  slight 
idea  of  this  magnificent  scene  :  which  no  description  that  I  have 
read,  nor  view  that  I  have  seen,  comes  up  to— even  slightly.  Never 
can  I  forget  the  deep,  solemn,  tide  of  the  fall,  clear  as  chrystal,  and 
green  as  the  chrysolite — broken  with  white  feathery  foam,  sweep- 
ing through  its  channel  of  rocks,  with  a  sullen  dignity  of  sound  and 
motion  far  beyond  any  thing  I  could  ever  have  conceived.  A  sight  of 
the  Rapids  themselves  was  worth  all  the  fatigues  of  our  journey. 
They  come  dashing  along  from  above,  in  frightful  confusion,  to  the 
brink  of  the  precipice — where  they  are  absorbed  in  a  deep,  slow, 
solemn  tide  (just  mentioned)  which  disguises  its  rapidity  by  the  dig- 
nity of  its  sound  and  motion.  Then  again,  this  most  wonderful  fall 
of  transparent  water  is  feathered  with  broken  foam,  which  flies  off, 
like  jets  of  snow-white  water,  discharged  from  the  conch  of  a  Triton 
—  sparkling  in  the  sun,  with  a  brilliance  beyond  description  —  and 
magically  harmonising  with  the  prismatic  colours  from  the  rising 
spray  below.  Here  I  saw,  what  I  had  never  seen  before,  and  could 
never  have  dreamt  to  see :  the  rainbow  above,  reflected  in  the  water 
below,  and  united  in  a  perfect  circle.  We  stood  entranced  !"  And 
so  I  think  will  the  reader  sit  entranced — in  realising  such  a  scene  in 
his  imagination. 


VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  867 

pleasantly,  I  trust,  borne  down  those  rapids  that  preci- 
pitate themselves  into  the  mighty  ocean  which  encir- 
cles the  globe,  and  which  sustained  the  vessels  of  CO- 
LUMBUS, VASCO  DE  GAMA,  COOK  andPEuousE. 

And  here,  ere  I  am  launched  into  such  an  intermin- 
able ocean,  let  me  say  a  word  or  two  of  comfort  and  en- 
couragement to  both  "  young"  and  "  old."  The  theme 
to  be  touched  is  full  of  interest.  The  books  which  relate 
to  VOYAGES  and  TRAVELS  are  among  the  most  precious 
and  instructive  in  our  Libraries.  I  speak,  of  course,  of 
well  authenticated  Travels  ;  and  not  of  such  stuff  as 
the  fictions  of  Psalmanazar,  and  the  fabrications  of 
Damberger.  Within  the  precincts  of  his  library,  the 
Collector  of  Voyages  and  Travels  makes  himself  ac- 
quainted with  all  countries,  climates,  and  characters. 
The  sea  always  carries  him  to  his  destined  port  in 
safety ;  and  the  land  is  always  secure  from  banditti. 
He  sits  "  in  his  easy  chair/'  and  associates  with  war- 
riors, legislators,  philosophers,  or  savages  ;  he  now 
scales  the  perilous  height,  and  now  traverses  the 
parched  plain — with  equal  impunity.  To  him,  the 
wild  beast  of  the  forest,  and  the  reptile  of  the  desert, 
is  equally  innocuous.  Nor  do  physical  causes  present 
either  harm  or  impediment.  The  snows  of  the  Alps 
and  the  Andes,  and  the  fires  of  Vesuvius  and  ^Etna, 
neither  freeze  his  blood  nor  scorch  his  skin.  He 
knows  not  hunger  or  thirst :  although  hundreds  of  his 
fellow-creatures  are  perishing  from  both  causes.  If  it 
be  the  season  of  winter,  he  draws  close  his  crimson 
curtain,  stirs  his  wood-coal  fire,  trims  his  lamp,  sinks 
upon  his  couch — and  throws  himself  into  sunny  re- 
gions, where  the  lime,  and  tamarind,  and  pomegra- 
nate, yield  their  refreshing  juices.  Or,  should  summer 


368  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS. 

dart  its  heat  upon  his  head,  he  seeks  the  northern 
arbour  of  his  garden ;  and  coo!3  beneath  the  mixed 
foliage  of  the  holly,,  and  ivy,  and  clematis — over  the 
whole  of  which  the  woodbine  throws  its  sweet-scented 
tendrils — he  spreads  his  folio  or  his  quarto  upon  the 
rustic  table  ;  now  gazes  upon  the  highly  wrought 
plates,  and  now  buckles  himself  to  the  uninterrupted 
perusal  of  the  instructive  text.  In  such  a  recess,  he  is 
cooled  by  the  fancied  breezes  of  Kamtschatka  or  Spits- 
bergen ;  and  thus,  turning  over  the  pages  of  Cook  or 
Parry,  the  hours  steal  away,  and  the  sun  is  sinking 
low  in  the  horizon.  But,  whether  winter  or  summer, 
the  volumes  of  HAKLUYT  and  of  PURCHAS  will  never 
fail  to  afford  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  amusement. 

I  am,  however,  running  a  little  riot,  ("  I  own  the 
glorious  subject  fires  my  breast !")  and  am  anticipating 
names  which  should  come  in  the  chronological  order 
of  detail.  But,  let  the  observation  be  strictly  attended 
to,  that  my  object  is  FAR  indeed  from  giving  any  thing 
like  a  complete  or  analysed  Catalogue  of  Books  of 
Travels.  Ori  the  contrary,  I  shall  only  speak  of  COL- 
LECTIONS of  VOYAGES,  and  of  the  principal  Voyages 
and  Travels  which  relate  to  the  three  great  quarters  of 
the  globe,  ASIA,  AFRICA,  and  AMERICA.  In  the  two 
former,  the  recent  labours  of  Mr.  Murray*  have  ren- 
dered me  an  incalculable  service. 

*  Historical  Account  of  Discoveries  and  Travels  in  AFRICA,  from 
the  earliest  ages  to  the  present  time.  By  HUGH  MURRAY,  F.R.  S.E. 
1818,  8vo.  2  vols.  Second  edition.  Historical  Account  af  Discoveries 
and  Travels  in  AsiA,/rom  the  earliest  ages  to  the  present  time.  By  THE 
SAME,  1820,  8vo.  3  vols.  I  strongly  recommend  these  five  octavo 
volumes  to  a  place  in  EVERY  library,  professedly  devoted  to  Voyages 
and  Travels,  or  not.  They  are  reasonable  in  price,  accompanied  by 


VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  369 

Let  me,  therefore,  begin  with  the  notice  of  the 
shorter  Voyages  of  the  Portuguese,*  the  FATHERS  of 
Adventure  and  Discovery.  The  Italians  quickly  imi- 
tated their  examples,  and  almost  rivalled  their  glory. 
The  names  of  COLUMBUS  and  VESPUTIUS-}-  are  among 

useful  maps,  and  the  text  is  a  fund  of  amusement  and  nstruction. 
No  gentleman  should  have  his  few  score  volumes  in  the  country,  with, 
out  such  delightful  companions.  BEKMAN  put  forth  a  pretty  and 
instructive  work,  on  a  similar  plan,  in  the  German  language,  in  one 
octavo  volume,  1806' ;  and  the  Bibliolheque  Universelle  des  Fay  ages, 
of  BOUCHER  DE  LA  RICHARDERIE,  in  six  octavo  volumes,  Paris,  1808, 
cannot  fail  to  be  consulted,  both  as  an  amusing  and  instructive  work. 
Peignot,  in  his  Rep.  Bibliog.  Universel,  1812,  Svo.  p.  4/8,  has  given  a 
concise  and  correct  analysis  of  the  contents  of  these  volumes. 

*  Among  these  shorter  voyages,  there  is  an  early  publication,  en- 
titled, (<  Gesta  proxime  per  P  or  tit  g  a  lenses  in  India,  &c."  Ronus,  1506, 
4to.  printed  by  Besicken.  It  has  only  six  leaves.  A  copy  of  it  is  in 
the  very  curious  library  of  Mr.  Grenville,  and  its  possessor  knows  of 
no  other  copy,  except  that  in  the  library  of  the  Royal  Society.  The 
facts  which  it  relates,  took  place  only  a  few  months  before  the  publi- 
cation of  the  volume.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy,  brilliantly  bound,  by 
Charles  Lewis,  in  red  morocco,  is  as  fresh  and  fair  as  the  earliest 
blown  summer  rose.  Another  work,  relating  to  the  same  Portuguese 
travellers,  was  published  at  Milan,  in  the  Italian  language,  in  1507, 
4to.  under  the  title  of  ee  Paesi  novamente  ritrovati ;"  which  again, 
was  translated  by  Madrignanus,  under  the  title  of  <f  Itinerarium  Por- 
tugallensium  in  Indiam  et  inde  in  Occidentem.'*  (Milan)  1508,  4to. 
Both  editions  are  in  Mr.  Grenville's  library. 

f  The  earliest  performance  connected  with  the  travels  of  ALBE- 
RICUS  or  ASIERICUS  VESPUTIUS,  appeared  in  a  small  4to.  volume, 
published  in  the  Latin  language,  without  date,  (but  somewhere  about 
1,501),  in  a  series  of  letters  to  Lorenzo  de'  Medici,  the  son  of  Pietro 
Francisco,  "  Quse  editio  (says  Meuselius,  with  a  note  of  admiration) 
perrara,"  Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  iii.  p.  265.  It  is  so  indeed — and  was 
speedily  translated  and  published  in  the  Italian  language.  This  first 
Latin  edition  contains  six  leaves  only,  on  signature  a,-  having  the 
device  of  lehan  Lambert  (the  word  (e  F^lix"  between  two  monkies) 

sb 


S70  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.    [COLLECTIONS, 

the  most  splendid  of  those  of  modern  renown.  Voy- 
ages continued  to  be  made,  and  publications  of  them 
to  appear,  till  RAMUSIO,  about  the  middle  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  put  forth  his  memorable  Navigatiom 
et  Viaggi,  in  tre  volume  divise ;  a  work,  of  which  the 
best  edition,  in  1563,  &c.*  will  be  found  to  be  among 

in  the  frontispiece  or  title  page.  In  the  first  page  of  the  text,  we 
find  that  "  the  voyage  was  prosperously  commenced,  on  the  14th  of 
May,  1501,  along  the  Fortunate  Islands,  now  called  the  Canaries  -, 
then  they  coasted  along  the  African  and  ^Ethiopian  shores  as  far  as 
the  promontory  of  Ptolemy,  now  called  Cape  Verd,"  &c.  There  was 
an  early  French  version,  of  the  date  of  1516,  4to.  called  "LeNouveau 
Monde  tfAmeric  de  Vespuce  :"  of  which  Mathurin  du  Redouet  was 
the  translator,  and  for  a  copy  of  which  I  find  my  friend  Mr.  Heber 
giving  the  unaccountable  sum  of  ,§£10,  at  the  sale  of  the  Merly 
Library.  Both  editions  are  in  Mr.  Grenville's  library ;  but  the  first 
Latin  is  so  rare,  that  it  may  be  doubted  whether  a  second  copy  be  in 
England.  There  is  one  in  the  Royal  Library  in  France. 

*  In  the  instructive  pages  of  Niceron  (Mtmoires  pour  servir  5 
I'Histoire  des  Hommes  Illustres,)  vol.  xxxv.  p.  97 — 139,  will  be  found 
a  good  account  of  the  contents  of  the  Collection  of  Voyages  put 
forth  by  the   celebrated  JOHN  BAPTIST  RAMUSIO  :  a  man,  who,  to 
the  dexterity  of  a  diplomatist,  added  the  hardihood  of  an  adventurer, 
and  the  taste  of  a  scholar  :  and  was  especially  skilled  in  the  French 
and  Spanish  languages.     He  served  the  Republic  of  Venice  forty- 
three  years  j  and  retired  to  Padua,  in  the  privacy  of  old  age,  to 
profit  himself  of  his  past  experience,,  and  to  collect  his  notices  of 
past  travels.     His  collection,  enough    (as   Niceron  says,  very  pro- 
perly) to  immortalise  his  name,  formed  the  amusement  of  his  old 
age.     He  died  in  1557*  in  his  72d  year.     The  first  volume  of  his 
Collections  appeared  in  1553,  the  last  in  1588.     According  to  Bru- 
net,  we  should  purchase  the  first  volume  of  the  edition  of  1563  or 
1588  :  the  second  volume  of  that  of  1583  j  and  the  third  of  that  of 
1565.     To  this  third  volume,  should  be  added  a  portion  of  the  edi- 
tion of  1606— p.  386—430,  containing  the  Fiaggio  de  M.  Cesare  de 
Frederici  nell'  Indiarorientale :  Fine  and  perfect  copies  of  Ramusio 
are  of  rare  occurrence,     The  work  is  handsomely  printed  in  the 


COLLECTIONS.]    VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  37 i 

the  most  valuable  acquisitions  to  a  library  of  any 
pretension  to  a  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels. 
But  the  celebrity  of  all  previous,  if  not  of  all  succeeding 
similar  collections,  was  eclipsed  by  that  of  THEODORE 
DE  BRY,  and  his  Sons* — well  known  under  the  title 
of  the  Greater  and  Lesser  Voyages  :  and  of  which 
the  first  volume  appeared  at  Franckfort  on  the  Main, 
in  1590,  and  the  last  in  1634. 

But  what  a  bibliographical  chord  am  I  striking,  in 
the  mention  of  the  Travels  of  De  Bry !  What  a 
"  Peregrination'  does  the  possession  of  a  copy  of  his 
labours  imply  !  What  toil,  difficulty,  perplexity,  anx- 

GIUNTI  Office;  and  a  fine  copy  of  it,  at  the  sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's 
library,  was  purchased  by  Lord  Morpeth  for  ^24.  An  inferior  copy, 
at  the  Merly  sale,  was  obtained  for  ?g8.  It  is  not  usually  found  in 
the  catalogues  of  our  booksellers ;  and  I  search  in  vain  those  so 
frequently  mentioned  in  the  course  of  these  pages.  Mr.  Bohn  has  a 
copy  of  the  first  volume  of  the  edition  of  1563,  and  of  the  third  of 
that  of  1606,  (but  not  containing  the  voyage  of  Caesar  Frederic) 
marked  at  the  reasonable  sum  of  1 1.  5s. 

*  It  is  a  pity  that  more  is  not  known  of  THEODORE  DE  BRY,  and 
his  Sons.  They  appear  to  have  been  men  of  considerable,  if  not  of 
first  rate,  talents  j  while  their  diligence,  enterprise,  and  love  of  art, 
entitle  them  to  the  gratitude  of  posterity.  Theodore,  a  native  of 
Franckfort  on  the  Main,  was  born  in  1528,  and  died  in  1598.  The 
excellence  of  his  burin  lay  chiefly  in  his  smaller  figures ;  although 
the  frontispiece  to  the  Grands  Voyages,  which  represents  them  compa- 
Tatively  large,  (but  not  of  the  largest  size)  is  an  admirable  perform- 
ance of  its  kind.  I  suspect  Theodore  de  Bry  to  have  usually  im- 
proved his  subjects,  as  his  figures  are  tall  and  graceful,  and  executed 
with  remarkable  facility,  if  not  force.  His  Adam  and  Eve,  in  the 
Voyage  to  Virginia,  is  however  full  of  contortion  and  conceit.  A 
book  of  travels,  of  the  same  extent,  executed  now,  in  the  style  of 
De  Bry's  smaller  figures,  would,  indeed,  be  a  delicious  performance  : 
but  aquatint  and  lithography  have  extended  their  baneful  influence 
over  ALMOST  every  similar  production. 


372  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [COLLECTIONS. 

iety,  and  vexation,  attend  the  collector— be  he  "young" 
or  "old" — who  sets  his  heart  upon  a  PERFECT  DR 
BRY  !*  How  many  have  started  forward  on  this  pur- 

*  SUCH  ft  a  perfect  copy" — and  indeed  MORE  than  a  perfect  one — 
was,  for  two  successive  days,  "  sub  oculis  manibusque,"  in  the  fine 
library  of  the  Right  Honourable  Thomas  Grenville — above  alluded 
to.     How  is  the  reader  to  be  made  acquainted  with  this  copy  ?  I  can 
only  impart  to  him  its  leading  features,  which  renders  a  consulta- 
tion of  De  Bure,  Brunet,  and  Camus,  almost  unnecessary.  But  a  word 
or  two  by  way  of  introductory  remark.      The  Collection  of  De  Bry 
consists  of  Travels  in  the  East  and  West  Indies,  put  forth  in  twenty- 
five  folio  parts,  between  the  year  1590  and  1634,  inclusively.     This 
Collection  is  divided  into  the  GREAT  and  SMALL  VOYAGES  j  and  each 
of  these  Voyages  has  appeared  in  two  editions,  in  the  Latin  and 
German  languages.    The  first  voyage  to  Virginia,  has  been  published 
in  the  English  language  j  and  a  perfect  copy  of  this  English  version 
is,  as  the  reader  will  presently  find,  the  VERY  RAREST  of  all  the  parts: 
and  it  is  extraordinary  that  Brunet  does  not  notice  this  part,  however 
briefly — although  he  says  that  he  has  seen  the  first  part  of  a  French 
edition,  which  was  probably  never  continued.     The  Great  Voyages 
(or  those  parts  which  were  published  in  a  larger  folio  size)  relate  to 
the  West  Indies :  the  Small  Voyages  (put  forth  in  a  smaller  form)  to 
the  East.     And  now,  for  "  a  true  and  particular"  account  of  the  un- 
rivalled copy  of  Mr.  Grenville.      First,  by  way  of  precis  or  sum- 
mary— almost  in  the  words  of  its  deserving  possessor  : 

This  copy  of  De  Bry  was  originally  formed  by  Debure,  at  Paris, 
in  eight  volumes,  which  that  bibliographer  considered  a  perfect 
copy.f  Since  Mr.  Grenville  purchased  it,  he  has  spared  no  expense 

*  It  .was,  in  fact,  the  copy  which  had  belonged  to  Mr.  Willett,  and  which  Messrs 
J.  and  A.  Arch  purchased  at  the  sale  of  the  Merly  Library,  in  1813,  for  ]26£     It 
contained  ten  leaves  of  Elenchus,  supposed  to  have  been  a  fac-simile  of  those  pub- 
lished by  Marian,  in  1634—  but  which  turned  out  to  be  the  original;  and  the  pur- 
chasers being  fortunate  enough  to  obtain  many  other  pieces,  wanting  in  this  copy, 
sold  it,  in  such  improved  state,  to  Mr.  Grenville,  for  240/.  This  copy,  therefore,  so 
improved,  formed  only  the  basis  of  Mr.  Grenville's. 

Let  me  here  note,  of  MERIAN'S  reprint  of  the  first  nine  parts  of  the  Latin  edition 
of  the  Grands  Voyages,  that  the  most  beautiful  copy,  perhaps,  ever  brought  into 
the  market,  was  that  lately  procured  by  Mr.  Triphook,  in  original  boards  of  wood, 
with  stamped  leather.  I  know  not  who  is  its  present  fortunate  owners. 


COLLECTIONS.]     VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  373 

suit,  with  gay  spirits  and  well  replenished  purses,  but 
have  turned  from  it  in  despair,  and  abandoned  it 

in  procuring,  from  a  variety  of  other  copies,  whatever  the  Memoire 
of  Camus,  or  his  own  observation,  could  supply,  to  render  it  more 
perfect ;  insomuch  that  the  XX  volumes,  of  which  it  is  now  com- 
posed, have  cost  several  hundred  pounds.  It  has  the  first  part  to  Vir- 
ginia, in  English,  the  only  perfect  copy  that  Mr.  Grenville  has  ever 
seen,  and  which  is  so  rare,  that  it  is  not  among  the  many  volumes 
of  De  Bry  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris,  nor  was  it  known  to  De 
Bure,  to  Camus,  or  to  any  of  the  French  bibliographers.  This  copy 
of  Debry  has  the  first  and  the  second  edition,  with  all  the  varieties, 
quoted  by  De  Bure  or  Camus,  of  the  Grands  et  Petits  Voyages  in 
Latin :  both  editions  of  the  Elenchus :  the  rare  frontispiece  of  part 
VI.  of  Gr.  Voy. :  the  two  small  maps,  never  seen  by  Camus,  in 
Part  VIII.  Gr.  Voy.  :  the  Appendix  to  Congo :  the  Arctic  map,  in 
Part  III.  Pet.  Voy.  :  an  additional  map  of  Egypt  and  Africa,  in  Part 
IV.  Pet.  Voy.:  the  three  Variations  of  Dedications,  in  Part  VII. 
Pet.  Voy. :  the  two  different  Frontispieces  of  Part  IX.  Pet.  Voy.  : 
together  with  the  plates  of  St.  Helena  and  Mozambique,  noticed  by 
Camus,  but  unknown  to  De  Bure ,  and  the  very  rare  true  plate  7>  of 
Part.  II.  Pet.  Voy. 

It  has  the  German  edition  of  the  Gr.  et  Pet.  Voy.  the  copy  of 
which  had  belonged  to  the  Prince  of  Palm,  and  was  purchased  at  a 
sale  at  Ratisbon  in  1819,  and  is  now  of  extreme  rarity,  even  in  Ger- 
many. No  other  copy  of  it  is  known  in  France,  but  that  in  the 
Royal  Library  at  Paris  5  nor  is  there  a  second  copy  in  England,  that 
Mr.  Grenville  has  ever  heard  of.  This  copy  has  four  books  of  the 
Gr.  Voy.  of  the  first  German  edition,  while  the  Paris  library  has 
them  only  of  the  second  or  third  edition.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
Paris  library  has  the  German  Appendix  to  Congo,  and  the  Abridge- 
ment of  the  Gr.  Voy.,  not  in  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  j  who  has  added 
to  his  20  volumes,  De  Bry's  Casas,  which  should,  as  Camus  remarks, 
have  entered  into  his  Collection. 

Secondly,  for  the  contents,  or  dates  of  the  respective  parts  : 
VOL.  GRANDS  VOYAGES.  Lat.  Edit,  prima. 

I.  Brief e  and  true  Report  of  Virginia.    Discovered  by  SIR  RICHARD 
GKEINUILB,   Knight,   in   the  yeare  15S5,    &c.   &c.    made   in 


S74  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.    [COLLECTIONS, 

in  utter  hopelessness  of  achievement !    Nor  can  this 
prize,  like  that  of  beauty,  be  held  out  as  a  reward  for 

VOL. 

English  by  Thomas  Hariot,  seruant  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 
Franco/,  ad  Moen.  Typ.  £  Wechel,  Sumt.  T.  De  Bry,  1590, 
folio.  This  copy  was  procured  from  Franckfort  by  Lord 
Oxford,  about  the  year  1740,  at  the  expense  of  a£"lOO.  It  is 
the  only  perfect  copy  Mr.  Grenville  ever  heard  of.  He  had 
before  possessed  two  imperfect  fragments  of  it.  The  en- 
gravings arc  sharp  and  brilliant.  The  prints  (xxiii )  are 
numbered  :  but  there  is  one  of  Adam  and  Eve  (followed  by 
an  Address  to  the  gentle  reader*)  not  numbered,  which  pre- 
cedes the  others.  At  the  end,  is  the  imprint,  thus :  — At 
Franckfort,  Inprinted  by  John  Wechel,  at  Theodore  de  Bry, 
owne  coast  and  chardges," 

II.  Parsi.  1590:  ii.  1591:  iii.  1593,  with  Elenchus,   1634.    Ed. 

Prin.  Lat. 

III.  Duplicate  of  pt.  ii.  1591. 

IV.  Pars  iv.  1594  :   v.  1595  :  vi.  1596. 

V.  Pars  vii.  1599  :  viii.  1599  :  ix.  1602. 

VI.  Parsx.  1609:  xi.  1619':  xii.  1624. 

VII.  Pars  xiii.  1634. 

GRANDS  VOYAGES.  Lat.    Edit.  Sec. 

VIII  Pars  i.  Elenchus  reprint,    1634  :    ii.    1591  :    iii.  1592  :  iv. 
1594:  v.  1595. 


*  De  Bry  thus  notices  his  helps,  in  this  Address  :— "  By  the  helpe  of  Maister 
RICHARD  HAKLUY  r,  of  Oxford,  Minister  of  God's  Word,  who  first  incouraged  me 
to  publish  the  work,  I  creaued  out  of  the  verye  original  of  Maister  IHON  WHITE, 
an  Englisch  paynter,whowas  sent  into  the  countrye  by  the  queene's  Maiestye,  onlye 
to  draw  the  description  of  the  place,  lyuelye  to  describe  the  shapes  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, their  apparell,  manners  of  liuinge,  and  fashions,  att  the  speciall  charges  of 
the  worthy  knyghte,  Sir  Walter  Ralegh,  who  bestowed  noe  small  sume  of  monnye 
in  the  serche  and  discouerye  of  that  countrye,  from  the  yeers  1584,  to  the  end  of 

the  years  1588 

I  craeued  both  of  them  in  London,  and  brought  them  hither  to  Franckfurt,  wher  I 
and  my  sonnes  hauen  taken  ernest  paynes  in  grauinge  the  pictures  fherof  on  Cop- 
per, seeing  yt  is  of  noe  small  importance."  After  talking  of  the  "  contrefaict"  of 
f  this  his  book,"  he  warns  the  reader  to  give  no  credit  to  it  —  adding,  "  For 
dyuers  secret  marks  lye  hiddin  iu  my  pictures,  which  wil  breede  confusion  unless 
they  bee  well  observed. 


COLLECTIONS.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  375 

"  the  brave."     Good  fortune,  good  luck,  accident — 
call  it  what  you  will — are  the  concomitants  of  such 

VOL. 

IX.  Pars  vi.  1596:  vii.  1599  :  viii.  1599  :  ix.  1602. 
X.   Narratioper  Episcopum  Casaum.    Francof.  1598. 

PETITS  VOYAGES.    Lat.  Edit.  prin. 
XL   Pars  i.  1598  (Congo):  ii.  1599:  iii.  1601. 

XII.  Parsiv.  1601  :  v.  1601  :  vi.  1604  :  vii.  1606. 

XIII.  Pars  viii.  1607:  ix.  1612  :  x.  1613  :  xi.  1619:  xii.  1628. 

PETITS  VOY.     Edit.  Sec.  Lat. 

XIV.  Parsi.  1598:  ii.  1599:  iii.  16O1  :  iv.  1601:  v.  1601. 

XV.  Pars  vi.  1604:  vii.  1606  :  viii.  1607:  ix.  1612.  x.  1613. 

GRANDS  VOYAGES.     Germanic^. 

XVI.  Virginia,     Duplicate,  1590. 

Same  frontispiece  as  the  English.  It  is  so  rare,  that  Camus,  p.  17, 
says  he  never  saw  it :  neither  is  it  in  the  De  Bry  in  the  Royal  Li- 
brary at  Paris.  Although  Mr.  Grenville  has  another  copy  quite 
perfect,  he  preserves  this,  which  is  imperfect,  wanting  several  of  the 
plates. 

XVII.  Parti.   1590:    ii.  1591:  iii.  1593:  iv.  1594  :f  v.  1595: 
vi.  1619  :  vii.  1617  :  viii.  1624. 

XVIII.  Part  ix.  1600:  x.  1618  :  xi.  1619  :  xii.  1623  :   xiii.  1627: 
xiv.  1630. 

PETITS  VOYAGES.     Germ. 
XIX.    Part  i.   Congo,    1597:    ii.  1598:    iii.   1599;    iv.   1600: 

v.  1601  :  vi.  1603. 
XX.     Part  vii.  1605  :  viii.  1606  :  ix.  1612  :  x.  1613  :   xi.  1618  i 

xii.  1628  :  xiii.  1628. 

Abridgement  of  Petits  Voy.    Germ. 
XXI.    Orientalische  Indien.  Fitzer,  Frankfurt,  1628. 

Camus's  Me*moire  upon  De  Bry  and  Thevenot,  is  bound  to  form  a 
twenty-first  volume. 

Such  is  the  account  of  a  copy,  which  has  no  compeer,  and  which 
is  hardly  ever  likely  to  find  one.  In  each  of  the  volumes  of  this 


Nothing  more  rare  than  the  first  edition  of  these  four  part*. 


376  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [COLLECTIONS. 

an  acquisition.     And  what  will  the  sceptical  reader 
say,  when  I  inform  him,  that  neither  the  pages  of  De 

copy,  bound  uniformly  in  blue  morocco,  by  C.  Lewis,  there  is  a  no- 
tice, by  Mr.  Grenville,  of  the  prominent  features  of  its  rarity.  What 
then  shall  be  the  value  assigned  to  it,  I  will  not  pretend  to  divine. 
But  if  the  reader  will  take  the  trouble  to  consult  Bruriet,  vol  i.  p.  291, 
he  will  find  notices  of  the  value  of  some  of  the  copies  sold  abroad  ; 
and  if  he  will  take  the  further  trouble  to  consult  the  Bibliographical 
Decameron,  vol.  iii.  p.  81,  he  will  find  mention  made  of  the  sale  of 
Colonel  Stanley's  copy,  purchased  by  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  for 
e£*546.  That  copy,  brilliant  and  extraordinary  as  it  was,  was  chiefly 
remarkable  for  "  the  profusion  of  duplicate  plates  and  parts,"  and 
for  the  general  splendour  of  the  impressions  :  but  it  had,  and  has, 
no  pretensions  to  be  placed  alongside  of  Mr.  Grenville's  copy.  Ah, 
it  makes  one's  heart  rejoice  to  think  of  the  "  good  old  times,"  the 
GOLDEN  days  of  the  Bibliomania — when  Colonel  Stanley's  copy  was 
sold  ! — days,  I  fear,  which  are  gone  never  to  return.  Ramusio, 
De  Bry,  Hakluyt,  and  Purchas — Caxton,  De  Worde,  Pynson,  and 
William  Faques — were  THEN  contemplated  and  caressed,  as  their 
beauties  and  merits  entitled  them  to  be  ! 

Yet,  soberly  and  dispassionately  speaking,  I  do  not  look  upon  the 
volumes  of  De  Bry,  from  beginning  to  end,  as  a  work  of  either  per- 
fect beauty  or  interest.  The  paper  is  indifferent  -,  the  printing  is  in- 
different ;  and  the  inequality  of  the  art  is  obvious :  and  when,  as  in 
the  case  of  the  five  prints  of  the  Picts,  subjoined  to  the  Virginia,  we 
are  told  that  De  Bry  engraved  them  from  some  "  cuts  out  of  an  old 
Chronicle,"  sent  to  him  by  John  White,  the  English  painter,  a  very 
reasonable  scepticism  may  be  exercised  in  regard  to  the  fidelity  of 
that,  and  of  other  portions  of  the  graphic  embellishments.  But,  under 
all  circumstances,  the  "  Peregrinations "  put  forth  by  De  Bry, 
form  a  wonderful  and  a  highly  covetable  performance.  I  could 
have  noticed  several  other  copies,  more  or  less  perfect :  as  the  fine 
one  (incomplete)  in  the  library  at  Blickling,  in  Norfolk,  from  the 
Bibl.  Ouilleniana  5  and  that,  supposed  to  be  perfect,  which  was  re- 
cently sold  at  Fonthill  Abbey  for  2OO  guineas  —  bound  in  blue 
morocco.  This  was,  I  believe,  the  copy  of  Mons.  Paris  de  Meyzieux, 
and  was  sold  in  this  country  to  Mr.  Beckford,  in  1/90,  for  the  same 


COLLECTIONS.]    VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  377 

Bure  nor  Camus  initiate  him  into  ALL  the  mysteries  of 
a  perfect  copy  of  De  Bry  ?  No  :  it  is  only  in  the 
book- fairyland  of  Cleveland  Square  that  such  a  trea- 
sure can  be  found. 

All  hail  to  thee  RICHARD  HAKLUYT!  for  thou  wert 
a  genius  of  no  ordinary  complexion.  What,  though  the 
warmth  of  a  prebendal  stall  in  the  Abbey  of  West- 
minster might  have  comforted  thy  limbs,  and  thy 
clerical  duties  in  the  rural  shades  of  Wether ingset  have 
occupied  much  of  thy  time,  yet,  behold  this  merito- 
rious Divine  stealing,  "  many  a  time  and  oft,"  to  the 
then  picturesque  vicinity  of  trapping; — holding  dis- 
cousre  with  sea-faring  men  :  listening,  with  willing 
arid  greedy  ears,  to  tales  of  adventure  and  high  ex- 
ploit:  feeling  the  passion  for  visiting  distant  parts 
increasing  daily  within  him;  and,  influenced  by  the 
secret  advice  and  urgent  entreaty  of  that  wise  Minis- 
ter Walsingham,*  gratifying  this  passion,  in  the  col- 
sum.  The  reader  may  consult  the  Bibliomania,  p.  547'  At  Althorp 
there  is  a  beautiful  copy,  in  13  vols.  in  blue  morocco  binding,  with 
the  true  Elenchus,  and  the  Appendix  to  the  Voyage  to  Congo. 

*  "  But  that  which  is  chiefly  to  be  noticed  in  him  [Hakluyt]  is 
this,  that  his  geny  urging  him  to  the  study  of  history,  especially  to 
the  marine  part  thereof  (which  was  encouraged  and  furthered  by  Sir 
Francis  Walsingham)  made  him  keep  constant  intelligence  with  the 
most  noted  seamen  at  Wapping,  near  London.  From  whom,  and 
many  small  pamphlets  and  letters,  that  were  published  and  went 
from  hand  to  hand  in  his  time,  concerning  the  voyages  and  travels  of 
several  persons,  he  compiled  his  Navigations,  #c."  Wood :  Athen. 
Oxon.  vol  ii.  col.  186,  Edit.  Bliss.  I  refer  to  this  work  for  a  few 
scarce  pieces  of  Hakluyt,  mentioned  by  Dr.  Bliss,  which  were  un- 
known to  Wood.  Hakluyt  had  "  the  fourth  stall  in  the  church  of 
Westminster,  in  the  place  of  one  Dr.  Richard  Webster  :  and  with 
this  he  held  Wetheringsett  cum  Blockford,  in  the  diocese  of  Nor» 
wich. — Ibid. 


378  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.    [COLLECTIONS, 

lection  of  scarce  and  curious  tracts,  and  in  obtaining 
accurate  notices  relating  to  the  growth  and  produce 
"  of  either  Ind."  The  reader  will  already  (in  this  very 
strange  and  perhaps  rhapsodical  apostrophe)  antici- 
pate a  strong  allusion  to,  and  recommendation  of,  the 
famous  "Navigations,  Voyages,  Traffiques  and  Disco- 
veries of  the  ENGLISH  NATION,"  put  forth  by  the  said 
antiquarian  divine,  in  the  years  1598  and  1600,  in  three 
folio  volumes ;  "  a  work  which,  as  Oldys*  properly  re- 
marks, redounds  as  much  to  the  glory  of  the  English 
nation,  as  any  book  that  ever  was  published  in  it."  But, 
great  and  generally  uniform  as  may  be  my  respect  and 
veneration  for  all  original  editions — like  this,  in  the 
fclttcfe  IdtCt — I  cannot,  conscientiously,  recommend 
the  edition  just  mentioned,  in  preference  to  that  put 
forth,  some  dozen  years  ago,  by  Mr.  Evansyf-  con- 

*  See  his  British  Librarian  ;  p.  137 — 158  :  where  fifty  pages  are 
devoted  to  a  minute  and  admirable  analysis  of  the  above  volumes  of 
HAKLUYT.  They  were  preceded,  however,  by  an  impression  of  the 
first  volume  only  of  the  second  edition,  put  forth  in  1589,  folio: 
which  has  the  advantage  of  an  Index,  but  differs  materially  from  the 
second  and  best  j  and  is  neither  rare  nor  high  priced.  It  is  however,  if 
my  memory  be  not  treacherous,  a  handsomely  printed  book.  The 
three  folios  display  one  of  the  fullest  pages  ever  seen  in  the  black 
letter:  and  copies  are  usually  cropt.  I  never  saw  it  uncut.  Care 
should  be  taken  that  the  map  (usually  missing)  be  found  in  the  first 
volume,  as  in  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  j  and  that  the  Voyage  to  Cadiz  be 
there  also.  I  find  a  copy  of  this  best  black  letter  edition,  < <  with  the 
addition  of  the  smaller  voyages,  4  vols.  bound  in  3,  bound  in  calf," 
marked  at  101.  10s.  in  the  last  catalogue  of  Messrs.  I.  and  A.  Arch. 

f  The  complaint,  urged  by  Oldys,  respecting  the  lack  of  spirit  in 
not  republishing  Hakluyt  "  in  a  fair  impression,  with  proper  illus- 
trations, and  especially  an  Index"— can  no  longer  be  brought  forward. 
Mr.  Evans  has  republished  it,  in  five  comely  quarto  volumes,  and 


COLLECTIONS.]    VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  379 

taining,  not  only  the  Reprint  of  these  black  letter 
pages,  but  some  Additions  of  a  decisive  and  important 
character. 

his  reimpression  has  the  following  advantages.  It  comprises  an 
accurate  reprint  of  the  best  folio  edition,  with  the  addition  of  those 
voyages  which  were  published  in  the  first  edition,  and  omitted  in  the 
second.  Mr.  Evans  (who  is  generally  understood  to  have  been  the  editor) 
has  added  a  Supplement,  which  forms  the  latter  half  of  the  fourth 
and  the  whole  of  the  fifth  volume.  All  the  voyages  and  travels 
printed  by  Hakluyt,  or  at  his  suggestion,  subsequent  to  the  publica- 
tion of  his  Collection,  are  here  included,  and  a  curious  Tract,  from  a 
manuscript  in  the  Marquis  of  Stafford's  possession,  entitled  tf  The 
Omission  of  Cales  Voyage,  stated  and  discussed  by  the  Earl  of 
Essex." 

Of  this  reimpression  there  were  only  250  copies  printed  on  small 
paper,  and  75  on  large.  I  believe  that  both  forms  are  now  become 
scarce,  especially  the  large  :  although  I  observe  a  copy  of  the  latter 
marked  at  \%l.  J2s.,  in  boards,  in  a  recent  catalogue  of  Messrs.  I.  and 
A.  Arch.  This  should  be  seized  upon  by  those  who  have  keen  appe- 
tites for  books  at  once  rare  and  intrinsically  valuable. 

We  cannot  conclude  this  account  of  Hakluyt's  Collection  more 
agreeably,  or  more  advantageously  to  the  reader,  than  by  inserting 
the  spirited  character  drawn  of  him  by  Zouch,  in  his  life  of  Sir  Philip 
Sidney.— "  Every  reader  conversant  in  the  annals  of  our  naval  trans- 
actions, will  cheerfully  acknowledge  the  merit  of  Richard  Hakluyt, 
who  devoted  his  studies  to  the  investigation  of  those  periods  of  Eng- 
lish history,  which  regard  the  improvement  of  navigation  and  com- 
merce. He  had  the  advantages  of  an  academical  education.  He 
was  elected  student  of  Christ  Church  in  Oxford,  in  1 570,  and  was 
therefore  contemporary  with  Sidney  at  the  University.  To  him  we 
are  principally  indebted  for  a  clear  and  comprehensive  description  of 
those  noble  discoveries  of  the  English  nation  made  by  sea  or  over- 
land to  the  most  distant  quarter  of  the  earth.  His  incomparable 
industry  was  remunerated  with  every  possible  encouragement  by  Sir 
Francis  Walsingham  and  Sir  Philip  Sidney.  To  the  latter,  as  to  a 
most  generous  promoter  of  all  ingenious  and  useful  knowledge,  he 
inscribed  his  first  collection  of  voyages  and  discoveries,  printed  in 


S80  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.         [COEYATE. 

Although  my  old  friend,  the  Odcombian,  TOM 
CORYATE,  was  not  a  Collector  of  Travels,  but  a  gay 
and  gallant  traveller  himself,  yet  I  cannot  step  across 
the  threshold  of  the  sixteenth,  and  enter  upon  the  se- 
venteenth century,  without  a  brief  but  pointed  recom- 
mendation of  his  "  Crudities,  hastily  gobbled  up,"* 

1589.  Thus  animated  and  encouraged,  he  was  enabled  to  leave  to 
posterity  the  fruits  of  his  unwearied  labours — an  invaluable  treasure 
of  nautical  information  preserved  iu  volumes,  which  even  at  this  day, 
affix  to  his  name  a  brilliancy  of  reputation,  which  a  series  of  ages 
can  never  efface  or  obscure." 

*  The  entire  title  is  '•  Crudities  hastily  gobbled  up,  in  five  months 
Travels  in  France,  Savoy,  Italy,  Rhetia,  some  parts  of  High  Germany, 
and  the  Netherlands.  Lond.  1611,  4to.  It  was  published  with  seve- 
ral very  curious  cuts,  and  the  author's  portrait  in  the  frontispiece  : 
the  whole  reprinted  in  1776,  8vo.  3  vols. — with  all  the  engravings, 
but  some  necessarily  in  a  folded  state.  The  reprint  is  neither  rare 
nor  dear:  worth  perhaps  I/.  105.  The  first  edition,  when  in  fine 
condition,  (especially  if  it  be  like  that  of  the  copy  of  my  friend,  Mr. 
Cruden,  of  Gravesend)  has  been  known  to  sell  for  ten  or  twelve 
guineas.  Colonel  Stanley's  copy,  which  is  described  as  being  "  ex- 
traordinarily fine,  in  russia  binding,"  was  sold  for  10/.  105.  Mr. 
Bindley's  copy  produced  the  same  sum ;  but,  of  late  years,  it  is  much 
lowered  in  price  5  and  Mr.  Thorpe  marks  a  "  fine  copy,  with  the 
plates,  very  neat,"  at  41.  4s.  The  most  extraordinary  and  most  pre- 
cious copy  perhaps,  in  all  respects  existing,  is  that  in  the  library  of 
Mr.  Grenville.  It  is  a  presentation  copy,  with  an  original  letter  by 
the  author,  to  Prince  Henry,  in  whose  family  he  was  domesticated. 
It  may  be  safely  said  that  this  book  exists  not  on  large  paper.  Co- 
ryate  was  a  native  of  Odcombe,  in  Somersetshire,  and  was,  indeed, 
(according  to  Wood)  born  at  the  parsonage  house  there.  Hence  he 
is  called  the  Odcombian.  Browne  Willis  told  Cole  (the  greatest  col- 
lector  of  gossip  and  scandal  of  his  day)  that  Coryate's  shoes  were 
hanging  up  in  the  church  at  Odcombe  till  the  year  1702.  See  Dr. 
Bliss's;  4then.  Oxon.  vol.  ii.  col.  208-514.  A  just  estimate  of  the 
merits  of  Coryate  will  be  found  in  the  Quarterly  Review,  vol.  ii. 
p.  92. 


COLLECTIONS.]    VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  381 

as  no  unsavoury  sandwich  for  the  more  substantial 
attack  upon  the  Pilgrimes  and  Pilgrimage  of  PUR- 
CHAS, published  in  five  folio  volumes,  1625-6;  and 
which  exhibit  a  monument  of  care,  diligence,  and  re- 
search, that,  of  its  kind,  can  hardly  be  surpassed.  * 

*  Purchas,  "  who  (says  Wood)  is  by  some  styled  our  English- 
Ptolemy,"  yet  maintains  his  reputation  and  his  price  in  the  market. 
The  highest  price  perhaps  ever  given  for  a  copy,  was  that  (50/.  85.) 
which  was  given  for  Colonel  Stanley's  :  but  then  it  had  "  the  rare 
frontispiece,  and  five  portraits  of  the  persons  to  whom  each  volume 
is  dedicated,  inserted  jf  and  was,  in  other  respects,  te  an  extraordi- 
nary fine  copy/'  Yet  a  finer  is  to  be  found  (without  the  extra 
embellishments)  in  the  library  of  Mr  Grenville ;  for  he  has  it  UN- 
CUT 5  having  upwards  of  twelve  years  ago  purchased  the  four 
volumes,  in  this  state,  of  Mr.  Miller  the  late  bookseller  ;  and  given 
forty  guineas  for  them.  The  fifth  volume  (the  commonest)  was 
afterwards  luckily  found  in  a  similar  condition.  It  is  now  in  blue 
morocco  binding.  I  have  seen  several  other  beautiful  copies — of  a 
book,  however,  not  remarkable  for  its  typographical  elegance.  The 
Royal  Library  here,  boasts  of  Colbert's  copy  j  and  in  the  Peypysian 
library,  at  Cambridge,  there  is  a  very  fine,  large,  and  clean  copy,  in 
old  calf  binding,  with  a  brilliant  impression  of  the  much-coveted 
frontispiece :  which  (more  fortunate  than  the  head  of  Fuller,  in  his 
Worthies)  has  luckily  escaped  the  scissars  of  Master  Samuel  Pepys, 
the  celebrated  collector.  J  In  the  trade,  the  price  of  Purchas  varies 
considerably.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  copy  in  calf  at  2lZ.  :  a  price, 
which,  if  the  frontispiece  be  fair  and  sound,  must  be  considered  ex- 
ceedingly moderate.  The  richly  filled  pages  of  the  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  exhibit  two  copies :  one,  "  very  neatly 
bound  in  russia,"  for  35Z. :  another,  <e  very  fine  copy,  with  the  fron- 
tispiece", for  401.  There  is  a  title-page,  as  well  as  a  frontispiece. 

Grander  has  a  brief  but  pleasing  memento  of  Purchas.     He  says 
that  "  his  work  is  not  only  valuable  for  the  various  instruction  and 


•j*  A  similar  copy  is  at  Althorp,  in  russia  binding. 

J  Pepys  was  a  Collector  of  portraits,  which  he  had  the  hapless  knack  of  almost 
crucifying'  in  his  method  of  trimming  and  sticking  them  on.  I  have  seen  one  of 
his  folio  volumes  of  Collections  of  Portraits  :...*'  vox  faucibus  haesit !" 


S82  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS. 

Above  all  things,  let  the  lover  of  graphic  virtu,  and 
the  desperate  hunter  after  perfect  copies,  look  sharply 
after  the  possession  of  a  clean,  bright,  and  brilliant  copy 
of  the  engraved  frontispiece  ;  at  the  bottom  of  which 
appears  the  frill-guarded  neck  and  shoulders  of  Pur- 
chas  himself;  representing  him  in  his  forty- eighth  year. 
If  this  frontispiece  be  wanting,  ten  guineas  will  hardly 
supply  its  place  with  a  beautiful  impression  of  it. 

This  was  an  age  full  of  glory  and  gallant  adventure 
for  Old  England ;  and  the  names  of  DRAKE  and 
RALEIGH  alone,  to  say  nothing  of  that  of  SMITH,*  (one 

amusement  contained  in  it,  but  is  also  very  estimable  on  a  national,  and 
he  may  add,  a  religious  account."  Biogr.  Hist,  of  England,  vol.  i. 
p.  365,  edit.  1804.  He  alludes  to  Harmaris  Illustrations  of  the 
Scriptures  from  works  of  a  similar  description. 

Mr.  Chalmers  (Biogr.  Diet.  vol.  xxv.  p.  384)  has  refuted  the 
notion  of  Granger,  that  Purchas  died  in  prison,  from  distressed  cir- 
cumstances, on  account  of  the  publication  of  his  "  Pilgrims."  The 
former  is  untrue,  as  he  died  in  his  own  house  in  1628,  in  his  fifty- 
first  year.  fflt  is  not  improbable  (says  Mr.  Chalmers)  that  he  might 
be  a  sufferer  by  the  expense  of  printing  his  books  5  but  his  debts  are 
to  be  referred  to  a  more  honourable  cause,  the  kindness  of  his  dispo. 
sition,"  See  the  note,  ibid  :  and  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  iv. ;  and  Wood's 
Fasti  Oxon.  vol.  i.  col.  363.  Edit.  Bliss. 

*  Before  I  touch  upon  CAPT.  JOHN  SMITH'S  travelling  achieve- 
ments, let  me  ask  the  ingenious  and  intrepid  Defender  of  King 
James  I.  (my  approved  good  friend  Mr.  D'Israeli)  how  the  Scoto- 
English  Monarch  COULD  find  it  in  his  heart,  or  in  his  head,  to  order 
the  execution  of  such  a  man  as  RALEIGH  ?  And  further,  how  either 
his  head  or  his  heart  could  excuse  him  for  NOT  ordering  the  execu- 
tion of  two  such  unprincipled,  wicked,  and  guilty  creatures,  as  the 
EARL  and  COUNTESS  OF  SOMERSET  ?  — •  as  much  the  instigators,  and 
accessories  before  the  fact,  of  the  murder  of  Sir  Thomas  Overbury,f 


f  Mr.  D'Israeli,  who  is  learned  in  biographical  history,  must  have  read 


VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  383 

of  the  hardiest  and  bravest  adventurers  that  ever 
faced  physical  or  civil  obstacles)  will  be  long-  dear  to 
every  British  heart.  It  was  in  their  school,  that 
Anson,  Cook,  Perouse,  and  Vancouver,  studied ;  men, 
who  with  greater  or  lesser  degrees  of  success,  cir- 
cumnavigated the  globe.  But  this  is  anticipation. 
Let  me  revert  to  Collections  of  Voyages  and  Travels  ; 

as but  there  is  no  need  of  any  comparison.  Lord  Clarendon 

has  somewhere  well  observed,  that  King  James  could  never  resist 
the  influence  "  of  fine  clothes  and  a  handsome  person  :"  and  Carre, 
Earl  of  Somerset,  happened  to  be  that  handsome  person.  I  revert  to 
Smith — What  an  age  was  that  of  the  opening  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury !  *  I  can  conceive  Drake,  Raleigh,  Smith,  Hakluyt,  Coryate.,  and 


Truth  brought  to  Light  by  Time,l6l5, 4to.  with  a  print  of  poor  Sir  Thomas  Over- 
bury  :  among  the  rarest  of  British  portraits.  If  not,  he  must  have  read  the  reprint 
of  the  tract  in  1651,  4to.  without  the  print :  but  with  additional  matter. 

*  Jt  was  the  SPIRIT  of  such  an  age  which  induced  a  truly  respectable  printer,  of 
the  name  of  JOHN  WOLF,  to  publish  an  English  version  of  a  very  curious  and  in- 
structive volume  of  a  Dutch  Traveller  of  the  name  of  Huighen  Van  LINSCHOTEN, 
who  entitled  it  a  "  Discourse  of  Voyages  into  the  East  and  West  Indies*'  Wolf 
printed  it  in  a  close  and  handsome  black  letter  type,  in  double  columns,  in  1598, 
folio,  and  dedicated  it  to  Julius  Caesar,  Doctor  of  Laws.  It  contains  A  to  Q  q,  in 
sixes  :  Q  q  with  seven.  Wolf  thus  observes  in  the  dedication :  "  about  a  twelve- 
month agoe,a  learned  Gentleman  brought  unto  mee  the  uoyages  and  navigation  of 
lohn  Huyghen  Van  Linschoten  into  the  Indies,  written  in  the  Dutch  tongue,  which 
he  wished  might  be  translated  into  our  language,  because  he  thought  it  would  be 
not  only  delightful,  but  also  very  commodious  for  our  English  nation."  The  name 
of  the  translator  is  not  mentioned.  There  is  a  copper-plate  frontispiece,  engraved 
by  "  William  Rogers,  a  citizen  of  London ;"  and  twelve  copperplate  Maps  :  of 
which  Herbert's  copy  wanted  two,  and  Bindley's  four.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  is 
quite  complete,  in  green  morocco  binding  by  C.Lewis.  Colonel  Stanley's  copy  had 
"  the  addition  of  the  plates  belonging  to  the  original  Dutch  edition,"  and  was  pur- 
chased by  Lord  Ossulston  for  221.  Herbert's  copy,  made  complete,  is  at  Althorp. 

A  Latin  edition,  translated  by  Linschoten  himself,  was  published  at  the  Hague 
in  1599,  folio:  with  similar  maps  to  those  of  the  English  edition,  but  larger  and 
coarser.  It  has,  however,  a  number  of  additional  plates,  equally  coarse,  of  the 
costumes  of  men  and  women  of  the  different  countries  visited.  The  coast  of 
Guinea  has  a  separate  title-page  of  the  same  date.  There  is  also  an  Index,  or 


884  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS. 

and  here,  in  chronological  order,  I  necessarily  point 
to  THEVENOT'S  Relations  de  divers  Voyages  curieux 

Purchas,  belonging  to  a  sort  of  Travellers'  Club  (at  present  so  fashion- 
able with  many  who  have  only  felt  the  saline  particles  of  the  British 
Channel.)  and  laying  their  heads  and  charts  together  respecting  the 
several  countries  visited,  or  about  to  be  visited.  Indeed,  SMITH  was 
the  very  Dragon  of  his  breed  :  ' '  nil  actum  credens  si  quid  superesset 
agendum."  His  Travels  and  Adventures  in  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  and 
America,"  between  the  years  1593  and  1629,  were  published  in  a 
small  folio  volume  of  sixty  pages  in  1630,  and  will  be  found  re- 
printed in  the  second  volume  of  Churchill's  Collections.  The  first 
edition  contains  some  pretty  separate  plates,  in  small,  representing 
some  of  Smith's  adventures.  He  vanquishes  several  great  Champions 
at  tournaments  j  and  being  detained  prisoner  by  the  Bashaw  of  Nal- 
brits  longer  than  he  wished,  and  having  been  scolded  and  ill  treated 
used  by  him,  he  contrives  to  find  an  opportunity  of  beating  out  his 
brains  (represented  by  a  plate)  with  a  ' '  threshing  bat,  for  they  had  no 
flails."*  He  then  hid  his  body  under  the  straw,  dressed  himself  in  the 
Bashaw's  clothes,  (a  ticklish  experiment !)  and  scampered  across  the 
desert  "  at  all  adventure. "  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  of  this  slender 
little  folio  (bound  in  green  morocco,  by  Charles  Lewis)  was  not 
acquired  under  the  sum  of  51.  5s. 


Direction  to  the  bookbinder,  at  the  end.  To  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  of  this  Latin 
edition  is  affixed—of  the  date  of  1677— a  Nuptial  Dilhyrambic  in  the  native^tongue 
of  the  country,  with  a  Latin  version;  the  latter  beginning  thus : 

Euge!  Brema,  Nuptiales 
Ede  laeta  voce  plausus, 
Nuptias  Koperianas 
Gratulando  dum  salutes 
Barbitoque  versibusque ; 
Plaude,  Brema  tota,  plaude !  plaude  tantis  Nuptiis. 

Only  one  word  more.  According  to  Meuselius  (Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  342)  the 
Earliest  Dutch  edition  of  Linschoten  was  at  Amsterdam  in  1596  :  reprinted  at 
Frankfort  in  1601--and  corrected  at  Amst.  in  1614  :  1623 :  1634,  and  1664  :  all 
with  plates.  A  French  version  first  appeared  at  Amst.  in  1610, 1619,  and  1638, 
each  with  cuts. 

*  This  "  threshing  bat"  looks  very  like  the  club  of  Hercules,  and  therefore  was 
well  calculated  to  "  settle  the  matter  ".  with  the  Bashaw. 


COLLECTIONS.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  S85 

put  forth  in  1663-96,  in  2  folio  volumes  :*  a  work, 

I  now  come  to  the  more  famous  work  of  Smith,  being  his  GENE- 
RAL HISTORY  OF  VIRGINIA —  that  country  having  been  visited  by  him 
between  the  years  1 584-]  623,  and  the  work  published  in  a  folio  vo- 
lume in  1624.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  of  this  book  will  throw  a  collec- 
tor of  Travels  into  a  succession  of  ecstasies !  It  is  on  LARGE  PAPER  j 
and  a  similar  copy,  is  in  the  fine  collection  of  Mr.  G.  Hibbert.  It 
has  both  the  portraits,  genuine  and  counterfeit ;  the  one,  of  Frances 
Duchess  of  Richmond,  by  Will.  Pass  :  the  other,  of  an  exceedingly  ill- 
looking  Prince  called  Matoaka,  by  Holland.  There  is  also  a  third, 
and  a  brilliant  little  portrait,  by  Simon  Pass,  of  the  Author,  (t  Cap- 
tayne  lohn  Smith."  This  is  at  top,  at  the  left-hand  corner  of  the 
last  map.  But  a  fine  impression  of  the  Frontispiece  is  worth  more 
than  a  moment's  gaze.  Above,  are  portraits  of  Elizabeth,  James, 
and  Charles  when  Prince  of  Wales.  The  engraver  was  John  Barra. 
Note  5  it  is  remarked  by  Mr.  Grenville,  that  the  sheet  O  is  suppressed 
—and  that  the  defective  paging,  from  page  96  to  105,  not  supplied 
—  in  ALL  the  copies  of  this  book.  A  shoal  of  complimentary  verses 
(the  fashion  of  the  age)  is  prefixed.  Among  them,  is  a  set  from  our 
old  friend  Samuel  Purchas,  who  occupied  so  much  of  our  attention  in 
the  preceding  note.  The  reader  will  thank  me  for  furnishing  him 
with  one  stanza  only,  and  will  probably  agree  with  the  author  him- 
self, that  he  had  a  "  rustic  out-worne  Muse."  Such  crabbed  lines 
are  too  tooth-breaking  for  utterance  j 

Loe  here  SMITH'S  forge,  where  Forgery's  roague- branded, 
True  Pegasus  is  shood,  fetters  are  forged 
For  Silke-sotts,  milk-sops,  base  sloth,  farre  hence  landed, 
(Soile  changd  soule-soild  still)  England's  dregs,  discharged, 
To  plant  (supplant ! )  Virginia,  home-disgorged : 
Where  Vertues  praise  frames  good  men  Stories  armour 
Gainst  Time ,  Achilles  like,  with  best  Arts  charged ; 
Pallas,  all-arm 'd,  all  learn'd,  can  teach  Sword-Grammer, 
Can  Pens  of  Pikes  ;  Armes  t'  Arts;  to  Scholar,  Souldier ;  hammer. 
&c.          &c. 

Mr.  Grenville's  copy  is  bound  in  a  style  worthy  of  its  beauty  by  C. 
Lewis,  in  olive-colour  morocco.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  the 
usual  copy,  with  the  genuine  prints  of  the  Duchess  of  Richmond  and 
Captain  Smith,  at  61.  6s. 

I  have  a  strong  doubt  whether  a  perfect  copy  of  the  Voyages 

C  C 


386  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [COLLECTIONS. 

somewhat  motley  in  its  contents,  bat  curious  and  in- 
structive withal ;  and,  I  will  be  free  to  add,  of  ex- 
collected  by  MELCHISEDEC  THEVENOT,  with  all  its  parts  and  varieties, 
be  not  of  as  rare  occurrence  as  a  perfect  copy  of  De  Bry :  doubtless, 
however,  it  is  of  infinitely  less  value  and  importance.  Yet  Colonel 
Stanley's  copy,  although  not  on  large  paper,  and  apparently  Tar  less 
perfect  than  the  one  I  am  about  to  describe,  was  not  purchased 
under  the  sum  of  14Z.  145.  Brunet  is  delightfully  communicative, 
apparently  from  the  copious  materials  of  Camus :  yet  that  active  bib- 
liographer appears  never  to  have  seen  a  copy  on  LARGE  PAPER.  Such 
a  copy  adorns  the  library  of  Mr.  Grenville  :  and  that  copy  is  a 
Museum  Duplicate.  Prefixed  to  it,  is  the  following  memorandum  by 
its  very  intelligent  and  accurate  possessor.  (C  This  is  a  large  paper 
copy  of  the  edition  of  1663,  1664,  1666,  and  1672  :  with  additions 
from  that  of  1696.  It  contains  all  that  is  described  by  Camus,  except 
a  17th  page  of  the  Spanish  fragment  3  six  leaves  of  Appendix  to  the 
Hist,  of  Mogul ;  and  ten  leaves,  from  page  48  of  Asganii  Sassonii  3 
which  three  articles'  were  equally  wanting  in  Huet's  copy,  though 
they  are  found  at  the  end  of  that  of  the  Corps  Legislatif,  at  Paris. 
This  copy  however  has,  in  torn.  i.  p.  50,  of  the  Voyage  de  Bouteko, 
a  Map,  with  variations,  not  noticed  by  Camus.  Connected  with  the 
Voyage  d  Pekin,  part  iii.  are  a  few  duplicate  plates,  to  shew  the 
superiority  of  the  originals  to  the  counterfeits  or  re-engravings.  At 
the  end  of  this  third  part,  is  "  Explication  de  la  Carte  de  Telmer," 
never  seen  by  Camus  but  once,  and  not  in  any  other  copy  of  The- 
venot."  -Camus,  p.  283. 

Brunet  notices  the  usual  termination  of  the ( '  Asganii  Sassonii"  with 
page  48  j  and,  indeed,  observes  upon  the  usual  absence  of  the 
three  latter  treatises  contained  in  Mr.  Grenville' s  copy.  As  to  the 
EMBELLISHMENTS  of  Thevenot,  the  chief  merit  of  them  consists  in  the 
Maps,  which  are  numerous  and  curious.  The  figures  are  generally 
coarse  and  ill  executed  j  but  a  decided  exception  must  be  made  in 
favour  of  a  very  pretty  small  plate,  vignette- wise,  which  occurs  in 
vol.  i.  p.  17>  of  the  Voyage  de  Terri :  representing  the  Grand  Mogul, 
Selim  Sha  (with  a  hawk  on  his  fist)  the  Sultan  Coroome,  and  a 
female  Slave  his  wife.  They  are  each  in  profile,  and  very  like,  in 
figure,  dress,  and  form,  what  we  see  in  the  usual  highly  decorated 
IV1S8.  of  Persia  and  Hindoostan.  The  counterfeits,  or  reprints,  in« 


COLLECTIONS.]    VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  387 

tremely  great  difficulty  of  acquisition — with  all  its 
parts  in  an  unmutilated  state. 

The  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  witnessed 
a  most  valuable  performance  in  the  "  Account  of  the 
Voyages  made  by  the  Portuguese  and  Spaniards"  Sec. 
published  by  I.  L.  Gottfried,  in  the  Dutch  tongue,  at 
Leyden,  in  1707,  in  eight  folio  volumes:*  and  within 
half  a  century  from  this  period,  the  English  had  again 
to  boast  of  some  valuable  Collections  of  Voyages,  to 
which  the  names  of  CHURCHILL  and  HARRIS  are  pre- 
fixed as  Editors.  The  former  published  his  six  hand- 
some folio  volumes  in  1732;  the  latter,  in  two  similar 
volumes,  in  1 744.  In  the  year  ensuing,  appeared  a 
Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels  compiled  from  the 
library  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford  :  a  library,  which,  as  it 
united  MSS.  with  printed  books,  may  be  said  to  rival, 
if  not  eclipse,  that  of  the  great  Colbert  in  France. 

troduced  in  Mr.  Grenville's  copy,  are  doubtless  very  much  inferior 
to  the  originals ;  some  few  of  which  (as  the  veiled  lady  on  horse- 
back, led  by  a  slave)  have  sufficient  spirit  and  effect.  This  copy  is 
bound  in  red  morocco  by  C.  Lewis,  in  the  most  appropriate  style. 
It  has  the  four  parts  in  two  volumes.  I  might  have  noticed  that 
Thevenot's  Collection  consists  of  different  curious  Voyages  which 
have  not  been  published,  or  which  have  been  translated  (in  the 
French  tongue)  from  Hakluyt,  Purchas,  and  other  English,  Dutch, 
Portuguese,  German,  and  Spanish  travellers.f 

*  Brunet  (vol.  ii.p.  110)  makes  the  date  1727  as  well  as  1707. 
He  adds,  that  the  author's  real  name  was  JOHN  PHILIP  ADELINUS  $ 
and  that  the  work  was  reprinted  in  the  same  (Dutch)  language  in 
thirty  octavo  volumes.  Of  the  price  of  either  edition,  I  can  say 
nothing.  The  celebrated  bookseller  Vander  Aa,  of  Leyden,  was  the 
publisher  of  the  folio  impression. 


f  Mr.  Payne  tells  me  that  he  has  a  strong  recollection  of  a  fine,  large  paper, 
perfect  copy,  bound  in  old  morocco,  possessed  by  his  father ;  but  knows  not  its 


388  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [COLLECTIONS. 

The  note  below*  will  make  the  reader  acquainted  with 
the  pecuniary  value  of  all  these  Works. 

There  were  yet  minor  publications,  of  a  similar  cha- 
racter ;  such  as  the  Collections  of  ASTLEY,  1745,  4to. 
four  volumes  ;  and  Dam  pier  1729,  in  four  octavo  vo- 
lumes.-f-  The  labours  of  our  immediate  neighbours,  the 
French,  must  not  be  forgotten.  Their  "  Lettres  Edi- 
fiantes  ei  Curieuses,  Writes  des  Missions  Mrangeres, " 
P#w,1780,12mo.26  volumes,  should  find  a  place  in  the 

*  First  of  CHURCHILL.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  neat  copy, 
on  LARGE  PAPER,  at  the  moderate  sum  of  81.  8s.  -,  but  then  it  is  the 
first  edition  of  1732.  I  observe  that  a  large  paper  copy  of  the  best 
edition  of  1744,  with  the  Harleian  Collection  of  Voyages  of  1745, 
—  in  all,  eight  volumes  —  <:  very  fine  copies,  uniformly  bound 
(out  of  sheets)  in  russia,  by  Walther,"  was  sold  for  the  ponderous 
sum  of  367.  at  the  sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library.  My  friend  Mr. 
G.  Hibbert  may  boast  of  a  fine  similar  copy,  in  white  calf,  with  rich 
gilt  tooling  on  the  back.  It  should  be  remembered  that  either  edi- 
tion of  Churchill  contains  several  pieces  from  original  MSS.  and 
others  then  first  published  in  the  English  language.  Watt,  in  his 
Bibl.  Brit,  mentions  an  edition  as  early  as  1704,  and  as  late  as  1752. 
As  to  HARRIS'S  Collection,  let  any  one  inspect  the  curious  contents 
only  of  the  first  volume,  as  exhibited  by  Mr.  Harris  in  his  valuable 
Catalogue  of  the  Library  of  the  Royal  Institution,  p.  260,  and  he  will 
not  hesitate  a  moment  respecting  the  importance  of  this  work.  I 
find  a  neat  copy  of  the  best  edition  of  it,  1744-48,  with  maps  and 
plates,  marked  at  5L  5s.  in  the  recent  catalogue  of  Messrs.  I.  and  A. 
Arch.  The  Collection  from  the  HARLEIAN  LIBRARY  may  be  worth 
half  the  sum. 

f  Astley's  Collections  appear  to  have  attracted  little  notice ;  and 
yet  I  observe  that  a  copy  of  them,  bound  in  russia,  was  sold  for  81.  Ss. 
at  the  sale  of  the  Merly  Library  in  1813.  Whoever  chooses  to  con- 
sult the  pages  of  Mr.  Chalmers's  Biographical  Dictionary,  will  rea- 


present  "  locus  in  quo."  I  heartily  wish  Mr.  Payiie  would  leave  us,  as  a  legacy, 
all  his  Book  Reminiscencea—tlie  Bibliomaniac  would  rejoice  to  possess  them. 
There  are  Reminiscences  extant  which  might  be  thought  less  deserving  of  record. 


COLLECTIONS.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  389 

glided  upper  shelves  of  a  well-furnished  library  of  any 
description.  I  knew  an  "old"  friend  who  solaced  him- 
self, during  eight  and  twenty  long  wintery  nights,  by 
the  perusal  of  these  "  edifying  and  curious  Epistles." 
If  any  keen  book  Angler  chooses  to  bait  his  hook  with 
a  five  pound  note  of  the  Bank  of  England,  he  may,  at 
a  public  auction,,  catch  the  whole  of  this  savoury  fry  of 
sparkling  little  fish.  The  gilt  tooling  of  Padaloup  or 
De  Rome  may  represent  their  scales,  like  those  of  the 
carp,  "  bedropped  with  gold."  Very  recently  there 
has  appeared  a  French  work  of  more  intrinsic  value  ; 
namely,  the  "  Bibliotheque  Portative  des  Voyages, " 
Paris,  1810,  in  41  octodecimo  volumes,  with  an  Atlas, 
in  8vo.  This  collection  contains  the  travels  of  Norden, 
Cook,  Macartney.,  Barroiv,  and  Tavernier. 

Reverting  to  our  own  country,  it  remains  only  to 
notice  the  Collections  of  Voyages  and  Travels  by  Mr. 
PINKERTON  and  Mr.  ROBERT  KERR.  Of  the  former, 
commenced  in  1808  and  concluded  in  1814,  in  seven- 
teen quarto  volumes,  with  maps,  &c.  a  well  bound 
copy  may  be  obtained  for  261.  5s.  It  must  not  be 
denied  that  it  is  the  most  valuable  Collection  of  Voy- 
ages extant.*  Mr.  Kerr's  Collection,  published  in 
1811-17,  comprises  eighteen  octavo  volumes. 

dily  see  what  an  interesting  voyage  round  the  world  was  made 
by  Captain  William  Dampier.  This  Collection  contains  many  of 
his  achievements,  with  those  of  Wafer,  Funnel,  Cowley,  Sharp, 
Wood,  and  Roberts.  A  copy  of  it  was  purchased  by  Lord  Essex,  at 
the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library,  for  3l.  17s.  At  the  sale  of  the  Merly 
Library,  it  produced  little  more  than  half  this  sum. 

*  The  xviith  volume  contains  a  copious  Catalogue  of  Books  on 
Voyages  ana  Travels,  and  an  excellent  Index.  With  these  Voyages, 
should  be  uniformly  bound  the  GEOGRAPHY  of  Mr,  Pinkerton  with 


390  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [COLLECTIONS. 

And  thus,  in  the  preceding  twenty-five  pages,  will 
the  reader  find  a  Collection  of  Voyages,  &c.  which, 
while  they  exhibit  an  imperishable  monument  of  the  ta- 
lents and  enterprise  of  human  beings,  in  every  civilised 
quarter  of  the  globe,  will  furnish  him  with  a  key  to  the 
knowledge  of  almost  every  country  however  remote,  or 
any  productions,  however  rare  and  extraordinary. 
Happy  the  man  —  be  he  "  YOUNG  "  or  "  OLD  " — who 
possesses  these  treasures  ;  but  happier  far  shall  he  be, 
who  applies  them  to  right  uses  and  purposes  ;  and  who, 
looking 

"  — through  Nature,  up  to  Nature's  GOD," 

learns  to  cherish  the  gentler  emotions  of  charity  and 
benevolence  towards  "  all  sorts  and  conditions  of 
men,"  and  to  be  grateful  for  the  comparative  blessings, 
which,  under  a  civilised  state,  it  is  his  happiness  to 
enjoy. 

fifty- two  maps,  published  in  1817V  4to.  in  two  vols.  I  find  this  latter 
•work  marked  in  boards,  at  51.  5s.  in  the  catalogues  of  Messrs.  Payne 
andFoss  and  Messrs.  Lackington,  Harding,  and  Co.  The  Collection 
of  Mr.  Kerr  may  be  obtained  for  about  7*.  6d.  a  volume,  in  boards  : 
see  the  last  mentioned  Catalogue,  no.  3758. 


VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  391 


CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS. 

It  should  seem  that  the  next  natural  step,  in  this 
department  of  bibliography,  was,  to  present  the  reader 
with  a  few  of  the  more  popular  works  which  describe 
the  CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS  of  the  Globe  ;  that  is  to  say, 
the  discoveries  of  those  Navigators  who  have  visited, 
the  different  quarters  of  the  world.  And  here,  the 
reader's  recollection  will  almost  immediately  furnish 
him  with  the  illustrious  names  of  Drake,  Dampier, 
Anson,  Cook,  and  Vancouver — among  his  own  coun- 
trymen :  Carreri  among  the  Italians ;  and  Perouse, 
D'Entrecasteaux,  and  Marchand  among  the  French. 
A  sum,  hardly  exceeding  fifty  sovereigns,  will  place 
good  copies  of  all  these  circumnavigations  on  the  shelf 
of  the  unfastidious  Collector. 

The  earliest  book  relating  to  the  exploits  of  Sir 
FRANCIS  DRAKE,  appeared  in  1587  ;  and  the  latest,  in 
1653.*  The  text  of  these  impressions  will  be  found 
reprinted  in  the  Collections  of  Voyages  by  Osburn  and 
Callander.  Honest  WILL  DAMPIER  is  entitled  to  every 
praise  :  if  not  for  the  extent  and  importance,  at  least 

*  The  first  book,  was  that  which  described  his  Services  performed 
against  Coles ;  1587,  4to.  :  the  second,  "  a  summary  and  true  Dis- 
course of  his  West  India  Voyage ;"  1589,  4to.  Latin  editions  had 
appeared  the  preceding  year.  His  "  life  and  death,"  was  published 
at  Oxford  in  1596,  8vo.  A  work  called  <f  Sir  Francis  Drake  re- 
vived/' appeared  in  1626,  4to. :  and  again,  in  1653, 4to.  or  "  A  true 
relation  of  hisjoure  voyages  to  the  West  Indies."  I  find  a  fine  copy  of 
this  latter  work,  with  a  portait  of  Drake,  selling  for  41.  4s.  at  the. 
sale  of  the  Stanley  Library.  The  earlier  pieces  are  not  rare  j  and 
may  be  worth  about  ll.  Is.  each. 


392  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [CIRCUM- 

or  the  accuracy  and  interest,  of  his  discoveries :  and 
it  is  gratifying-  to  have  to  record  that  a  more  spirited 
and  impartial  estimate  of  the  value  of  his  travels  is  no 
where  to  be  found,  than  in  the  recent  edition  of  the 
Biographic  Universelle  Ancienne  et  Moderne.  *  The 
fruits  of  his  navigations  lie  within  a  narrow  and  rea- 
sonable compass,  and  some  four  or  five  octavo  volumes 
furnish  us  with  all  that  has  survived  of  his  labours. 
Had  his  auto-biography  been  extant,  I  can  conceive 
nothing  more  original  and  amusing  than  it  would 
have  been.  His  integrity,  hardihood,  and  simplicity 
were  equally  conspicuous  throughout  all  his  transac- 
tions. 

The  name  of  ANSON  is  entitled  to  more  general  re- 
spect. This  enterprising  Navigator,  who  afterwards 

*  "  However  this  may  be,  all  his  defects  ought  to  be  overlooked 
by  posterity  from  the  fruits  to  be  gathered  by  the  perusal  of  his  first 
voyages.  They  contain  descriptions,  made  by  a  man,  gifted  with 
the  most  accurate  coup- d' ceil,  the  most  delicate  tact,  and  with  an 
exquisite  judgment.  An  air  of  truth,  a  precision,  and  yet  rapidity  of 
style,  which  charms  the  reader,  reign  throughout  the  whole  of  these 
descriptions  .  .  .  His  treatise  upon  winds,  tides,  and  currents,  is 
among  the  best  works  of  the  kind  :  facts  only  are  stated,  but  they  are 
arranged  and  methodised  with  surprising  ability."  Edit;  1813, 
vol.  x.  p.  479.  His  <f  Account  of  a  New  Voyage  round  ike  World  "  was 
published  in  1697,  8vo.  3  vols.  with  maps  and  cuts  :  again  in  1699, 
and  1703  8vo.  3  vols.  His  "  Voyage  to  New  Holland"  appeared  in 
1701,  &c.  the  whole  being  not  only  reprinted  in  separate  forms,  but 
reprinted  collectively,  in  Callander's  Voyages.  The  embellishments  in 
Dampier's  Voyages  must  not  be  criticised  :  the  text  redeems  a  multi- 
tude of  graphic  sins.  At  the  sale  of  the  Merly  Library,  a  copy  of 
Dampier's  Voyages,  1729,  8vo".  4  vols.  was  sold  for  9.L  Is.  I  sus- 
pect that  the  earlier  editions  of  Dampier  are  getting  scarce ;  as  I  find 
no  copies  of  them  in  the  catalogues  of  our  principal  .booksellers. 
Pinkerton  (Collection,  vol.  xi.)  has  reprinted  his  New  Holland  and 
account  of  the  Phillippine  Islands. 


NAVIGATIONS.!      VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS  393 

rose  to  the  highest  honours  of  his  profession,  made  a 
sort  ofjighting  and  capturing  voyage  round  the  world. 
He  was  the  veriest  bull-dog  of  all  circumnavigators : 
loving  nothing  better  than  tough  contests  by  sea  and 
by  land.  A  Spanish  galleon  or  an  hostile  town  was 
equally  an  object  of  attack ;  and  he  returned  from  his 
three  years  and  nine  months  absence  from  his  native 
country,  laden  with  more  spoils  and  wealth  than  it 
had  fallen  to  the  lot  of  any  individual  to  bring  home. 
Considering  what  he  saw  and  what  he  accomplished, 
it  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  are  not  in  possession  of  a 
more  perfect  record  of  his  achievements.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  Dr.  Johnson  has  not  written  a  Life  of 
Anson  as  a  companion  to  that  of  Drake,,  (which  is 
among  his  minor  and  more  simply  written  pieces  of 
biography)  and  which  should  be  read  by  every  man 
curious  in  the  annals  of  marine  adventure.  Let  me 
inform  both  the  young  and  the  old,  that  very  little 
more  than  a  sovereign  will  place  Anson's  quarto  vo- 
lume upon  their  shelves.  It  was  first  published  in 
1748 ;  and  considering  the  noble  navigator  to  have 
been  "  alive  and  hearty"  at  the  period  of  its  publica- 
tion— himself  not  dying  till  1762 — it  is  surprising  how 
he  could  have  permitted  so  unworthy  a  production  to 
have  seen  the  light.* 

*  e<  Unworthy"  in  every  respect  is  the  volume  which  records  the 
achievements  of  the  intrepid  Anson.  f     It  was  published  in  4to.  in 


f  Lord  Anson  was  one  of  the  plainest  and  bluntest  of  mankind.  He  had  studied 
little,  and  cared  less  for,  the  rules  of  polished  society:  and  though  he  was  First 
Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  and  Admiral  in  Chief  of  the  Fleet,  it  was  said  of  him — that 
"  he  had  been  round  the  world  but  never  in  it ."  The  French  have  properly  re- 
corded this  anecdote — ("  il  avait  fait  Je  tour  du  monde,  et  il  n'y  e"tait  jamais 
entreY')  A  curious  anecdote,  not  altogether  unbibliographical,  belongs  to  Anson'c 


394  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS. 

BYRON  followed  Anson.  Indeed  he  was  a  compa- 
nion (though  a  young  one)  of  his  voyage  :  and  although 
the  public  scarcely  recollect  any  thing  of  his  adven- 

in  1748,  but  there  are  titles  with  the  date  of  1749.  The  French 
Biographical  Dictionary  (vol.  ii.  p.  240)  assigns  incorrectly  the  date 
of  1746.  The  author  of  the  text  was  either  a  Mr.  Robins  or  a  Mr. 
Walter ;  let  Mr.  Chalmers's  untwisting  of  this  knot  satisfy  the  curious. 
Biogr.  Diet.  vol.  ii.  p.  228.  The  PLATES  are  in  truth  barbarously 
bad.  Look  (inter  alias)  at  the  view  of  the  "  Streight  Le  Maire,"  &c. 
p.  74  :  the  ships  look  like  black  spiders.  But  more  appallingly  ter- 
rific is  the  burning  of  the  town  of  Payta,  on  the  coast  of  Santa  Fee  : 
p.  201., — "  awholetown  on  fire  at  once,  especially  a  place  that  burnt 
with  such  facility  and  violence,  being  a  very  singular  spectacle,  Mr. 
Brett  [who  I  presume  to  be  the  artist  that  accompanied  Lord  Anson] 
had  the  curiosity  to  delineate  its  appearance,  together  with  that  of 
the  ships  in  the  harbour,  which  may  be  seen  in  the  annexed  plate." 
It  may  indeed :  but  if  the  reader  were  not  thus  instructed  by  the  text, 
he  might  misconceive  the  burning  of  this  town  for  —  any  thing 
but  what  it  was  really  intended  to  be.  It  is  the  consummation  of 
barbarous  art :  the  work  of  a  seven  months  apprentice.  All  the  copies 
of  this  book,  which  I  have  seen,  look  like  large  paper :  but  I  believe 
there  is  only  one  size.  %  Upon  the  whole,  I  cannot  conscientiously 
advise  the  giving  of  more  than  a  sovereign  for  Anson's  circumnavi- 
gatory  labours ;  and  note— they  are  reprinted  in  the  Collections  of 
Callander  and  others.  To  read  the  text  without  the  plates  must  be 
a  comfort. 


Voyage  round  the  World.  Mordaunt  Cracherode,  the  father  of  the  Rev.  C.  M. 
Cracherode,  of  celebrated  BOOK-FAME,  went  out  to  make  his  fortune,  as  a  Com- 
mander of  the  Marines,  in  Anson's  ship.  He  returned,  in  consequence  of  his 
share  of  prize  money,  a  wealthy  man.  Hence  the  property  of  his  son — and  hence 
the  Bibliotheca  Cr acker odiana,  in  the  British  Museum.  A  droll  story  is  told  of 
the  father,  of  which  the  repetition  is  pardonable.  It  was  said  that  he  returned 
from  this  Ansonian  circumnavigation  in  the  identical  buck-skins  which  he  wore 
on  leaving  England  :— they  having  been  the  object  of  his  exclusive  attachment 
during  the  whole  voyage  !  Far,  however,  be  it  from  me  to  give  credence  to 
the  report,  that  there  is  some  one  particular  volume,  in  the  Cracherode  Col- 
lection, which  is  BOUND  in  a  piece  of  these  identical  buck-skins ! 


NAVIGATIONS.]    VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  395 

tures,*  it  should  be  remembered  that  HE  was  the  man 
who  more  particularly  stimulated  COOK  to  his  unri- 
valled discoveries.  At  the  name  of  this  latter,  great 
circumnavigator,  there  is  not  a  British  heart  but  what 
alternately  glows  with  transport  and  melts  with  pity. 
The  spirit,  disinterestedness,  penetration,  physical  and 
intellectual  energies,  of  Captain  JAMES  COOK,  fitted 
him  in  an  especial  manner  for  the  various  and  extra- 
ordinary discoveries  which  he  so  successfully  accom- 
plished ;  and  to  which,  alas  !  he  fell  a  victim  and  a 
sacrifice.  Never  were  such  labours  closed  by  such  a 
tragical  catastrophe :  and  if  the  eulogies  of  the  good 
and  wise,  of  all  countries,  be  grateful  to  departed  spi- 
rits, surely  there  is  no  spirit  which  can  be  soothed  with 
purer  attestations  of  worth,  and  higher  acknowledg- 
ments of  excellence,  than  that  of  this  un parallelled 
and  most  unfortunate  commander.  The  publications 
(in  the  order  in  which  they  appeared)  that  record  his 
discoveries,  are  stated  in  the  subjoined  note.f  To  the 

*  They  form  the  first  part  of  the  Collection  of  Voyages  by  Dr. 
Hawkesworth,  1773,  4to.  3  vols. :  and  will  richly  reward  a  sedulous 
perusal. 

f  Let  me  be  allowed,  in  the  first  place,  to  make  mention  of  the 
eulogies  bestowed  on  Cook  by  the  "wise  and  the  good."  Biographies 
are  easily  referred  to :  but  the  testimonies  of  competent  judges  may 
not  be  so  much  within  the  immediate  consultation  of  the  reader. 
The  judgment  of  PEROUSE  is  referred  toby  the  editors  of  his  Voyage 
autour  du  Monde.  "  Equitable  et  modeste  autant  qu'e*claire,  on 
verra  avec  quel  respect  il  parlait  de  L'IMMORTEL  COOK."  And  Mar- 
chand,  in  a  similar  voyage  printed  in  1798,  (of  which,  by  and  by)  calls 
our  maritime  hero  ' '  Navigateur  le  plus  experimente,  le  plus  infati- 
gable,  qu'ayent  vu  les  deux  Oceans."  Vol.  i.  p.  Ixxiij.  And  now  for 
the  publications  of  the  discoveries  of  this  great  circumnavigator. 

It  is  usual  to  begin  with  his  first  voyage,  as  published  by  Dr. 


396  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.          [CIRCUM- 

volumes  of  Cook,  add  those  of  Captain  GEORGE  VAN- 
COUVER; containing  a  Voyage  of  Discovery  to  the 

Hawkesworth,  in  conjunction  with  the  voyages  of  Byron,  Wallis, 
and  Carteret  -,  in  1773,  4to.  3  vols.  Captain  Cook,  himself,  pub- 
lished his  Second  Voyage  towards  the  South  Pole  and  round  the 
World,  in  1777,  4to.  2  vols.  and  in  1785,  (after  his  death)  appeared 
his  third  voyage — to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  comprehending  its  conclusion 
by  Captain  King.  The  assassination  of  Captain  Cook  took  place  in 
the  Sandwich  Islands  in  February  1779.  The  literary  part,  or  the 
arrangement  and  composition  of  the  text,  was  the  performance  of 
Dr.  Douglas,  the  late  celebrated  Bishop  of  Salisbury :  and  the  plates 
were  under  the  especial  management  of  the  late  Sir  Joseph  Banks. 
Prefixed  to  the  third  voyage,  of  which  the  text  is  remarkable  for  its 
plain  and  perspicuous  style,  the  Bishop  has  given  an  introduction 
containing  the  substance  of  the  two  preceding  voyages.  The  PLATES 
are  necessarily  a  very  material  object  to  be  attended  to  in  the  pur- 
chase of  a  good  copy  of  these  three  voyages.  On  looking  through 
them,  one  discovers  the  names  of  engravers  justly  eminent  in  their 
day  5  such  as  Pouncy,  Lerpiniere,  Hall,  Caldwall,  Sherwin,  Byrne, 
Woollet,  Basire  and  Bartolozzi.  The  drawings  of  the  first  voyages 
were  by  William  Hodges ;  an  artist  of  acknowledged  eminence  in  his 
department,  and  those  of  the  third  were  from  the  accurate  pencil  of 
Webber,  on  the  spot,  and  under  the  eye  of  the  great  Circumnavi- 
gator. To  say  that  these  plates  are  always,  and  in  every  respect, 
worthy  of  the  reputation  of  the  engravers,  would  be  to  advance  a 
very  inaccurate  position.  Both  in  the  first  and  second  voyages, 
there  are  great  and  palpable  inequalities.  A  few  copies  of  the 
second  voyage  have  proof  impressions  of  the  plates  struck  off  on 
a  large  folio  or  atlas  size,  which  are  now  become  very  rare.  The 
plates  of  the  third  voyage,  executed  under  the  superintendance  of 
Sir  Joseph  Banks,  have  much  greater  pretensions  to  general  com- 
mendation 5  but  many  specimens  of  birds  and  fruits,  in  the  second 
voyage,  can  hardly  be  excelled  j  and  the  burin  of  Record,  in  imple- 
ments of  husbandry,  &c.  and  weapons  of  attack  and  defence,  leaves 
nothing  to  be  desired. 

But  it  is  after  the  graphic  embellishments  of  the  third  voyage,  that 
the  purchaser  must  more  particularly  look.  This  publication  was 
conducted  by  Messrs.  G.  Nicol  and  Cadell ;  and  such  was  the  care 


NAVIGATIONS.]     VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  397 

North  Pacific  Ocean   and  round  the   World*."  per- 
formed between  the  years  1790  and  1795,  and  pub- 

and  attention  paid  to  the  delivery  of  copies,  in  the  exact  order  in 
which  they  were  subscribed  for,  that  the  hundredth  or  the  first  thou- 
sandth subscriber,  had  precisely  his  hundredth  or  first  thousandth 
copy.  The  sale  of  the  work  was  equal  to  the  celebrity  of  the 
Circumnavigator  j  whose  horrible  death  had  excited  an  intense  and 
general  interest.  Not  fewer  than  4000  copies  of  these  three  4to. 
volumes,  with  a  magnificent  Atlas  folio  of  plates,  were  sold  during 
the  first  year  of  the  publication.  A  few  of  the  first  impressions  of 
the  plates  are  yet  to  be  found  among,  the  stores  of  Mr.  Nicol.  The 
work  was  twice  or  thrice  reprinted ;  but  a  book-connoisseur  of 
correct  tact  must  seek  for  the  first  impressions  of  the  plates  of  the 
edition  of  1 785,  with  the  second  or  third  edition  of  the  letter  press ; 
inasmuch  as  these  latter  editions  were  better  printed.  It  may  be 
now,  therefore,  high  time  to  talk  about  the  prices  of  these  several 
works.  1  find  a  copy  of  the  third  Voyage,  ff  with  the  Atlas  plates 
from  theirs*  edition,  and  the  usually  added  plate  of  Cook's  death, 
engraved  by  Bartolozzi,"  marked  at  10Z.  10s.  in  the  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  :  and  of  the  second  Voyage  of  1777,  there  is 
a  neat  copy,  with  good  impressions  of  the  plates,  marked  at  5L  15s.  6df 
another  copy  of  the  second  voyage,  in  boards,  is  marked  at  61.  6s. 
Messrs.  I.  and  A.  Arch  mark  the  complete  set  in  eight  volumes, 
including  Dr.  Hawkesworth's  Collection,  at  24Z.  :  another  copy, 
half  bound,  at  17/-  17$-  and  the  first  edition  of  the  So  nth  Pole  voyage, 
in  boards,  ' '  with  the  plates  printed  upon  folio  paper,  before  the 
numbers  were  inserted"  at  12Z.  32s.  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co. 
have  most  judiciously  reprinted  the  whole  of  Cook's  Voyages,  with 
plates,  in  7  volumes  8vo.  at  the  reasonable  price  of  31.  13s.  6d. 

With  the  Voyages  of  Cook,  is  usually  collected  that  of  George 
Forster  round  the  World,  in  Cook's  ship,  which  relates  to  physical 
and  ethical  observations,  Geography,  and  Natural  History  j  Lond. 
1777,  4to.  2  vols.  Consult  the  Bibl.  Heathy  n°.  2814,  and  n°.  2815 
for  a  picked  copy  of  Cook's  third  voyage.  To  these,  add  Kippis's 
Life  and  Death  of  Captain  Cook,,  1788,  4to.  Brunet,  (vol.  i.  page 
455)  will  supply  a  few  other  particulars,  with  French  versions  of 
Hawkesworth  and  Cook.  Upon  the  whole,  choice  copies  of  all/ 
these  quarto  tomes  are  proud  features  in  the  library  of  ANY  Collector. 


398  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [CIRCUM- 

lished  in  1798,  4to.  3  vols.  with  a  folio  volume  or 
charts  and  maps.  A  good  copy  of  these  four  volumes 
may  be  worth  51.  I5s.  6d. 

I  pass  slightly  over  the  circumnavigations  of  OR- 
DONES  DE  CEVALLos,and  GfiMELLi  CARRERi,*  to  make 
room  for  the  mention  of  the  more  important  maritime 
discoveries  of  the  FRENCH  SCHOOL  ;  and  therein,  more 
especially  of  the  lamented  Pe*rouse,  and  the  laudable 
but  unsuccessful  labours,  in  pursuit  of  him,  by  Labil- 
lardiere  and  D'Entrecasteaux.  The  work  of  PEROUSE, 

*  The  voyage  of  Pedro  Ordoiies  de  Cevallos  was  published  at  Ma- 
drid in  1614,  4to. :  but  the  circumnavigatory  voyage  of  ANTONIO  PIGA- 
FETTA,  published  in  Milan  nearly  a  century  before  (namely,  in  1517, 
4to.)  should  not  be  omitted.  Mr.  Pinkerton,  in  his  list  of  voyages  and 
travels,  vol.  xvii.  p.  252,  makes  this  first  edition  ofPigafetta,  errone- 
ously, of  the  date  of  1556.  At  the  sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library,  an 
edition  of  1536,  4to.  purporting  to  be  the  first,  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Heber  for  17/.  17s.  It  was  reprinted  by  Amoretti  at  Milan,  in  1800, 4to. 
and  again  in  1805  :  and  in  the  French  language  in  1811,  Svo.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  this  voyage  is  also  the  celebrated  voyage  of 
Ferdinando  Magellan,  from  whom  the  streights,  so  called,  derive  their 
name :  and  it  should  be  also  remembered  that  Antonio  Pigafetta 
must  be  distinguished  from  his  descendant  Filippo,  whose  <f  Rela- 
tione  del  reame  di  Congo  e  delle  circonvicine  contrade,"  was  published 
at  Rome  in  1591,  4to.  and  translated  into  the  Latin  language  as  a 
portion  of  the  Petits  Voyages  of  De  Bry.  It  was  also  translated 
into  English  and  published  by  John  Wolfe  in  1597.,  4to.,  with  the 
plates  copied  from  De  Bry's  :  and  I  find  Mr.  Heber  giving  31.  4s.  for 
a  copy  of  this  latter  work  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Towneley's  library.  A 
copy  at  the  sale  of  the  White  Knight's  library  brought  about  half 
the  sum. 

CARRERI'S  circumnavigation  was  published  at  Naples,  in  1699,  in 
7  vols.  Svo.  with  cuts  :  and  translated  into  French  by  Le  Noble,  and 
published  in  1719,  in  6  vols.  12mo.  But  consult  the  excellent  ac- 
count of  Gemelli  Carrerito  be  found  in  the  Biographic  Universellet  &c. 
vol.  xvii.  p.  49. 


NAVIGATIONS.]   VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  399 

with  a  portrait  of  that  intrepid  commander  prefixed, 
appeared  at  Paris  in  1797,  in  four  quarto  volumes.* 
That  of  the  Citizen  Labillardiere,  in  2  quarto  volumes, 
1800;  and  the  more  important  one  of  D'ENTRECAS- 
TEAUX  in  1808,  4to.  2  vols/t"  These  volumes  are  all 
handsomely  printed,  and  the  last  work  is  enriched 
with  many  plates  of  coasts,  headlands,  and  soundings, 
&c.  They  are  alike  destitute  of  picturesque  embellish- 
ments. I  might  perhaps  have  made  mention  of  the 
circumnavigatory  labours  of  KRUSENSTERN,  printed  in 
the  German  language,  in  1810,  in  3  quarto  volumes, 
with  an  Atlas  folio ;  but  as  I  have  omitted  the  names 
of  Turnbull,  Dixon,  and  Portlock,  (minor  circumnavi- 
gators) of  my  own  country,  there  is  the  less  necessity 
to  expatiate  on  the  discoveries  of  other  foreigners.  It 

*  I  will  be  brief  in  the  notice  of  the  works  of  the  above  Naviga- 
tors, because  they  are  well  known,  and  are  of  every  day's  purchase. 
Voyage  de  la  Perouse  autour  'du  Monde,  Paris,  1797,  4to.  4  vols. 
The  miniature  prefixed  is  from  a  painting  of  Tardieu,  and  looks  like  a 
strong  resemblance.  Relation  du  Voyage  a  la  Recherche  de  la  Pe*~ 
rouse,  1791-2  :  Par  le  Cen.  Labillardiere.  Paris,  An.  VIII.  (1800) 
4to.  2  vols.  Voyage  de  D'Entrecasteaux,  envoye"  a  la  recherche  de  la 
Pfrouse.  A  Paris,  1808,  4to.  2  vols.  No  mention  of  Labillardiere 
is  made  in  the  preface  ;  but  on  the  death  of  D'Entrecasteaux  (p.  xi.) 
Auribeau  was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  A  year  or  two  before, 
however,  appeared  ff  Voyage  autour  du  Monde  pendant  les  anne'es" 
1790-1-2,  par  ETIENNE  MARCHAND.  Par  C.  P.  Claret  Fleurieu. 
Prais,  An.  vi.  The  introduction  is  exceedingly  interesting ;  and  in 
the  summary  of  Circumnavigators,  honourable  mention  is  made  (as 
noticed  in  a  preceding  note)  of  the  labours  of  Cook.  Let  me  only 
further  observe,  that  beautiful  copies  of  all  these  French  publications, 
bound  in  russia,  are  found  at  Althorp. 

f  I  refer  the  reader  to  Pinkerton's  list  for  the  present  omissions, 
which  are  few  indeed  in  number ;  and  defective  in  no  respect  in  the 
importance  of  the  books  omitted. 


400  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA, 

may,  be  as  well  to  state,  that  an  English  Version  of 
Krusenstern,  by  Richard  Belgrave  Hopner,  Esq.  was 
published  in  1813,  in  2  volumes,  quarto.  The  Collec- 
tion of  Voyages  in  the  South  Sea,  from  its  first  dis- 
covery by  Europeans,  until  the  commencement  of  the 
Reign  of  George  the  Third,  by  the  late  ADMIRAL 
BURNEY,  should,  however,  be  added  to  this  list,  "  The 
author  accompanied  Captain  Cook  in  his  two  last 
Voyages.  His  book  displays  a  rare  union  of  nautical 
and  literary  research,  and  the  liberal  spirit  which  it 
breathes,  is  honourable  to  his  profession  and  his 
country.  * 

*  Quarterly  Review,  vol.  xvii.  p.  1 . 


[401   ] 


ASIA. 

Having  given  a  pretty  full  account  of  COLLECTIONS 
of  VOYAGES,  and  of  CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS  of  the  Globe, 
I  proceed  to  lay  before  my  readers,  both  "  young" 
and  "  old, "  a  sketch  of  a  few  of  the  more  important 
voyages  and  travels  which  relate  to  the  most  ancient, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  America,  the  largest  quar- 
ter of  the  World  :  to  those  regions,  once  the  scene  of 
an  earthly  paradise, 

"  where  God  or  angel  guest, 
With  Man,  as  with  his  friend  familiar,  used 
To  sit  indulgent,  and  with  him  partake 
Rural  repast/' 

Of  course  I  allude  to  ASIA.  Dismissing,  in  the  briefest 
possible  manner,  what  hath  been  written  upon  this 
country  by  Herodotus,  Arrian,  Ptolemy,  and  others 
of  the  ancient  school,  including  the  Minor  Greek 
Geographers,*  I  commence  with  the  notices  of  Tu- 

*  The  notices  of  Asia  by  Herodotus,  and  more  especially  the  me- 
morable voyage  of  Nearchus,  (rendered  familiar  to  British  readers  by 
the  version  and  edition  of  Arrian  by  the  late  Dr.  Vincent,  and  by  the 
Doctor's  own  account  of  the  voyage  and  Periplus  of  the  Erythraean  Sea) 
need  scarcely  be  dwelt  upon.  Ptolemy's  map  of  Asia  is  republished 
by  Mr.  Murray  (vol.  i.  page  448)  in  his  Historical  Account  of  Dis- 
coveries and  Travels  in  Asia,  1 820,  octavo,  three  vols.  —  a  work, 
before  (page  368)  especially  commended,  and  to  which,  as  will  be 
obvious,  I  shall  have  such  frequent  occasion  to  refer.  In  regard  to 
the  information  incidental  to  India,  to  be  found  in  the  ancient  minor 
Greek  Geographers,  edited  in  4  vols.  8vo.  by  Hudson,  in  1698,  I 
cannot  venture  upon  recommending  the  reader — unless  his  purse  be 
well  garnished  with  pistoles — to  purchase  these  rare  and  high-priced 

D    D 


402  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA 

dela,  Marco  Polo,  and  Mandeville.  Benjamin,  the 
son  of  Jonas  of  Tudela,  a  Spanish  Jew,  was  among 
the  earliest  of  Asiatic  Travellers  in  the  middle  ages. 
His  work,  which  is  rather  curious  than  valuable,  has 
been  translated  into  the  English,  French,  and  other 
languages.*  MARCO  POLO,  although  greatly  surpassed 

tomes.  He  will  be  pleased  to  read  what  is  said  of  them  in  my  Introd. 
to  the  Classics,  vol.  ii.  p.  439,  and  to  unite  in  the  wish  of  Toup,  that 
the  University  of  Oxford  (now  so  laudably  smitten  with  a  passion 
for  reprinting)  would  republish,  with  such  additions  and  corrections 
as  recent  researches  have  brought  to  light,  these  intrinsically  valu- 
able volumes.  Upon  LARGE  PAPER  —  but  why  am  I  about  to  run 
riot?  Only  this  much  be  conceded  to  me  :  to  mention  a  remarkably 
fine  copy  of  the  first  two  volumes,  in  original  calf  binding,  in  the 
Pepysian  library  at  Cambridge.  I  have  seen  fine  and  perfect  copies 
on  large  paper  in  the  Luton  and  Althorp  Collections  j  among  the 
"  lock  up  "  rarities  in  Christ  Church  Library,  Oxford  :  in  Cleveland 
Square ;  In  Portland  Place;  but  is  not  all  this  running  EXCEEDINGLY 
riot  ?  It  is  :  it  is  :  and  I  desist.  Let  me  however  earnestly  entreat 
and  exhort  Messrs.  Elmsly  and  Gaisford  to  take  heed  to  the  republi- 
cation  of  the  MINOR  GREEK  GEOGRAPHERS,  first  edited  by  Joseph 
Hudson. 

*  The  FIRST  EDITION  of  Tudela's  text  was   by  Montanus,  who 
translated  it  from  the  original  Hebrew,  and  published  it  in  the  office 
of  Plantin,  1575,  Svo. :  but  a  better  version  appeared  by  Constantine 
Lempereur  ab  Oppyck,  a  professor  of  theology  at  Leyden  j  who 
brought  it  out  in  an  elegant  form  at  the  Elzevir  press,  in  1633, 
12mo. :  a  copy  of  which  was  sold  for  7*.  6d.  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's 
library,  and  for  ll.  ISs ,  in  black  morocco,  at  that  of  Colonel  Stanley's 
library.     Both  editions  contain  the  original  Hebrew.     An  English 
version  appeared  in  1783,  8vo.:  and  a  better  French  one  was  pub- 
lished by  Barathier  at  Amst.  in  1784,  2  vols.  12mo.     But  it  is  in  a 
yet  better  form  among  the  French  versions  of  old  travels,  in  the  12th, 
13th,  14th,  and  15th  centuries,  published  by  Pierre  Bergeron  in  1735, 
4to.  2  vols.     Consult  Pinkerton,  vol.  xvii.  p.  126;  who  ia  here  com- 
paratively communicative. 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  403 

by  subsequent  travellers  in  the  extent,  variety,  and 
importance  of  the  information  imparted,  is  nevertheless 
one  of  the  most  authentic  and  valuable  of  the  middle 
age  writers  of  travels  ;  and,  luckily  for  Englishmen, 
this  country  can  boast  of  the  most  correct,  full,  and 
satisfactory  version  and  edition  of  his  labours  extant. 
I  allude  to  the  masterly  publication,  in  a  quarto  form,, 
which  has  been  recently  put  forth  by  Mr.  Marsden  ;* 
and  my  obligations  to  which  have  been  already  de- 
clared in  a  public  manner.  The  ardent  and  the 
curious  Bibliomaniac  will  doubtless  revel  in  the  pos- 
session (should  he  be  ever  able  to  possess  it !)  of  the 
first  printed  text  of  Polo's  travels  in  the  German  lan- 
guage— *J~  but  the  sober-minded  and  dispassionate 

*  "  Mr  Marsden,  in  his  recent  very  learned  edition  (1818,  4to.)  of 
these  travels,  has  collected  and  placed  in  the  clearest  light  all  the 
evidences  of  their  authenticity,  drawn  both  from  ancient  and  modern 
sources.  His  labours  have  smoothed  the  task,  which  would  other- 
wise have  been  difficult,  of  analyzing  the  description  given  by  Marco 
of  the  eastern  world."  Murray  5  vol.  i.  p.  161.  The  reader  should 
know  that  Marco  Polo  was  a  Venetian  —  son  of  Maffio,  and  nephew 
of  Nicolo,  Polo — both  of  whom  undertook  the  first  voyage  to  the 
countries  in  question,  and  both  of  whom  were  eclipsed  by  the  enter- 
prise and  energies  of  Marco.  Mr.  Marsden's  book  (2Z.  12s.  6d.) 
should  be  in  every  professed  collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels, 

f  The  curious  reader  may  see  a  full  and  particular  account  of  this 
first  German  impression  in  the  JEdes  Alihorpianaz ,  vol.  ii.  p.  176-9, 
together  with  a  fac-simile  of  the  portrait  capriciously  introduced  as 
that  of  Marco  Polo  himself.  Mr.  Murray  has  inaccurately  dated  this 
edition  1471.  It  is  so  rare,  that  only  one  other  copy  of  it  is  known  ; 
which  is  in  the  Imperial  Library  at  Vienna  —  and  Mr.  Marsden  had 
gone  a  considerable  way  through  his  labours,  before  he  was  put 
in  possession  of  a  transcript  of  the  Vienna  copy.  Lord  Spencer's 
copy,  in  every  respect  sound  and  desirable,  was  obtained  at  Munich, 
by  Mr.  John  Payne — when  he  sprung  a  mine,  at  that  place,  of 


404  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

Collector  will  embrace,  with  a  better  regulated  fond- 
ness, the  intelligible  and  uncorrupted  version  of 
Marsden. 

SIR  JOHN  MANDEVILLE  is  our  next  most  ancient 
and  popular  Eastern  traveller.  Whatever  may  be  the 
estimation  in  which  his  Work  is  held  abroad,  there  are 
certainly  good  proofs  of  its  having  been  long  favour- 
ably received  at  home.  Leaving  the  cabinets  of  the 
curious  in  quiet  possession  of  the  French  and  Italian 
impressions  in  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries,  the 
unambitious  Collector  may  rest  well  satisfied  with  the 
handsomely  printed  edition,  in  a  large  octavo  form,  of 
the  date  of  1 725  :  which  yet  however  maintains  a  stiff 
price.*  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  there  are 

several  very  mysterious  and  precious  tomes.  Polo's  travels  have  been 
translated  into  Italian,  (1497)  French,  (1566)  and  Spanish,  172O. 
An  early  English  version  appeared  in  1579  :  again  in  Purchas  ;  and 
latterly  in  Pinkerton.  Messrs.  Arch  had  the  courage  to  give  31. 13s.  6d. 
for  the  Latin  version,  printed  in  1671,  4to.  at  the  sale  of  Colonel 
Stanley's  library  ;  and  101.  10s,  were  given  for  an  early  edition,  sine 
ulld  notd,  in  the  same  language,  at  the  sale  of  the  White  Knights 
library. 

*  The  versions  of  Mandeville,  even  in  ins.,  must  have  been  nu- 
merous, and  widely  scattered  abroad.  A  French  and  an  Italian  edi- 
tion appeared  in  14SO,  nineteen  years  before  the  appearance  of  the 
legitimate  text  of  the  author,  in  the  English  language.  Brunet  cor- 
rectly notices  these  early  impressions,  of  which  I  have  seen  a  copy  of 
the  Italian,  in  the  libraries  of  Mr.  Grenville  and  Mr.  Wilbraham — 
so  rich  in  publications  of  this  character.  There  are  numerous  reitn- 
pressions  of  each  in  the  xvth  century.  Lord  Spencer  has  the  Bologna 
edition  of  1492,  4to.  The  Duke  of  Marlborough's  copy  of  the  Bo- 
logna edition  of  1497  was  sold  for  31. :  and  a  fine  copy  of  an  old 
Latin  edition,  sine  ulld  notd,  was  sold,  at  the  sale  of  his  library  in 
1819,  for  9/.  9s.  Several  other  copies  were  in  the  same  collection. 
But  very  much^  rarer  than  either  of  these — and  so  rare,  as  to  baffle 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  40$ 

copies  on  large  paper.  I  have  never  seen  the  volume 
but  of  one  size.  Shall  I  provoke  the  smile,  or  the  frown, 
of  the  reader  by  the  mention  of  the  name  of  MENDEZ 
PINTO? — pronounced,  in  a  well  known  comedy,  to  be 
at  least  a  "  liar  of  the  second  magnitude  ! "  Yet  time 
has  caused  the  truth  to  be  filtered  through  the  supposed 
falsehood  of  this  text ;  and,  bating  some  exceptions, 
(rather  in  the  shape  of  exaggeration  than  studied  fic- 
tion) Pinto  may  be  acknowledged  among  the  most  va- 
luable as  well  as  early  of  the  Explorers  of  the  Southern 
Coasts  of  Asia.  The  precis  of  his  exploits,  by  Mr. 
Murray,  *  is  really  a  piece  of  witchery  to  peruse. 

all  present  enquiries  to  identify  a  copy — is  the  first,  hitherto  known, 
ENGLISH  VERSION,  put  forth  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  1499,  4to  :  of 
which  a  particular  description  is  given,  together  with  some  account 
of  Mandeville,  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  84,  &c.  Where  the 
copy,  there  noticed,  now  reposes,  is  beyond  the  ken  of  the  author  of 
this  work.  The  English  reprints,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  are 
said  by  Watt  and  Murray  to  be  of  the  dates  of  1503  and  1568:  in 
the  seventeenth,  1684 :  and  in  the  eighteenth,  I  know  of  none  but 
those  of  1722,  1725,  and  1727-  Of  the  first  of  these,  which  has 
wretched  wood-cuts,  a  copy  was  sold  for  1Z.  95.  at  the  Towneley 
sale  :  of  the  second,!  a  copy  brought  31.  7s.  at  the  Stanley  sale,  and 
3/.  15«.  at  Bindley's ;  and  of  the  third,  Mr.  Payne  marks  a  copy, 
"  very  neat,"  at  2Z.  2s.  I  do  not  know  the  secret  history  of  the  edi- 
tion of  1725  selling  so  high. 

*  Historical  Account,  &c.  vol.  i.  p.  234-261.  The  earliest  edition 
of  the  Peregrinapam  of  Mendez  Pinto,  in  the  original  Portuguese  lan- 
guage, is  that  of  1614,  Madrid,  folio  :  and  if  a  very  fine  copy  of  the 
Valencia  reprint  in  1645,  folio,  produced  the  sum  of  31.  13s.  at  the 
sale  of  the  Stanley  library,  we  may  suppose  the  parent  text  to  be 


-f-  It  is  not  a  little  curious  that  of  this  very  date,  a  work  should  appear  by  an 
author  of  the  same  name,  called  "  a  modest  defence  of  Public  Stews"— which  I  have 
heard,  more  than  once,  resolutely  contended  for  as  the  work  of  our  worthy  knight 
the  Traveller  !  ! '.  See  other  Mandevilles  in  Thorpe's  Catalogue,  p.  ii.  no.  9146. 


406  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

I  know  not,,  however,  if  this  sketch  of  the  earlier 
travellers  into  Asia  be  complete,  without  some  men  * 
tion,  however  incidental,  of  the  voyage  of  F.  PVRARD,* 
who  is  classed  by  Pinkerton  (not  always  the  soundest 
judge  to  appeal  to)  among  "  the  most  accurate  and 
intelligent "  of  travellers.  Pursuing  the  order  of  Mr. 
Murray,  in  his  three  delightful  volumes,  I  proceed  at 

worth  5Z.  55.  There  was  a  Madrid  reprint  of  1627.  The  Dutch 
version  appeared  in  1653  j  the  French,  in  1605  j  the  German,  in 
1671  ;  and  the  English,  in  1663 — rather  a  rare  book  —  and  again  in 
1692,  folio  :  worth  about  12s.  6d. 

*  " — navigation  aux  Indes-Orientales,  aux  Maldives,  Molucques,au 
Bresil,  &c.  Paris,  1615  or  1619,  Bvo.  First  edition,  according  to 
Brunet ;  but  Pinkerton  makes  it  1613.  Neither  seems  to  speak  from 
authority  ;  though  both  unite' in  considering  the  edition  of  1679,  4to. 
as  the  best.  Huet  thought  that  Bergeron  was  the  author  of  the  text, 
from  the  oral  instructions  of  Pyrard:  consult  Brunet,  vol.  iii.  p.  174. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  whoever  reads  the  notice  of  this  work  by  Pinker - 
ton,f  (Coll.  of  Voyages,  vol.  xvii.  p.  163)  will  run  with  all  his  might 
and  main  to  secure  the  first  copy  of  it  that  turns  up.  And  yet,  who- 
ever reads  the  very  interesting  account  of  the  author,  in  the  Biographic 
Universelle,  1823,  vol.  xxxvi.  p.  348-50,  will  observe  that  Duval, 
who  was  the  editor  of  the  edition  of  1 679,  and  who  boasts  of  having 
done,  and  who  has  certainly  done,  much  towards  the  elucidation  of 
the  text,  has  unluckily  omitted  the  Vocabulary  of  the  Maldivian  lan- 
guage, to  be  found  in  the  preceding  impressions  j  so  that  the  pur- 
chaser will  be  a  little  embarrassed  in  his  choice.  A  sort  of  Syllabus 
of  the  work,  under  the  title  of  "  Discours  du  Voyage,"  &c.  appeared 
in  1611  j  but  which  should  seem  to  be  hardly  worth  walking  after. 


t "  Of  the  ancient  travellers  in  India,  PYRARD,  who  set  out  in  1600,  and  returned 
in  1611,  is  one  of  the  most  accurate  and  intelligent.  His  descriptions  are  concise 
and  neat,  and  his  accuracy  has  not  been  impeached.  The  account  he  gives  of  the 
Maldives  continues  the  best  we  have,  and  that  of  Bengal,  Cochin,  Travancore,  and 
Kalicut,  are  of  great  value.  His  remarks  on  Ceylon,  the  isles  of  Sunda  and  the 
Moluccas,  are  more  rapid,  but  those  on  the  Brazils,  though  short,  are  full  of  cu- 
rious matter."  But  consult  the  new  Biographic  Universelle  Ancienne  et  Modern*  i 
*s  above  referred  to. 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES   AND  TRAVELS.  407' 

once  to  the  notice  of  the  labours  of  the  Portuguese — 
the  Discoverers  of  India :  as  I  shall  have  occasion  to 
mention,  in  another  and  more  compressed  form,  the 
travellers  who  are  introduced  by  him  towards  the  end 
of  his  first  volume. 

At  the  very  sound  of  Portuguese  enterprise,  the 
name  of  VASCO  DE  GAMA  rushes  npon  our  ear  with  a 
fond  and  enthusiastic  sensation :  and  leaving  the 
lovers  of  poetry  to  read  the  achievements  of  that  great 
and  dauntless  navigator  in  the  mellifluent  numbers  of 
Camoens,*  I  shall  gently  lead  them  to  the  more  sober 
details  of  his  exploits,  to  be  found  in  the  Decads  of 
BARROS,  and  in  the  Asia  Portugueses  of  FARIA  DE 
SOUSA,  and  other  similar  bodies  of  travels  If-  Mean- 

*  Will  "  the  young  "  or  ' ( the  old  "  Collector  aspire  to  the  rarest 
and  most  splendid  edition  of  this  poet  which  has  ever  appeared,  and 
which  is  described  in  tempting  detail  in  the  JEdes  Althorpiance,  vol. 
i.  p.  143-5  ?  At  this  moment,  I  know  not  whether  any  copy  of  it  has 
been  sold  by  auction.  When  it  does,  will  thirty- six  guineas  enable 
GOTSCALEUS  to  become  its  purchaser  > 

f  First  of  Barros.  As  Decadas  III  de  Asia  dosfeitos  que  os  Portu- 
gesesfezerdo,  8$c.  de  Joam  de  Barros,  printed  at  Lisbon  in  1552-63, 
3  vols.  folio  :  and  reprinted  in  1628,  and  again  with  those  of  Couto, 
or  the  4th  Decad,  in  1736,  3  vols. :  and  again  from  1778  to  1788  in 
24  duodecimo  volumes.  The  IVth  Decad  was  printed  in  1602  :  the 
Vth  in  1612  j  the  Vlth  and  Vllth  in  1614-16  :  the  VHIth,  IXth,  and 
Xth  in  1673  :  all  in  folio.  The  Xlth  Decad  is  in  MS.  and  so  is  the 
Xlllth :  and  of  the  Xllth,  only  the  first  five  books  are  printed.  So 
astonishingly  scarce  are  copies  of  this  work,  that  Mr.  Murray  doubts 
if  the  VHIth,  IXth,  Xth,  and  Xlth  Decads  have  been  printed  -,  but 
there  is  a  printed  copy  of  the  Vlllth,  and  a  complete  set  of  the 
whole,  in  the  library  of  His  late  Majesty.  A  set  is  not  only  pronounced 
to  be ."  presque  introuvable"  in  France,  by  Brunet — but  he  knows  of 
no  catalogue  which  contains  a  copy  of  the  IXth  and  Xth  Decads. 


408  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

while,  the  analysis  of  Mr  Murray,  (vol.  iii.  p.  43-56) 
cannot  fail  to  beaprovoker  of  the  appetite  for  a  more 
abundant  intellectual  meal.  Among  the  labours  of 
the  Portuguese  Missionaries,  those  of  Guzman  are  the 
more  important ;  and  if  the  result  of  English  Embas- 
sies, having  for  their  object  many  things  in  common 
with  those  of  the  Portuguese,  be  at  all  a  topic  which 
weighs  with  the  Collector  of  Travels,  let  him  form  an 
acquaintance  with  the  texts  of  HAWKINS  and  ROE.* 

We  have  now  reached  the  period,  when  it  behoves 
us  to  render  justice  to  the  spirit  of  discovery  and  of 

The  likeliest  quarters  to  meet  with  another  such  a  copy,  are  the  libra- 
ries of  Lord  Holland,  and  Messrs.  Heber,  Frere,  and  Southey  —  and 
where  they  are  sure  to  be  turned  to  good  account.  It  may  be  re- 
marked, that  it  is  a  work  of  extreme  difficulty  to  specify  accurately. 

The  Asia  Portugessa  of  MANUEL  FARIA  DE  SOUSA,  published  in 
3  folio  volumes  at  Lisbon  in  1666,  with  many  curious  cuts,  is  also 
exceedingly  rare.  A  copy  of  it  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's 
library  for  91.  An  English  translation  appeared  in  1695,  Svo.  3  vols. 
see  Bibl.  Heath,  no.  2563  j  and  Bibl.  Harl.  vol.  ii.  nos.  11494,  11524. 
With  this  work,  should  be  united  the  Europa  Portuguessa  of  Emanuel 
Faria  de  Sousa,  published  in  1671^  folio,  2  vols.  of  which  an  extra 
bound  copy,  by  Walther,  was  sold  for  fl.  at  the  same  sale.  Yet  per- 
haps, of  more  importance  than  either,  is  the  account  of  the  Conquests 
of  the  Portuguese  in  India,  which  occupies  the  eight  folio  tomes  of 
FERNAN  LOPEZ  DE  CASTANHEDA,  and  which  was  printed  at  Coimbra 
in  1552-4.  Where  shall  we  expect  to  find  a  copy  of  this  curious 
work,  if  not  in  one  of  the  foregoing  libraries  ? 

*  The  work  of  Luiz  GUZMAN  is  that  of  a  Portuguese  Missionary, 
and  it  incorporates  an  account  of  China  and  of  Japan  as  well  as  of 
the  East  Indies.  It  was  published  at  Alcala  in  1601,  in  two  folio 
volumes,  and  has  become  rare  and  high  priced.  The  travels  of  Haw- 
kins and  Roe  are  found  in  the  first  volumes  of  the  Collections  of 
Purchas  and  Churchill.  Roe,  more  fully  in  the  latter  :  and  again, 
separately,  in  1740. 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  409 

enterprise  which  actuated  the  FRENCH  SCHOOL  ;  and 
wherein  the  names  of  Bernier,  Tavernier,  Th6venot. 
and  Chardin,  are  eminently  conspicuous.  The  nature 
of  this  work  forbidding  an  exemplified  notice  of  these 
labours  in  the  text,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  sub- 
joined note  for  the  best  editions*  of  the  publications 
which  record  them.  Following  the  order  of  Mr.  Mur- 

*  First  ofBERxiER;  whose  work,  in  two  duodecimo  volumes, 
1679,  with  cuts — again  in  1725,  12mo.  2  vols. — contains  one  of  the 
best  accounts  of  Hindoostan  that  has  ever  appeared  ;  including  the 
first  good  account  of  Cashmeer  and  of  several  other  countries.  So 
says  Pinkerton :  but  consult  Murray,  vol.  ii.  p.  183,  &c.  TA VER- 
NIER'S is  a  better  known,  and  more  common  work.  It  was  published 
in  the  French  language  at  Paris  in  16/9,  1692,  and  at  Utrecht  1712, 
12mo.  3  vols.  with  cuts.  A  copy  of  the  latter  edition  was  sold  for 
2Z.  3*.  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library.  The  first  may  be  the  more 
valuable,  on  account  of  the  sharpness  of  the  cuts  j  but  Brunet  for- 
bids the  purchase  of  any  edition  subsequent  to  the  date  of  1712.  An 
English  version  of  Tavernier  appeared  in  1678,  folio,  with  plates  j  of 
which  a  very  neat  copy  is  marked  at  9,1.  2s.  in  the  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss.  JOHN  THEVENOT,  the  traveller,  must  be 
distinguished  from  Melchisedec  Thevenot  the  Collector  of  Travels, 
(concerning  whose  work  see  p.  384,  ante).  The  fullest  edition  of  I. 
Thevenot's  labours  appeared  in  1689,  in  5  small  octavo  volumes, 
with  cuts,  which  may  be  purchased  for  about  a  guinea.  A  high  cha- 
racter is  given  of  the  writer  in  the  Bill.  Harleiana,  vol.  ii.  p.  696. 
CHARDIN  is  incomparably  preferable  to  either  of  his  precursors,  but 
he  is  rather  a  Persian  than  a  more  Eastern  traveller.  His  Voyage  en 
Perse  et  autres  lieux  de  I  Orient  appears  with  every  possible  advan- 
tage in  4  quarto  volumes  published  at  Amsterdam  in  J  735 ;  and  a 
fine  copy  of  this  precious  work  yet  rears  its  head  in  the  market.  Dr. 
Heath's  copy  was  sold  for  15/.  15s.;  but  Colonel  Stanley's,  in  blue 
morocco  binding,  brought  nearly  double  that  sum  —  namely,  28/. 
This  is  thought  to  be  the  best  edition  :  but  M.  Langles,  an  able  edi- 
tor, has  recently  (1811)  put  forth  a  new  and  handsome  edition  in  ten 
octavo  volumes — with  an  Atlas  folio  of  eighty-one  plates.  For 
purity  of  text,  this  latter  is  probably  the  preferable  impression  -,  yet 


410  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA, 

ray,  we  enter  upon  the  immense  territory  of  HINDOO- 
STAN  ;  the  chief  seat  of  the  British  Empire  in  the  East. 

the  thorough-bred  bibliomaniac  clings  to  his  quarto  with  pertina- 
cious fondness. 

The  name  of  RAYNAL  (the  Abb£)is  doubtless  connected  with  those 
writers,  of  the  French  School,  who  have  treated  of  the  affairs  of 
India  -,  but  the  Abbe's  work  relating  to  India  is  purely  philosophi- 
cal and  political  j  the  author  never  having  visited  that  country. 
His  "  Histoire  philosophique  et  politique  des  e'tablissemens  et  du  com- 
merce des  Europe'ens  dans  les  deux  Indes,"  was  first  published,  accord- 
ing to  Barbier,  in  1770,  in  six  octavo  volumes  :  it  was  afterwards 
published  at  Geneva,  in  five  volumes  in  quarto,  and  ten  in  octavo, 
in  1780 :  the  last  volume  of  the  quarto  having  maps  :  and  a  quarto 
Atlas  accompanying  the  octavo  impression.  Brunei  says  the  octavo 
is  the  preferable  edition  :  but  I  find  a  copy  of  the  quarto  impression 
purchased  by  Lord  Essex  for  31.  13s.  6d.  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's 
library.  Brunet  gives  a  curious  anecdote  enough  about  the  publica- 
tion of  this  work.  He  says  ff  that  the  Abbe  Raynal,  before  he 
printed  and  published  it  at  Geneva,  and  by  Pellet,  first  printed  three 
copies  only  at  Stoupe's,  at  Paris :  of  these,  one  was  left  with  Stoupe  j 
the  second  was  preserved  by  the  Abb£  j  and  the  third  was  left  with 
Pellet,  as  for  the  impression  copy."  By  these  means,  he  introduced 
his  own  corrections,  and  those  of  his  friends,  upon  the  margins  of  a 
printed  copy,  for  the  more  immediate  facility  of  publication. 

Grimm  says,  that  Diderot  wrote  one  third  part  of  it,  which  is  not 
the  least  distinguished  for  the  boldness  of  its  sentiments  :  Mem.  part 
iii.  vol.  iv.  p.  85.  But  la  Harpe  says,  that  Diderot  wrote  the  half  of 
it  j  and  that  though  Raynal  was  really  a  better  man  than  Diderot, 
yet  that  he,  Diderot,  Rousseau,  Voltaire,  and  Helvetius,  were  among 
the  most  powerful  prime  movers  of  the  French  revolution  :  Cours  de 
Litterature,  vol.  xv.  p.  113  3  xvi.  part  i,  p.  173-4.  "  Jai  lu"  (says 
Barbier)  et  cette  histoire  politique,  qu'on  attribue  avec  raison  a  divers 
auteurs.  Ces  Messieurs  declament  plus  qu'ils  ne  racontent ;  et  ce 
livre  est  moins  une  histoire,  qu'une  compilation  hardie  et  irreligieuse 
de  tout  ce  qu'ont  dit  les  voyageurs."*  Bibl.  d'un  Homme  de  Gout, 
vol.  iv.  p.  182. 

*  Dr.  Johnson  flew  out  into  a  great  passion,  and  perhaps  with  reason,  when  any 
one  talked  of  the  Abbe  Raynal's  history.  Gibbon  has  drawn  no  very  enviable 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  411 

Yet  before  the  notice  of  those  writers  who  have.,  more 
particularly  written  upon  that  country,  be  entered 
upon,  it  may  be  worth  while  to  observe,  not  only  that 
several  of  the  authors  before  described  make  more  or 
less  mention  of  it — but  that  several,  not  at  all  pre- 
viously noticed,  are  copious  in  their  accounts  ;  such  as 
many  whose  works  appear  in  the  Danish  Asiatic 
Transactions;  while  the  labours  of  DAPPER,  TIE  FEN- 
THALER,  and  VALE NT YN*  present  the  most  copious 

*  First  of  the  transactions  of  DANISH  Travellers  and  Missionaries, 
under  the  title  of  '•  Aden  der  Dcenischen  Mission  en  Ost-Indien." 
They  were  published  at  Halle  in  1718,  in  13  vols.  4to.,  and  have 
been  continued  to  the  year  1805,  (if  not  later)  comprising*  sixty-one 
volumes.  These  Acts  (says  Pinkerton)  are  cited  as  authority  by 
Anquetil-du-Perron.  They  have  been  abridged  in  the  Latin  and 
German  languages.  But,  in  the  German  language,  let  Dapper's 
f '  Asia,  or  a  Description  of  the  Empire  of  the  Great  Mogul,  and  of  a 
large  part  of  India,"  published  at  Amsterdam  in  1672,  in  2  folio 
volumes,  receive  a  quiet  place  at  the  bottom  row  of  folios  in  the 
library  of  the  Linguist :  and  if  the  graphic  Connoisseur  have  a  small 
void  for  the  oblong  folio  of  Remain  de  Hooge,  which  represents— 
EVERY  THING — connected  with  the  East  and  West  Indies,  let  this 
brilliant  tome  be  found  in  his  cabinet.  TIEFENTHALER  is  a  <f  clarum 
nomen"  in  the  list  of  oriental  travellers  5  but  the  safest  and  plea- 
santest  advice  respecting  his  work,  will  be  to  recommend  "  the  young 
Man"  to  procure  the  French  version  of  it,  with  the  researches  of 
Anquetil  du  Perron,  and  the  map  of  Rennell,  in  1785,  4to.  3  vols. 
A  copy  of  this  valuable  performance  may  be  obtained  for  31.  13s.  6d. 
f(  The  account  of  the  Seikhs  by  Tieffenthaler  is  the  most  interesting 
we  possess,"  says  Pinkerton. 


picture  of  the  Abb£  himself.  In  a  letter  dated  Lausanne,  Sept.  30, 1783,  he  thus 
writes  to  Lord  Sheffield :  "  Yesterday  afternoon  I  lay,  or  at  least  sat,  in  state  to 
receive  visits,  and  at  the  same  moment  my  room  was  filled  with  four  different 
nations.  The  loudest  of  these  nations  was  the  single  voice  of  the  ABBE  RAYNAL, 
who,  like  your  friend,  has  chosen  this  place  for  the  asylum  of  freedom  and  his- 
tory. His  conversation,  which  might  be  very  agreeable,  is  intolerably  loud, 
peremptory,  and  insolent ;  and  you  would  imagine  that  he  alone  were  the  Monarch 
and  legislator  of  the  world."  Post.  Works,  vol.  v.  p.  330. 


412  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

and  curious  details.  But  coming  more  collectively 
to  the  notice  of  Hindoostan,  and  carrying  with  us, 
as  a  safe  guide  in  all  our  journeyings,  the  incompar- 
able Map  of  MAJOR  RENNELL,  first  published  (with  an 
octavo  volume  of  explanation,  containing  an  account 
of  the  Ganges  and  Burrampooter  rivers)  in  1788,  I 
am  anxious  to  recommend  the  Asiatic  Researches,  to- 
gether with  the  works  of  SIR  WILLIAM  JONES,*  to 
those  who  are  more  solicitous  of  minute  and  curious 

I  cannot  dissemble  my  fondness  for  FRANC  VALENTYN,  although 
I  am  unable  to  read  a  single  sentence  in  his  work  : — published  in  the 
Dutch  language,  in  1726,  folio,  in  8  volumes  :  but  the  plates  are  so 
curious  and  apparently  faithful,  as  well  as  numerous — and  the  work 
being  considered  "  scarce  and  little  known,"  as  well  as  <{  the  best 
hitherto  published,  relative  to  India,  "  I  may  venture  to  stimu- 
late the  curious  to  secure,  as  soon  as  possible,  the  fine  old  vellum- 
bound  copy  of  it,  which  lies  at  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  at  the  price 
of  7l>  7s.  I  remember,  after  the  capture  of  Java,  by  the  gallant 
Colonel  Gillespie,  looking  over  many  plates  in  this  work,  which 
represent  the  streets  of  the  capital  through  which  the  gallant  Eng- 
lish army  marched  in  their  road  to  victory.  My  friend,  Mr.  Brunet, 
rightly  calls  these  volumes  •'  a  very  curious  collection;  but 
being  written  in  a  language  of  limited  circulation,  their  contents 
cannot  be  generally  appreciated."  With  the  work  of  Valentyn,  I 
am  desirous  of  recommending  two  ancient  volumes  in  the  French 
language,  which  describe  the  adventures  and  discoveries  of  the 
Dutch  in  the  East  Indies,  of  that  period—"  avec  le  vrai  portrait  au 
vif  des  habitans — le  tout  par  plusieurs  figures  illustre;  par  G.  W.  A. 
W.  W."  Amst.  1538,  folio.  A  second  volume,  descriptive  of  Dutch 
enterprise,  under  Admirals  J.  Cornelius  Nee,  and  Wilbrant  de  War- 
wic,  appeared  in  1609,  folio.  Just  now,  the  present  abode  of  a  copy 
of  either  of  these  works  escapes  me. 

*  The  Asiatic  Researches,  which  owe  their  origin  to  the  patronage 
of  the  celebrated  Sir  William  Jones,  and  which  were  first  published 
at  Calcutta,  have  been  reprinted  in  London  in  14  quarto  volumes  : 
1T99 — 1821,  The  publication  price  is  255.  per  volume.  They  are 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  413 

details  connected  with  our  East  India  territories — 
while,  in  lieu  of  these  elaborate  performances,  the  pub- 
lications of  BUCHANAN,  MALCOLM,  HAMILTON,  and 
MILL,  can  scarcely  fail  to  gratify  a  very  large  class  of 
readers.* 

full  of  the  most  curious  and  valuable  intelligence  in  every  possible 
form,  and  on  every  possible  subject."  Need  I  dwell  a  moment  on 
the  recommendation  of  the  works  of  SIR  WILLIAM  JONES,  in  8  quarto 
volumes,  1799 — 1801 — reprinted  in  12  octavo  volumes  ?  A  scholar, 
a  critic,  philosopher,  lawyer,  and  poet — where  shall  we  find,  in  the 
works  of  the  SAME  MAN,  greater  demonstrations  of  pure  and  correct 
feeling,  and  cultivated  and  classical  taste,  than  in  the  volumes  here 
noticed  and  recommended? !  The  piety  of  Sir  William  Jones  was  not 
inferior  to  his  learning.  A  thoroughly  good,  and  great-minded  man, 
—  his  caution,  humility,  and  diffidence  were  equal  to  his  learning 
and  multifarious  attainments  -,  and  there  is  a  vigour  and  raciness  in 
his  translations  of  Persian  Poetry,  which  give  them  the  enchanting 
air  of  original  productions.  This  great  man  may  be  said  to  have 
fallen  a  victim  to  the  climate  where  he  spent  the  latter  portion  of  his 
life.  He  was  prematurely  cut  off  in  his  high  career  :  but  his  grate- 
ful country  numbers  him  among  the  most  illustrious  of  her  WOR- 
THIES. 

*  Dr.  FRANCIS  BUCHANAN'S  works,  connected  with  India,  do  in- 
finite  credit  to  his  memory.  His  Journey  through  the  Countries  of 
Mysore,  Canara,  and  Malabar,  Lond.  1807,  4to.  3  vols.  is  a  most  cu- 
rious and  instructive  work.  Those  researches,  of  an  ecclesiastical 
character,  which  distinguish  the  works  of  the  Rev.  Claudius  Bu- 
chanan, are  too  well  known  and  appreciated  to  need  being  chronicled 
in  this  place.  See  the  1st.  2nd.  and  16th  volumes  of  the  Quarterly 
Review.  The  works  of  SIR  JOHN  MALCOLM  place  him  among  the 
principal  of  statistical  writers  upon  the  East.  His  History  of  Persia 
belongs  to  a  subsequent  place  j  but  his  papers  in  the  Asiatic  Re- 
searches, his  Sketch  of  the  Sikhs,  and,  above  all,  his  Memoir  of 
Central  India,  (1823,  8vo.  2  vols.)  are  productions  of  decided  and 
general  utility.  The  latter  received  an  elaborate  investigation  in  the 
Quarterly  Review  of  January,  1824.  But  of  the  most  obvious  utility 
and  merit,  are  the  labours  of  Mr.  Hamilton.  Who,  that  has  relatives 


414  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

Yet  portions  of  this  great  territory  have  stimulated 
the  curiosity,  and  called  forth  the  spirit  of  enterprise, 
of  some  of  the  most  ardent  and  scientific  of  travellers 
— and  those  of  our  own  country.  The  Himmaleh  or 
Hlmmalaya  mountains — that  vast  and  magnificent 
chain,  which  forms  the  northern  boundary  of  Hin- 
doos tan,  and  is  the  immediate  barrier  between  the 
kingdoms  of  Nepaul  and  Thibet — which,  rising  with 
its  eternal  snows,  looks  down  even  upon  the  proudest 
summits  of  the  Andes — those  stupendous  heights  have 
received  the  most  delightful  and  satisfactory  illustra- 
trations  by  Messrs.  Hardwicke,  PFebb,  Raper,  Cole* 
brooke, Moor croft,  and  Fraser.*  THIBET  should  seem 

in  India,  (" Alas,  I  feel  I  am  wo  actor  here  !")  can  rest  satisfied  without 
the  possession,  not  only  of  his  Gazetteer,  but  of  his  Geographical  De- 
scription of  'Hindoostan ,  in  two  quarto  volumes,  published  at  London,in 
1820?  Mr.  James  Mill,  without  having  visited  India,  is  nevertheless 
the  author  of  a  most  spirited  and  popular  History  of  British  India,  in 
two  quarto — reprinted  in  6  octavo  volumes :  obtainable  in  either  shape, 
and  at  a  moderate  price. 

*  Consult  the  Asiatic  Researches,  vol.  x.  xi.  and  xii.  and  above  all 
the  very  interesting  Reviews  of  Works  connected  with  these  mag- 
nificent regions,  in  the  xivth  and  xviith  volumes  of  the  Quarterly 
Review.  Or,  if  these  should  not  be  at  hand,  let  the  work  of  Mr. 
Murray's  Asia,  be  consulted  j  especially  the  whole  of  the  first  chapter 
of  the  3d  book  in  volume  ii.  The  perusal  is  almost  transporting . 
Does  it  from  hence  follow,  that  the  perpetual  height  of  snow,  in  the 
Himmalaya  range,  is  17,OOO  feet — and  that  the  Mont  Blanc  of 
this  range  is  27,000  feet  in  altitude  ?  Colonel  Kirkpatrick,  in  his 
Nepaul,  seems  to  have  first  imparted  to  the  public  a  notion  of  the 
marvellous  height  of  these  mountains ;  although  Turner,  in  his 
Thibet,  had  more  than  a  casual  glimpse  of  them.  The  Colonel's 
extatic  feelings  are  thus  described — "  the  summit  of  Chandragiri 
which  commanded  a  sublime  amphitheatre,  successively  exhibiting 
to  the  delighted  view,  the  cities  and  numberless  temples  of  the  valley 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  415 

hardly  to  stand  in  need  of  another  historian,  after  the 
very  admirable  work  of  the  late  Mr.  Samuel  Turner  ; 
whose  "  Account  of  an  Embassy  to  the  Court  of  Te~ 
shoo  Lama"  in  that  country,  together  with  the  Views 
of  Lieutenant  Davis,  and  the  Mineralogical  and  Bo- 
tanical Observations  of  Mr.  Saunders — all  put  forth 
in  one  splendid  quarto  volume,  in  1800 — cannot  fail 
of  meeting  the  approbation  of  every  qualified  judge.* 
This  performance  is  among  the  most  perfect  of  those 
which  relate  to  the  northern  parts  of  India. 

NEPAUL  has  been  brought  before  our  eyes,   as  it 
were,  by  the  labours  of  Colonel  KirJcpatric'k  and  Dr. 

below :  the  stupendous  mountain  of  Sheoopoori ;  the  still  super- 
towering  Jibjibia,  clothed  to  its  snow-capped  peak  with  pendulous 
forests  j  and,  finally,  the  GIGANTIC  HIMMALEH,  forming  the  majestic 
back-ground  of  this  wonderful  and  sublime  picture."  Murray,  vol.  ii. 
p.  429.  Mr.  Murray  himself  is  even  hurried  along  by  the  force  of 
such  impassioned  feelings.  He  mentions  tf  the  snowy  pinnacles  of 
the  mighty  Himmaleh  :  the  almost  unfathomable  depth  of  the  valley 
beneath,  contrasted  with  the  stupendous  height  of  the  mountains 
above,  and  the  grandeur  of  their  awful  and  cloud-capt  boundary, 
producing  an.  impression  of  sublimity  amounting  to  terror/'  In 
Captain  Hardwicke's  tour,  the  two  loftiest  peaks  in  view,  were  those 
of  Gangoutri,  supposed  to  be  the  source  of  the  Ganges,  and  Jamautii, 
that  of  the  Jumna,"  p.  295*. 

Such  are  the  regions  in  which  the  two  mightiest  rivers  in  Asia  are 
supposed  to  have  their  sources  j  regions,  still  to  be  accurately  and 
fully  explored  —  notwithtsanding  the  unparalleled  efforts  of  Mr. 
MOORCROFT,  who  has  penetrated  farther  into  the  mountainous  world 
of  India,  than  any  other  European  traveller.  An  outline  of  his  truly 
instructive  and  interesting  narrative  may  be  found  in  the  first  num- 
ber of  the  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Journal.  But  EVERY  author, 
above  mentioned,  deserves  equal  praise;  and,  if  achievements, 
such  as  they  performed,  were  always  the  result  of  TERRITORIAL 
CONQUEST,  who  might  not  envy  the  CONQUERED  the  felicity  of  their 
lotl 


416  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

Hamilton  ;  and  the  Hon.  M.  Elphinstone's  CAUBUL 
is  a  work  which  places  its  author  in  the  first  rank  of 
historians  and  travellers  in  the  East.  Luckily,  the 
labours  of  these  gentlemen  are  neither  costly  nor 
rare;*  and  most  earnestly  do  I  recommend  them, 
especially  the  book  of  Mr.  Elphinstone,  to  every  library 
of  any  pretension  to  a  Collection  of  Voyages  and 
Travels. 

PERSIA,  according  to  Mr.  Murray's  arrangement, 
next  claims  the  attention  of  the  bibliographer.  Leav- 
ing the  discoveries  of  earlier  travellers  to  be  found 
in  the  collection  of  Aldus,  put  forth  in  1543-5,  under 
the  title  of  Fiaggifatti  da  f^inegia^  I  pass  quickly 

*  COL.  FITZPATRTCK'S  Nepaul,  an  elegant  4to.  volume,  published 
in  181 1,  with  a  map  and  other  engravings,  was  elaborately,  and  on 
the  whole  dispassionately,  reviewed  in  the  vth  volume  of  the  Quar- 
terly Review,  p.  305 — 332.  The  account  of  the  kingdom  of  Caubult 
of  the  Hon.  MOUNTSTUART  ELPHINSTONE,  was  published  in  1815,  in 
a  handsome  quarto  volume — and  republished  in  two  octavo  volumes. 
Elaborate  and  exceedingly  interesting  reviews  of  it  appeared  in  the 
Edinburgh  and  Quarterly  Reviews  of  the  same  year.  A  work  of  such 
excellence  stands  in  need  of  no  commendation  here. 

f  The  narratives  of  Zeno,  Barbaro,  and  Contarini  were  first  pub- 
lished in  the  Fiaggifatti  da  Finetia,  alia  Tana,  in  Persia,  in  India, 
&sc.  collected  by  Antonio  Manutius,  and  published  by  Paul  Manutius 
in  the  Aldine  Office,  in  1543,  and  again  in  1545,  in  one  8vo.  volume 
of  180  leaves.  The  second  edition,  which  has  only  163  leaves,  is  the 
better  printed  book,  according  to  Renouard  5  vol.  i.  p.  225,  234. 
A  copy  of  the  first  edition  was  sold  for  I/.  Is.  at  the  sale  of  Mr 
Bindley's  Library  5  and  for  31.  7s.  at  that  of  Colonel  Stanley's.  AN- 
TONY SHERLEY'S  Travels  were  first  published  in  1613,  4to.  and  they 
are  reprinted  in  Purchas,  and  Mr.  Murray  has  given  a  very  interesting 
extract  (vol.  iii.  p.  23,)  from  the  original.  Yet,  nothing  short  of  a 
clean-margined  copy  of  the  original  impression,  must  satisfy  the 
curious.  It  is  obtainable  for  a  sovereign.  Sherley  was  the  pro- 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  417 

by  the  performances  of  Sherley  and  Herbert,  to  make 
especial  and  honourable  mention  of  that  of  CHARDIN  ; 
and  recommending  my  readers  not  to  let  the  amusing 
work  of  JONAS  HANWAY*  escape  them,  especially  if 

tege*  of  the  Earl  of  Essex  :  "  whom  he  had  made  the  pattern  of  his 
civil  life  j"  and  at  whose  advice  he  travelled  into  Persia.  But  con- 
sult the  work  last  referred  to  (vol.  iii.  p.  29-52,)  for  the  treasures 
which  are  yetm  MS.  relating  to  Persia,  of  which  DON  GARCIA  DE  SYLVA 
is  the  author ;  who  lived  in  the  reign  of  Philip  III.  The  Travels  of  SIB 
THOMAS  HERBERT  were  first  published,  in  folio,  in  lt>34,  and  after- 
wards in  1635, 1665,  and  1667.  They  relate  to  Africa  and  Great  Asia, 
as  well  as  Persia.  A  copy  of  the  first  edition  was  sold  for  \l.  10s. 
at  Dr.  Heath's  sale.  But  all  these  are  eclipsed  by  the  labours  of 
CHARDIN,  "  who  devoted  his  life,  as  it  were,  to  the  knowledge  of 
Persia," — says  Mr.  Murray.  I  will  be  free  to  add,  that  for  intrinsic 
merit  and  fidelity  of  narrative,  Chardin  has  been  exceeded  by  NO  sub- 
sequent traveller.  His  travels  first  appeared  in  a  folio  volume  of 
1686;  containing  only  his  journey  from  Paris  to  Ispahan:  then 
came  out  his  account  of  Persia,  in  3  quarto,  or  ten  duodecimo  vo- 
lumes, at  Amsterdam,  in  1711  :  but,  as  before  observed,  (see  p.  408) 
the  Amsterdam  edition  of  1735,  is  the  most  popular  one. 

*  Perhaps  this  is  not  the  most  proper  place  for  the  mention  of 
Hanway's  Travels  j  but  as  there  is  very  much  in  them  relating  to 
Persia,  the  reader  may  as  well  know  that  the  work  appeared  in  1*53, 
in  four  quarto  volumes,  and  that  in  Mr.  Murray's  Collection  (vol.  i. 
p.  355)  some  amusing  particulars  from  them  are  extracted.  At 
Balfrush,  "  finding  his  beard  grown  to  a  most  inconvenient  length, 
Hanway,  with  great  difficulty,  procured  a  barber  j  but  that  operator 
learning,  in  the  midst  of  the  process,  that  he  was  a  Christian,  uttered 
a  cry  of  horror,  and  ran  away  ;  and  Hanway  was  obliged  to  push 
on  with  his  half-shaven  beard !"  He  was,  at  the  time,  very  critically 
situated.  The  work  of  Hanway  contains  a  great  number  of  maps, 
and  some  very  pretty  vignettes  and  plates,  of  which  several  were 
designed  by  WALE  j  a  name  dear  to  the  lovers  of  fine  art,  from  his 
happy  performances  in  Sir  John  Hawkins's  edition  of  Walton's 
Angler.  A  copy  of  this  work  was  sold  for  2Z.  19s.  at  the  sale  of  Dr. 
Heath's  library.  It  may,  however,  be  obtained  at  a  less  price. 

£  E 


418  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA, 

obtainable  at  a  moderate  sum,  I  may  venture  to  con- 
clude the  list  of  publications,  relating  to  this  most 
interesting  country,  with  the  strong  recommendation 
of  the  more  recent,  and  more  intrinsically  valuable, 
works  of  Morier,  Malcolm,  Ouseley,  and  Sir  Robert 
Kerr  Porter.  The  subjoined  note  affords  a  brief  out- 
line of  the  editions  of  the  labours  of  these  distin- 
guished travellers.* 

*  I  have  only  to  subjoin  the  titles  and  dates  of  the  works  of  the 
above  four  eminent  travellers:  MORIER,  James,  Journey  through 
Persia,  Armenia,  and  Asia  Minor,  to  Constantinople,  in  the  year 
1808-9.  Lend.  1812.  4to.  Second  Journey  5  1810-16.  Lond.  1818, 
4  to.  For  reviews  of  these  works,  consult  the  volumes  of  the 
Edinburgh  and  Quarterly.  MALCOLM,  Sir  John:  History  of  Persia, 
from  the  earliest  ages  to  the  present  times.  Lond.  1816,  4to.  2  vols. 
See  an  excellent  criticism  on  this  valuable  work  in  the  xvth.  vol.  of 
Quarterly  Review.  The  copies  on  large  paper  were  published  at 
122.  12s.  OUSELEY,  Sir  William :  Travels  in  Various  Countries  of 
the  East,  particularly  Persia,  Lond.  1819,  4to.  I  understand  that 
the  two  latter  travellers  possess  fine  collections  of  Persian  and  San. 
scrit  MSS.  The  supplemental  pages  of  the  Bibliographical  Deca- 
meron, vol.  iii.  will  prove  that  some  of  Sir  John  Malcolm's  treasures, 
of  this  description,  are  of  no  ordinary  beauty  ;  but  whether  Sir  Wil- 
liam Ouseley's  treasures  may,  or  may  not,  compete  with  those  of 
Sir  Gore  Ouseley,  as  detailed  in  the  4th  volume  of  the  late  Mr.  Beloe's 
Anecdotes  of  Literature  and  Scarce  Books,  I  cannot  take  upon  me  to 
pronounce.  What  can  there  be  more  beautiful,  in  all  respects,  than 
a  highly  embellished  PERSIAN  MS.  ? !  I  have  seen  and  examined 
many,  of  full  three  centuries  growth,  which  had  the  effect  of  magic 
while  turning  over  the  silken  and  diverse  tinted  leaves,  powdered 
with  golden  stars,  and  irradiated  with  colours  of  pink,  and  blue,  and 
green,  as  vivid  and  unsullied  as  if,  at  that  moment,  they  had  left  the 
pencil  of  the  illuminator ! 

The  travels  of  Sir  ROBERT  KERR  PORTER,  were  published  in  two 
quarto  volumes,  in  1822  j  embellished  with  a  number  of  very  spirited 
and  singular  plates  —  and  containing  some  interesting  particulars 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  419 

Where  next  shall  we  turn  our  eyes,  and  direct  our 
steps,  in  this  ancient,  and,  as  it  were,  consecrated 
quarter  of  the  globe  ?  And  how  comes  it  to  pass,  that 
I  have  allowed  my  "  young"  reader  thus  far  to  travel, 
without  putting  into  his  hands  those  safe,  and  almost 
indispensable  guides  ;  afforded  by  the  Charts  of  D'AN- 
VILLE  and  RENNELL  :  names,  that  do  not  less  honour 
to  the  important  study  of  geography,  than  to  the 

relating  to  Ancient  Babylon.  These  travels  include  accounts  also  of 
Georgia,  Armenia,  #c. :  and  were  performed  during  the  years,  1817* 
18,  ]9,  20.  The  plates  relate  to  portraits,  costume,  and  antiquities, 
and  are  not  fewer  than  seventy-five  in  number.  The  narrative  is 
executed  in  a  pleasing  and  lively  style  j  and  these  volumes  form,  on 
the  whole,  a  valuable  addition  to  our  stock  of  knowledge  of  the 
countries  described. 

*  The  geographical  labours  of  the  illustrious  D'Anville,  are  mi- 
nutely and  temptingly  detailed  by  Brunet,  vol.  i.  p.  J6.  His  Eclair- 
cissemens  Gfographiques  sur  la  carte  de  VInde,  1753,  4to.  and  Anti- 
quite's  Ge'ographiques  de  VInde  et  de  plusieurs  autres  contrees  de  la 
haute  Asie,  1775,  4to.  are  among  his  chief  works  connected  with  the 
present  department  of  our  researches. f  If  the  labours  of  Major  Ren- 
nell  are  less  general  than  those  of  D'Anville,  they  are,  nevertheless, 
highly  meritorious  on  the  score  of  scrupulous  accuracy.  Here  I  have 
only  to  mention  his  Bengal  Atlas,  1781,  folio  :  Memoir  of  a  Map  of 
Hindoostan,  with  an  Introduction,  Lond,  1783  5  1788 :  reprinted 
again  and  again— but  to  the  later  editions  there  is  a  Supplementary 
Map,  containing  the  new  geography  of  the  Peninsula  of  India,  with 
an  explanatory  memoir.  The  Geographical  System  of  Herodotus  ex- 
amined and  explained,  with  eleven  maps,  1808, 4to.  now  very  scarce—- 
and, equal  to  either,  his  masterly  elucidations  of  The  Retreat  of  the 
Ten  Thousand  ;  and  his  Topography  of  the  Troad  :  works,  that,  in 
their  way,  have  never  been  surpassed. 

t  Brunei  tells  us  that  Mons.  Demanne,  the  heir  of  D'Anville,  is  printing,  at 
the  royal  press,  a  COMPLETE  EDITION  of  the  works  of  this  celebrated  writer,  which 
will  comprehend  six  volumes  in  4to.  with  an  Atlas  folio.  When  finished,  it  is 
certain  that  the  publications  in  a  separate  form,  will  lose  their  value."  Manual 
du  Libraire,  vol.  i.  p.  77. 


420  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASM. 

countries  to  which  they  belong.  We  will  now  linger  a 
little  in  the  western  parts  of  Asia,  and  notice  the 
principal  works  relating  to  the  HOLY  LAND,  and  to 
TURKEY — the  latter,  as  well  in  Europe  as  in  Asia.  Let 
Breydenbach  lead  the  way  ;  *  and  the  hundred  little 
curious  and  fugitive  works,  as  mere  guides  or  manuals, 
which  were  put  into  the  hands  of  pilgrims,  chiefly 
from  Venice,  who  were  filled  with  a  holy  ardour  to 
visit  the  shrine  of  the  Messiah. f  I  know  more  than 
one  friend  who  covets  these  precious  morsels  of  black- 

*  Breydenbach  may,  if  he  pleases,  "  lead  the  wayj"  and  luckily 
this  way  is  rendered  very  easy  and  practicable  to  myself,  by  the  ample 
notices  of  the  earlier  editions  of  his  work  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  iii. 
p.  216  ;  iv.  459}  vi.  87  :  Bibliographical  Tour,  vol.  iii.  p.  526.  To 
Breydenbach,  add  the  Peregrination  de  Nicolas  Huen  ;  Bibl.  Spencer, 
vol.  vi.  214.  Pinkerton  is  twice  erroneous  in  his  earlier  editions  of 
Breydenbach,  vol.  xvii.  p.  134  ;  but  is,  in  other  respects,  copious  and 
instructive  about  the  early  voyages  to  the  HOLY  LAND.  Let  the 
curious,  from  this  catalogue,  get  possession  of  the  works  ofDoubdan, 
1661,  4to.  and  Eugene  Roger,  1664,  4to. — both,  with  very  pretty 
plates. 

t  As  to  e<  the  hundred  little  curious  and  fugitive  works,"  con- 
nected with  a  Voyage  to  Jerusalem,  many  will  be  found  in  our  own 
tongue,  printed  even  by  \V.  de  Worde  and  Pynson.  Consult  the  Ty- 
pog.  Antiq.  vol.ii.  p.  325  :  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  ii,  partii.  p.  324. 
But  a  singular  gem  of  this  kind,  printed  by  W.  de  Worde,  probably 
in  the  X  Vth  century,  is  about  to  be  presented  to  the  Roxburghe  Club 
by  my  friend  Mr.  Henry  Freeling,  being  a  transcript  from  a  unique 
copy,  in  a  most  beautiful  state  of  preservation,  in  the  Advocate's 
Library  at  Edinburgh.  I  am  half  tempted  to  extract  a  very  droll 
passage — but  it  must  not  be.  Of  modern  times,  read  the  Itineraire 
de  Paris  a  Jerusalem,  Paris,  1812,  8vo.  2  vols.  of  the  Marquis  de 
Chateaubriand,  in  which  the  measurement  of  the  Temple  of  Jerusa- 
lem, by  D'Anville,  (1747,  8vo.)  is  incorporated.  Nor  should  the 
work  of  the  Abbate  Mariti  (translated  into  English  in  1791,  8 vo. 
3  vol.)  containing  accounts  of  Cyprus^  Syria,  and  Palestine,  published 
at  Turin,  1 769,  5  vols.  be  overlooked. 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  421 

letter  rarity,  with  an  ardour  and  insatiableness  that 
promise  never  to  be  satisfied*  Happy  state  of  excita- 
tion! Next  to  Breydenbach,  we  may  consider  our 
SANDYS*  as  one  of  the  principal  travellers  into  these 
sacred  quarters.  His  folio>  first  put  forth  in  1615,  is 
yet  a  "  crack-article"  with  the  knowing* ;  especially  if 
it  be  upon  large  paper,  and  the  impressions  are  brilliant 
and  unsoiled. 

In  approaching-  Turkey  in  Asia,  I  have  only  to  re- 
commend— to  the  rich — the  three  noble  volumes  of 
POCOCKE,*|~  the  embellished  tomes  of  WOOD,  as  well 
as  the  classical  production  of  CHANDLER;  the  inci- 
dental notices  of  Clarke,  Kinneir,  and  Burckhardt, 

*  SANDYS  is  still  a  favourite,  and  with  justice.  I  cannot  pretend 
to  enumerate  all  the  reimpressions  of  his  folio  volume,  but  I  have 
seen  copies  of  the  first  and  second  on  LARGE  PAPER.  In  any  shape, 
copies  are  reasonable.  The  plates,  taken  for  the  greater  part,  (says 
Mr.  Chalmers,  in  his  Biogr.  Diet.  vol»  xxvii.  p.  140)  from  the  voyage 
of  Zuallardo,  Rome,  1587>  4 to.  are  pleasing  enough.  Mr.  Triphook 
once  shewed  me  a  lovely  copy  of  the  secon^l  edition  of  Sandys  (in 
which  the  plates/rs£,  I  believe,  appeared)  bound  in  Venetian  morocco 
by  C  Lewis,  marked  at  31. 13s.  6d.  My  friend  Mr.  Markland  possesses 
a  curious  copy  of  the  edition  of  1637,  with  a  ms.  copy  of  verses  by 
the  author — for  Sandys  was  also  a  poet,  Consult  Dr.  Bliss's  edition 
of  the  Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  iii.  col.  97  •  for  a  rich  repast  of  bibliogra« 
phical  intelligence  hereupon.  Mr.  Chalmers,  with  justice,  refers  to 
the  Censura  Litter  aria,  vol.  vi.  p.  132. 

t  '*  A  Description  of  the  East,  and  of  some  other  Countries."  Lond. 
1743,  folio,  3  vols. :  reprinted  in  Pinkerton's  collection.  But  who 
would  not  prefer  the  primitive  and  embellished  folio  ?  These  are 
noble  tomes  j  and  the  author  rises  in  estimation  more  and  more  every 
day.  He  is  facile  princeps — in  his  department.  Antiquities  and 
Science  are  the  leading  features  of  his  work.  Although  Dr.  Heath's 
copy  of  this  work  produced  the  sum  of  161.  105.,  I  can  ensure  the 
Collector  a  "  very  neat "  copy  at  three-fourths  of  that  price. 


422  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

with  the  partial  works  of  Motraye,  Russell,  Volney, 
and  Chateaubriand.*     The  comparatively  poor  Stu- 

*  WOOD'S  Ruins  of  Palmyra,  1753,  folio,  with  fifty-seven  plates, 
and  of  Baalbek,  anciently  called  Heliopolis,  1757,  folio,  with  forty- 
six  plates,  are    works   of  pure  art  j    and  impart  now  an  additional 
interest  from  the  curiosity  lately  excited  towards  the  architecture  of 
the  ancient  world.     Each  volume  is  obtainable  for  about  4l.   4s. 
Chandler's  Travels  in  Greece  and  in  Asia  Minor,  were  printed  in  two 
handsome  quarto  volumes  at  Oxford  in  1774-6 j  of  which  only  250 
copies  were  struck  off.   They  have  been  recently  reprinted  in  the  same 
form.    Besides  Mr.  Kinneir's  Journey  through  Asia  Minor,  &c.  1818, 
8vo.  there  is  a  valuable  work   (reviewed  in  the  Quarterly,  vol.  ix. 
p.  57,)  called  his  Geographical  Memoir  of  the  Persian  Empire,  Lond. 
1813,  4to.,  which  should  have  found  a  place  at  p.  418,  ante.      The 
illustrious  name  of  BURCKHARDT  will  occupy  us  more  particularly 
under  Africa  j    but  let   his  admirable   Travels  in  Syria  and  Mount 
Sinai  grace  the  shelf  of  every  professed  Collection  of  Voyages  and 
Travels.     A  copy  in  fair  calf  binding  is  worth  2/.  105.    De  La  Mo- 
traye's  Voyage  en  Europe,  Asie,  et  Afrique,  &c.  a  la  Haye,  1?27> 
folio,  3  vols.  may  be  worth  hard  upon  3l.  3s.  :  if  the  Wnding  be  ele- 
gant, and  the  impressions  of  the  plates  good.     Some  of  these  plates 
are  by  the  burin  of  Hogarth,  which  is  never  failed  to  be  mentioned  : 
Motraye  was  engaged  twenty  six  years  on  these   travels;  and  his 
account  of  the  interior  of  a  Great  Man's  harem  (vol.  i.  p.  337)  is 
singular  enough.     I  mention  this,  because  the  plate,  by  Hogarth,  is 
one  of  the  prettiest  and  most  prepossessing :  and  there  is  a  very  pleas- 
ing one,  by  the  same  hand,  of  a  dance  of  Turkish  women  at  p.  176, 
of  the  same  volume.  The  author  disclaims  elegance,  but  confidently 
relies  on  his  sincerity  and  impartiality.    The  third  volume,  dedicated 
to  the  famous  Lord  Chesterfield,  is  in  French   and  English ;  and 
there  are  no  picturesque  plates  in  it — it  being  filled  with  maps.    Mr. 
Payne  marks  a  neat  copy  at  2Z.  2*. 

And  here,  might  I  not  introduce  a  notice  of  the  Voyages  a  Constan- 
tinople, a  C  Asie,  Palestine,  %c.  of  the  CHEVALIER  D'AREVIEUX,  Paris, 
1735,  12mo.  6  vols.,  of  which  Pinkerton's  account,  vol.  xvii.  page 
129,  is  so  warmly  encomiastic  ?  This  little  tempting  book  of  travels 
is  so  rare  as  to  have  escaped  Brunet.  RUSSELL'S  Natural  History  of 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  423 

dent  and  Collector  will  satisfy  himself  with  Sandys, 

Aleppo  j  1756,  4 to. :  republished  in  1794,  4to.  by  his  brother,  Dr. 
Patrick  Russell.  "  This  is  not  only  the  best  description  of  Aleppo, 
but  one  of  the  most  complete  pictures  of  Eastern  manners  extant" — 
says  Pinkerton.  A  good  copy  of  the  second  and  best  edition,  bound, 
is  worth  31. 3s.  The  latter  author's  account  of  the  plague  at  Aleppo, 
was  published  in  4to.,  1791 :  and  may  be  worth  M.  Is.  These  works 
have  been  honoured  by  several  versions.  Volney's  Voyage  en  Syrie  et 
en  Egypt,  1783,  Svo.  2  vols.  of  which  the  best  edition  (according  to 
Barbier,  vol.  iv.  p.  389)  is  that  of  1799  (Van  VII.)  augmented  and 
enriched  in  several  respects.  I  recommend  the  reader  to  peruse  Bar- 
bier's  account  (Bibl.  d'un  Homme  de  Gout,  ibid)  of  the  respective 
merits  of  Volney,  Maillet,  and  Savary.  Chateaubriand's  work  has 
been  before  mentioned  j  see  page  420. 

For  an  account  of  Dr.  Clarke's  Travels  in  Syria  and  Asia,  see 
p.  360,  ante.  MAUNDRELL'S  Journey  from  Aleppo  to  Jerusalem  at 
Easter,  first  printed  in  1697»  8vo.  has  been  not  only  several  times 
reprinted — and  very  recently — in  octavo,  but  will  be  found  in  the 
Xth  volume,  p.  305,  of  Pinkerton's  Collection  of  Voyages.  The 
crack  edition  of  the  octavo,  is  that  of  1721,  "  companion  meet,"  for 
the  Mandeville  of  1725.  A  fine  copy  of  it  may  be  worth  ll.  5s.  : 
although  that  in  the  Stanley  collection  produced  3 1.  10s.  It  is  doubt- 
less a  most  curious  and  interesting  book. 

Yet — must  NO  mention  be  made  of  Voyages  up  the  LEVANT,  inclu. 
ding  Constantinople,  Syria,  Phoenicia,  and  such  like  interesting 
spots  ?  Yes :  some  little  I  shall  dilate,  rather  than  digress,  there- 
upon. If  it  be  only  for  the  sake  of  the  work  of  LEBRUN,  something 
should  be  said  on  this  subject ;  and  yet,  although  in  the  richly  stored 
library  of  my  friend  the  Rev.  Henry  Drury,  at  Harrow,  I  have  turned 
over  the  leaves  of  one  of  the  finest  copies  in  the  world  —  in  French 
red  morocco  binding,  with  the  royal  arms  stamped  "  allpropper" — 
and  although  the  copy  possessed  by  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benja- 
min Heath,  is  described  to  be  the  te  finest  copy  possible,  in  white 
calf,  gilt  leaves" — both  upon  LARGE  PAPER — yet,  be  it  quietly  known, 
that  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  panegyrise  this  work,  on  the  score 
of  ART — which  is  its  usual  attraction.  The  plates  are  generally 
black,  coarse,  ill  designed,  worse  executed,  and  some  of  them  of  the 
most  frightfully  sprawling  dimensions.  The  work  is  in  three  or  four 


424  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

Clarke,  and  Volney.     For  Turkey  generally,  the  ex- 
cellent work  of  D'OnssON  must  not  be  omitted.* 

I  push  on  towards  Arabia  ;  and  here  the  work  of 
NIEBUHR  may  suffice — a  work  undoubtedly  of  the 
highest  authority  of  its  kind.f  Darting  across  burning 
sands  and  waterless  deserts,  I  proceed  to  the  notice 

folio  volumes  — and  was  published  at  Paris  in  1714,  &c.  Of  more 
modest,  and  more  satisfactory  pretensions,  is  the  Voyage  au  Levant, 
par  TOURNEFORT,  Paris,  1717,  4to.  three  vols. :  reprinted  often,  and 
translated  into  our  own  tongue.  Tournefort  can  never  be  out  of  date. 
But  how  came  even  a  fine  morocco  copy  of  him  to  sell  for  the 
astounding  price  of  61.  6s.  at  the  sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library  ?  I 
speak  of  the  Paris  edition  of  1717.  An  ordinary  copy  is  not  worth 
more  than  I/.  105.  The  gigantic  undertaking,  by  Messrs.  Treuttel 
and  Wu'rtz,  relating  to  CONSTANTINOPLE,  is  at  length  completed. 
This  work  consists  of  two  folio  volumes,  of  the  largest  dimensions, 
containing  fifty-two  line  engravings,  from  the  drawings  of  M.  Moi- 
ling, draftsman  and  architect  to  the  Sultana  Hadidge,  sister  of  the 
Sultan  Selim  III.  The  price  of  the  ordinary  copies,  is  841. :  of  copies, 
with  proof  impressions,  I<261.  Thus,  this  work  is  sure  to  find  its  way 
among  IMPERIAL  Collectors  !  I  saw  the  drawings  from  which  the 
plates  are  taken,  when  I  was  at  Paris  in  1819.  They  are  minute  and 
elaborate  ;  and  give  (as  I  learn)  a  very  faithful  idea  of  the  clearness 
of  that  enchanting  atmosphere,  and  of  the  characters  of  the  build- 
ings and  the  people. 

*  Tableau  General  de  V Empire  Othoman>  par  MOURADJA  D'OUSSON, 
3  vols.  folio,  with  coloured  plates.  The  plates  are  beautifully  exe- 
cuted, and  the  testimony  of  Burckhardt  to  the  valuable  and  interest- 
ing information  this  work  contains,  should  alone  secure  it  a  place  in 
every  well  chosen  library. 

f  The  work  of  NIEBUHR  has  been  long  and  justly  considered  as 
perfectly  classical  of  its  kind.  We  know  more  of  Arabia  in  the 
pages  of  this  performance,  (of  which  the  style  is  not  less  pure  than 
the  intelligence  is  correct)  than  perhaps  in  those  of  any  other  indi- 
vidual performance.  Niebuhr  was  deputed  on  his  mission  by  the 
Danish  Government  in  3762.  Mr.  Murray's  analysis  of  it  (vol.  iii. 
p.  i87)  will  be  read  with  no  inconsiderable  interest.  His  work  was 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  425 

of  Eastern  India,  China,  and  Japan :  territories,  of 
enormous  extent,  of  marvellous  varieties  of  character 
and  climate,  and  rendered  comparatively  familiar  to 
him,  who  has  never  crossed  the  Equator,  by  the  admi- 
rable publications  of  SYMES,  BARROW,  STAUNTON,  and 
various  French  anonymous  publications,  together 
with  those  of  DUHALDE,  GROSIER,  DE  GUIGNES,  SON- 
NERAT,  KAEMPFER,  and  CHARLEVOIX.*  But  not  a  little 

first  published  in  the  Danish  language  at  Copenhagen  in  1772, 
4to. :  in  the  following  year  in  French,  at  the  same  place  j  but  the 
best  edition  is  that,  in  French,  which  was  published  at  Amsterdam  in 
1776-80,  4to.  3  vols,  ',  including  the  questions  of  Michaelis,  pub- 
lished in  1774.  A  good  copy  is  worth  4L  14s.  6d. :  although  that  in 
Dr.  Heath's  library  was  sold  for  61.  6s.  Brunet  says  that  there  are 
copies  on  large  paper,  which  are  not  finer  than  the  ordinary  size  :  but 
of  such  copies,  struck  off  on  fine  Dutch  paper,  the  same  conclusion 
cannot  be  drawn.  These  latter  are  also  very  rare.  I  find  none  in  the 
catalogues  of  our  richer  libraries. 

*  Major  Symes'  account  of  his  Embassy  to  Ava  in  1795,  appeared 
in  18OO,  4to — (reprinted  in  3  volumes  8vo.)  and  is  a  work  of  such 
established  reputation,  that  those  who  are  desirous  of  obtaining  a 
copy  of  it,  in  goodly  calf  binding,  will  not  scruple  to  give  2J.  12s.  6d. 
for  the  same ;  and  if  they  aspire  to  a  LARGE  PAPER  of  that,  and  of  Mr. 
Turner's  Tibet,  they  may  have  both  volumes,  in  extra  binding,  for 
71.  ?s.  in  the  richly  furnished  repository  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss. 
Mr.  Murray  has,  as  usual,  given  us  some  very  palatable  marrow,  in 
his  extract  from  Symes' s  Ava.  I  come  now,  in  chronological  order, 
to  notice  the  personal,  as  well  as  the  written,  labours  of  Mr.  BAR- 
ROW. Such  labours  are  too  well  known,  and  too  highly  and  gene- 
rally appreciated,  to  stand  in  need  of  my  humble  commendation. 
The  name  of  this  gentleman  will  always  secure,  to  the  work  to 
which  it  is  affixed,  an  immediate  and  extensive  sale  :  but  if  report,  or 
rather  common  fame,  speak  true,  there  ARE  labours,  from  the  same 
pen,  to  which  the  name  of  its  director  is  not  affixed,  that  can  scarcely 
be  too  much  extolled  and  too  widely  disseminated.  The  reader,  of 
course,  anticipates  the  mention  of  the  notices  of  various  travels,  by 
Mr.  Barrow,  in  the  Quarterly  Review:  notices,  which,  whenever 


426  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

imperfect  would  be  our  stock  of  Voyages  and  Travels 
relating  to  China,  if  the  valuable  works  of  NIEUHOFF 

reperused,  cannot  fail  to  bring  increased  pleasure  and  instruction. 
They  are  the  productions  of  an  experienced  head.f  The  Reviewer  is 
at  once  a  traveller  and  a  critic.  Si  sic  onmia  !  But  to  the  present 
point.  Mr.  Barrow's  works,  in  respect  to  China,  comprise  one  volume 
of  Travels,  &c.  1804,  4 to.  5  and  a  Voyage  to  Cochin  China,  ISOf,  4to. 
each  volume  being  about  <2L  12s.  6d. ;  and  each,  I  believe,  reprinted 
in  octavo.  More  elaborate  titles  are  not  necessary,  as  the  works  are 
in  the  recollection  of  most  readers. 

Sir  George  Staunton's  account  of  the  Embassy  of  the  Earl  of 
Macartney  to  the  Emperor  of  China  was  published,  with  every  advan- 
tage of  press  work  and  embellishment,  (the  plates  being  executed 
from  the  drawings  of  the  late  able  William  Alexander)  in  1797 '>  4  to. 
2  vols. ;  with  a  folio  volume  of  engravings.  Few  works  were  more 
anxiously  expected  by  the  public;  and  few,  I  will  be  free  to  maintain, 
ever  yet  gave  greater  satisfaction  to  readers.  It  is  reprinted  in 
octavo.  The  more  recent  works  connected  with  Lord  AmhersVs 
Embassy  to  the  same  quarter,  and  the  delightful  book  of  Capt.  Hall 
relating  to  Loo-Choo  (for  which  see  the  Quarterly  Review,  vol.  xviii. 
p.  308,)  need  only  be  mentioned  to  secure  general  respect.  At  the 
head  of  the  FRENCH  SCHOOL,  of  Travellers  into,  and  writers  upon, 
China,  let  the  Description  Geographique  historique,  chronologique,  &c. 
of  Du  HALDE  be  unhesitatingly  placed.  In  regard  to  the  geography 
of  China,  it  is  the  best  work  extant.  It  was  published  at  Paris  in 
1735,  in  4  volumes,  folio ;  and  republished  at  the  Hague  in  1736, 
4to. :  but  the  Dutch  edition  does  not  contain  the  plates  j  and  you 

f  Among  the  reviews  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  of  which  Mr.  Barrow  is  the 
reputed  author,  read  that  of  the  account  of  Pitcairn's  Island,  incorporated  in  the 
notice  of  Captain  Porter's  Cruize  in  the  Pacific  Ocean.  It  concludes  thus  :  "  We 
have  only  to  add,  that  Pitcairn's  Island  seeins  to  be  so  fortified  by  nature,  as  to 
oppose  an  invincible  barrier  to  an  invading  enemy  ;  there  is  no  spot  apparently 
where  a  boat  can  land  with  safety,  and,  perhaps  not  more  than  one  where  it  can 
land  at  all :  an  everlasting  swell  of  the  ocean  rolls  in  on  every  side,  and  breaks  into 
foam  against  its  rocky  and  iron-bound  shores.  O  HAPPY  PEOPLE  !  happy  in  your 
sequestered  state !  and  doubly  happy  to  have  escaped  a  visit  from  Captain  Porter 
of  the  United  States  frigate,  Essex.  May  no  civilised  barbarian  lay  waste  your 
peaceful  abodes ;  no  hoary  proficient  in  sensuality  rob  you  of  that  innocence  and 
simplicity  which  it  is  peculiarly  your  present  lot  to  enjoy."  Vol.  xiii.  page  383. . 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  42? 

and  VAN  BRAAM,  (Dutchmen,  possessing  all  the  fear- 
less intrepidity  of  character  of  their  countrymen)  as 

must  add  to  it  D'Anville's  new  Atlas  of  China,  1 737*  folio,  with  forty- 
two  maps  —  or,  better  still,  the  fourteen  plates  and  fifty  maps  sepa- 
rately published  from  the  Paris  edition.  A  good  copy  of  this  Hague 
impression,  with  such  an  adjunct,  may  be  worth  51.  5s. :  but  of  the 
French,  fl.  7s. 

Whoever  wishes  to  peruse  a  little  bibliographical  gossip  about  the 
Abbe*  Grosier,  and  his  new  edition  of  the  Jesuit  Father  MAILLA'S 
Histoire  Gfafrale  de  la  Chine  (traduite  du  Tong-Kien-Kangmor)  may 
consult  the  Bibllogr.  Antiq.  and  Picturesq.  Towr,  vol,  ii.  p.  320-321. 
This  extraordinary  performance  consists  of  not  fewer  than  thirteen 
quarto  volumes,  put  forth  between  the  years  1777-85,  of  which  the 
last  volume  is  by  the  Abbe*  himself,  and  which  was  published  in 
English  in  1787,  in  two  octavo  volumes.  A  new  edition  of  the  whole, 
much  augmented,  was  published  in  1818,  in  7  octavo  volumes.  DE 
GUIGNES'S  Voyage  a  Ptkin,  Manille,  et  L'Isle  de  France,  was  printed 
at  Paris,  in  three  octavo  volumes,  with  an  Atlas  folio  of  six  maps 
and  fifty-nine  plates,  in  1809.  "  This  account  is  curious ;  and  fre- 
quently in  opposition  to  that  of  Lord  Macartney's, "  says  Brunet.' 
With  the  travels  of  De  Guignes,  is  associated  the  Dictionnaire  Fran- 
fois-Latin  et  Chinois,  published  in  a  magnificent  folio  volume  at  Paris 
in  1813  5  and  composed  from  a  Chinese  Latin  Dictionary  of  Basil  de 
Glemona,  of  which  the  MS.  is  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris.  This 
Dictionary  is  worth  about  5/.  5s.  SONNERAT'S  Voyages  aux  Indes 
Orientates  et  a  la  Chine,  1774-81,  was  published  in  1782,  4to.  two 
vols. :  for  a  good  copy  of  which  I  find  Messrs.  Arch  giving  61.  at 
the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library.  The  work  contains  (according  to 
Pinkerton)  140  plates,  and  two  maps.  For  the  beauty  of  the  plates, 
this  edition  is  necessarily  preferable  to  that  of  1806.  Copies  of  the 
first  edition  on  LARGE  PAPER  (and  Dutch  paper,  into  the  bargain)  are 
rare  and  precious.  One  of  this  sort  was  purchased  by  the  late  Mr. 
North,  at  the  sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library,  for  21 1. 

A  word  only  about  JAPAN.  He  who  possesses  Scheuchzer's  trans- 
lation, from  the  high  Dutch,  of  the  famous  book  of  KAEMPFER,  pub- 
lished in  two  folio  volumes,  1728,  (the  best  edition,  containing  a 
second  Appendix)  has  a  work  ' '  which  (according  to  Pinkerton)  con- 
tinues to  the  present  day  the  best  account  of  Japan."  A  copy  of  it  is 


429  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

they  appear  in  certain  French  versions,*  were  not  to 
have  a  conspicuous  place  therein. 

Such  are  the  principal  writers  of  the  countries  here 
alluded  to ;  and  yet,  on  a  retrospect  of  the  few  last 
pages,  I  cannot  but  be  sensible  both  of  omissions  and  of 
imperfect  details.  Considering  the  immense  kingdoms 
which  Asia  contains,  and  its  long  and  intimate  connec- 
tion with  Europe,  through  Persia,  by  land,  and  by  water 
across  the  Indian  Ocean,  —  I  am  free  to  confess, 
that  these  pages  might  have  been  filled  with  a  greater 
variety  of  information  ;  but  the  nature  of  this  work 
necessarily  forbade  such  an  extended  account.  The 
lover,  however,  of  Rarities,  in  this  department  of 
bibliography,  shall  not  be  driven  to  despair  by  the 
entire  omission  of  all  notices  of  curious  and  uncom- 
mon voyages  ;  and  possessing  himself  of  DALRYMPLE'S 

worth  41.  4s.  Consult  Brunet  for  the  French  version  of  1729.  Char- 
levoix's  Histoirc  du  Japon,  was  published  in  1/36,  4to.  3  vols.  and  in 
Gvols.  12mo.  but  the  more  methodised  edition  seems  to  be  that  of 
1754,  12mo.  in  the  same  number  of  volumes. 

*  Nieuhoff's  work  appeared  in  Dutch  and  in  French  the  same 
year,  1665,  folio.  But  the  addition  of  some  pretty  vignettes,  and 
other  cuts,  to  say  nothing  of  the  facility  of  the  language,  give  the 
French  version  a  decided  superiority.  The  narrative,  or  text,  is  at 
once  faithful,  perspicuous,  and  interesting.  The  Dutch  Embassy  to 
China,  of  which  Van  Braam  Houckgeest  is  the  author  of  the  details, 
and  of  which  the  first  volume,  in4to.  (reprinted  in  two  volumes  8vo.) 
was  published  by  Moreau  de  Saint-Me'ry,  at  Philadelphia,  in  1797, 
is  a  work,  as  far  as  it  goes,  replete  with  the  most  minute  and  ac- 
curate intelligence.  The  translation,  executed  under  the  eye  of 
Houckgeest  himself,  is  all  that  it  can  be  wished  to  be,  and  M.  de 
St.  Mery's  notes  are  at  once  apposite  and  intelligent.  Boucher  de  la 
Richarderie,  in  his  Bill,  des  Voyages,  torn.  v.  p.  285-8,  has  given  a 
very  sensible  and  inviting  pre*cis  of  this  precious  work.  But  why  is  it 
not  continued  and  concluded  ? 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  429 

Collection  of  those  in  the  South  Seas,  let  him  disport 
himself  with  LITHGOW,  LABOULAYE  DE  Goux,  STO- 
KOVE,  MONCONYS,  NAVARETTi,  and  sundry  Voyages 
of  the  Jesuits*  And,  if  the  enterprising  traveller 

*  Dalrymple  is  a  great  name,  in  many  respects  j  and  the  Historical 
Collection  of  Voyages  and  Discoveries  in  the  Southern  Pacific  Oceanf 
1770,  4to.  <2  vols.  (worth  at  any  rate  a  sovereign  a  volume)  may  be 
considered  among  the  very  best  works  to  which  that  name  is  attached. 
AlexanderDalrymple  was  eminently  distinguished  as  an  hydrographer; 
and  obtained  the  honourable  post  of  hydrographer  to  the  Admiralty 
and  to  the  East  India  Company.  Look  at  Watt's  Bill.  Britannica,  col. 
281,  for  an  almost  countless  list  of  his  publications.  His  library  (sold 
in  1809,  by  King  and  Lochee,  was  powerfully  rich  in  Voyages  and 
Travels.  I  remember  him  at  the  sale  of  Isaac  Reed's  library,  in  1807. 
His  yellow  antiquarian  chariot  seemed  to  be  immoveably  fixed  in  the 
street,  just  opposite  the  entrance  door  of  the  long  passage  leading  to 
the  sale  room  of  Messrs.  King  and  Lochee,  in  King  street,  Covent 
Garden ;  and  towards  the  bottom  of  the  table,  in  the  sale  room,  Mr. 
Dalrymple  used  to  sit : — a  cane  in  his  hand,  his  hat  always  upon  his 
head,  a  thin,  slightly  twisted  queue,  and  silvery  hairs  that  hardly 
shaded  his  temples.  . .  His  biddings  were  usually  silent— accom- 
panied by  the  elevation  and  fall  of  his  cane,  or  by  an  abrupt  nod  of 

the  head But  this  is  Biography  and  not  BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

I  spring,  therefore,  upon  "  the  Rare  Adventures  and  painful  Pere- 
grinations O/'LITHGOW — -from  Scotland,  to  the  most  famous  kingdoms  in 
Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa.''1  published  in  161  l,4to.  and  republished  in 
1770,  8vo.  There  is  also  a  4to.  reprint  of  1645.  I  was  going  to  say 
that  Lithgow's  book  was  as  common  as  a  penny-roll  3  and  so  it  may 
be  :  but  a  copy  of  the  first  edition  uncut,  and  upon  LARGE  PAPER  (O  che 
boccone  ! )  such  as  Mr.  Evans  sold  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Watson  Taylor's 
library,  for,  between  30  and  40  guineas,  is  rarer  than  an  unspotted  tur- 
quois  of  an  inch  in  circumference.  "  Les  Voyages  et  Observations  du 
SIEUR  LABOULAYE  DE  Goux,  gentilhomme  Angevin,  Paris,  1657,  4-to. 
are  acknowledged  to  be  singularly  exact  and  faithful  j  especially  in 
the  religions  of  India  and  Persia.  A  similar  character  (according  to 
Pinkerton)  attaches  to  the  "  Voyage  $  Italic  et  du  Levant,  of  Messrs. 
Fermanel  Baudouin,  de  Launay,  et  Stokove;"  &c.  1665,  4to.  Eight 
hundred  pages  of  Observations,  "  disfigured  by  much  injudicious  eru- 


430  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA, 

have  it  in  contemplation  to  return  to  his  native  coun- 
try, from  the  farthest  eastern  isles  of  Borneo,  Neiv 
Guinea,  and  New  Holland,  he  will  find,  in  the  sub- 
joined note,  a  few  books  which  will  help  to  delight 

dition,"  (says  Pinkerton)  were  published  upon  this  voyage,  at  Rouen, 
1668,  4to.  The  Sieur  POULLET'S  "  Nouvelles  Relations  du  Levant," 
&c.  Paris.  1 668,  12mo.  2  vols.  is  a  scarce  work,  and  contains  an  ex- 
cellent account,  for  the  time  it  was  published,  of  the  Turkish  Empire 
in  Asia,  as  well  as  of  Georgia  and  Persia.  The  accuracy  of  Poullet 
was  established  by  the  confirmation  of  Chardin. 

The  VOYAGES  OF  THE  JESUITS  are  innumerable.  Of  all  religious 
zealots,  they  were  at  once  the  most  accomplished  and  indefatigable, 
and  I  think  it  must  be  granted,  (putting  the  desperately  foolish 
main  object  of  their  religion  out  of  the  question)  that  the  fruits  of 
their  discoveries  have  been  highly  amusing  and  instructive.  Setting 
apart  the  ef  Lettres  Edifiantes  et  Curieuses,"  let  us  only  pause,  and 
ponder  on  the  fact — that,  they  have  given  two  quarto  tomes  to  the 
world,  of  their  Voyage  de  Siam,  alone — (1668,  4to.  2  vols.)  and  that 
not  less  than  three  pounds  were  paid  for  these  Jesuitical  volumes,  at 
the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library.  And  whoever  chances  to  alight 
upon  Father  Ricci,  Chinese  Narratives,  1617,  4to.  republished  under 
the  title  of  "  Voyage  des  PP.  Jcsuites  en  Chine"  1617,  8vo.  will  see 
how  dexterously  and  efficiently  the  several  objects  of  the  traveller's 
undertaking  were  accomplished.  Mr.  Pinkerton  strikes  a  high  note 
in  praise  thereof :  vol.  xvii,  p.  149:  and  I  request  the  curious  to 
peruse  the  half  dozen  pages  of  an  account  of  similar  voyages  which 
follow  in  Pinkerton.  Further,  I  entreat  Mr.  D'lsraeli,  who  is  just 
now  so  wrapt  up  in  the  perusal  of  a  description  of  the  East,  by  a 
living  Jesuit,  of  the  name  of  the  ABBE  DUBOIS,*  (a  description,  which 
he  considers  as  most  curious  and  instructive)  to  give  us,  in  some  future 
edition  of  his  "  CURIOSITIES,"  old  or  new — a  compressed  account — a 
distillation  or  extraction — of  the  pith,  juice,  marrow,  and  muscles, 
of  these  said  Jesuitical  voyages. 

*  About  four  or  five  years  ago,  the  Abbe*  Dubois  published  a  quarto  volume  re- 
lative to  the  present  state,  manners,  and  religion  of  the  Hindoos.  It  has  been 
recently  followed  ,by  an  octavo  volume  upon  the  Establishment  of  Christianity  in 
India — or,  rather,  upon  the  utter  hopelessness  of  its  successful  establishment. 
Both  books  are  very  curious.  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  are  the  publishers. 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  431 

him  in  his  passage  homewards.  The  name  of  FLIN- 
DERS is  as  inseparably,  as  it  is  gloriously,  connected 
with  that  of  Australasia,  or  New  Holland* 

Or,  should  the  same  traveller  wish  to  return  home- 
wards by  land,  through  Turkey,  Italy,  and  Germany, 
he  will  find  a  host  of  mute,  but  not  of  ineloquent  com- 
panions, pointed  out  for  his  choice,  in  the  bibliographi- 
cal lists  of  Pinkerton  and  Brunet.f  The  contents  of  a 

*  Stopping  one  moment  to  recommend  the  curious,  and  still  inte- 
resting account  of  CEYLON,  in  the  pages  of  old  Robert  Knox,  Lond. 
1681,  folio,  with  cuts,  (U.  10s.)  and  the  latest  accounts  extant  of  the 
same  Country,  published  in  1807,  in  2  vols.  4to.  by  the  Rev.  J.  Cor- 
diner,  (for  a  critique  on  which,  or  rather  for  an  excellent  account  of 
the  leading  features  connected  with  Ceylon,  consult  the  Quarterly 
Review,  vol.  xiv.  p.  2  —  38,)  and  not  to  forget  Dr.  Davy's  valuable 
account  of  the  same  country,  in  1S22,  4to.  31.  13s.  6d.  I  come,  at 
once,  to  the  important  publication,  relating  to  New  Holland,  by  CAP- 
TAIN MATTHEW  FLINDERS,  under  the  title  of  "  A  Foyage  to  Terra  Aus- 
trails,  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  Discovery  of  that 
vast  Country,  and  prosecuted  in  the  Years  1801,  2,  and  3,  in  his  Ma" 
jesty's  ship  the  Investigator; —  and  subsequently  in  the  armed  vessel 
Porpoise,  and  Cumberland  Schooner"  &c.  Lond.  1814,  4to.  two 
vols.  with  an  Atlas  of  plates.  The  text,  in  two  large  quarto  vo- 
lumes, is  enriched  with  several  sea  views  3  and  the  Atlas  volume 
contains  twenty  very  large  charts  and  head  lands,  most  accurately 
laid  down  by  Captain  Flinders,  with  references  to  the  descriptions 
and  tables  of  longitude  in  the  books.  This  Atlas  volume  also  con- 
tains ten  large  plates,  representing  the  forms  of  rare  and  non-descript 
plants,  found  by  Mr.  Brown,  formerly  librarian  to  Sir  Joseph  Banks 
and  now  Secretary  to  the  Linnean  Society .%  The  intrinsic  worth  of 
these  truly  scientific  volumes  must  not  be  measured  by  their  pecu- 
niary value ;  for  I  have  known  a  well  bound  copy,  in  calf,  sell  for 
only  5Z.  15s.  6d. 

f  Among  the  more  curious  works  upon  TURKEY,  "  Les  Naviga- 
tions, Peregrinations,  et  Voyages  de  Nicolas  Nicolay,"  must  not  be 


*  The  voyage  of  Captain  Flinders  was  attended  by  singular  circumstances.  The 


432  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

few  of  these  are  briefly  detailed  by  Boucher  de  la  Ri- 
charderie.  I  cannot  help  however,  here, particularising 
FYNES  MORYSON:  a  gossipping,  but  veracious  and  ins- 
forgotten.  It  was  first  published  at  Antwerp,  in  1576,  4to.  and  I 
find  Mr.  Roger  Wilbraham  (particularly  distinguished  for  his  tact  in 
books  of  this  class,  as  well  indeed  as  in  almost  every  other)  giving 
41.  16s.  for  a  copy,  bound  in  russia,  at  the  sale  of  the  Stanley  library. 
Another  copy  of  the  work,  printed  the  following  year,  was  purchased 
by  Mr.  Triphook,  for4/.  5s.  It  was  translated  into  the  Italian  lan- 
guage, and  published  at  Venice,  in  1580,  folio  j  of  which  a  fine  copy, 
in  blue  morocco  binding,  is  in  the  Althorp  library.  The  figures,  with 
which  this  volume  is  plentifully  enriched,  are  engraved  on  wood, 
and  considered  to  be  from  the  designs  of  Titian  :  but  I  should  rather 
say,  from  those  of  one  of  his  pupils.  The  group,  however,  at  page 
154,  is  not  unworthy  of  the  hand  of  the  master.  The  four  figures 
of  different  Religious  orders  are  very  curious,  and  in  part  horrifying. 
And  here,  ere  I  quit  Turkey,  let  me  strongly  recommend  Rycaut's 
improved  edition  of  Knolles's  History  of  the  Turks,  Lond.  1687,  folio, 
3  vols. :  of  which  a  copy  was  sold  at  Dr.  Heath's  sale  for  Gl.  10s. 
Mr.  Murray  of  Albemarle-street  revels  in  the  possession  of  the  La- 


Investigatory  from  the  Commander's  perpetual  perseverance  in  his  dangerous  pur- 
suits, for  such  a  length  of  time,  became  unfit  for  further  service ;  but  rather  than 
leave  his  survey  unfinished,  Captain  Flinders  put  himself  on  board  a  small  vessel  at 
Port  Jackson,  called  the  Porpoise,  attended  by  the  Cumberland  sloop,  to  pursue 
his  Discoveries ;  but  the  Porpoise  was  unfortunately  soon  after  cast  away  on  a 
coral  reef.  He  then  betook  himself  to  the  Cumberland  sloop,  where,  after  sur- 
veying Torres'  Straits,  he  sailed  for  the  Mauritius,  not  then  knowing  that  France 
was  at  war  with  England.  There,  to  the  disgrace  of  the  then  French  Government, 
he  *was  kept  a  prisoner  for  six  years  and  a  half:  though  all  other  nations,  whether 
in  war  or  peace,  constantly  favour  navigators,  engaged  in  Geographical  Discove- 
ries. 

It  is  indeed  true,  that  France,  at  that  time,  was  governed  by  Buonaparte,  who 
would  attend  to  no  application  from  our  Government.  He  did,  however,  attend  to 
an  application  of  that  patron  of  all  science,  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  and  replied, 
"  he  could  refuse  him  nothing," — but  he  did  not  keep  his  word.  It  would  have 
been  a  happy  instance  of  rare  retribution,  if  Captain  Flinders  had  lived,  to  have 
seen  this  little  savage  himself  a  prisoner  in  one  of  our  Islands.  His  orphan  family 
have  had  that  pleasure,  some  small  satisfaction,  for  the  losses  they  have  sustained, 
by  their  father's  long  imprisonment,  and  the  consequent  injury  his  circumstance* 
sustained. 


ASIA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  433 

tractive  old  gentleman,  in  bis  way.*  And  yet,  how  inter- 
minable is  human  knowledge,  even  confined  to  one 

moignon  copy,  in  blue  morocco.      What  fierce  looking  fellows,  do 
the  PORTRAITS  make  the  originals  to  have  been  !f 

*  "  Gossipping"  as  he  is,  there  are  other  qualities  which  endear 
FYNES  MORYSON  to  the  dispassionate  and  moral  reader.  His  deli, 
cacy  and  purity  are  equal  to  his  love  of  truth  -,  and  if  subjects,  or  ob- 
jects, are  sometimes  painted  "  to  the  life,"  it  is  rather  from  a  desire 
to  hold  up  vice  to  horror,  than  to  enflame  the  passions  by  aggravating 
minuteness  of  colouring.  But  Moryson  shall  here  speak  a  little  for 
himself,  His  work  was  first  written  in  the  Latin,  and  then  trans- 
lated by  him  into  English.  It  contains  "  Ten  years  trovell  through  the 
Twelue  Dominions  of  Germany,  Bohmerland,  Switzerland,  Netherlands 
Dennmarke,  Poland,  Italy,  Turky,  France,  England,  Scotland,  and  Ire- 
land" and  was  published,  in  rather  an  unseemly  folio  volume,  in  1617: 
in  which  volume,  the  account  of  Ireland  alone,  up  to  the  year  16 13, 
contains  not  fewer  than  300  pages. 

In  this  account,  I  consider  the  description  of  the  character  and 
person  of  LORD  MOUNTJOY,  (part  ii.  p.  45-8)  Lord  Lieutenant  of 
Ireland,  a*  among  the  most  minutely  curious  and  highly  interesting 
specimens  of  its  kind  extant.  It  is  a  piece  of  Gerard  Dow  finishing, 
in  its  way  :  by  which  I  wish  it  to  be  inferred,  that  its  brilliancy  is 
equal  to  its  elaboration.  <e  The  Opinions  and  Proverbal  Speeches  of 
Nations,"  in  chap.  3.  Book  I.  Part  iii.  is  a  very  curious  chapter. 
Premising,  that  I  am  indebted  for  my  knowledge  of  this  work  to  a 
hint  thrown  out  by  my  friend  Mr.  Francis  Palgrave,  to  register  it 
among  the  more  valuable  books  of  travels  —  and  to  the  opportunity 
afforded  by  a  copy  of  it  at  Althorp,  belonging  to  the  late  Daines 
Barrington,  and  tolerably  well  scored  and  marked  by  the  pen  of  that 
able  antiquary — I  send  the  reader  to  the  subjoined  notej  for  a  more 


f  When  speaking  of  the  Portraits  of  the  Ottoman  Emperors,  I  must  not  omit 
the  notice  of  the  very  superb  work,  published  a  few  years  since,  by  Mr.  John 
Young,  entitled  :  "  A  Series  of  Portraits  of  the  Emperors  of  Turkey,  from  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Monarchy  to  the  year  1815,  engraved  from  Pictures  painted  at  Con- 
stantinople, commenced  under  the  auspices  of  Sclim  III,,  and  completed  by  command 
of  Sultan  Mahmoud  II. ;  with  a  biographical  account  of  each  of  the  Emperors." 

J  I  will  first  give  a  notion  of  Moryson's  sketches  of  foreign  parts.  When  at 
DRESDEN,  he  thus  narrates :  "  The  horses  are  all  of  foreign  countries,  for  there  is 

F    F 


434  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

remote  portion  of  the  globe !  .  .  .  The  preceding 
pages  had  been  hardly  completed  for  press,  when  acci- 

intimate  acquaintance  with  its  contents,  and,  as  I  trust,  for  a  justifi- 
cation of  my  own  partiality  towards  it.  Yet,  a  word  about  its  price. 

another  stable  for  Dutch  horses,  and  among  these  chief  horses,  one  named  Michael 
Schatz  (that  is,  Michael  the  Treasure)  was  said  to  be  of  wonderful  swiftness.  Before 
each  horses'  nose  was  a  glasse  window,  with  a  curtain  of  green  cloth  to  be  drawn  at 
pleasure.  Each  horse  was  covered  with  a  red  mantle.  The  rack  was  of  iron :  the 
manger  of  copper  :  at  the  buttock  of  each  horse  was  a  pillar  of  wood,  which  had  a 
brazen  shield,  where,  by  the  turning  of  a  pipe,  he  was  watered :  and  in  this  pillar 
was  a  cupboard  to  lay  up  the  horse's  combe  and  like  necessaries,  and  above  the 
back  of  each  horse  hung  his  bridle  and  saddle,  so  as  the  horses  might  as  it  were  in 
a  moment  be  furnished."  Germany,  part  i.  p.  10. 

At  FRIBURG,  he  says,"  The  Citizens  live  of  these  Mines,  and  grow  rich  thereby, 
whereof  the  Elector  hath  his  proper  part,  and  useth  to  buy  the  parts  of  the  Citi- 
zens. The  workmen  use  burning  lamps  under  the  earth  both  day  or  night,  and 
use  to  work  as  well  by  night  as  by  day  :  and  they  report,  that  coming  near  the 
purest  veins  of  silver,  they  are  often  troubled  with  EVIL  SPIRITS."  Part  i.  p.  II. 

And  when  at  PRAGUE,  he  gives  the  following  facetious  anecdote : — "  I  did  here 
eat  English  oysters  pickled,  and  a  young  Bohemian  coming  in  by  chance,  and  tast- 
ing them,  but  not  knowing  the  price,  desired  the  Merchant  to  give  him  a  dish  at 
his  charge,  which  contained  some  twenty  oysters— and  finding  them  very  savoury, 
he  called  for  five  dishes,  one  after  another,  for  which  the  Merchant  demanded  and 
had  of  him  Jive  dollars :  the  dearness  no  less  displeasing  his  mind  than  the  meat  had 
pleased  his  palate."  Part  i.  p.  15. 

But  the  most  interesting  to  an  ENGLISHMAN,  is  what  he  observes  respecting  the 
character  of  our  countrymen  towards  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Elizabeth : — "  And 
give  me  leave  to  hold  this  paradox,  or  opinion,  against  that  of  the  common  sort ; 
that  the  English  were  never  more  idle,  never  more  ignorant  in  manuall  arts,  never 
more  factious  in  following  the  parties  of  Princes  or  their  Landlords,  never  more 
base  (as  I  may  say)  trencher  slaves,  than  in  that  age  wherein  great  men  kept  OPEN 
HOUSES  for  all  commers  and  goers.  And  that  in  our  age,  wherein  we  have  better 
learned  each  man  to  Hue  of  his  owne,  and  great  men  keep  not  such  troopes  of  idle 
servants,  not  only  the  English  are  become  very  industrious,  and  skilfull  in  manu- 
all Arts,  but  also  the  tyranny  of  Lords  and  Gentlemen  is  abated,  whereby  they 
nourished  private  dissensions  and  civill  warres,  with  the  destruction  of  the  common 
people.  Neither  am  I  moued  with  the  vulgar  opinion,  preferring  old  times  to  ours, 
because  it  is  apparent  that  the  cloysters  of  Monks  (who  spoiled  all,  that  they  might 
be  beneficiall  to  few)  and  Gentlemens*  houses  (who  nourished  a  rabble  of  servants 
in  idlenesse,  and  in  robbing  by  the  high  waies)  lying  open  to  all  idle  people  for 
meate  and  drinke,  were  cause  of  greater  ill  than  good  to  the  Commonwealth.  Yet 
I  would  not  be  so  vnderstood,  as  if  I  would  have  the  POORE  shut  out  of  dores,  for  I 
rather  desire  that  greater  works  of  charitee  should  be  exercised  towards  them ;  to 
which  we  should  be  more  enabled  by  honest  frugalitie,  then  by  foolish  prodigalities. 


AsrA.j  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  435 

dent  placed  in  my  hands  the  "  Catalogue  of  Books  in 
ORIENTAL  LITERATURE,  and  of  Miscellaneous 


Mr.  Thorpe  (Cat.  1823,  part  i,  n°.  353,)  marks  a  "  very  fine  large 
copy"  at  41.  4s.:  and  the  octavo  reprint,  1T35,  in  two  vols.  (but  can 
it  contain  all?)  may  be  worth  1Z.  Is. 

I  call  it  foolish,  and  think  the  vulgar  sort  of  prodigals  worthy  of  all  ignominy,  who, 
with  huge  expences,  keepe  many  kennels  of  dogs,  and  casts  of  kawkes,  and  entertain 
great  numbers  of  strangers,  sometimes  not  known  by  name,  often  scoffing  at  the  en- 
tertainer, always  ingratefull,"  &c.  Part  iii.  p.  1  13. 

Again  :  "The  English  are  so  naturally  inclined  to  pleasure,  as  there  is  no  Coun- 
trie  wherein  the  Gentlemen  and  Lords  have  so  many  and  large  parks  onely  re- 
served for  the  pleasure  of  hunting,  or  where  all  sorts  of  men  allot  so  much  ground 
about  their  houses  for  pleasure  of  Orchards  and  Gardens.  The  very  GRAPES,  espe- 
cially towards  the  South  and  West,  are  of  a  pleasant  taste,  and  I  have  said  that  in 
some  counties,  as  in  Glocestershire,  they  made  wine  of  old,  which  no  doubt  many- 
parts  would  yield  at  this  day,  but  that  the  inhabitants  forbear  to  plant  vines,  as  well 
because  they  are  served  plentifully,  and  at  a  good  rate,  with  French  vines,  as  for 
that  the  hills,  most  fit  to  bare  grapes,  yeeld  more  commoditie  by  feeding  of  sheepe 
and  cattell."  Part  iii.  p.  147. 

Once  more  only—  where  Moryson  speaks  of  the  APPARELL  of  the  ENGLISH  ; 
"  Gentlewomen  virgins  weare  gownes  close  to  the  body,  and  aprons  of  finelinnen, 
and  goe  bareheaded,  with  their  haire  curiously  knotted,  and  raised  at  the  fore- 
head, but  many,  against  the  cold,  (as  they  say)  weare  caps  of  haire  that  is  not  their 
own,  decking  their  heads  with  buttons  of  gold,  pearls,  and  flowers  of  silk,  or  knots 
of  ribben.  They  weare  fine  linen,  and  commonly  falling  bands,  and  often  ruffs, 
both  stai'ched,  and  chains  of  pearl  about  the  neck,  with  their  breasts  naked.  The 
graver  sort  of  married  women  used  to  cover  their  heads  with  a  French-hood  of 
velvet,  set  with  a  border  of  gold  buttons  and  pearls  :  but  this  fashion  is  now  left, 
and  they  most  commonly  wear  a  coyffe  of  linen,  and  a  little  hat  of  beaver  or  felt, 
with  their  hair  somewhat  raised  at  the  forehead.  Young  married  gentlewomen 
sometimes  go  bare  headed,  as  virgins,  decking  their  hair  with  jewels  and  silk  rib- 
bens,  but  more  commonly  they  use  the  foresaid  linnen  coyffe  and  hats.  All  in 
general  weare  gowns  hanging  loose  at  the  backe,  with  a  kirtle  and  close  upper 
body,  of  silk  or  light  stuffe,  but  have  lately  left  the  French  sleeves  borne  out  with 
hoopes  of  whalebone,  and  the  young  married  gentlewomen,  no  less  than  the  virgins, 
shew  their  breasts  naked." 

A  curious  anecdote  is  related  of  the  great  ages  of  several  old  men  and  women 
who  joined  in  a  morris  dance  to  please  King  James  :--''  The  men  of  Herefordshire 
can  witness  that  such  examples  [longevity]  are  not  rare  in  England  ;  when,  in  the 
reign  of  King  James,  they  made  a  MORRIS  DANCE  of  fifteen  persons,  all  born  in  the 
same  country,  or  within  the  compass  of  twenty-four  miles,  who  made  1500  years 
between  them,  some  being  little  less  than  100  years  old,  and  some  far  passing  that 
age."  Part  iii.  p.  43.  "  Sed  ohe,  jam  satis." 


436  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [ASIA. 

connected  with  INDIA,  "  —  containing  thirty-eight 
small  pages  of  closely  printed  matter — which  has  been 
recently  put  forth  by  Messrs.  Kingsbury,  Parbury,  and 
Allen.  To  the  truly  enthusiastic  after  Oriental  Re- 
searches, this  Catalogue  will  be  useful,  inasmuch  as 
the  list  of  books  is  very  copious,  and  it  will  furnish 
them  with  a  knowledge  of  the  prices  of  the  several 

articles  or  publications  introduced 

But  the  shores  of  AFRICA  are  in  sight  .  .  .  The  gale 
is  propitious :  and  there  is  excellent  anchorage  for  the 
vessel.  Let  us  land,  and  have  a  bibliographical 
ramble  thereupon. 


[437] 


AFRICA. 

"  A  ramble/1  indeed !  Here  is  a  country,  of  which 
its  extreme  length  (from  north  to  south)  equals  that  of 
Asia — and  its  extreme  breadth  is  three-fourths  of  that 
of  the  same  country — of  which,  also,  one-third  of  its 
interior,  from  the  "  Country  of  the  Booshooanas  "  to 
the  "  Mountains  of  the  Moon"  is  almost  utterly  un- 
known— filled,  too,  with  burning  sands,  and  occupied 
by  an  endless  and  undescribed  variety  of  animals, 
including  the  most  terrific  of  all  animals,  in  his  savage 
state,  MAN  —  here,  I  say,  is  a  country,  upon  which 
I  invite  the  susceptible  reader  to  ramble !  Yet  he  may 
do  so,  fearlessly ;  for,  in  a  ramble  of  the  nature  to 
which  I  allude,  he  may  move,  almost  at  a  stride,  from 
Grand  Cairo  to  the  Cape;  and  may  pass  over  wither- 
ing deserts,  and  along  caverns,  recesses,  and  morasses, 
where  the  serpent  and  the  tiger  lurk,  without  even 
the  apprehension  of  molestation.  Such  are  the  charms 
of  BIBLIOGRAPHY  ! 

Varied  and  vast,  and  in  great  part  unexplored,  as 
is  the  wonderful  continent,  or  rather  peninsula,  of 
AFRICA,  it  is  not  a  little  surprising  and  consoling  that 
those,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  most  copious 
and  correct  accounts  of  it,  are  either  Englishmen  by 
birth,  or  were  prompted  to  their  exertions  by  British 
remuneration.  Almost  all  that  the  Ancients  knew  of 
this  extensive  country,  was  confined  to  the  Northern 
and  Western  coasts.  Egypt,  Tripoli,  Algiers,  and 
Morocco,  were  the  principal  places  that  came 


438  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA- 

within  the  knowledge,  or  were  subject  to  the  policy, 
of  the  Grecian  and  Roman  Empires:  and  if  we  take 
into  account  the  descriptions  of  the  ancient  Arabian 
Geographers,  including  the  labours  of  Edrisi,  Abul- 
feda,  and  Abdollatiph,*  we  yet  scarcely  do  more  than 
penetrate  the  cuticle,  or  the  surface  of  the  interior  of 
the  southern  portion  of  Africa,  below  the  equator.  As 
we  descend  towards  our  own  times,  even  the  labours 

*  Before  I  come  to  touch  upon  the  labours  of  the  above  travellers, 
let  me  recommend  to  the  curious  reader's  particular  attention  the 
posthumous  work  of  Gibbon,  with  the  brief  but  instructive  notes  of 
the  late  Dr.  Vincent,  being  an  "  Inquiry  into  the  circumnavigation  of 
Africa:"  it  will  be  found  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  volume  of  Mr.  Mur- 
ray's valuable  octavo  edition  of  Gibbon's  Posthumous  Works.  EDRISI 
flourished  towards  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century,  and  was  born  at 
the  end  of  the  fifth.  His  Africa  can  only  be  read  and  consulted  in 
the  edition  of  Hartman,  published  at  Gottingen  in  1796,  8vo :  the 
notes  being  very  valuable,  and  including  copious  extracts  from  other 
Arabian  geographers.  Consult  the  Biogr.  Universelle,  &c.  vol.  xii. 
page  539  for  other  works  of  Edrisi,  in  the  course  of  publication. 
His  Geographia  Nubiensis  was  published  at  Paris  in  1619,  4to.  in  the 
Arabic  and  Latin  languages :  but  the  title,  according  to  Hartman, 
is  entirely  gratuitous,  and  adopted  without  any  foundation.  The 
edition  is  also  very  inaccurate  :  the  blame  of  which  the  Editor  throws 
upon  the  original  text,  and  in  which  he  seems  borne  out  by  the  evi- 
dence of  Orientalists  who  have  consulted  the  MS.  Edrisi's  first 
work,  under  the  title  of  "  Recreation  of  Curious  Wits, "  was  pub- 
lished at  Rome  in  ]  592,  and  is  exceedingly  rare.  See  the  Biogr. 
Universelle.  Eickhorn  is  the  ablest  editor  of  ABULFEDA,  whose 
Africa,  in  the  Arabic  and  Latin  languages,  was  published  at  Got- 
tingen in  1791,  8vo.  His  account  of  Egypt,  in  the  same  languages, 
was  edited  by  Michaelis  at  Gottingen  in  1776.,  8vo.  The  late  Pro- 
fessor White,  of  Oxford,  is  the  best  editor  of  ABDOLLATIPH'S  Com- 
pendium Rerum  Memorab.  JEgypt.  which  appeared  latterly  in  1800, 
at  that  University,  in  a  handsome  quarto  volume. 


AFRICA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  439 

of  Leo  Africanus,  Marmol,   and    Cadamosto*  do  not 
give  us  all  that  information,  which,   from  the  more 

*  Let  LEO  AFRICANUS  excite  our  attention  and  admiration ;  as 
from  Mr.  Murray's  pleasing  sketch  of  his  labours,  (Travels  in  Africa, 
vol.  i.  p.  42.)  he  is,  in  every  respect,  entitled  to  do.  His  patron  was 
Leo.  X.  :  and  his  "  Africa  Descriptio  IX.  Libris  absoluta,"  seems  to 
have  first  appeared  in  a  separate  form,  at  Antwerp,  in  1556,  1558; 
and  afterwards  from  the  beautiful  press  of  the  Elzevirs,  in  1632, 
12mo.  (What  would  Mr.  Lloyd  [Soc.  ROXB.  Soc.]  give  for  an  uncut 
copy  of  the  work  ?)  It  is  to  be  found  also  in  the  collection  of  Ra- 
musio,  and  in  an  English  form,  by  Pory,  in  the  Collection  of  Purchas. 
Hartman  (probably  the  ablest  editor  of  these  oriental  authors)  calls 
Africanus's  book — "A  GOLDEN  BOOK  ;  which,  had  he  wanted,  he 
should  as  frequently  have  wanted  LIGHT. "f  MARMOT/ s  Descrip* 
cion  General  de  Africa,  was  published  at  Grenada,  in  1573-99,  folio  j 
3  vols. ;  a  book  of  rarity  and  of  price  :  but  Marmol  ff  did  not  visit 
any  part  of  Africa,  except  Morocco,  and  the  borders  of  the  Desert." 
His  work  .was  translated  into  French  by  D'Ablancourt,  at  Paris, 
1669,  4to.  3  vols.  DAPPER  and  OGILBY  (the  latter  being  little  more 
than  a  version  of  the  Dutch  of  the  former)  are  now  getting  fast  out 
of  fashion.  Not  so  is  CADAMOSTO,  a  much  more  ancient  traveller. 
He  was  indeed  ee  the  first  traveller  who  published  a  regular  narrative, 
and  (says  Mr.  Murray)  it  contains  many  curious  particulars."  But 
who  shall  solace  himself  with  the  hope  even — much  more  the  pos- 
session— of  thejirst  edition  of  the  Libro  de  la  Prima  Navigazione  of 
Cadamosto  ?  Mr.  Murray,  perhaps  warranted  by  Meuselius,  (BibL 
Hist.  vol.  ii.  part.  ii.  p.  318  :  see  also  vol.  iii.  part  i,  p.  159,)  con- 
siders this  edition  to  be  of  the  date  of  1507,  published  at  Vicenza,  in 
a  quarto  form :  which  Brunet  thinks  is  erroneously  substituted  for 
the  Mondo  Novo  of  Vespucius,  of  that  date  5  and  accordingly  he 
makes  the  first  edition  of  Cadamosto  to  be  published  at  Milan,  in 


f  Mr.  Murray  has  been  led  into  a  mistake  by  that  plausible,  but  not  wholly  ac- 
curate _ "'  ^ographer,  DuFresnoy,   in  supposing  that  the  French  version  of  LEO  , 
in  1556,  fol.  2  vols.  is  the  exclusive  version  of  Leo.    Brunet  tells  us,  that  these 
volumes  contain  accounts  of  Africa,  Asia,  and  America,  from  Ramusio.     Consul 
also  Meuselii  Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  part  ii.  p.  318. 


440  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA. 

enlightened  state  of  the  world,  we  had  reason  to  ex- 
pect. 

Pursuing,  in  a  great  measure,  the  plan  of  Mr. 
Murray,  I  shall  first  notice  the  aid  to  be  derived  from 
the  publications  of  D'ANVILLE,  REN  NELL,  and  Gos- 
SELIN  ;*  and  then  travel  downwards  from  the  Medi- 
terranean coast  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;  but  not 
without  paying  especial  attention  to  the  western  coast, 
and  to  the  immense  territory  comprised  under  what  is 
called  the  kingdom  of  Ethiopia.  The  land  of  EGYPT  is 
impressed  upon  our  memories  by  a  thousand  recol- 
lections. It  is  familiar  to  us  in  early  youth,  from  the 
language  of  holy  writ ;  and  perhaps  no  two  characters 
ever  took  such  entire  possession  of  the  young  and  sus- 
ceptible heart,  as  those  of  Moses  and  Pharoah.  Nor 
are  the  physical  wonders  of  the  country  less  striking. 
The  rise  and  fall  of  the  waters  of  the  Nile,  has  been  a 
theme  (also  interwoven  in  sacred  text)  which  has  long, 
not  only  excited  our  curiosity,  but,  perhaps,  baffled  our 
reasoning.  And,  again,  how  is  the  mind  raised,  by  a 
contemplation — whether  in  reality  or  description,  of 
those  stupendous  edifices,  under  the  appellation  of  the 

1519.  4to.  But  is  not  this  volume  almost  unfindabler  A  good 
article  on  Cadamosto  appears  in  the  Biog.  Univer.  vol.  vi.  p.  451 :  but 
the  author  "  sticks  up  "  for  the  edition  of  1 507 

*  The  labours  of  D'ANVILLE  andRENNELL  have  been  so  frequently 
noticed  and  commended,  that  I  have  here  only  and  equally  to  recom- 
mend those  of  GOSSELIN,  under  the  title  of  Recherches  sur  la  G6o- 
graphic  syst&natique  et  positive  des  Anciens,  pour  servir  de  base  a  Vhis- 
toire  de  la  geographic  ancienne,  Paris,  an.  VI.  (1797)  1813,  4to.four 
vols.  The  two  latter  volumes  sell  separately,  for  those  who  are  in 
need  of  being"  comforted"  by  them.  A  good  copy  of  the  entire 
work,  well  bound,  is  worth  61.  6s. 


AFRICA.]          VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  141 

Pyramids  !  ?*  While,  journeying  yet  more  southerly, 
"  we  are  lost  and  confounded  in  the  immensity  "  of 
those  ruins,  which  tell  us — where  Thebes  once  stood  I 
First,  then,  of  EGYPT.  The  works  of  Pococke, 
Norden,  Savary,  Denon,  Sonnini,  White,  Hamilton, 
Legh3  and  Belzoni,^  are  sufficient  to  ensure  every 

*  u  The  enormous  size  of  these  ancient  monuments,  and  the  so- 
lidity of  their  structure,  promise  an  eternal  duration  j  an  existence 
coeval  with  the  everlasting  mountains.  They  are  visible  at  a  great 
distance,  and,  as  the  traveller  advances,  seem  to  retire  into  the  re- 
cesses of  the  desert.  Their  stupendous  height;  prodigious  surface, 
and  enormous  solidity,  strike  the  spectator  with  reverence  and  awe, 
as  they  recall  the  memory  of  distant  ages." — LEYDEX  ;  in  Murray's 
Discoveries  and  Travels  in  Africa,  vol.  ii.  p.  179. 

f  Of  the  above,  in  the  order  in  which  they  stand :  and  first  of 
POCOCKE  :  but  he  has  been  already  dispatched  :  see  p.  421.  Let  no 
pains  be  spared  to  secure  a  good  copy  of  him.  The  first  volume, 
relating  to  Egypt,  was  reprinted  (says  Mr.  Murray)  in  1748,  4to. ; 
but  the  same  authority  is  wrong  in  describing  Pococke's  original 
work  to  be  of  the  same  dimensions.  I  observe  a  good  copy  of  this 
work  selling  for  16/.  105.  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library.  NORDEN 
is  indeed  the  prince  of  picturesque  travellers,  of  the  older  school,  as 
connected  with  the  ruins  of  Egypt.  He  was  a  Dane,  and  his  work 
first  appeared  at  Copenhagen  in  1755,  in  two  folio  vols.  in  the  French 
language.  These  were  translated  by  Templeman  into  English,  ac- 
companied by  notes,  and  published  in  1757^  in  the  same  number  of 
volumes,  with  the  same  number  of  plates.  Barbier  allows  that  this  edi- 
tion is  even  finer  than  its  precursor.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  notice 
an  edition  of  1805,  which  they  mark  at  5Z.  15s.  6d.  "  two  vols.  in 
one,  neat,  in  russia."  It  is,  however,  the  edition  of  1757,  that  the 
curious  "  bite  at," — especially  if  it  be  in  fine  condition,  and  pos- 
sess 164  plates, J  besides  the  original  head  and  tail  pieces.  But 
subsequent  researches,  accompanied  by  more  curious  illustrations, 
have  diminished  the  pecuniary  weight  of  Norden  j  and  for  71. 17*.  6d. 
a  well  bound  copy  may  be  obtained.  Miss  Currer  possesses  a  copy 

+  Pinkerton  counts  200  plates . 


44'2  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA. 

e  quisite  information  relating1  to  this  most  extraor- 
dinary country.  Of  course,  after  the  reader  shall 

of  it  on  the  "  largest  paper."  M.  Langles  published  his  own 
French  translation,  with  notes,  in  1795,  4to.  three  vols.  SA VARY'S 
Lettres  sur  I'Egypte,  1785,  8vo.  3  vols.  are,  it  must  be  admitted, 
sufficiently  lively.  They  were,  at  first,  attended  with  considerable 
success,  but  I  am  not  sure,  whether,  from  the  testimonies  of 
French  biographers  and  critics  themselves,  Savary  ought  to  re- 
ceive a  great  share  of  credit.  The  reputation  of  his  work  was  cut  to 
pieces  by  Michaelis,  in  a  review  in  a  foreign  journal  of  oriental 
literature  -}  which  Mons.  Silvestre  de  Sacy  made  intelligible  and  ac- 
ceptable to  the  French  public  in  the  Journal  des  Savans,  1787,  re- 
printed in  the  Esprit  des  Journaux,  and  in  the  Tablettes  dun  Curieux. 
See  Barbier,  vol.  iv.  p.  388.  Yet,  as  Savary's  work  afforded  me, 
when  a  very  young  man  at  College,  considerable  gratification,  I  am 
unwilling  to  shew  ungrateful  symptoms  in  return ;  and  will  never 
refuse  three-fourths  of  a  sovereign  for  his  three  volumes,  when  coated 
in  the  comely  attire  of  white  calf,  with  marble  leaves. 

The  work  of  DENON  is  fairly  entitled  to  a  particular  and  highly 
commendatory  notice.  I  perfectly  remember,  at  M.  Dulau's,  when 
the  first  copies  of  it  were  imported,  in  1802,  in  two  large  folio  vo- 
lumes, ' '  the  learned  wondered  at  the  work,  and  the  vulgar  were 
enamoured  of"  its  execution.  Such  was  its  popularity  here,  that 
an  English  translation  of  it  (by  Mr.  Aikin)  was  published  in  two 
quarto  volumes  within  nine  months  of  the  appearance  of  the  original 
work.  This  English  version  exhibits  a  better  order  in  the  text,  and 
has  some  valuable  additional  notices  j  but  the  inferiority  of  the  press- 
work,  and  both  the  inferiority  and  diminution  (from  141  to  60)  of 
the  plates,  render  it,  now,  scarcely  an  object  of  attraction.  Many 
of  the  plates,  in  the  original  French  folio,  are  by  the  burin  of  Denon 
himself;  and  exhibit  much  of  the  force  and  freedom,  as  well  as  of  the 
style,  of  Rembrandt.  A  copy  of  these  noble  volumes  is  marked  at 
s£20.  in  blue  morocco,  by  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  ;  and  at  161.  16s. 
in  boards.  The  French  text,  in  three  duodecimo  volumes,  (it  was 
also  published  in  one  quarto  volume)  and  the  plates  in  folio,  is 
marked  at  61.  6s.  by  Messrs.  Arch.  Upon  the  whole,  Denon's  book — 
in  which  there  are  too  many  fanciful,  if  not  fantastical  groupes — 
(especially  in  the  march  and  encounter  of  armies)  can  never  be  wholly 


AnucA.]          VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  443 

have  examined  the  note  last  referred  to,  he  will  be 
better  able  to  judge  of  applying  his  means  to  the 

superseded.  This  brings  me,  therefore,  to  the  mention  of  another 
FRENCH  WORK,  of  repulsively  COLOSSAL  DIMENSIONS,  relating  to 
Egypt — of  which,  according  to  Brunet,  nine  folio  volumes  and  an 
Atlas  have  already  appeared  at  Paris,  in  1809,  &c.  It  was  undertaken 
and  conducted  by  a  commission  issued  under  Bonaparte,  and  carried 
on  by  the  present  French  monarch.  I  saw,  at  the  private  library  of 
the  King,  at  Paris,  Bonaparte's  own  copy,  bound  in  red  morocco ; 
but,  bound  in  any  style,  works  of  such  a  form  are  so  incommodious 
and  unwieldy,  that  they  even  forbid  investigation,  and,  in  conse- 
quence, suppress  applause.  To  have  a  thoroughly  satisfactory  appergu 
of  the  tout  ensemble,  the  looker  on  should  be  nine  feet  high. 

The  Voyage  dans  la  Haute  et  Basse  Egypt,  qfSoNNiNi,  Paris,  1799, 
8vo.  is  an  excellent  work  j  and  so  is  the  Egyptiaca  of  Professor 
White,  in  1801,  4to.  But  infinitely  preferable  to  either,  is  the 
Egyptiaca  of  Mr.  HAMILTON,  in  1809,  4to  :  a  solid,  instructive,  and 
most  accurate  performance.  Mr.  LEGH'S  Travels  above  the  Cata- 
racts of  the  Nile,  Lond.  1816,  4to.  display  the  enterprise  of  a  vera- 
cious traveller,  and  a  perspicuous  and  modest  writer.  I  trust,  and 
indeed  believe,  that  this  slender  quarto  has  also  appeared  in  octavo  : 
for  it  should  be  read  by  every  one,  in  whose  breast  the  mention  of  the 
river  Nile  produces  something  approaching  to  peristaltic  emotions ! 
Welcome,  renowned  and  immortal  BELZONI  ! — for  such  are  the  epi- 
thets which  necessarily  belong  to  thy  name.  A  little  memoir  should 
accompany  the  notice  of  thy  herculean  labours  :  but,  here,  that  must 
not  be.  Indeed,  it  is  the  less  necessary,  as,  in  the  notices  of  his  works 
in  the  18th  and  19th  volumes  of  the  Quarterly  Review,  there  is  so 
much  interest  and  minuteness  of  detail,  and  the  relative  labours  and 
merits  of  other  travellers  are  concentrated  with  so  much  judgment, 
that  I  need  give  little  more  than  the  titles  of  his  works.  Fortunate, 
doubtless,  it  was,  for  this  enterprising  traveller,  that  he  found  in  his 
publisher,  Mr.  Murray,  such  a  patron  and  friend.  Besides  his  perform- 
ances as  an  author,  Mr.  Belzoni  exhibited  a  complete  model  of  the  an- 
cient tomb  of  Psammuthis  in  Thebes,  as  well  as  of  the  interiors  of  two 
chambers  in  the  same  tomb,  at  Mr.  Bullock's  Museum  in  Piccadilly ; 
and  having  covered  the  expenses  inevitably  attendant  on  such  a  bold, 
but,  as  it  proved,  highly  popular  measure,  he  was  enabled  to  replenish 


444  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA. 

accomplishment  of  a  particular  end  ;  but  if  I  were  to 
prescribe  for  a  plethoric  purse,  I  should  say — "  buy  all 
that  is  mentioned  below,  and  then  superadd  the  gigan- 
tic work  at  present  in  a  course  of  completion,  put 
forth  under  the  auspices  of  Bonaparte,  and  conducted 
with  undiminished  vigour  under  the  royal  government 
of  Louis  XVIII.  This  also  is  noticed  beneath. 

From  Egypt,  descending  southerly,  we  get  into  the 
kingdom  of  ^Ethiopia,  and  particularly  into  the  terri- 
tories of  NUB  FA  and  ABYSSINIA.  First,  let  the  lover 
of  African  antiquities  secure  the  stately  folio  of  Ludol- 
phus,*  with  those  of  Tellez  and  Almeida,  and  then 

his  purse,  and  thereby  to  set  out,  with  renewed  alacrity,  on  other  simi- 
lar enterprises  :  and  he  is  now,  peradventure,  busied  in  the  discovery 
of  yet  more  extraordinary  remains.  His  work  "  Narrative  of  the 
Operations  and  Recent  Discoveries  within  the  Pyramids,  Temples, 
Tombs,  and  Excavations  in  Egypt  and  Nubia,  "  &c.  has  been  recently 
published  in  an  octavo  form  :  but  his  forty-four  large  plates  to  illus- 
trate his  Operations,  Atlas  folio,  6/.  6*. :  and  six  additional  plates, 
coloured,  illustrative  of  his  Travels,  &c.  folio,  II.  5s.  must  ALL  be 
procured  by  the  thoroughly  diligent,  enthusiastic,  and  —  wealthy 
Collector.  A  contemplation  of  these  marvellous  relics  of  the  olden 
times  of  Egypt  and  Thebes,  puts  the  mind  in  a  state  of  very  singular, 
but  not  unpleasing,  excitation  :  so  wholly  different  are  they  from  the 
antiquities  of  the  more  polished  countries  of  Greece  and  Rome.  But 
when  will  the  yet  more  surprising  (as  I  learn)  collection  of  drawings 
of  Mr.  Banks,  jun;  upon  the  same  subjects  as  those  of  Belzoni,  make 
their  appearance  ?  Expectation  stretches  its  neck,  as  well  as  stands 
on  tip-toe,  for  a  public  and  unwearied  view  of  them. 

*  The  Historia  Ethiopica  of  LUDOLFUS,  consisting  of  four  parts 
(all  described  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Arch,  1823,  no.  494)  was 
published  at  Vienna  in  1695-6,  folio  :  and  the  copy  here  referred  to 
is  marked  at  41.  4s.  "  bound  in  vellum."  The  work  is  not  less  rare 
in  fine  condition,  than  it  is  intrinsically  valuable  in  any  condition. 
Brunet  has  omitted  to  notice  a  copy  on  LARGE  PAPER;  such  a  copy, 
bound  in  russia,  (with  the  Appendix,  1694,  on  small  paper,  it  never 


AFRICA.]          VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  445 

choose,  among  the  following  distinguished  Moderns, 
which  may  more  completely  suit  his  purse  as  well  as 
taste.  "  Hallowed  be  the  turf  "  which  pillows  the 
head  of  BURCKHARDT  !  —  for,  of  recent  African  travel- 
ers, he,  surely,  was  almost  the  foremost  in  the  first  rank. 
His  works  are  noticed  below.  *  And  what  a  brilliant 
cluster  of  names  succeed !  For  Abyssinia,  more  es- 
pecially, you  must  secure  the  works  of  BRUCE  and 
SALTY-}-  Who  has  not  heard  of  Bruce — the  romantic, 

being  on  large) is  in  the  beautiful  library  of  the  Rt.  Hon.T.  Gren- 
ville.  Consult  Murray,  vol.  ii.  p.  542-3.  TELLEZ,  et  ALMEIDA  His- 
toria  General  d' Ethiopia,  1650,  folio  :  again,  at  Coimbra,  1660. 
"  This  work  of  Tellez  was  composed  from  the  Memoirs  of  several 
Missionaries,  transmitted  to  Portugal  by  Almeida,  and  is  remarkably 
rare."  Murray. 

*  Of  his  "  Travels  in  Syria  and  Mount  Sinai,"  including  his  "  Jour- 
ney from  Aleppo  to  Damascus —  in  the  District  of  Mount  Libanus  and 
Antilibanus — a  second  Tour  in  the  Hauran — -from  Damascus  to  Cairo 
and  in  the  Peninsula  of  Mount  Sinai."  Lond.  1822,  2/.  3s. :  see 
p.  422,  ante.  His  first  volume  of  Travels  was  in  Nubia  and  in  the  Inte- 
rior of  North  Eastern  Africa,  Zl.  8s.  His  third,  just  about  to  see 
the  day,  is  In  the  Hedjaz.  4to.  with  plates.  An  affecting  and  inte- 
resting account  of  this  indefatigable  and  luckless  traveller,  will  be 
found  in  the  xvith  and  xviith  volumes  of  the  Quarterly  Review.  Let 
Burckhardt,  especially  when  he  salutes  us  in  an  octavo  form,  have  a 
central  place  upon  the  most  conspicuous  upper  shelf  in  the  Collector's 
library.  He  is  among  the  VIRI  CENTENARII  of  all  ages  and  nations ! 

f  Before  the  reader  suffers  himself  to  be  enchained  by  the  seduc- 
tive narrative  of  Bruce,  let  him  procure,  for  a  few  shillings,  Dr. 
Johnson's  translation  of  Father  LOBO'S  account  of  Abyssinia  ;  but  of 
which  the  best  version  is  that  of  Legrand,  with  additions,  and  an  ex- 
cellent map  by  D'Anville,  Paris,  1728,  4to.  An  analysis  is  in  Mur- 
ray. And  now  for  JAMES  BRUCE  of  Kinnaird.  A  more  enterprising, 
light,  but  lion-hearted  traveller,  never  left  his  native  hills  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  such  purposes  as  those  which  Bruce  accomplished. 
His  professed  object  was,  to  discover  the  source  of  the  Nile ;  and 


446  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA. 

the  intrepid,  the  indefatigable  Bruce?  His  "tale" 
was  once  suspected ;  but  suspicion  has  sunk  into  ac- 
quiescence of  its  truth.  A  more  recent  work,  con- 
nected with  Ethiopia,  has  been  published  by  Messrs. 
Waddington  and  Hanbury. 

We  must  now,  still  confining  ourselves  to  the  north 
of  Africa,  strike  off  to  the  left,  and  travel  towards  the 
states  of  Barbary,  including  Fezzan,  Morocco,  Algiers, 
and  Tripoli,  &c. :  when  the  more  ancient  names  of 
TORREZ,  HOEDO,  MENEZEs,  and  the  later  ones  of 

whatever  doubts  and  difficulties  Larcher,  in  his  version  of  Hero- 
dotus, may  oppose  to  the  truth  or  reality  of  this  source,  I  still  think 
that  the  balance  is  in  a  vibratory  state :  and  the  weight  of  Bruce  seems 
to  be  as  decisive  as  that  of  the  French  Critic.  Barbier  has  spoken 
out  like  a  man,  and  like  a  gentleman,  about  the  merits  of  Bruce : 
.Bill.  cTun  Homme  de  Gotit,  vol.  iv.  p.  384.  Never  did  a  work  make 
greater  noise  at  the  period  of  its  publication,  than  did  the  travels 
of  this  Scotch  Worthy.  The  Monthly  Review  took  it  up  immedi- 
ately, and  in  a  very  animated  and  interesting  manner.  Meanwhile, 
scepticism  and  doubt  began  to  sit  upon  the  brows  of  the  grave,  and 
to  discompose  the  meditations  of  the  thoughtful.  Was  it  a  romance? 
a  fiction  ?  or  was  it  half  truth  and  half  exaggeration  ?  Bruce,  on  dis- 
covering what  he  really  conceived  to  be  the  source  of  that  magical 
river,  THE  NILE,  plunged  an  earthen  vessel  into  the  gushing  and 
translucent  stream  ....  and  drank  to  the  health  of  the  then  reigning 
monarch,  "  King  George  the  Third !"  .  . .  But  this  is  any  thing  but 
bibliography.  His  travels  occupied  him  six  years— from  1768  to  1773 
inclusively:  and  appeared  at  Edinburgh  in  1790,  in  five  goodly 
quarto  volumes,  with  plates.  The  Author  died  in  1794. 

The  late  Mr.  Otridge,  of  the  Strand,  a  most  worthy  and  facetious 
old  gentleman,  and  a  highly  respectable  bookseller,  had  a  prodigious 
fancy  for  this  quarto  edition  of  Bruce.  About  fifteen  years  ago,  when 
he  had  the  exclusive  employment  of  Kalthoeber  the  bookbinder — who, 
in  fact,  lived  in  his  house — he  used  to  engage  him  upon  repeated  sets 
of  this  work.  <e  There  they  are  (he  would  observe  to  me,  pointing 
to  the  shelf  on  which  they  stood)  —  there  they  are,  those  delightful 


AFRICA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  447 

SHAW,  CHENIER,  JACKSON,  ALI  BEY,  and   LYON,  * 
strike  us  with  particular  attention,  and  claim  a  greater 

Bruccs ! !  The  time  will  come,  when  he,  who  has  such  a  copy  as 
any  of  those  you  now  behold,  will  possess  a  treasure  indeed."  The 
prediction  was  not  wholly  divested  of  truth.  A  quarto  Bruce,  well 
bound,  may  be  yet  worth  71.  7s. :  but  how  comes  it  to  pass  that  Mr. 
Otridge  (6  pxKap^c)  never  shewed  me  one  of  the  ttoeltJC  copies  only, 
printed  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  of  this  first  edition,  which  I  observe  in 
the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  marked  at  9,41.  "  uniform 
in  blue  morocco,"  including  a  sixth  volume  by  Murray,  which 
contains  a  life  of  the  Author?  A  French  translation  of  Bruce 
appeared  in  six  quarto,  and  a  German  one  in  five  octavo  volumes 
the  following  year.  The  best  English  octavo  edition,  is  that  in  eight 
vols.  ]  804,  with  a  life  of  the  author.  This  also  has  been  reprinted 
in  1813.  And  do  these  reimpressions  indicate  the  original  text  to  be  a 
work  of  FICTION  ?  I  beseech  the  reader  to  run  a  cursory  glance  over 
the  analysis  of  Bruce  in  Mr.  Murray's  Africa,  vol.  ii.  p.  74,  &c.  Of 
recent  authors,  few  stand  more  deservedly  high  than  Mr.  SALT.  The 
share  his  researches  bear  in  the  Travels  of  Lord  Valentia  and  Mr. 
Belzoni — and  particularly  his  own  volume,  exclusively  confined  to 
Abyssinia,  Lond.  1814,  4to.  rank  him  high  in  the  class  of  Abyssinian 
travellers.  If  I  am  asked,  by  the  economical  Collector,  to  give  up 
Bruce,  or  Mr.  Salt  ?  I  shall  unhesitatingly  say — forego  the  former, 
and  secure  the  latter. 

*  The  latest  work  which  treats  of  Ethiopia,  is  that  by  Messrs. 
WADDINGTON  and  HANBURY  5  being  a  "  Journal  of  a  Visit  to  some 
Parts  of  Ethiopia:  with  Maps,  #c.  and  Drawings  of  the  Pyramids,"  &c. 
1822,  4to.  %l.  This  work  was  reviewed  in  the  Quarterly,  vol.  xxvii, 
p.  215.  In  pursuing  the  route,  marked  out  in  the  above  text,  I  must 
necessarily  compress  much  bibliographical  intelligence  in  a  small 
space.  The  work  of  TORRE z  was  first  published  at  Seville,  in  the 
Spanish  language,  in  1586,  4to. :  and  is  rare  in  this  form.  It  was 
translated  into  French  under  the  title  of  "  Relation  des  Voyages  de 
Fez  et  de  Maroc,  traduite  dn  Castillan  de  Diego  Torrez,  par  Charles, 
Due  d'Angoul&ne.  Paris,  1636,  4to.  HOEDO'S  Topografia  y  Historia 
general  de  Argel  (General  Topography  and  History  of  Algiers)  Val- 
ladolid,  1612,  folio,  is  a  more  piquant  volume  for  the  keen  appetite 
of  a  Collector,  inasmuch  as  Pinkerton  tells  us  that  it  furnishes  a 


448  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA. 

or  less  share  of  our  homage  and  respect.  Indeed 
there  is  scarcely  one  among  the  later  of  these  works, 

curious  portion  of  the  life  of  Cervantes.  This  rare  book  has  escaped 
Brunet;  and  is  not  observed  upon  by  Boucher  de  la  Richarderie. 
And  yet,  probably  much  rarer,  is  the  "  Historia  de  Tanger,  que  com- 
prehende  as  noticlas  desde  a  sua  primeira  conquesta  ate  a  sua  mina'  of 
DON  FERNANDO  DE  MENEZES,  published  in  1732,  folio  :  which  has 
escaped  de  Richarderie,  and  upon  which  Brunet  observes  nothing. 
A  copy  is  in  Mr.  Rennie's  library. 

Of  all  books  of  travels  connected  with  Barbary  and  the  Levant, 
that  of  DR.  SHAW'S — printed  at  Oxford  in  1738,  folio,  2  vols.,  with 
the  Supplement  in  1746 — both  reprinted  and  much  improved  in 
1 757>  London,  folio,  2  vols,  and  translated  into  the  French,  and  pub- 
lished at  the  Hague  in  1743,  4 to.  2  vols — is  assuredly  the  most 
admirable  as  well  as  the  most  popular.  The  extensive  information 
and  scrupulous  fidelity  of  these  volumes,  render  them  safe  inmates  of 
a  well  chosen  collection.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  copy  at  the  reason- 
able price  of  2J.  6s.  (e  Fly,  Fleance,  fly  " to  secure  it.  De  La 

Richarderie  has  given  a  capital  account  of  it :  vol.  iv.  p.  18,  &c.  Let 
CHENIER'S  <f  Recherches  Historiques  sur  les  Maures,  et  Histoire  de 
I'Empire  de  Maroc."  Paris,  1787*  8vo.  3  vols.  ensure  a  warm  recep- 
tion. It  is  at  once  moderate  in  price,  and  faithful  in  narrative.  An 
English  translation  of  it  appeared  in  2  vols.  octavo.  Nor  should 
PORRET'S  "  Voyage  en  Barbaric,"  Paris,  1789,  8vo.  2  vols. — be  long 
wanting  in  a  professed  collection  of  books  of  this  description  Mr. 
JACKSON'S  Account  of  the  Empire  of  Morocco,  1809,  4to.  (so  pithily 
and  pertinently  reviewed  in  the  Quarterly,  vol.  ii.  p.  445)  cannot  fail 
to  be  placed  alongside  the  very  best  works  which  treat  of  that  extra- 
ordinary kingdom.  It  has  been  (I  believe)  more  than  once  reprinted 
in  8vo.  Yet  let  me  adopt  a  still  more  decisive  strain  in  commendation 
of  the  Travels  in  Morocco  Tripoli,  &c.  of  ALI  BEY  5  put  forth  in  two 
goodly  quarto  tomes  in  1816: — an  excellent,  amusing,  and  instructive 
work.  And  last,  though  not  the  least  in  this  list  of  commendatory 
tomes,  be  the  Narrative  of  Travels  in  Northern  Africa  from  Tripoli 
to  Mourzouk  ,  the  capital  of  Fezzan,  with  a  chart  and  coloured  plates, 
put  forth  by  CAPTAIN  LYON,  companion  to  the  late  Mr.  Ritchie.  This 
truly  valuable  and  scientific  work  is  "  accompanied  by  Geographical 
Notices  of  Soudan,  and  of  the  course  of  the  Niger."  It  is  published 
at  3J  3*.  in  boards. 


AFRICA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  449 

but  what  is  replete  with  useful  intelligence.  As  we 
continue  towards  the  Western  Coasts  of  Africa,  de- 
scending somewhat  to  the  South,  we  enter  upon 
countries  which  have  been  perhaps  yet  more  vividly 
impressed  upon  the  minds  of  modern  readers,  by 
the  exertions  of  the  intrepid  and  lamented  PARK:* 
the  second  British  victim  to  the  vengeance  of  the 
natives!: — the  persevering  efforts  of  BROWNE,  HORNE- 
MAN,  RILEY,  and  ADAMS.  J 

*  Of  the  works  of  an  author,  so  well,  and  alas !  so  lamentably 
known,  it  were  idle  to  say  one  word  in  commendation.  The  Travels 
ofMuNGo  PARK,  in  the  Interior  Districts  of  Africa,  in  the  z/earsl795- 
6-7)  and  during  a  subsequent  Mission  in  1805,  were  published,  as  a 
new  edition,  in  1823,  in  two  volumes,  quarto  j  price  31. 13s.  6d.  This 
edition  contains  Major  Rennell's  valuable  Memoir  on  the  Geography 
of  Africa,  a  portrait  of  the  author,  and  maps  and  plates.  But  the  la- 
bours of  Park  are  now  to  be  had  in  all  forms,  and  at  all  prices,  though, 
doubtless,  the  latter  are  the  best  editions. f  I  remember  the  great  inte- 
rest excited  by  the  publication  of  the  first  journey,  and  the  sympathy 
generally  felt  at  his  untimely  fate  when  his  posthumous  labours 
appeared.  . . .  Peace  to  the  ashes  of  this  modest,  heroic,  and  hapless 
traveller  !  His  memory  is  embalmed  in  the  same  mental  cenotaph 
with  that  of  COOK  and  of  BURCKHARDT. 

|  <f  Another,  and  another,  still  succeeds  !" — and  all,  with  one  ex- 
ception, of  BRITISH  growth.  Thrice  welcome,  ye  brave  and  unre- 
mitting explorers  of  crumbling  ruins,  burning  sands,  and  almost  in- 
terminable deserts  !  1  give  you,  here,  a  hearty  welcome  ! — and  chro- 
nicle your  labours  with  a  ready  hand  and  grateful  heart.  BROWNE'S 
Travels  in  Egypt  and  Syria,  and  to  Darfur,  were  published  in  1799, 
4to.  and  were  well  translated  into  French,  with  notes,  and  enriched 
with  maps,  &c.  by  Costera,  at  Paris,  1800,  8vo.  2  vols.  De  la  Ri- 
charderie  (Bibl.  des  Voy.  vol.  i.  p.  255)  has  given  an  excellent  ana- 
lysis of  Browne,  and  tells  us  that  "  what  is  truly  worthy  of  obser- 
vation, in  the  narrative  of  Browne,  is  his  Voyage  to  Darfur,  a  country 


f  The  first  quarto,  also  possessing  Major  Rennell's  Memoir,  is  a  scarce  vo- 
lume. 

G    G 


450  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA. 

As  we  prepare  our  Collection  for  Travels  more  im- 
mediately southward,  let  us  make  room  on  our  shelves 
for  the  valuable  and  curious  labours  of  LOPEZ  and 
TUCKEY — who  wrote,  at  more  than  an  interval  of  two 
centuries  apart,  respecting  the  rise  and  course  of  the 
great  river  Zaire,  usually  called  the  Congo.*  Secure 

wholly  unknown  till  its  description  by  this  author."  But  the  French 
critic  betrays  a  little  soreness  in  Browne's  strictures  upon  Savary  and 
Volney.  The  first  publication  of  HORNEMAN'S  Journal  of  Travels  to 
Fezzan,  from  the  German,  appeared  in  English  in  18O2,  4  to.  but  this  is 
very  inferior  to  the  French  edition,  in  1803,  in  two  octavo  volumes, 
with  a  dissertation  on  the  oases.  This  work  contains  a  lively  narra- 
tive of  many  singular  and  interesting  adventures.  But  what  are 
these,  compared  with  the  NARRATIVE  OF  JAMES  RILEY —  "  contain- 
ing an  account  of  the  loss  of  his  vessel  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa, 
and  the  sufferings  of  her  surviving  officers  and  crew,  who  were  en- 
slaved by  the  wandering  Arabs  on  the  Great  African  Coast  !  ?  This 
book  was  first  published  at  New  York,  in  1816,  4to:  and  the  follow- 
ing year  in  England,  in  the  same  form.  The  sufferings  of  ADAMS,  in 
his  "  Narrative  of  a  Wreck  in  the  year  1810,  on  the  Western  Coast  of 
Africa"  &c.  published  in  1816,  afford  an  equally  intense  interest  in 
perusal.  Let  the  sympathising  reader  consult  the  Quarterly  Review, 
vols.  xiv.  p.  453,  xvi.  p.  287- — and  from  thence  learn  to  be  thankful 
for  a  happy  home  in  a  civilised  country.  I  may  here  take  occasion 
to  recommend  the  earnest  perusal  of  the  two  octavo  volumes  of  the 
"  Proceedings  of  the  AFRICAN  ASSOCIATION:"  containing  the  journals 
of  their  different  Emissaries. 

*  I  will  begin  with  ODOAEDO  LOPEZ,  whose  Relazione  de  Reame 
diCongoedellevicine  contrade,  %c  ;  first  published  at  Rome,  in  1591, 
4to.  is  a  volume  of  rare  occurrence,  and  worth,  when  complete  with 
the  maps,  from  4  to  51.  There  is  a  Latin  translation,  published  at 
Franckfort  in  1598,  folio,  which  forms  the  first  part  of  the  voyages 
of  De  Bry.  But  of  greatly  superior  value,  on  the  score  of  intrinsic 
merit,  is  CAPTAIN  TUCKEY'S  "  Narrative  of  an  Expedition  to  explore 
the  river  Zaire,  usually  called  the  Congo,  in  South  Africa,  published  by 
permission  of  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  in  1818,  4to.  2/.  Vs.  contain- 
ing fourteen  engravings.  Mr.  Murray,  in  his  work  so  frequently 


AFRICA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  451 

these  precious  tomes,  if  you  can  ;  but  as  Lopez,  from 
his  great  scarcity,  is  necessarily  (in  bibliographical 
metaphor)  "  a  slippery  gentleman,"  console  yourself, 
for  his  absence,  as  occasion  and  opportunity  may 
offer,,  with  the  performance  of  Cavazzi,  or  Labat.  * 
Captain  Tuckey's  book  is  yearly  issuing,  in  reprints, 
from  its  head-quarters  in  Albemarle  street. 

And  now  a  word — and  that  a  "  little  word  " — for 
Southern  Africa.  Yet  the  Western  Coast,  including 
the  vast  region  of  Guinea,  has  not  been  bereft  of 
writers.  Below,  I  subjoin  a  list  of  a  few  of  the  prin- 
cipal -,-f-  and  exhort  the  reader,  whether  young  or 
old,  to  possess  himself  of  the  very  curious,  novel,  and 
most  entertaining  work  of  Mr.  BOWDICH  ;  being  an 
account  of  a  Mission  from  Cape  Coast  Castle  to  the 

mentioned  with  commendations,  has  published  a  small  chart  of  this 
river  from  Captain  Tuckey's  narrative. 

*  CAVAZZI  ;  Descrizione  del  tre  Reame  doe  Congo,  Matouba,  e  Angola, 
was  published  at  Bologna  in  1687,  folio  :  a  very  rare  book.  It  was 
republished  at  Milan  in  1690,  4to.  and  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's 
library,  I  find  Mr.  Heber  giving  the  very  smart  sum  of  2/.  6s.  for  a 
copy  of  this  republi cation.  LABAT'S  Relation  Historique  de  V Ethiopia 
Occidentals,  Paris,  1732,  12mo.  5  vols.  contains  a  translation  of  Ca- 
vazzi, with  an  abstract  of  the  Memoirs  of  a  number  of  Romish  Mis- 
sionaries. 

•j-  The  reader  must,  however,  first  search  the  pages  of  Hakluyt, 
Purchas,  and  Churchill,  for  many  curious  and  interesting  voyages  to 
Guinea,  and  other  parts  of  the  western  coast  of  Africa  Lindsay's 
voyage,  in  1758,  containing  the  capture  of  Goree,  by  Keppel,  Lond. 
1759,  4to.  with  cuts,  is  worth  a  ten  minutes  inspection  before  the 
dinner  is  announced,  or  after  the  tea  and  coffee  are  taken  up  into  the 
drawing  room  :  while  the  tomes  of  Matthews,  (1788,  4to.)  Winter- 
bottom,  (Lond.  8vo.)  and  Beaver,  (African  Memoranda,  1805,  4to.) 
are  deserving  of  a  more  leisurely  examination.  Latterly,  Merediths 
description  of  the  Gold  Coast  of  Africa,  1812,  8vo.  has  produced  a 
more  general  and  more  satisfactory  impression. 


452  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA- 

Kingdom  of  Askant ee*  In  regard  to  Southern  Africa 
— if  its  interior  have  yet  escaped  the  researches  of  the 
most  hardy  and  adventurous  travellers,  there  are  yet 
some  excellent  works  which  describe  those  portions 
which  are  nearer  the  Cape,  and  which  come  in  more 
immediate  contact  with  European  curiosity  or  com- 
merce. The  names  of  VAILLANT,  SPARMANN,  LICHTEN- 
STEIN,  PERCIVAL,  BARROW^  are  prominent  in  the  list  of 

*  Singularly  <e  curious,  novel,  and  interesting"  indeed,  is  the  work 
here  mentioned.  It  contains  an  account  of  a  Misisonfrom  Cape 
Coast  Castle  to  the  Kingdom  of  Ashantee,  in  Africa.  &c.  with  plates, 
sufficient,  many  of  them,  to  set  the  reader's  heart  in  a  flutter  at  the 
monstrosities  exhibited.  This  really  extraordinary  work  was  written 
by  Mr.  Bowdich,  Conductor  and  Chief  of  the  Embassy:  and  pub- 
lished by  Mr.  John  Murray,  at  31.  3s. 

f  Vaillant :  Voyage  dans  VInterieur  de  I'Afrique,  1796,  8vo.  two 
vols.  first  edition  of  the  first  voyage  :  the  second  was  printed  in 
1795,  in  two  vols.  4to.  and  three  8vo.  They  have  both  been  fre- 
quently reprinted.  A  copy  of  the  first  and  second  voyages,  1795,  in 
3  vols.  8vo.  on  LARGE  PAPER,  "  best  edition,  very  rare,  plates  co- 
loured, bound  in  red  morocco,"  was  sold  for  the  very  stiff  price  of 
37Z.  l6s.  at  the  sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library.  SPARMANN'S  Voy- 
age to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  was  translated  from  the  Swedish  into 
English  in  1785,  4to.  two  vols.  An  excellent  work.  PERCIVAL'S 
Account  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  was  published  in  1804,  4to. 
LICHTENSTEIN  appeared  in  English,  from  the  German,  in  1812,  4to. 
Both  are  valuable  publications.  A  very  ancient  namesake,  if  not  an- 
cestor, of  Lichtenstein,  published  an  account  of  Constantinople,  in  the 
German  language,  in  15S4,  folio  :  a  work  of  rare  occurrence.  But, 
doubtless  of  much  superior  value,  in  extent,  in  variety,  importance, 
and  accuracy  of  detail,  is  Mr.  BARROW'S  Account  of  Travels  in  the 
Interior  of  Southern  Africa,  Lond.  18O1,  4to.  to  which  was  added  a 
second  volume  in  1803,  4to.  Boucher  de  la  Richarderie  has  done 
ample  justice  to  our  countryman,  by  his  analysis,  in  vol.  iv.  p.  245, 
&c.  And  if,  in  conclusion,  "  the  young  man  "  or  "  the  old  man," 
ask  me  to  place  a.  few  only  of  the  best  works  relating  to  the  Southern 


AFRICA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  433 

those  travellers  who  have  contributed  to  the  enlarge- 
ment of  our  knowledge  of  this  most  interesting  portion 
of  the  globe, — while  the  yet  more  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful exertions  of  BURCHELL*  have  taught  us  that 

parts  of  Africa,  in  his  library,  I  shall  immediately  answer  him — "  con- 
sider Mr.  Barrow  as  an  indispensable  gentleman. " 

*  Of  entirely  recent  date,  and  containing  a  more  extensive  and 
important  account  of  the  Interior  of  South  Africa,  are  the  costly 
and  comprehensive  volumes  of  WILLIAM  J.  BURCHELL,  Esq.  which 
are  embellished  by  not  fewer  than  116  coloured  and  uncoloured 
engravings. 

These  travels  were  undertaken  with  the  intention  of  exploring  the 
unknown  countries  lying  between  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  the 
Portuguese  Settlements  on  the  Western  Coast,  by  a  circuitous  track 
through  the  Interior  Regions.  The  author,  after  penetrating  into  the 
heart  of  the  Continent,  to  the  depth  of  nearly  eleven  hundred  miles, 
to  a  country  never  before  described,  met  with  obstacles  which  it  was 
found  impossible  to  surmount,  and  which  compelled  him  to  alter  the 
original  plan  of  his  route.  This  alteration  gave  him  an  opportunity 
of  acquiring  the  most  complete  information  respecting  the  inhabitants 
of  this  most  distant  region,  the  nature  and  productions  of  the  country, 
and  many  interesting  particulars  of  the  nations  beyond.  In  the  geo- 
graphy of  the  extra- tropical  part  of  Southern  Africa,  a  map,  founded 
on  numerous  astronomical  observations,  and  of  an  entirely  new  con-, 
struction,  will  be  found  to  present  considerable  improvements,  and  to 
rectify  many  inaccuracies.  Its  size  is  33  inches  by  28. 

In  the  first  volume,  besides  the  travels  among  the  tribes  living 
beyond  the  boundary  of  the  English  settlement,  there  is  a  large  por- 
tion of  information  respecting  the  Colony  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
and  an  account  of  several  excursions  which  intervened  between  the 
author's  first  landing  and  the  commencement  of  his  principal  journey 
into  the  interior. 

In  the  second  volume  will  be  found  an  interesting  account  of  the 
native  tribes  ;  with  whom  the  author  lived  on  terms  which  gave  him 
very  favourable  opportunities  for  discovering  their  true  character. 
As  his  views  in  travelling  were  not  confined  to  any  particular  class 
of  observations,  but  were  extended  to  whatever  appeared  likely  to 


454  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AFRICA. 

there  are  scarcely  any  assignable  limits  to  human 
courage  and  enthusiasm.  And  thus  much  for  Africa. 

produce  useful  knowledge,  his  researches  have  embraced  that  variety 
of  subjects  which  a  journey,  over  ground  never  before  trodden  by 
European  foot,  and  through  the  strange  and  unknown  regions  of 
Africa,  might  be  expected  to  afford. 

To  each  volume  are  added  an  Itinerary  and  Register  of  the  Wea- 
ther ,-  and  to  render  the  whole  more  available  for  reference,  and  to 
collect  under  their  proper  heads,  the  various  remarks  which,  by  being 
noticed  in  the  regular  order  of  a  Diary,  are  necessarily  scattered  in 
different  places,  a  General  Index,  together  with  a  Zoological  and 
Botanical  Index,  are  given  to  complete  the  work.  The  whole  of  the 
engravings  which  accompany  it,  have  been  faithfully  copied  from 
finished  drawings  made  by  the  author.  This  work  is  published  by 
Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  at  41.  14s.  6d.  per  volume. 


[  455   ] 


AMERICA. 

AT  length  we  reach  the  largest,  and  latest  disco- 
vered, quarter  of  the  globe :  and,  in  proportion  to  the 
magnitude  of  this  quarter,  seems  to  be  the  number  of 
publications  relating  thereto.  When  the  reader  is 
informed  that,  upwards  of  a  century  ago,  Bishop 
Kennett  put  forth  a  quarto  volume  of  273  pages,  ex- 
clusively of  200  pages  of  Index,  called  THE  AMERI- 
CAN LIBRARY,*  containing  the  titles  of  the  then  known 

*  This  quarto  volume  was  published  in  1713,  at  the  Black  Swan 
in  Pater  Noster  Row  ;  (why  are  such  goodly  signs  now  swept  away?) 
as  "An  Attempt  towards  laying  the  foundation  of  an  American  Library, 
in  several  books,  papers,  and  writings ;  humbly  given  to  the  Society  for 
the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  The  name  of  WHITE 
KENNETT  appears  at  the  end  of  the  dedication  :  a  dedication,  worth, 
on  many  accounts,  an  attentive  perusal.  All  the  publications  (of 
which  a  great  number  of  the  earlier  ones  are  to  be  found  in  the  col- 
lections of  Hakluyt  and  Purchasf)  are  chronologically  arranged, 


t  At  p.  xii.  of  the  Dedication,  the  Bishop  speaks  thus  nobly  of  these  two  great 
Collectors  of  Travels :  "  It  was  a  glory  done  to  this  nation  by  Mr.  HAKLUYT  and 
Mr.  PURCHAS,  (both  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England)  that  they  spared  no 
pains  or  cost  to  hunt  after,  and  gather  up,  a  great  variety  and  plenty  of  such  Jour- 
nals and  Maritime  Papers,  which  had  otherwise,  long  before  this  time,  been  wreckt 
and  lost  for  ever."  A  little  further,  he  adds — "  There  be  now  living  many  indus- 
trious collectors  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  Navigations,  Commerce,  &c.  who  pro- 
bably, after  their  decease,  would  not  trust  them  to  the  custody  of  a  careless  heir, 
or  mercenary  administrator  ;  but  will  be  glad  to  hear  of  such  a  public  place  as 
this,  wherein  they  may  be  safely  disposed,  and  preserved  -with  the  memory  of  their 
donour.  If  such  a  curious  and  judicious  collector  as  Mr.  PEPYS  had  known  of 
any  such  design,  it  is  very  probable  that  he  would  have  given  all  his  laborious 
efforts  that  way,  and  they  would,  in  such  manner,  have  made  a  NATIONAL  TREA- 
SURE to  posterity."  What  will  my  friend,  Mr.  Lodge,  of  Magdalen  College,  say 
to  this  ?  But  the  Pepysian  Collection,  as  it  is  now  regulated,  is  ITSELF  AGAIN  : 
and  the  spectre  of  its  donor  ceases  to  haunt  the  banks  of  Cam.  Reverting  to  Bi- 
shop Kennett's  Dedication,  let  me  say  one  further  "  little  word  :  "-—the  con- 
clusion of  it  must  delight  every  intelligent  mind  and  every  virtuous  heart. 


456  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.         [AMERICA. 

productions  which  more  or  less  regarded  America  — 
and  when  he  considers  how  the  spirit  of  discovery, 
and  the  love  of  travelling,  together  with  the  publica- 
tions which  record  them,  have  increased  since  that 
period — how,  in  the  name  of  courtesy,  kindness,  and 
even  common  sense,  I  ask,  can  that  same  reader  ex- 
pect to  be  fully  satisfied  with  a  list  of  the  chief  works 
NOW  EXTANT,  connected  with  NORTH  and  SOUTH 
AMERICA  ? 

Away,  ye  rigorous  and  exacting  critics  I  —  hence, 
ye  harsh  and  unrelenting  judges  ! — for  I  must  be  even 
more  brief  than  heretofore.  A  world  of  various,  and 
of  enticing  matter,  is  before  me :  and  I  can  there- 
fore touch  but  hastily  on  the  more  ancient  historians 
and  travellers,  who  have  pushed  their  researches  into 
this  quarter  of  the  globe.  But  ere  this  sober  strain 
be  touched,  I  exhort  and  entreat  my  "  Young  Man," 
in  particular,  to  secure,  with  all  possible  dispatch,  the 
AMERICAN  ATLAS,  or  Guide  to  the  History  of  North 
and  South  America,  and  the  West  Indies,  which  has 
been  lately  put  forth  at  Philadelphia,  by  Messrs. 
Carey  and  Lea — the  Longman,  Hurst  and  Co.  of  the 
New  World.  This  admirable  publication*  will  give 

down  to  the  period  of  the  publication  of  the  volume.  An  excellent 
Index  of  matters,  persons,  and  places,  is  added.  This  truly  useful 
volume  was  reprinted  in  1791,  4to.  (which  latter  only  is  mentioned 
by  Meuselius)  :  and  both  original  and  reprint  are  at  this  moment 
sticking  on  stalls  at  some  two  shillings  each.  The  book  is  invaluable 
to  a  Collector  j  and  the  spirit  that  is  now  abroad,  in  AMERICA, 
should  lead  some  Bostonian,  or  New  Yorkite,  or  Philadelphia^  to 
bring  the  catalogue  of  publications  down  to  the  present  times. 

*  This  publication  is  a  small  Atlas  folio,  consisting  of  fifty-three 
charts  j  the  fifty- third  containing  "  a  Map  of  the  principal  Rivers  in 
the  World."  In  this  map,  the  curious  reader  will  see  how  the  Mis- 


AMERICA.]          VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  457 

him  a  complete  notion  of  the  extent,  variety,  and  cha- 
racteristic features  of  the  stupendous  country  to  which 
he  is  here  about  to  receive  a  bibliographical  introduc- 
tion. Let  me  begin  then  with  five  of  the  more  an- 
cient worthies  of  American  travellers  and  historians : 
namely,  ALGERIUS,  DE  OVIEDO,  LOPEZ  DE  GEMARA, 
LAS  CASAS,  HERRERA — who  are  here  introduced,  only 
to  be  summarily  dismissed :  *  not  however  with- 

sissippi,  and  the  Missouri,  and  the  Amazon  rivers,  exceed  every  other 
in  the  world.  Each  chart  is  accompanied  by  a  marginal  text,  contain- 
ing a  summary  and  sensible  account  of  the  situation,  extent,  soil, 
climate,  mountains,  rivers,  chief  towns,  commerce,  education,  and 
government,  together  with  an  historical  sketch,  of  every  portion  of 
North  and  South  America,  there  delineated.  This  work  is  hand- 
somely printed,  and  the  copy  before  me  is  coloured.  It  was  pur- 
chased of  the  publishers  for  51.  With  this  Atlas,  the  reader  may 
consult  that  portion  of  North  America  which  is  excellently  described 
in  Mellish's  Geographical  Description  of  the  United  States ;  published 
at  Philadelphia,  in  1822,  8vo. 

*  These  five  ancient  gentlemen  shall  not,  however,  be  dismissed 
so  ft  summarily,"  in  the  notes.  The  two  first  and  fourth  were  un- 
known to  Kennett  -,  and  the  first,  apparently,  to  Meuselius.  Alge- 
rius's  first  work,  "  De  Orbe  Novo,  Decades  III."  was  published  at 
Madrid  in  1516,  in  folio  :  and  is  necessarily  a  rare  book.  "  La  His- 
toria  general  y  natural  de  las  Indias,  islas  y  terra  firma  del  mar  ocean," 
of  Gonzalo  Hernandez  de  Oviedo,  was  published  at  Seville  in  1535, 
folio,  with  cuts  :  again,  in  1547,  folio,  with  the  true  relation  of  the 
conquest  of  Peru,  by  Perez  :  again,  in  1557*  in  Valladolid  ;  and  in 
1556,  folio  $  and  lastly,  at  Madrid,  in  1730,  in  folio.  A  new  and 
more  perfect  edition  is  expected  (says  Meuselius)  from  the  Marquis 
Truxillo.  In  his  Suppl.  and  Add.  (vol.  x.  p.  326)  this  first  edition 
is  more  fully  described.  An  Italian  version  of  it  appears  in  Ramusio, 
and  a  portion  of  it  is  anglicised  in  the  third  volume  of  Purchas's  Pil- 
grims. Bourcher  de  la  Richarderie  gives  us  no  intelligence  of  the 
relative  rarity  and  value  of  these  editions.  Bibl.  des  Voyages,  vol.  v. 
p.  481.  LOPEZ  DE  GOMARA  :  Prirnera,  seconda,  y  terza  parte  de  la 


458  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AMERICA. 

out  a  caution  to  the  curious—and  especially  to  the 
more  wealthy  Collector — to  take  heed  to  a  few  of  the 

historia  general  de  las  Indias,  con  la  conquista  del  Mexico  y  dela  nueva 
Espana.  Medina,  1553,  folio.  First  edition  :  with  the  pure  text  of 
the  author — which  fell  under  the  censure  of  the  Spanish  government 
in  America.  A  pretty  little  edition  of  it  appeared  at  Antwerp  in  1554, 
12mo.  for  which  Meuselius  (SuppL  &c.  vol.  x.  pt.  ii.  p.  327>)  refers  us 
to  Goetzius  in  Denkwurdigk  der,  Dresd.  Bibl.  vol.  iii.  p.  444.  Consult 
the  third  volume,  (p.  227)  of  Meuselius  for  early  Italian  and  French 
versions,  in  8vo.  The  work  is  epitomised  in  Purchas. 

BARTHOLOM^US  LAS  CASAS:  although  his  history  treat  chiefly  of 
ecclesiastical  matters,  it  is  a  prodigiously  GREAT  GUN  in  the  bibliogra- 
phical battery  of  Collectors  ;  especially  if  the  original  Spanish  work, 
in  seven  parts,  1552,  4to.  be  complete,  and  in  all  respects  uncoun- 
terfeited.  The  counterfeit  is  printed  in  roman  letters  :  the  genuine  in 
gothic.  De  Bure  is  copious  and  instructive  on  this  head  :  B.  I.  Hist. 
Part  II.  p.  266-7.  Meuselius  is  unusually  full ;  calling  the  author  "  im- 
mortalis  Americanorum  patronus."  Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  iii. part  ii.  p.  79. 
He  makes  out  six  parts  j  so  does  Brunet,  but  mentions  seven  ;  Bou- 
cher de  la  Richarderie,  on  the  authority  of  De  Bure,  calls  them  five 
parts;  so  does  Pinkerton  3  but  Mr.  Beloe,  (Anec.  &c.  vol.  i.  p.  10.)  says 
that  the  Cracherode  copy  has  eight  parts  :  and  he  mentions  the  three 
which  are  not  noticed  by  De  Bure.  I  doubt  whether  the  eighth  (in 
Latin)  belong  to  the  edition.  A  copy  of  this  edition,  (without  the 
specification  of  the  number  of  parts)  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Singer, 
at  the  sale  of  the  Stanley  library,  for  8Z.  1  Os.  A  copy,  containing 
three  parts  only,  produced  71.  at  the  sale  of  the  White  Knights 
library,  I  saw  a  fine  and  perfect  copy  in  the  very  curious  library  of 
Sir, Charles  Stewart,  our  ambassador  at  Paris.  It  is  also  in  the  library 
of  Mr.  Rennie,  as  well  as  a  copy  of  the  second  French  edition.  It 
was  frequently  reprinted  in  French  —  1579  :  1582,  &c.  But  the 
tasteful  must  look  sharply  out  for  good  impressions  of  the  plates  (by 
De  Bry)  of  the  Latin  edition  of  1598,  4to.  The  publishers,  The- 
odore and  Israel  De  Bry,  make  much  boasting  about  these  plates — 
for  want  of  which,  they  contend,  (in  the  preface)  that  all  former 
editions  may  be  considered  as  comparatively  incomplete.  The  text 
seems  to  be  carefully  executed  from  the  MS.  copy  of  the  author  and 


AMERICA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  45D 

"  helps"  tendered  in  the  preceding  note.  He  will 
not  find  them  ignesfatui  in  the  path  in  which  he  may 
be  pleased  to  walk. 

translator.  Who  was  he  ?  A  copy  of  this  edition  was  sold  for  2/.  at 
the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library ;  and  for  31  5s.  at  that  of  Colonel 
Stanley's.  Do  copies  of  the  figures,  without  the  text  at  the  back, 
exist  ?  I  will  not  recommend  the  reprint  of  1614,  and  much  less 
that  of  1664. 

The  cruelties,  practised  by  the  Spaniards  towards  the  natives,  of 
which  the  noble  spirit  of  Las  Casas  led  him  to  complain,  were  justi- 
fied by  the  slavish  spirit  of  one  of  the  most  learned  Spaniards  of  his 
day — JOHN  GENES  DE  SEPULVEDA— whose  subserviency  to  Philip  II. 
threw  a  shade  upon  his  otherwise  enviable  attainments  :  as  a  list  of 
his  works,  marshalled  (as  usual)  in  due  order,  by  Niceron,  may  in- 
duce us  to  believe :  Mem.  des  Horn.  Illust.  vol.  xxiii.  p.  346.  I  must 
here,  however,  caution  the  reader  not  to  confound  this  Sepulveda 
with  his  old  friend  Lorenzo,  of  that  name  :  whose  Romances  nueva- 
mente  sacados  de  historias  antiquas  de  la  Cronica  de  Espana,  Ann. 
1580,  I2mo.  produced  the  decisive  sum  of  12  J.  185.  at  the  sale  of 
the  White  Knights  library. 

ANTONIO  DE  HERRERA  is  well  designated  by  Bishop  Kennett,  as 
"  the  Chief  Chronicler  of  the  Indies  and  Castille."  His  VIII.  De- 
cads  of  General  History  (Decadas,  o  Hisioria  General  de  los  Hechos 
de  los  Castellanos,  %c.j  were  published  at  Madrid  in  1601- 15  j  in 
eight  thin,  or  four  good  sized  folio  volumes — with  copper  plates. 
The  history  is  carried  on  from  the  year  1492  to  1551.  This  was,  for 
a  long  time,  a  rare  and  highly  coveted  work  ;  but  the  enlarged, 
truly  accurate,  and  splendid  impression,  put  forth  by  Gonsalez  de 
Bavaria,  at  Madrid,  in  1729-3O,  with  cuts,  in  four  folio  volumes, 
has  rendered  it  little  sought  and  little  coveted  ;  although  a  copy  of 
it  brought  61.  6s.  at  the  sale  of  the  White  Knights  library.  The 
Antwerp  folio  edition  of  1728  is  mentioned — only  to  be  shunned. 
A  good  copy  of  the  Madrid  edition  of  1729  is  worth  IQl.  10s.  It 
had  appeared  in  an  English  version  by  Capt.  Stevens,  in  six  octavo 
volumes,  with  cuts  and  maps,  in  1/25.  The  Historia  General  del 
Mundo,  by  the  same  celebrated  author,  was  published  in  1606-12,  in 
three  folio  volumes :  containing,  in  fact,  an  elaborate  history  of 
Spain,  during  the  reign  of  Philip  II.  Mr.  Bohn  marks  a  copy  of 


460  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  [AMERICA. 

I  can  dwell  but  briefly  on  the  class  of  General  His- 
torians, up  to  the  present  times  :  and  if  I  mention  the 
names  of  Torquemada3  Ogilby,  Coreal,  Lafiteau, 
Charlevoix,  Wilson,  Ulloa,  and  Robertson,*  I  hope  I 

this  desirable  work  at  2Z.  2s.  Herrera  is  in  the  foremost  rank  of  early 
American  historians. 

*  F.  J.  DE  TORQUEMADA  :  his  work  was  first  published  at  Seville, 
in  1615,  in  three  folio  volumes  :  afterwards  in  a  much  improved 
form,  at  Madrid,  in  1730,  in  the  same  number  of  volumes.  A  good 
copy  is  worth  51.  5s.  The  original  edition  had  become  scarce,  and 
we  owe  this  valuable  reprint  to  Gonsalves  de  Barcia.  Meuselius 
says  the  author  had  resided  a  long  time  in  New  Spain,for  the  sake  of 
promoting  the  Christian  Religion  :  he  introduces  ff  many  foolish  and 
futile  things,  but  many  also  that  are  far  from  being  despicable."  Bou- 
cher de  la  Richarderie  seems  to  transfer  this  critique  to  the  editor. 
OGILBY  :  History  of  America,  being  the  latest  and  most  accurate  de- 
scription of  the  New  World,  and  adorned  with  maps  and  other  orna- 
mentals, as  ground  plots,  prospects  of  cities,  and  historical  sculps,  to 
the  number  of  122,  was  put  forth  in  1671,  in  a  ponderous  folio  tome: 
and  now  sleeps  soundly,  in  spite  of  the  tf  sculps,"  on  the  bottom 
row  of  booksellers'  repositories.  Yet  it  is  praised  by  the  Dutch 
traveller  Dapper,  in  his  rival  folio  of  1673.  Will  this  draw  it  from  its 
lurking  place  for  ll.  Is.  ?  Co  REAL'S  Forages  en  les  Indes  Occidentals, 
&c.  is  a  translation  of  the  Flemish  Journal  of  Captain  Abel  Jansen 
Tassman,  with  cuts  :  Amst.  1722,  12mo.  3  vols.  The  earlier  portion 
of  this  work,  where  the  author  describes  the  manners  of  the  different 
citizens,  and  especially  the  Buccaneers,  is  the  more  valuable.  Upon 
the  whole,  in  spite  of  Marchand's  (Diet.  vol.  ii.  p.  179,)  damnatory 
sentence,  I  conclude,  from  the  Ada  Erudit.  Suppl.  vol.  viii.  p.  265, 
(as  referred  to  by  Meuselius)  that  this  is  a  work  worth  sticking  the 
spurs  into  the  side  of  a  good  bibliographical  courser  to  possess. 

LAFITEAU  is  a  more  consequential  name.  His  Moeurs  des  Sauvages 
Americains,  Paris,  1723,  4to.  two  vols.  well  sprinkled  with  shewy 
and  spirited  cuts,  could  not  be  obtained  by  Lord  Holland,  at  the  sale 
of  Dr.  Heath's  library,  under  the  sum  of  3/.  It  is  a  very  curious 
work,  relating  chiefly  to  Canadian  manners  and  customs ;  the  author 
lived  five  years  in  Canada.  It  is  now  rare.  Consult  Meuselius  ;  vol. 


AMERICA.]          VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  4C>1 

shall  not  be  accused  of  exhibiting  a  barren  list  of 'fun- 
damental Writers  towards  making  further  acquisitions 

iii.  part  i.  p.  242.  The  same  ingenious  author  published  his  De- 
couvertes  et  Conquetes  des  Portugais  dans  le  nouveau  Monde,  at  Paris, 
in  1733,  4 to.  two  vols.  also  with  cuts  :  of  which  a  good  copy  can- 
not be  worth  less  than  the  last  mentioned  sum.  CHARLEVOIX  was  a 
writer  of  equal  ability  and  distinction  :  his  "  Nouvelle  France,  avec  un 
Voyage  dans  VAmerique  Septentrionale ,  "  appeared  at  Paris,  in  1744, 
4to.  3  vols.  ;  Lord  Holland  gave  41.  4s.  for  a  copy  of  it  at  Dr.  Heath's 
sale.  It  was  republished  in  6  duodecimo  volumes,  and  translated  into 
English  in  1769.  His  Histoire  du  Paraguay,  Paris,  1756,  4to.  3  vols. 
produced  2Z.  1 4s.  at  the  sale  just  noticed  j  and  I  find  Mr.  Heber  giv- 
ing 1Z.  lls.  for  his  Histoire  de  lisle  Espagnole,  ou  de  St.  Domingue, 
Paris,  1730,  4to  2.  vols.  I  am  not  sure,  whether,  from  the  Biograph. 
Univ.  vol.  viii.  p.  229,  this  latter  be  not  the  preferable  work  of  Charle- 
voix  : — reprinted  at  Amst.  1733,  in  four  duodecimo  volumes.  WIL- 
SON'S Description  of  America,  containing  conjectures  of  its  peopling,  &c. 
Lond.  1739,  folio,  with  maps,  &c.  is  hardly  worth  mentioning ;  but 
there  are  tastes  for  all  sorts  of  books :  and  so  let  Wilson  be  picked 
up  for  7*-  6cZ. 

ANT.  DE  ULLOA'S  work  upon  East  and  South  America,  relates  chiefly 
to  the  natural  history  of  those  countries,  and  was  published  in  a  small 
4to.  volume,  at  Madrid,  in  1772.  It  is  a  very  valuable  book,  as  far 
as  it  goes  j  the  author  having  resided  a  considerable  period  in  Ame- 
rica. It  was  translated  into  French,  and  published  at  Paris  in  1787, 
8vo.  2  vols.  The  great  work  of  Jorge  Juan  Ulloa,  on  South  America, 
will  be  noticed  in  its  proper  place.  With  delight  I  reach  the  labours 
of  ROBERTSON}  and,  with  almost  greater  delight,  read  the  applause 
bestowed  upon  them  in  the  imperishable  book  of  Meuselius.  ' '  Liber, 
(says  that  bibliographer — speaking  of  his  History  of  America}  omnium 
praestantissimus,  .  .  .  auctor,  divino  prorsus  ingenio  praeditus,"  &c. 
And  this  is  true  enough.  If,  continues  he,  facts  only  be  consulted, 
there  is  little  of  novelty — [how  could  there  be  ?]  but  the  leading 
features  of  the  work,  and  the  opinions  given  upon  known  facts, 
carry  with  them  an  air  of  novelty."  But  further  praise — which  might 
indeed  be  brought  forward  from  every  foreign,  as  well  as  domestic 
journal  —  is  totally  unnecessary:  and,  whatever  may  be  said  of 
Robertson's  Biography  of  Charles  V.  (concerning  which,  read  some 


462  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.     [N.  AMERICA. 

in  the  same  department  of  collecting.  I  am  well  aware 
of  a  thousand  incidental  subjects,  connected  with  the 
mighty  empire  of  which  I  am  now  treating,  and  on 
which  books  of  the  most  curious  and  covetable  nature 
have  been  published — but  I  can  do  little  more  than 
allude  to  them* — and  come  at  once  to  the  leading 
publications  relating  to 

NORTH  AMERICA. 

In   the  histories  of  this   portion    of  America,    it 
will  be  difficult  to  exclude  those  which  incorporate 

few  lines  at  page  329,  ante)  I  cannot  but  consider  the  HISTORY  OF 
AMERICA  as  the  magnum  opus  of  its  author.  Meuselius  wishes  that 
the  list  of  works,  relating  to  America,  prefixed  by  Robertson,  had 
been  critically  arranged  ;  rather  than  consisting,  as  it  does,  of  the 
titles  of  books.  This  masterly  performance  was  published  in  1777, 
4to.  in  two  volumes :  but  an  additional  volume  was  afterwards  pub- 
lished, and  the  three  volumes  were  sold  for  2/.  at  Dr.  Heath's  sale. 
They  have  been  republished,  again  and  again,  in  an  octavo  form,  at 
reasonable  prices — and  translated  into  every  language  of  civilised 
Europe.  "  Give  me,  therefore,  ROBERTSON" — methinks  I  hear  the 
"  Young  Man"  say — ff  and  let  all  preceding  historians  shift  for  them- 
selves" There  is  truth,  but  not  "  the  whole  truth,"  in  this  avowal. 

*  Among  the  "  curious  "  and  "  covetable  "  little  tomes,  take,  for 
example,  the  quarto  volume  printed  at  Madrid  in  1641,  relating  to  the 
"  Great  River  of  the  Amazons — and  after  reading  Mr.  Evans's  note  in 
the  Bibl  Stanleiana,  no.  1113,  upon  the  causes  of  its  "  unusual 
rarity,  "  be  sure  to  lock  it  up  in  your  cabinet  as  worth  at  least  thirty 
half  sovereigns.  Again  :  respecting  the  Magellan  Streights — peruse 
what  those  two  gallant  Captains  Bartolomeo  Garcia  de  NODAL  and 
Gonzalo  de  NODAL  accomplished — as  written  in  a  quarto  volume,  pub- 
lished at  Madrid  in  1621,  with  a  wood  engraving  of  a  chart  (so  often 
missing — and  about  which  De  Bure,  vol.  i.  p.  215-6  so  solemnly 
cautions  the  Collector)  and  with  all  its  parts — that  is  to  say,  ninety- 
two  leaves,  comprising  the  twelve  preliminary,  and  fifteen  concluding 


N.  AMERICA.]       VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  463 

the  United  States  or  Colonies;  and,  in  such  point 
of  view,  if  I  omit  the  separate  histories  belonging 

leaves.  Mr.  Evans's  pithy  and  pertinent  note  to  the  Stanley  copy  of 
this  very  rare  book,  no.  1117,  was  the  means  of  causing  it  to  be 
transported  to  his  Majesty's  library —  at  the  large  sum  of  3 1/.  105. 
Above  all  things,  let  the  Bibliomaniac  in  SPANISH  LORE  consider 
more  than  once  or  twice  ere  he  indulges  in  the  niceties  and  difficul- 
ties of  procuring  the  first  editions  of  the  Epistles  of  the  famous  FER- 
DINAND o  CORTEZ  in  the  Spanish  language.  These  Epistles  are  four 
in  number  j  but  of  the  first,  whether  in  Spanish  or  the  Latin  version, 
no  traces  remain :  not  a  copy  is  preserved :  and  it  is  supposed  to  be 
either  lost,  or  locked  up  in  the  Archive  Real  of  Simancas.  Robertson, 
with  all  his  zeal  and  weight  of  recommendation,  could  never  learn 
any  traces  of  it.  The  second  and  third  Epistles,  in  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage, were  published  at  Seville  by  Cromberger,  a  German,  in  1522- 
3,  fol.  :  and  copies  of  these  very  rare  volumes  were  recently  sold  for 
261.  10s.  Consult  Meuselius,  Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  iii.  part  i.  p.  267,  who 
is  delightfully  instructive:  but  why  is  Brunet  so  unusually  barren  ? 

Again :  Meuselius  says  that  copies  of  the  fourth  Epistle,  in  the 
Spanish  language,  have  escaped  his  researches :  but  the  whole  three 
Epistles  are  published  entire  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Historiadores 
Primitives  de  las  Indias  Occidentales  of  Bar  da,  Madr.  1745,  folio, 
3  vols. :  and  they  were  subsequently  printed  in  a  separate  folio  form, 
with  the  notes  and  additions  of  Lorenzano,  accompanied  by  cuts,  in 
Mexico,  1770,  folio — a  rare  and  highly  prized  tome.  Are  these  cuts 
taken  from  the  Latin  version  of  the  third  Epistle,  printed  at  Norim- 
berg  in  1524  ?  I  learn,  however,  that  a  copy  of  the  first  edition  of 
the  fourth  Epistle,  in  a  separate  form,  was  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Thorpe  (the  TOM  OSBORNE  of  the  present  day)  from  a  collection  of 
valuable  Spanish  books,  purchased  by  him  of  an  Italian  gentleman  : 
and  this  very  precious  tome — together  with  the  two  previous  original 
Spanish  Epistles — in  all  probability  now  enrich  the  cabinet  of  my 
friend  Mr.  Heber — the  THOMAS  RAWLINSON,  Esq.  of  the  present  day. 
Long  may  they  greet  his  own  eyes  and  those  of  his  friends.  Along 
with  Cortes,  are  frequently  united  the  Epistles  of  PeterMartyr  Angle- 
rius,  1519-1532,  &c. :  republished  in  the  eight  Decads  of  his  History 
in  1555,  folio — of  which  a  copy  is  in  the  library  of  Mr.  Rennie. 


464  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.       [N.  AMERICA. 

to  Louisiana,  Florida,  Carolina,  Canada,  &c.  it  seems 
to  be  only  necessary  to  make  mention  of  the  works 
of  Kalm,  Rogers,  Wynn,  Adair,  Carver,  Chalmers, 
and  the  Marquis  de  la  Rochefaucault  Liancourt  — 
and  if  the  reader  take  the  pains  to  consult  the  sub- 
joined note*  he  will  find  brief  mention  of  the  titles 

Consult,  here,  the  American  Library,  1713,  4to.  p.  8.  Then  again  for 
FRAMPTON'S  Joyful  Newes  out  of  the  New  Found  World,  1596,  4to. 
and  the  Discovery  of  Guiana,  by  Raleigh,  published  in  the  same  year 
and  form — books,  not  very  scarce,  although  in  the  sable  garb  of  the 
black  letter.  Here  is  no  opportunity  for  amplification.  But  re- 
lating to  VIRGINIA  alone,  read  the  titles  of  a  cluster  of  tracts  from 
the  Bindley  library — to  say  nothing  of  what  appears  in  the  preceding 
pages  (372-3-385)  relating  to  that  once  constantly  talked  of  country. 

Tracts  relating  to  Virginia :  "  Encouragement  to  Colonies,  by  Sir 
W.  Alexander,"  map,  1625.  "  True  Relation  of  what  happened  in 
Virginia  since  the  first  planting  of  that  Colony,"  map  of  Virginia, 
1608.  u  Relation  of  Lord  De  la  Warre,  Capt.  Generall  of  Virginia," 
1611.  "  Plaine  Description  of  the  Barmudas,"  1618.  "Smith's 
Description  of  New  England,"  1606.  "  State  of  the  Colony  and 
Affairs  in  Virginia,"  1616.  "  New  England's  Plantation,  "  by  Hig- 
geson,  with  map,  containing  the  portrait  of  Capt.  Smith,  1630. 
ff  Guinea's  Plantation,"  by  the  Earl  of  Barkshire,  1632.  "  Virginia 
valued,"  by  E.  W.  1650.  Virginia's  Discovery  of  Silke  Wormes,  " 
1650.  A  collection  of  Ten  very  curious  Tracts,  in  one  volume. 

These  tracts  produced  the  ponderous  sum  of  lOl..  But  there 
would  be  no  end  to  this  bibliographical  skirmishing.  See,  as  a  guide, 
Pinkerton's  list,  vol.  xvii.  p.  20O. 

*  KALM  was  a  Swede.  He  published  his  work  at  Stockholm  in 
1753,  &c  Svo.  3  vols.  with  wood  cuts.  It  was  published  in  the  Ger- 
man language  at  Gottingen  in  1754,  &c.  in  three  large  octavo  vo- 
lumes, with  copper  plates ;  and  Forster  translated  it  into  English, 
and  published  it  at  London  in  1771.*  8vo.  3  vols.  with  a  map  and  some 
additional  cuts.  A  copy  is  worth  ll.  Is.  It  was  hence  translated 
into  the  Dutch,  and  published  in  two  quarto  volumes  at  Utrecht  in 
1772.  The  work  is  chiefly  valuable  on  the  score  of  natural  history; 


N.  AMERICA.]     VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  465 

and  characters  of  the  work,  of  each  author.     I  am 
not  sure,  whether,  upon  a  dispassionate  consideration, 

but  I  cannot  correctly  affirm  whether  the  account  of  the  Esquimaux, 
whom  the  author  came  in  contact  with  in  his  journey  from  Pen- 
sylvania  to  Canada,  be  not  among  the  earliest  extant  in  print. 
ROGERS'S  Concise  Account  of  North  America,  1765,  8vo.  is  a  book 
well  worth  a  7s.  6d.  purchase.  The  aul  hor  lived  many  years  among 
the  most  barbarous  of  the  natives,  and  his  narrative  is  at  once  per- 
spicuous and  unaffected,  and  his  statements  unimpeached.  Meuse- 
lius  (vol.  iii.  part  i.  304-5)  is  warmly  encomiastic  upon  this  octavo 
volume.  Rogers  was  chiefly  conversant  with  the  British  Colonies. 
But  why,  in  the  above  text,  is  the  once  famous,  and  always  interest- 
ing, quarto  volume,  entitled  the  American  Traveller,  1769,  omitted  ? 
The  author  concealed  his  name : — it  was  Alexander  Cluni.  He  made 
his  journies  in  the  years  1744-5  on  foot,  reaching  as  high  as  the  sixty- 
eighth  degree  of  north  latitude,  as  far  as  Cape  Chudleis  ;  and  towards 
the  western  departments  of  North  America  is  supposed  to  have  seen 
"  men  and  things  "  such  as  no  European  ever  before  beheld.  In 
1746  he  reached  Greenland,  in  the  eighty-third  and  a  half  degree  of 
north  latitude,  and  there  he  saw  neither  land  nor  ice — (<(  mariann- 
dique  et  undique  coelum.")  This  is  a  curious  volume,*  and  should  be 
snapped  up,  in  these  north-mania  times,  with  all  imaginable  celerity. 
WYNN'S  History  of  the  British  Dominions  in  North  America,  1763- 
1773,  4to.  seems  to  be  only  a  compilation  from  Oldmixon  and 
Douglas  ;  authors,  not  worth  enlisting  into  the  service  of  a  Collector. 
Different,  in  all  respects,  is  the  Trader  with  the  Indians,  and  History 
of  the  American  Indians,  by  J.  ADAIB,  Esq.  Lond.  1775,  4to.  :  one 
of  the  best  and  most  instructive  books  of  the  kind  —  if  we  except  a 
little  somnolency  in  discussions  upon  the  Aborigines  of  America  -,  a 
fault,  or  disease,  not  peculiar  to  the  times  of  James  Adair,  Esq.  The 


*  The  author  was  the  first  to  give  accurate  intelligence  of  Hudson's  Bay,  and  to 
institute  an  enquiry  about  a  more  successful  commerce  with  the  Americans.  The 
book  was  said  to  have  been  published  under  the  auspices,  and  at  the  command,  of 
Lord  Chatham  ;  and  both  the  English  and  Americans,  at  that  crisis,  were  so  eager 
to  possess  it,  that  it  was  bought  and  read  by  one  party  with  the  same  avidity  that  it 
was  bought  and  destroyed  by  the  other.  It  now  RESTS  IN  PEACE  :  an  example  (if 
ten  thousand  others  were  wanting)  of  the  short-lived  popularity  of  "  things 
mundane." 

H    H 


466  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.     [N.AMERICA. 

the  last  named  work  be  not  all  that  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  procure.  And  now,  after  this  gallant 
little  bibliographical  bark  shall  quit  its  moorings  in 
the  Northern,  to  seek  the  Southern,  division  of  the 
NEW  WORLD,  it  will  be  necessary  to  dash  through  the 
breakers  that  circumvent  those  Islands  —  the  source  of 
so  much  wealth  to  Great  Britain  —  with  which  the 
Caribbean  Sea  is  so  thickly  studded,  and  which  are 
designated  by  the  well  known  name  of  the  WEST 
INDIES.  The  anchor  is  therefore  weighed:  the  sails 
swell  before  the  breeze  — 


(Iliad,  lib.  i.). 
and  the  gulf  of  Florida  is  cleared  .  .  . 

As   a  work   of  the  most  general  and  satisfactory 

author  was  a  five  year's  resident  in  the  countries  which  he  describes. 
The  best  edition  of  CAPTAIN  CARVER'S  Travels  through  the  interior 
parts  of  North  America  in  the  years  1766,  7,  8,  is  that  of  1779,  8vo. 
with  a  map  and  cuts,  and  having  some  account  of  the  author  by  the 
late  Dr.  Lettsom,  ff  Omnia  utilia  seque  ac  jucunda,  magnam  partem 
nova"  —  says  the  applauding  and  particularising  Meuselius.  But  the 
commendations  bestowed  by  him  on  the  Political  Annals  of  the 
United  Colonies,  &c.  of  which  Mr.  GEORGE  CHALMERS  is  the  author, 
1780,  4  to.  are  much  more  warm  and  pointed  :  accompanied  by  the 
expression  of  regret  at  the  discontinuation  of  the  work.  The  author, 
now  midway  between  Septuagenarian  ism  and  Octogenarianism,  need 
desire  nothing  more  parcenetical  than  the  criticism  of  Meuselius  (vol.  iii. 
part  i.  p.  315)  upon  his  labours.  Doubtless,  however,  of  all  the  tra- 
vels in  North  America,  up  to  the  period  of  their  publication,  those  of 
M.  DE  LA  RocHEFoucAULT-LiAN  COURT,  published  at  Paris  in  1799, 
in  eight  octavo  volumes,  and  translated  into  English  and  published 
the  same  year  in  2  quarto  volumes,  are  considered  to  be  the  fullest 
and  most  satisfactory.  Pinkerton  calls  it  '  '  a  work  of  very  consider- 
able merit."  Why  does  Boucher  de  la  Richarderie  (vol.  vi.  p.  10) 
omit  to  notice  it  ?  Nor  does  it  appear  to  be  in  Meuselius. 


N.  AMERICA.]     VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  467 

information,  obtain,  by  all  means,  the  History  of 
these  Islands  (including  that  of  St.  Domingo)  by  the 
late  Mr.  BRYAN  EDWARDS  —  published,  and  frequently 
republished,  in  three  quarto,  and  five  octavo  volumes. 
A  good  copy  of  the  former  is  worth  about  51.  5s.  :  of 
the  latter,  II.  16$.  The  author  is  the  "  facile  prin- 
ceps  "  of  writers  in  his  department.  But  as  JAMAICA 
is  the  "  facile  princeps"  of  these  British  islands,  so,  I 
ween,  a  perfectly  beautiful,  unsullied,  tall,  broad, 
richly  bound  copy  (peradventure  by  Roger  Payne) 
with  the  cuts  coloured,  of  Sir  HANS  SLOANE'S  History 
of  that  Island,*  (1707-1725)  will  be  found  in  the 
sumptuous  cabinet  of  HONORIO.  And  what  if  a  copy  of 
Master  LONG'S  History^  of  the  same  island,  published 
about  fifty  years  afterwards,  in  three  quarto  volumes, 
and  "  bound  by  old  Fraser,  "t  be  found  lying  by  the 
side  of  its  precursor  ? 

*  Whether  my  excellent  and  tasteful  friend  HONORIO  really  do,  or 
do  not,  possess  such  a  copy,  I  cannot  now  trust  to  my  memory  to 
aver:  but,  if  he  do  not,  he  should:  —  "  ILLE  si  QUIS  ALT  us."  Mean- 
while it  is  consoling  to  reflect,  that  a  copy,  not  far  short  of  that  so 
rapturously  described  in  the  text,  and  bound  by  Roger  Payne  in  green 
morocco,  adorns  the  shelves  of  the  Althorp  library.  Dr.  Heath's  fine 
copy  was  purchased  by  Lord  Essex  for  191.  19s.  The  plates  are 
described  as  being  430  in  number.:}:  Nota  bene  :  the  work  of  Sir 
Hans  Sloane  comprehends  the  history  of  the  other  West  India  islands 
also.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  '  '  very  good  copy  in  russia"  at 


f  Such  are  the  words  of  Mr.  Jefferey,  in  his  description  of  the 
copy  of  this  valuable  work  —  confined  to  Jamaica  alone  —  which  was 


£  The  delay  of  eighteen  years,  which  occurred  between  the  publication  of  the 
first  and  second  volumes  of  this  work,  arose  from  the  author  being  almost  entirely 
occupied  with  the  arrangement  of  his  far-famed  MUSEUM.  It  is  in  the  introduc- 
tion to  the  second  volume  (1725)  that  Sir  Hans  gives  a  general  inventory  of  his 
library  and  museum,  as  it  then  stood  ;  by  which  it  appears  that  the  subjects  of 


(46S  ] 


SOUTH  AMERICA. 

In  the  bibliographical  dissection  of  the  Southern 
Half  of  the  New  World,  I  give  the  reader  due  notice 
that  his  attention  will  be  briefly,  if  not  exclusively, 
directed  to  the  kingdoms  of  BRAZIL,  PERU,  PARA- 
GUAY, and  CHILI:  premising  that  the  celebrated  work 
of  Ulloa*  may  afford  a  good  general  notion  of  the 
whole  of  Southern  America.  In  other  respects,  and 
as  connected  more  or  less  with  the  divisions  before 

Sold  for  14 1.  14s.  at  the  sale  of  the  last  mentioned  library  :  but  is  now 
scarcely  worth  two-thirds  of  the  sum.  It  has  a  map  and  cuts;  and 
was  published  in  1774.  Meuselius  is  strongly  encomiastic.  Bibl. 
Hist.  vol.  iii.  part  ii.  page  64.  May  I  quietly  ask,  who  was  "  old 
Fraser?" 

*  The  titles  of  the  works  of  ULLOA,  as  connected  with  North,  South, 
aud  East  America,  are  found  copiously  detailed  in  the  pages  of 
Boucher  de  la  Richarderie,  vol.  v.  p.  511 :  vi.  p.  330.  These  works 
have  been  translated  from  the  Spanish  into  the  French  and  German 
languages.  The  Relation  Historica  del  Viage,  &c.  was  published  at 
Madrid  :  5  vols.  in  2,  or  3,  4to. :  with  cuts  ;  of  which  a  large  paper 
copy,  in  small  folio,  was  sold  for  15/.  15s.  at  the  sale  of  Colonel 
Stanley's  library.  The  same  copy  was  recently  sold  for  61. 1 6s.  bd.  The 
Noticias  Americanas  (a  highly  distinguished  work)  was  published  in 
1772,  4to.  ;  and  was  translated  into  German  in  1781,  8vo.  with  most 
valuable  notes — and  was  again  improved  in  a  French  edition  in  1787* 
8vo.  2  vols.  by  Le  Fevre  de  Villebrune. 


natural  history  alone,  exclusively  of  200  volumes  of  preserved  plants,  amounted 
to  more  than  26,000  articles  . . .  This  second  volume  completed  the  vegetable 
part  and  the  animal  kingdom,  and  the  plates  are  continued  to  the  number  of 
274."  Chalmers's  Biogr.  Dictionary,  vol.  xxviii.  p.  66.  How  does  this  number  of 
the  plates  tally  with  that  above  mentioned  ? 


S.  AMERICA.]  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  469 

specified,  the  performances  of  FERNANDEZ,  GARCI- 
LASSO  DE  LA  VEGA,  SouTHEY,  and  HUMBOLDT, —  are 
amply  sufficient  for  the  most  accurate  and  valuable 
information. 

Among  the  earliest  writers  of  the  local  and  political 
history  of  Brazil,  Hans  Staden  and  Jean  de  Lery 
take  the  lead.*  The  work  of  Guerreiro  may  be  placed, 
in  intrinsic  worth  as  well  as  chronological  order,  after 
those  of  the  Dutchman  and  Frenchman  just  men- 
tioned ;  although  I  admit  that  it  is  now  rather  sought 
after  as  an  object  of  curiosity  than  of  utility.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  the  suppressed  work  of  Portu- 
guese America  by  Rocha  Pltta."\  It  is  therefore  to 

*  The  first  edition  of  HANS  STADEN  is  in  the  Dutch  language, 
1556,  4to.  It  was  translated  into  Latin,  under  the  title  of  Navigatio 
in  Brasiliam,  159*2,  folio.  JEAN  DE  LERY  appears  to  be  a  much  more 
amusing  traveller  :  his  work  is  fully  described  in  the  Bibl.  des  Voy- 
ages, vol.  vi.  p.  270 :  and  care  must  be  taken  to  purchase  either  the 
first  (1578)  or  the  second  impression,  1580  :  each  in  octavo.  They 
have  curious  cuts  -,  but  the  second  is  professed  to  be  "  enlarged  both 
in  the  text  and  the  embellishments."  Pinkerton,  who  calls  the  work 
amusing  and  ingenious,  says  that  the  author  being  a  Hugonot,  the 
work  was  printed  in  France  without  his  name.  The  figures  are  by 
Antoine  Chapin.  A  Latin  version  appeared  in  1594.  4to.  :  and  if 
the  sedulous  Bibliomaniac  will  be  at  the  pains  to  read  the  authority 
first  quoted,  (p.  271)  he  shall  find  his  toils  well  rewarded  if  he  obtain 
a  clean  and  sound  copy  of  De  Lery.  But  read  well  Meuselius,  Bibl. 
Hist.  vol.  iii.  part  ii.  p.  50-2.  The  book  was  prohibited  in  the  Index 
Purgatorius  of  the  Roman  Pontiff.  Again,  I  repeat,  read  the  ' '  hun- 
dred notable  things,"  and  perhaps  "  hundred  mery  Tales,"  of  which 
De  Lery's  authenticated  volume  is  composed. 

f  But  of  equal,  if  not  superior  value,  to  Guerreiro,  is  the  work  of 
BARUEUS  —  put  forth  under  the  auspices  of  the  mighty  Bleau,  with 
maps  and  elegant  cuts,  at  Amst.  in  1647,  folio  :  accounted  a  rare 
book  by  Clement — because  the  greater  part  of  the  impression  was 
burnt.  Meuselius  is  copious  and  instructive.  But  perhaps  the  De- 


470  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.     [S.  AMERICA. 

Mr.  Southey's  elaborate  history,  in  three  capacious 
tomes,  that  the  "  Young  "  must  look  for  a  "  Guide" 
— and  the  "  Old  "  must  look  for  "  consolation  : "  — if 
consolation  can  be  derived  from  the  perusal  of  pages, 
in  which,  frequently,  from  the  necessity  of  the  case, 
the  most  brutal  atrocities  are  related,  and  the  most 
perfidious  schemes  unfolded.  Mr.  Southey  is  doubt- 
less the  "  facile  princeps  "  of  the  Historians  of  the 
Brazils  ;  but  this  title  is  hardly  commensurate  with 
the  bearing  and  extent  of  his  work,  as  it  comprises  the 
rise  and  progress  of  all  the  European  colonies,  from 
the  Andes  to  the  Atlantic,  and  from  the  Plata  to  the 
river  of  the  Amazons.  His  performance,  of  which  the 
first  volume  is,  a  little  unaccountably,  overlooked  by 
Pinkerton,  will  doubtless  command  the  attention  and 
applause  of  posterity  :  and  numerous  will  be  the  oc- 
tavo impressions  which  the  next  half  century  will 

scriptio  totius  Brasil'ue,  Cleves,  1698,  folio,  which  is  little  better  than 
a  new  impression  of  Barlaeus,  is  the  best  work  extant  upon  the 
ancient  state  of  Brazil.  It  has  copper  cuts.  Consult  Boucher,  vol. 
vi.  p.  276-7-  The  editor,  or  author  of  the  volume,  was  I.  di  S. 
Teresa.  Bill.  Hist.  vol.  iii.  part  ii.  p.  58.  ROCHA  PITTA'S  Historia 
da  America  Portuguesa,  Lisbon,  1730,  folio  must  be  bought,  when- 
ever found  in  comely  condition,  at  any  price  not  exceeding  2/.  2s. ; 
and  yet  this  will  hardly  fetch  it,  as  Pinkerton  calls  it  ' '  very  scarce." 
It  is  a  volume  fraught  with  useful  intelligence.  The  author  was  a 
sound-headed  and  honest  Brasilian  -,  but  the  truths  which  he  deve- 
loped were  so  unpalateable  to  the  Portuguese  government*  that  the 
sale  of  his  book  was  prohibited  in  consequence.  Boucher  de  la 
Rieharderie  is  pleasantly  communicative.  If  the  most  diligent  re- 
searches cannot  put  my  "  Young  Man  "  in  possession  of  Rocha  Pitta, 
he  may  procure,  for  a  very  trifle,  the  interesting  Narrative  of  a  Voy- 
age to  Brasil,  by  THOMAS  LINDLEY,  1814,  8vo. :  a  book  replete  with 
interesting  matter,  narrated  in  a  style  of  winning  simplicity.  The 
French  bibliographer  has  done  ample  justice  to*  it. 


S.AMERICA.]    VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  471 

cause  to  be  circulated  of  so  ample  and  instructive  a 
work.  * 

*  The  propriety  of  the  above  encomium  can  hardly  be  doubted, 
but  at  any  rate  not  combated,  by  the  most  fastidious  and  hostile  of 
Mr.  Southey's  critics.,  The  Quarterly  Review,  vol.  iv.  p.  454,  &c.  in  the 
notice  of  the  first  volume  of  the  HISTORY  OF  BRAZIL,  1810,  4to.  has 
warmly  and  vigorously  entered  into  the  general  literary  merits  of  its 
author,  as  a  poet  and  an  historian.  It  has  dealt  out  an  ample  meed 
of  praise,  and  with  justice  :  but  another  merit,  as  connected  with  this 
extraordinary  performance,  belongs  to  Mr.  Southey  :  that  of  enthu- 
siasm and  perseverance— which  he  seemed  to  share  alone,  and  in 
despite  of  the  cool  and  slow  reception  of  his  labours  with  the  public. 
The  first  volume  (if  report  speak  true)  did  not  net  the  author  above 
ten  pounds—- about  the  amount  of  what  Milton  received  for  his  Para- 
dise Lost.  The  coincidence  is  singular.  The  second  volume  was 
published  in  1817 :  and  the  third  in  1823.  The  work  is  now  com- 
plete -,  but  I  must  be  allowed  to  question,  if  not  to  condemn,  the  stern 
and  angry  air  of  defiance,  together  with  the  excessive  strain  of  self- 
congratulation,  with  which  the  work  concludes.  That  Mr.  Southey 
should  feel  vexed  and  indignant  at  the  tardy  success  of  such  a  publi- 
cation, is  perhaps  both  natural  and  pardonable :  and  that  the  trium- 
phant exultation  of  Ovid,  with  the  "  frigid  indifference"  of  Johnson, 
should  be  blended,  on  one  and  the  same  occasion,  might  also  be  ex- 
pected and  forgiven.  But  the  author  had  little,  personally,  to  com- 
plain of  the  public  j  or  to  submit,  in  the  way  of  appeal,  to  the  bar  of 
posterity.  He  was,  and  is,  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  exceedingly  great, 
and  justly  earned  reputation.  A  work,  like  his  HISTORY  OF  BRAZIL, 
would  not,  in  the  nature  of  things,  be  caught  up  and  devoured  with 
the  avidity  of  his  matchless  Biographical  Manual  of  LORD  NELSON. 
Hume,  Henry,  and  even  Gibbon,  struggled  hard,  and  despaired 
somewhat,  of  the  final  success  of  their  labours  :  labours,  necessarily 
of  a  more  popular  cast  than  an  exclusive  history  of  a  distant  country, 
about  which  curiosity  had  not  been  so  general  with  us  as  with 
foreigners,  and  which  had  been  rendered  more  or  less  familiar  by 
preceding  historians  and  travellers.  But  if  the  popularity  of  this 
great,  and  perhaps  "  maximum  opus,"  of  its  author,  be  slow,  it  will 
be  sure.  Every  succeeding  year  will  demonstrate  more  decidedly 
the  importance  of  its  contents  :  and  when  the  powers  of  Portugal  and 


472  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.     [S.AMERICA 

The  name  of  Southey  is  worthy  of  its  juxtaposition 
with  that  of  HUMBOLDT — the  most  illustrious  traveller 
of  his  day.  Nothing  seems  too  vast,  too  varied,  too 
wonderful,  or  too  minute,  for  the  keen  eye,  penetrat- 
ing intellect,  and  unwearied  exertions,  of  this  extraor- 
dinary man.  From  the  snow  that  caps  the  summit, 
to  the  lichen  which  creeps  at  the  base,  of  the  loftiest 
mountain,  Humboldt  is  equally  inquisitive,  curious, 
diligent,  and  happy.  A  botanist,  zoologist,  statist, 
philosopher,  half  poet,  and  general  enthusiast,  the 
genius  of  this  traveller  seems  to  have  been  peculiarly 
calculated  for  surveying  the  varieties  and  immensity 
of  the  New  World.  Accordingly,  his  travels  and  re- 
searches in  AMERICA*  place  him  as  the  first  in  the 

Spain,  in  the  New  World,  shall  be,  as  they  are  now  threatening  to 
be,  NO  MORE,  then  will  the  text  of  Mr.  Southey's  History  of  Brazil 
be  considered  as  a  beacon  and  a  guide  to  the  antiquarian,  historian, 
and  philologist.  The  great  grandson  of  its  author  will  caress  the 
editio  princeps  as  a  book  to  be  numbered  among  the  rarest  and  most 
prizable  volumes, 

I  cannot  close  the  account  of  Brazil  without  a  strong  recommend- 
ation of  the  Travels  in  the  interior  of  that  country,  with  a  particular 
account  of  the  Gold  and  Diamond  Districts,  by  Mr.  JOHN  MAWB, 
Mineralogist :  illustrated  with  coloured  plates  :  8vo.  price  18s.  This 
volume  also  includes  a  Voyage  to  the  Rio  de  la  Plata. 

*  Here  follows  a  list  of  the  wonderful  productions  of  this  wonder- 
ful traveller  and  of  his  companion  Mons.  BONPLAND.  All  the  remain- 
ing copies  of  the  work  are  now  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Longman 
and  Co. ;  and  the  prices  affixed  are  those  of  the  original  Paris  pub- 
lishers : 

1.  Relation  Historique  de  leur  Voyage  aux  Regions  Equinoxiales  du 
Nouveau  Continent  pendant  les  annexes  1799-1804.  Vol.  I.  Partie  i. 
avec  1'Atlas  des  Cartes  Geographiques  et  Physiques,  4to.  pap.  fin.  31. : 
pap.  velin,  3l.  12*.  This  is  now  in  a  course  of  publication.  It  will 
be  complete  in  four  volumes.  2.  Atlas  Pittoresque  des  Vues  des  Cor- 
dilleres  et  Monurnens  des  Peuples  Indigenes  de  TAmerique  :  contenant 


S.AMERICA.]      VOYAGES   AND   TRAVELS.  473 

foremost  rank,  perhaps,  of  all  travellers  dead  and 
living.  The  range  of  his  researches,  and  the  space 

60,  PI.  la  plupart  colorifees,  sur  colomb.  velin.  Folio,  pap. :  fin.  25/. 
4s.  pap.  :  velin,  figures  avant  la  lettre,  371-  16s.  Recueil  d' Observa- 
tions de  Zoologie  et  d Anatomic  compare'e,Jaites  dans  V Ocean  Atlantique, 
dans  VInterieur  du  nouveau  Continent,  et  dans  la  mer  du  Sud :  avec 
Planches  imprime'es  en  couleur,  4 to.  liv.  i.  a  8  pap. .  fin,  fl.  17$.  pap  : 
velin,  101.  2s.  This  work  is  complete.  4.  Essai  Politique  sur  le  Roy- 
aume  de  la  Nouvelle  Espagne ;  2  vol.  4to.  Avec  un  Atlas  Physique  et 
G^ographique,  pap  :  fin.  15Z.  pap  :  velin,  191.  Complete.  5.  Recueil 
d1  Observations  Astronomiques,  d1  Operations  Trigonometriques,  et  de 
Mesures  Barom£triques,faites  pendant  le  cours  d'un  Voyage  aux  Regions 
Equinoxiales  du  Nouveau  Continent,  depuis  1799,  jusqu'en  1803. 
Ouvrage  auquel  on  a  joint  des  recherches  Historiques  sur  la  position 
de  plusieurs  points  importans.  2  vols.  4to.  pap  :  fin,  91.  12s.  pap : 
velin,  17^  125.  Complete.  6  Plantes  Equinoxiales,  recueillies  au 
Mexique,  dans  Vile  de  Cuba,  dans  les  Provinces  de  Caracas,  de  Cumana 
et  de  Barcelone,  aux  Andes  de  la  Nouvelle  Grenade,  de  Quito  et  de 
Perou,  et  sur  les  bords  du  Rio- Negro,  de  VOrenoque  et  de  la  riviere  des 
Amazones  -}  Ornes  de  Planches.  Folio  liv.  i.  k  15.  24Z.  Sur  Colomb. 
Velin,  401.  105.  Complete  in  two  vols.  Monographic  des  Melas- 
tomes  et  des  Rhexia,  et  des  autres  genres  du  mtfme  ordre — enrichies  d'en- 
viron  2000  plantes  nouvelles :  ornes  de  Planches,  en  couleur,  folio,  liv. 
i.  a  15.  27J.  Sur  Colomb.  Velin.  45J.  Complete  in  two  vols. 

It  is  necessary  to  observe  that  each  of  these  is  a  separate  and  distinct 
work  in  itself,  and  may  be  bought  separately  ;  but,  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  those  persons  who  wish  to  possess  the  whole,  general 
Titles,  &c.  have  been  prepared  for  forming  the  whole  Collection  into 
an  entire  and  complete  Work  in  the  following  order,  laid  down  by  the 
Author :  — 1.  "  Historical  Narrative,"  with  the  Picturesque  and  Geo. 
graphical  Atlas.  2."  Zoology  and  comparative  Anatomy."  3.  ' '  Poli- 
tical Essay  on  New  Spain"  4.  "  Astronomy."  5.  "  Physics  and  Ge- 
ology" 5.  "  Botany,  comprehending  Equinoxial  Plants  and  Mono- 
graphy  of  the  Melastomas." 

The  SUM  TOTAL  of  these  stupendous  labours  is  as  follows  :  eleven 
volumes  in  quarto,  containing  the  text :  four  volumes  in  large  folio 
containing  the  Botanical  part:  — four  volumes,  in  colombier  folio, 
containing  the  Atlasses :  four  hundred  engravings,  of  which  the  greater 


474  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.     [S.  AMERICA. 

which  his  publications  have  entitled  him  to  occupy  in 
the  contemplation  of  discerning  judges,  justify  the 
propriety  of  this  eulogium. 

part  are  coloured ;  70  geographical,  physical,  and  geological  maps.  Of 
the  two  first  of  these  works,  the  following  have  been  published  in  our 
own  language,  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Helen  Maria  Williams.  "  The 
Personal  Narrative  of  M.  De  Humboldt' s  Travels  to  the  Equinoctial 
Regions  of  the  New  Continent"  In  five  vols.  8vo.  price  41.  Is.  boards. 
Four  more  volumes,  in  a  course  of  publication,  complete  this  work. 
<f  Researches  on  the  Institutions  and  Monuments  of  the  Ancient  Inha- 
bitants of  America"  Anew  edition,  in  two  vols.  Svo.  with  plates, 
\l.  Us.  6d.  boards.  "  Political  Essay  on  the  Kingdom  of  New  Spain," 
with  maps,  &c.  the  third  edition,  in  4  vols.  Svo.  31.  13s.  6d.  boards. 
"  A  Geognostical  Essay  on  the  Super-position  of  Rocks  in  both  Hemi- 
spheres.'' By  M.  De  Humboldt :  and  translated  into  English  under 
his  immediate  inspection  ;  price  14s.  Svo.  boards. 

To  contemplate  these  productions  as  the  work  of  ONE  MAN,  and  of 
his  Coadjutor,  might,  in  after  ages,  stagger  belief ;  if  the  FACT  were 
not  established  beyond  dispute  or  doubt.  And  yet  Mons.  Humboldt 
is  in  the  vigour  of  life — meditating,  it  is  said,  a  hop,  skip,  and  a 
jump,  over  the  rival  mountains,  of  the  Himmalaya  range,  in  the 
Eastern  world.  Let  him  however  think  more  than  twice  upon  an 
undertaking,  which  may  shorten  a  career  honourably  destined  to 
enjoy  the  fruits  of  a  painfully  earned  and  widely  extended  reputation. 
With  him,  <f  School  is  over"  — and  he  may  gambol  lustily  for  the 
remainder  of  his  days. 

These  works,  or  at  least  the  greater  part  of  them,  have  been  cri- 
ticised in  our  two  most  popular  journals  —  the  Edinburgh  and  Quar- 
terly Reviews:  see  vol.  xvi.  and  xix  of  the  former,  and  vols.  xv.  and 
xviii  of  the  latter.  Ample  and  able,  doubtless,  are  these  criticisms. 
My  memory  charges  me  more  particularly  with  those  in  the  former 
Review ,•  which  I  have  reason  to  believe  were  by  the  experienced 
pen  of  the  late  Mr.  Playfair.  There  is  hardly  any  thing  more  intel-  % 
lectually  delightful  than  such  performances  -,  where  party  feeling, 
prejudices,  and  personal  antipathy,  have  no  share:  where  bile,  ill-will, 
spleen,  grudgings,  and  heart  burnings,  are  all  squeezed  out.  To  de- 
vote a  calm  summer's  evening  to  such  "  readings"  —in  rural  seclu- 
sion, or  upon  the  beach  of  the  ever-agitated  main,  (why  not  say  at 


S.  AMERICA.]      VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  475 

I  come,  in  the  last  place,  to  notice  the  earlier  Chro- 
nicles and  labours  of  CIEQA  DE  LEON,  ZARATE,  FER- 
NANDEZ, GARCILASSO  DE  LA  VEGA,  —  as  connected  with 
the  other  great  portions  of  South  America;  namely, 
Peru,  Chili,  Paraguay,  &c.  &c.;  and  doubting  the  room 
to  be  quite  sufficient  for  them  in  the  text,  I  have  con- 
signed the  bibliographical  precis  of  their  labours  to  the 
subjoined  note.*  And  so,  looking  with  surprise,  not 
unmingled  with  apprehension,  at  the  vast  portion  of 
the  world  chronicled  in  these  few  last  pages  —  and 
knowing  and  bewailing  the  imperfect  outlines,  or  faint 
execution,  of  those  countries  more  particularly  chro- 
nicled —  I  implore  forgiveness  of  both  "young"  and 
—  "  old"  well  persuaded,  nevertheless,  that  HE  shall  be 


once,  wot-pci,  Sr»«  9ro?w<pA(na£oio  Qzhda-o-ns  ?)  after  a  morning's  devotion  to 
Barrow,  or  Boyle,  or  Newton,  or  Leibnitz,  or  Locke  —  what  is  it,  but  to 
....  the  Reader  shall  draw  his  own  conclusion.  Humboldt  has  found 
ENGLISH  CRITICS  worthy  of  the  materials  which  his  indefatigable 
zeal  and  multifarious  knowledge  have  placed  before  them. 

*  Peru  is  rich  in  her  EARLIER  CHRONICLES.  I  cannot,  however, 
conceive  that  any  published  history  of  that  country  appears  so  early 
as  1480  :  the  year  in  which  Pinkerton  assigns  a  French  work,  printed 
at  Paris,  and  reprinted  in  1545,  in  octavo.  Meuselius  takes  no 
notice  whatever  of  it.  In  fact,  the  date  must  be  an  anachronism  ; 
since  the  country  in  question  was  not  then  known  to  Europeans. 
The  first  work  mentioned  by  Meuselius,  relating  to  Peruvian  authors, 
is  that  of  the  Conquista  del  Peru,  of  FRANCIS  DE  KEREZ,  translated 
into  the  Italian,  and  published  in  1534,  4to.  It  is  incorporated  into 
Ramusio.  Of  the  Spanish  author,  nothing  seems  to  be  known  with 
accuracy.  Bibl.  Hist.  vol.  iii.  part  ii.  p.  19.  P.  CIEC.A  DE  LEON  is 
perhaps  the  earliest  Chronicler.  His  Primera  Parte  de  la  Chronica  de 
Peru,  was  published  at  Seville,  in  1553,  folio  ;  and  again,  at  Ant- 
werp, in  1554,  8vo.  At  Rome,  in  the  Italian  language,  in  1555  ; 
and  at  Venice,  in  1557,  8vo.  In  English,  among  Captain  Stevens's 
New  Collection  of  Voyages.  Ciega's  work  contains  only  the  first 


476  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.         [S.  AMEEICA. 

a  fortunate  Collector  of  Books  who  possesses  a  third 
part  only  of  the  "  AMERICAN  LIBRARY"  here  described. 

part  of  his  Chronicle :  there  are  three  other  parts,  which  Antonio 
tells  us  have  been  long  looked  for  by  learned  men.  The  intrinsic 
merits  of  this  work  are  very  great.  The  author  had  been  domiciled 
among  the  Peruvians  from  his  thirteenth  to  his  thirtieth  year.  The 
first  impression  of  Cie9a  is  of  excessive  rarity.  A  Dutch  Chronicle 
of  Peru  (Historic  van  Coninkryk  van  Peru)  was  published  at  Ant- 
werp, 1573,4to. 

ZARATE'S  Hisloria  del  Descubrimiento  y  Conquistadel  Peru  en  el  an 
1555,  was  published  at  Antwerp,  in  1555  j  and  at  Seville,  in  1557, 
folio ;  and  republished  in  Barciass  Hist.  Prim,  vol.  iii.  It  was  trans- 
lated into  Italian  by  Alphonso  Ulloa,  and  published  at  Venice  in 
1563,  4 to.  It  is  a  work  of  real  importance  j  but  rather  topographi- 
cal than  historical.  FERNANDEZ  published  his  first  and  second  parts 
of  the  History  of  Peru,  in  the  Spanish  language,  at  Seville,  in  1571, 
folio.  It  is  a  work,  according  to  Antonio,  of  considerable  interest. 
The  author  was  one  of  the  followers  of  the  accomplished,  bloody- 
minded,  and  (I  grieve  to  add)  bibliomaniacal,  Hurtado  deMendoza  :f 
and  was  constantly,  I  fear,  sheathing  his  sword  in  human  flesh.  His 
book  was  prohibited  to  be  read  in  America,  among  the  Americans  : 
such  was  the  terror  of  a  re- action  from  the  perusal  of  the  pages  of 
this  faithful  vicegerent  of  the  Spanish  government. !  Has  it  been  ever 
translated  ?  GARCILASSO  DE  LA  VEGA  is  a  more  important  writer 
than  either  of  his  predecessors.  His  Commentaries  Reales  que  tra- 
tan  del  Origen  de  los  Yncas,  was  published  at  Lisbon  in  1 609,  folio  : 
with  a  continuation,  or  second  part,  called  Historia  general  del  Peru, 
&c.  published  at  Cordova  in  1619,  folio :  two  small  volumes.  A  new 
edition  of  both  works  was  published  at  Madrid  in  1723,  folio, 
two  vols.  under  the  care  of  Barcia  j  of  which  a  copy  was  sold  for 
2Z.  8s.  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library.  I  find  the  same  price  at- 
tached to  this  impression,  in  4  vols.  in  Mr.  Bonn's  last  catalogue, 
n°.  11964.  The  first  editions  are  of  excessive  rarity  and  high  price, 
even  in  Spain.  A  third  edition,  in  thirteen  octodecimo  volumes,  was 
published  at  Madrid  in  1800.  Baudoin  translated  the  Incas  into 


t  See  Bouterwek's  character  of  this  nobleman.     Spanish  and  Portuguese  Lite- 
rature; vol.  i.  p.  186. 


S.AMERICA.]        VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  477 

Let  the  pages  of  Kennett,  Meuselius,  and  Boucher 
de  la  Richarderie  satisfy  a  more  craving  appetite, 
and  lead  to  the  exhaustion  of  the  most  heavily  fur- 
nished purse.  And  thus  I  bid  adieu  to  land  and  sea. 
After  such  a  circumnavigation,  the  vessel  stands  in 
need  of  repair  and  refitting;  the  keel  being  clogged  with 
every  submarine  production,  mineral,  vegetable,  and 
animal . . . 

Post  varies  casus,  et  tot  discrimina  rerum, 
Tendimus  in  Latium 

French  in  1633,  4to.  of  which  a  new  edition  was  put  forth  at  Am- 
sterdam in  173?,  4to.  two  vols.  with  the  cuts  by  Picart.  Of  these 
handsome  tomes,  there  are  only  fifty  copies  printed  on  LARGE  PAPER: 
books  to  be  snapped  at  by  the  graphic  bibliomaniac.  Rycault  trans- 
lated the  work  into  English,  "  with  sculptures,"  in  1688,  folio. 
Consult  Meuselius  and  Boucher  de  la  Richarderie.  "  The  author 
(says  Pinkerton)  as  a  descendant  of  the  Princes  of  Peru,  has  been 
peculiarly  minute  relative  to  the  religion,  government,  laws,  cus- 
toms, and  manners  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Peru,  as  well  as  the 
productions  of  that  country." 

To  the  above,  let  me  add  the  very  rare  book  of  PEDRO  LOSANO, 
being  a  Chorographic  description  of  the  country,  rivers,  trees,  and 
animals  of  the  provinces  of  Gran  Chaco,  Galambar,  &c.  (in  the  Vice 
Royalty  of  La  Plata,)  published  at  Cordova,  in  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage, in  1723,  4to. :  the  work  being  scarce  and  in  much  request. 
It  has,  apparently,  escaped  Meuselius.  And  here  let  me  ask,  what 
is  the  nature  of  the  work  called  Tears  of  the  Indians,  published  in 
1656,  8vo.  ?  These  "  tearful "  titles  were  common  about  this  pe- 
riod; as  an  examination  of  pages  254-5,  ante,  may  prove.  In  the 
library  of  the  late  Mr.  Rennie  a  copy  of  these  Indian  Tears  may  be 
found  5  and  in  that  of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  at  Chatsworth,  a 
copy  of  the  Tears  of  Ireland,  1642,  12mo.  (the  work  just  referred  to) 
will  be  found.  My  memoranda  of  the  Chatsworth  book-gems  had 
escaped  me  when  I  was  busied  with  this  latter  work  in  the  foregoing 
pages. 


478  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.       [S.  AMERICA. 

%*#  I  should,  however,  be  doing  violence  to  my 
own  feelings,  if,  at  the  close  of  this  circumnavigation 
of  the  globe,  I  suffered  these  pages  to  see  the  light 
without  a  strong  recommendation  of  "  THE  WORLD 
IN  MINIATURE,"*  now  publishing  for  the  sake  of 
very  young  Readers,  and  calculated,  on  every  account, 
to  render  them  familiar  with  the  productions,  charac- 
ters, and  costumes  of  the  leading  nations  described. 
I  know  nothing  more  pleasing  in  its  contents,  more 
appropriate  in  its  embellishments,  and  more  reason- 
able in  its  price.  From  a  sight  of  such  things,  in  early 
youth,  the  next  generation  may  even  surpass  the  pre- 
sent, in  their  love  of  travel  and  research. 

*  It  is  published  by  Mr.  Ackermann,  in  pocket  volumes,  at  about 
7s.  per  vol.  and  will  be  complete  in  fifty  volumes  :  thirty  are  already 
published.  To  these  will  be  added  accounts  of  the  South  Sea  and 
Asiatic  Islands,  in  4  vols.  of  the  same  size  and  price.  A  similar  work, 
with  cuts,  in  yet  smaller  volumes,  was  published  by  the  Elzevirs.,  in 
1663,  &c.  under  the  title  of  Respublica  Varix,  in  47  vols. 


[479] 


BIOGRAPHY. 

Whatever  the  readeivnay  think  to  the  contrary,  we 
are  yet  within  the  province  of  History.  BIOGRAPHY 
is  one  of  its  most  instructive  and  amusing1  branches  ; 
for  what  are  the  Lives  of  public  men,  but  the  History 
of  the  times  in  which  they  flourished  ?  Putting  the 
works  of  Plutarch,  Suetonius,  and  Nepos,  out  of  the 
question— what  are  the  biographies  of  Ximenes,  Sully, 
Washington,  and  Pitt,  but,  as  above  intimated,  the  his- 
tories of  the  respective  national  transactions  in  which 
they  figured  ?  It  is  delightful  to  peruse  the  enthu- 
siasm of  Morhof  (that  sound  and  steady  master  in  the 
old  school  of  Bibliography)  upon  the  subject  of  Bio- 
graphical Memoirs  ;  and  how  he  huffs  Phillibert  de 
la  Mare*  for  his  sneer  against  this  study,  and  his  pre- 
ference of  History  so  called. 

*  "  Non  placet  sententia  Maresii,  qui  lib.  ii.  Epist.  5  in  Historicis 
minimorum  recensionem  indulget,  in  Vitarum  scriptione  illam  dam- 
nat :  qua  in  re  totus  ab  illo  dissentio,"  &c.  Poly  Hist.  vol.  i.  p.  215, 
1714.  I  quote  from  an  edition  of  this  truly  valuable  work  (so  often 
and  often  lauded  in  my  humble  laboursf)  which  is  not  considered  to 
be  quite  the  best  j  but  my  copy  of  it  happens  to  have  been  handled  by 
Albrecht  and  by  Wyttenbach — as  the  respective  autographs  of  these 
great  scholars  prove:  and  who,  having  SUCH  a  copy,  could  think  of 
turning  over  the  leaves  of  any  OTHER  ?  Am  I  wrong  in  considering 
the  "  Maresius"  of  Morhof  to  be  PHILLIBERT  DE  LA  MARE  ?—  about 
whom  there  is  a  brief  but  excellent  account  in  the  Biogr.  Univ.  vol. 
xxvii.  p.  i.  Which  of  my  friends  possesses  his  Melanges  de  literature 
et  d'histoire  (de  1670  a  1687)  two  folio  volumes,  containing,  accord- 


t  See  Bibliomania,  p.  61.     In  the  course  of  this  work  there  are  not  fewer  than 
twenty-one  references  to,  or  quotations  from,  Morhof. 


480  BIOGRAPHY, 

Yet  there  are  snares  in  this  delightful  branch  of 
reading  against  which  I  mast  guard  "  the  young 
man  "  in  particular.  Like  an  epitaph,  biography  is 
frequently  nothing  but  praise.  From  beginning  to 
end,  the  deceased  is  all  perfection ;  or,  if  there  be 
errors  and  improprieties  of  conduct,  those  imperfec- 
tions are  so  delicately  pointed  out,  or  so  ingeniously 
qualified,  that  it  requires  a  sound  judgment  to  sepa- 
rate the  one  from  the  other.  Whoever  read  an  epi- 
taph which  abused  the  deceased  ?  Or,  if  they  have 
read  such  an  epitaph,  for  one  vituperative  composi- 
tion who  has  not  perused  ten  thousand  laudatory  9 
It  is  so  with  books  which  are  devoted  to  the  Lives 
and  Memoirs  of  eminent  private  or  public  characters. 
I  am  not  sure,  even,  from  the  ultimately  prevailing 
influence  of  benevolence  among  mankind — or  from  its 
being  politic  to  address  the  better  feelings  of  our 
nature  —  whether  a  damnatory  piece  of  Biography 

ing  to  Papillon,   an  abundance   of  literary  anecdotes  and  curious 
facts  ? 

Mr.  D'Israeli,  in  his  miscellaneous  and  amusing  article  of  SENTI- 
MENTAL BIOGRAPHY  (Second  Series  of  Curiosities  of  Literature)  thus 
observes  :  "  A  periodical  Critic,  probably  one  of  the  Juniors,  has 
thrown  out  a  startling  observation.  "  There  is,  "  says  this  literary 
Senator,  ' '  something  melancholy  in  the  study  of  biography,  because 
it  is — a  history  of  the  dead."  A  truism  and  a  felicity  mixed  up  to- 
gether, is  the  temptation  with  some  modern  critics,  to  commit  that 
darling  sin  of  theirs  —  novelty  and  originality.  But  we  cannot  con- 
dole with  the  reader  of  Plutarch  for  their  deep  melancholy :  we  who 
feel  our  spirits  refreshed  amidst  the  mediocrity  of  society,  when  we 
are  called  back  to  the  men  and  the  women  who  WERE  !  illustrious  in 
every  glory !  Biography  with  us  is  a  reunion  with  human  existence 
in  its  most  excellent  state  j  and  we  find  nothing  dead  in  the  past, 
while  we  retain  the  sympathies  which  only  require  to  be  awakened.'* 
Vol.  iii.  p.  284. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  481 

would  be  endured  for  a  season?  Recent  experience 
teaches  us  that  a  great  difference  is  observable  between 
flying  paragraphs  of  slander,  and  systematic,  con- 
solidated, abuse.  Concerning  the  dead,  we  should 
say  only  "  what  is  good  "  —  according  to  the  ancient 
adage ;  but,  according  to  the  new  reading  of  a  great 
moral  philologist,  "  nothing  but  what  is  true"  Be 
this  as  it  may,  BIOGRAPHY  is,  of  all  branches  of  his- 
tory, or  belles-lettres,  (the  reader  shall  class  it  just  as 
he  pleases)  one  of  the  most  winning  and  instructive. 
The  avidity  and  delight  with  which  we  peruse  the 
pages  of  certain  well  known  works,  of  this  character, 
is  hardly  to  be  described  :  and  if  we  add  the  yet  more 
attractive  form  of  genuine  AUTO-BIOGRAPHY,  our  de- 
light is  much  more  complete,  inasmuch  as  our  convic- 
tion of  the  authenticity  of  what  we  are  reading,  adds  a 
keener  relish  to  the  perusal.* 

But  a  less  sensitive  frame  may  be  excited  to  the 
goodly  purposes  of  Biography.  I  have  heard  of 
wonders  effected  by  coming  even  within  the  precincts 
of  a  well  furnished  library  of  this  description.  If  this 
be  so,  the  reader  is  informed  of  such  a  library.  In  the 
heart  of  the  Metropolis,  there  dwells  a  very  Magician 

*  Experience,  in  every  case,  however  feeble  and  unimportant,  is 
better  than  theory ;  and  in  the  trifling  anecdote  about  to  be  related — 
not  wholly  unconnected  with  auto-biography  —  the  reader  will  be  at 
least  convinced  of  the  sincerity  of  my  own  sentiments.  If  I  were  asked 
which  was  the  happiest  period  of  my  youthful  days,  I  should  unhesi- 
tatingly answer— "  when  I  used  to  sit  among  the  branches  of  a  large 
mulberry  tree,  plucking  the  berry  in  its  ripest  state,  and  devouring 
at  the  same  time  the  pages  of  PLUTARCH."  .  . .  This  is  the  truth  j 
but  it  is  not  "  the  whole  truth  "  —  for  GIL  BLAS  was  feasted  upon  as 
an  alternate  intellectual  banquet. 

I   I 


482  BIOGRAPHY, 

in  biographical  lore.  I  will  say  nothing  of  what  he 
has  put  forth,  because  it  has  long  been  the  common 
property,  and  theme  of  approbation,  of  the  public  ; 
but  I  will  here  take  leave  to  say,  that,  seated  in  his 
semi-circular  black -morocco  bottomed  chair  (the  true 
seat  of  a  Magician !)  the  character  in  question  is  in 
constant  conversation  with  the  departed  dead :  their 
voices  reach  his  ear,  and  their  language  touches  his 
heart.  With  the  same  facility  and  familiarity,  he 
shakes  hands  with  Alfred  and  Anne,  Latimer  and 
Lowth.  He  is  neither  corrupted  by  the  fallacies  of 
Bolingbroke,  nor  the  sneers  of  Gibbon  :  and  if  a  whole 
host  of  free  thinkers,  with  D'Alembert  and  Voltaire  at 
their  head,  rise  up  to  daunt  him  by  threatened  ven- 
geance, oblivion,  or  contempt,  in  an  instant  he  is 
clothed  in  the  panoply  afforded  by  the  armour  of 
Boyle,  Newton,  or  Locke.  A  body  guard  of  two 
thousand  two  hundred  choice  troops  is  not  so  much 
in  his  pay,  as  at  his  devoted  service.  When  the  Life 
of  this  Magician  is  written — to  add  to  the  stock  of 
biography  already  published  by  him — (for  die,  doubt- 
less, he  must !)  this  mystery  will  be  unravelled,  and  the 
riddle  solved.  Meanwhile,  let  his  sexagenarianism  go 
on  quietly  towards  nonagenarianism. 

Wishing  it  to  be  understood  that,  in  Biography,  I 
shall  also  include  MEMOIRS,  I  proceed  to  the  execution 
of  both  these  "  companionable  "  departments  of  a  well 
garnished  library.  And  first,  for  the  foundation  stones 
of  our  building :  or,  rather,  for  those  materials  which 
are  at  once  both  foundation  and  superstructure:  I 
speak  of  Collections  and  Bodies  of  Biography:  in 
other  words,  of  BIOGRAPHICAL  DICTIONARIES.  And 
truly,  if  the  labours  of  HOFFMANN,  MORERI,  BAYLE, 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  483 

CHAUFEPIE,  (with  their  necessary  adjuncts*)  BRUCKER, 
LADVOCAT,  CHAUDON,  JOCHER,  and  the  Biographic 

*  I  pass  by  the  writers  previous  to  J.  J.  HOFFMAN  ;  because  their 
works  were  of  comparatively  limited  extent,  and  of  comparatively 
inferior  execution.  But  Hoffman  may  be  considered  the  father  of 
modern  Biographical  and  Miscellaneous  Dictionaries,  f  The  best 
edition  of  his  Lexicon  Universale,  historico-geographico-chronologtco- 
poetico-philologicum  (here  are  compound  epithets  !)  is  that  of  Leyden. 
1698,  folio  j  worth  51.  15s.  6d.  if  in  sound  condition,  and  comely 
binding.  This  substantial  work  usually  makes  its  appearance  in  its 
pristine  Dutch  surcoat  of  white  vellum.  (Let  the  lettering  be  on 
blue  or  green  morocco,  for  red  morocco  is  a  most  grievous  heresy  !) 
The  best  edition  of  MORERI'S  Dictionnaire  Historique,  &c.  is  that  of 
1?59,  1O  vols.  folio — edited  by  Drouet,  and  enriched  by  the  supple- 
mental notices  of  the  Abbe  Goujet.  But  this  work,  like  the  water 
of  the  fountain-head  lost  in  the  expanse  of  the  river,  retains  scarcely 
any  thing  but  the  name  of  its  original  planner.  The  materials  have 
been  so  corrected  and  enlarged  that,  according  to  Voltaire,  (as  ob- 
served by  BarbierJ)  it  is  like  a  new  town  built  on  the  ancient  plan. 
A  good  copy  of  Moreri  may  be  worth  14Z.  14s. :  but  the  immense 
increase  of  similar  works,  subsequently  published,  is  likely  to  deteriorate 
much  its  pecuniary  value.  With  this  work,  let  the  Dictionnaire  de 
Trevoux,  1771,  folio,  8  vols.  (best  edition)  be  joined.  I  know  not,  even, 
if  it  be  not  more  indispensable  than  Moreri. §  Mr.  D'Israeli  (Second 
Series,  &c.  vol.  ii.  p.  346)  has  an  instructive  article  upon  it :  but  let 
no  man  talk  of  any  Dictionary  upon  LARGE  PAPER.  Happy  was 


^  The  whole  of  the  above  was  written,  before  I  found  the  following  passage  in 
Mr.  D'lsraeli's  work  above  referred  to :  "  I  heard  a  man  of  great  learning  declare, 
that  whenever  he  could  not  recollect  his  knowledge,  he  opened  Hoffman's  Lexicon 
Universale  Hist,  where  he  was  sure  to  find  what  he  had  lost." 

J  Examen  Critique  et  Complement  des  Dictionnaires  Historiquesy  &c.  Paris,  1820, 
8vo. — tome  i.  p.  i. 

§  "  It  is  precious  as  a  vast  collection  of  ancient  and  modern  learning,  particu- 
larly in  that  sort  of  knowledge  which  we  usually  term  antiquarian  and  philological. 
It  is  not  merely  a  grammatical,  scientific,  and  technical  dictionary,  but  it  is  re- 
plete with  divinity,  law,  moral  philosophy,  critical  and  historical  learning,  and 
abounds  with  innumerable  miscellaneous  curiosities."  D'IsnAELi.  A  good  copy 
of  it,  which  should  be  in  all  libraries  of  10,000  volumes,  is  worth  5/.  5*. 


484  BIOGRAPHY, 

Universelle,  &c.  now  in  a  course  of  publication,  be 

Mons.  Lautour  du  Chatel  to  have  escaped  such  a  copy  of  an  impres- 
sion of  this  work,  of  the  date  of  1721 :  see  p.  351,  of  Mr.  D'Jsraeli. 

I  must  begin  this  sentence,  as  I  concluded  the  preceding,  by  a  re. 
ferencetoMr.  Disraeli's  Second  Series  of  Literature :  of  which  the 
first  volume  opens  with  two  curious  and  interesting  articles  upon 
BAYLE' s  Critical  Dictionary,  and  "  Characteristics  of  Bayle."*  Gib- 
bon's eulogy  of  him  is  at  once  concise  and  just :  and  no  one  read  him, 
or  loved  him  more,  than  the  eulogist  himself.  Bayle  was  a  man  of 
immense,  but  desultory  reading  -}  of  a  subtle  understanding,  invin- 
cible patience,  and  not  less  indomitable  industry.  His  Dictionary  is 
as  a  Cornucopia  of  flowers — bright,  blooming,  and  captivating  j  but 
the  roses  have  more  than  an  ordinary  share  of  keen  and  penetrating 
thorns.  Take  them  up  hastily,  and  your  fingers  will  bleed  for  the 
avidity  of  your  grasp.  The  notes  are  the  grand  field  in  which  Bayle 
delighted  to  pour  forth  his  multifarious  knowledge  :  and  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  his  Life  of  Nero  furnished  a  celebrated  Greek 
quotation  at  a  late  ever-memorable  state  trial.  But  a  further  word 
respecting  this  extraordinary  man.  If  he  was  sceptical,  he  was 
peaceably  disposed  in  private  life ;  although  constantly  assailed  by 
the  bitterest  enemies.  Even  his  "  magnum  opus,"  the  Dictionary, 
was  criticised  before  it  appeared :  a  practice,  not  confined  to  foreign 
countries.  Jurieu,  Saurin,  and  Le  Clerc,  were  unable,  collectively, 
to  ruffle  the  calmness  of  his  temper,  or  embitter  the  sweetness  of  his 
retirement.  Bayle  was,  in  the  republic  of  literature,  what  Lord 
North  was  in  the  House  of  Commons  :  calm  and  composed  in  the 
midst  of  tempest  and  whirlwind.  His  application  will  be  scarcely 
credited.  He  told  Des  Maizeaux,  in  one  of  his  letters,  that,  from 
twenty  to  forty,  he  worked  fourteen  hours  a  day— and  in  fact,  he 
never  knew  what  leisure  was.  Read  Niceron's  most  satisfactory 


*  "  Le  celebre  Bayle  n'avait  d'autre  vue,  dans  1'origine,  que  de  corriger  les  nom- 
breuses  me'prises  qui  avaient  e'chappe'  a  Mor^ri.  Mais  cette  critique  est  bient6t 
devenue,  sous  la  plume  de  ce  grand  e*crivain,  un  ouvrage  du  premier  rang  dans  ce 
genre,  quoiqu'il  ait  donne*  lieu,  soixante  ans  apres  sa  publication,  aux  remarques 
ge'ne'ralementjustes  de  1'abbe"  Joly,  chanoinei  «  Dijon,  qui  orment,  pour  ainsi 
dire,  le  cinquiema  volume  de  cette  production.  BARBIER.  Examen  Critique ,  &c. 
page  ii. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  485 

admitted,  we  may  well  rest  satisfied — even  with  this 

article  in  his  Memoirs  pour  servir  a  Vhistoire  des  Hommes  Illustres; 
vol.  vi.  p.  251-300  :  and  his  emendations,  vol.  x.  p.  2OO,  supplied 
from  Des  Maizeaux's  life  of  Bayle,  which  first  appeared  at  the  head  of 
the  Dictionary,  published  in  1730. 

But  my  province  is  Bibliography.  Niceron  does  not  give  us  the 
date  of  the  first  impression  of  Bayle  (always  to  be  procured)  though 
he  tells  us  the  second  appeared  in  1697,  fol.  4  vol.  in  2.  The  inter- 
mediate editions,  till  that  of  1720,  (edited  by  P.  Marchand)  are  not 
necessary  to  be  noticed  :  but  this  latter  is  considered  both  beautiful 
and  correct.  In  purchasing  it,  be  careful  to  observe  whether  the  first 
volume  have  the  dedicatory  epistle  to  the  Duke  of  Orleans,*  which 
occupy  pages  963,  4,  5  :  and  the  two  articles  in  the  second  volume, 
in  three  sheets  (numbered  963-968)  upon  the  Life  of  David:  if  the 
latter  are  wanting,  the  copy  loses  something  of  its  value.  But  per- 
haps the  edition  of  1740,  containing  the  life  of  Bayle  by  Des  Mai- 
zeaux,  may  be  the  most  useful  to  recommend.  Messrs.  Payne  and 
Foss  mark  a  copy  of  the  first  at  51.  15s.  6d. ;  and  a  copy  of  the  Eng- 
lish edition  of  1/34,  5  vols.  containing  the  same  biography,  at  5Z.  5s, 
in  indifferent  binding.  To  Bayle's  Dictionary  are  usually  added  his 
Works,  published  in  1727>  4  vols.  folio  :  and  I  have  seen  more  than 
one  copy,  of  both  Dictionary  and  Works,  bound  in  red  morocco,  and 
printed  upon  LARGE  PAPER  :  but  (<  procul,  o  procul!"  should  be  the 
address  to  it,  by  every  considerate  young  man.  The  late  Sir  M.  M. 
Sykes,  Bart,  purchased  a  copy  of  this  kind  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss — 
but  Sledmere  had  "  ample  room  and  verge  enough"  for  the  reception 
of  such  herculean  tomes.  Abroad,  the  Bayle  on  large  paper  holds  up  its 
head  much  higher  than  at  home.  Brief  be  the  notice  of  CHAUFEPIE'S 
Nouveau  Dictionnaire  Historique,  &c.  published  at  the  Hague  in 
1750,  folio,  4  vols.  It  is  always  considered  the  Companion  of  Bayle ; 
and,  as  such,  let  a  guinea  per  volume  be  cheerfully  given  for  its 
acquisition.  It  is  common  :  even  in  an  uncut  state.  The  paper  and 
printing  are  every  thing  we  could  wish  such  a  work  to  be.  As  a 
another  Companion,  get,  if  you  have  an  undevoted  double  sovereign 
piece,  the  Diet,  Hist.  &c.  of  PROSPER  MARCHAND,  Haye3 1758,  folio, 


*  I  leave  the  curious  and  the  diligent  to  consult  Brunet,  vol.  i.  p.  165,  respecting 
copies  of  this  dedication,  accompanied  by  a  portrait  of  the  Duke,  with  nineteen 


486  BIOGRAPHY, 

latter  alone  —  respecting  FOREIGN  Biography.*     We 
are,  at  home,  not  without  good  and  substantial  helps. 

C2  vol.  in  1.     I  have  often  consulted  this  work  with  decided  advan. 
tage. 

*  First  of  BRUCKER.  I  speak  of  his  <f  Pinacotheca\  Scriptorum 
Nostra  Etate  Literis  Illustrium.  Aug.  Vindel.  Apud  Haidrum,  1741, 
folio,  2  vols.  This  work  is  so  scarce,  as  not  only  not  to  be  in  the  Bri- 
tish Museum,  but  to  have  escaped  Brunet.  It  contains  the  Lives 
and  Eulogies  of  living  Characters,  with  their  portraits,  in  mezzotint, 
by  Haidius  :  sharp,  intellectual,  severely  accoutred,  old  fashioned 
looking  gentlemen.  The  biography  is  by  the  pen  of  the  author  of 
the  famous  Philosophic  Historic?,  Critica — known  all  over  Europe.  I 
never  saw  but  one  copy  of  this  hugely  covetable  performance,  and 
that  was  in  the  library  of  my  friend  Mr.  A.  Chalmers — obtained  from 
a  sale  in  Holland— but,  as  I  have  reason  to  think,  not  under  the  sum 
of  lOl.  10s.  It  is  in  russia  binding.  LADVOCAT'S  Dictionnaire  His- 
torique,  &c.  1777*  8vo.  4  vols.  is  a  sensible  and  judicious  perform- 
ance. It  will  not  lead  astray  :  but  it  is  now  superseded  by  the  Die- 
tionnaire  Historique,  &c.  1804  of  the  Abbe  CHAUDON  and  M.  DELAN- 
PINE  5  a  new  edition,  in  fact,  of  the  Diet.  Hist,  published  at  Caen, 
in  8  vols.  about  thirty  years  before.  This  improved  edition  is  in  13 
octavo  volumes.  I  possess  it,  and  have  consulted  it  with  advantage  j 


verses  of  M.  Limiers  engraved  below.  These  verses  were  suppressed  before  the 
publication  of  the  portrait,  and  when  a  few  proofs  only  had  been  taken  of  it. 
Shall  I  congratulate  the  Bibliomaniac  who  has  both  portrait  and  verses  ?  What, 
good  Mr.  D'Israeli,  is  the  secret  of  their  suppression  ?  Were  they  laudatory,  and 
was  the  Duke  found  out  to  be  a  rogue  ?  Brunet  refers  us  to  his  Catalogue  of  the 

books  of  M.  D'O ,1811,  8vo.  p.  253  :  a  catalogue,  worth  consulting  on  more 

accounts  than  one. 

t  Let  me  separate,  as  will  be  obvious  enough,  the  above  Pinacotheca  Virorum 
Illustr.  from  that  published  by  /.  Vincentius  de  Rubris,  under  the  name  of  lames 
Wecius  Erythr<zus  —  iu  1643-1645.  "  There  is  an  exquisite  brilliancy  in  the 
Latin  composition  of  this  work,"  says  Morhof :  "  many  memorable  things  are  in- 
troduced about  the  extraordinary  habits  of  living  and  studying  among  learned 
men :  many,  concerning  the  controversies ,  disputes,  arts,  particularities,  and 
books  of  the  same  learned  body,  which  may  be  read  with  equal  utility  and  delight. 
As  the  author  was  a  man  at  once  learned  and  discreet,  he  observes  many  things  in 
the  lives  of  the  learned,  which  have  escaped  the  notice  of  other  authors."  Polyhisj. 
Ut>  vol.  \.  page  227, 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  487 

The  General  Biographical,  Historical,  and  Critical 
Dictionary,  published  in  1734-41,  in  10  folio  volumes, 
afforded  ample  materials  for  the  labours  of  KIPPIS, 
and,  latterly,  of  AIKIN  and  CHALMERS.  Minor  publi- 
cations, including  some  account  of  the  four  preceding, 
will  be  found  in  the  subjoined  note.* 

but  that,  in  turn,  is  now  superseded  by  the  Biographic  Universelle, 
&c.  of  which  36  volumes,  including  the  letters  "  R  A  K  "  have  al- 
ready appeared.  M.  Barbier  has  given  a  pleasing  notice  of  Chau- 
don's  labours  in  the  Examen  Critique,  p.  iij.  Although  IOCHER'S 
Allgemeins  gelehrten  Lexicon,  or  Dictionary  of  learned  Men,  was  pub- 
lished in  1750,  in  4  vols.  4to.,  it  is  indebted  for  the  reputation 
which  it  has  acquired  to  the  admirable  supplemental  labours  of  ADE. 
LUNG  j  whose  two  volumes,  1784-7,  4to.  go  as  far  as  the  letter  I,  in- 
clusively. No  previous  Biographer  (says  Barbier)  had  ever  exhibited 
such  minute  and  exact  attention.  A  third  supplemental  volume,  in- 
cluding the  letter  L,  was  published  at  Delmenhorst  by  ROTERMUND. 
It  is  hoped  that  this  laborious  bibliographer  will  complete  the  con- 
tinuation. Of  the  Biographie  Universelle  Ancienne  #  Moderne,  1811- 
23,  8vo.  of  which  thirty-six  vols.  are  already  published,  and  which 
are  so  frequently  referred  to  in  this  work,  I  will  let  no  well  educated 
"  Young  Man  "  rest  in  peace  till  he  secure  a  copy  j  which,  lettered 
on  morocco,  to  save  the  expense  of  binding,  I  recommend  to  be  pro- 
cured in  extra  French  boarding. 

*  There  General,  Historical,  and  Critical  Dictionary,  edited  by 
BERNARD,  BIRCH,  LOCKMAN,  and  SALE,  Lond.  1734-41,  folio,  ten 
volumes,  may  yet,  if  in  fine  condition,  be  worth  about  1Z.  Is.  per 
volume.  I  learn  from  the  inexhaustible  biographical  stores  of  Mr. 
A.  Chalmers,  that,  from  the  Prospectus  of  this  work,  published  in 
the  Gentleman's  Magazine,  Jan.  1733,  twenty  sheets  (or  eighty  pages) 
were  to  be  published  for  3s.  6d.  This  Dictionary  incorporates,  if  I 
am  not  mistaken,  the  whole,  or  very  nearly  the  whole,  of  Bayle. 
During  the  late  war,  seventy  four  gun  ships  were  cut  down  to  sixty 
gun  ships  j  in  the  hope  of  catching,  and  scotching,  Commodore 
Rogers,  the  American  commander.  This  system  of  cutting  down  has 
been  long  known  in  the  republic  of  literature  :  for,  in  regard  to  the 


488  BIOGRAPHY, 

The  next  immediate  branch  of  enquiry,  or  discus- 
sion, in  this  .department  of  biography,  is,  the  Col- 
very  work  under  consideration,  these  ten  folios  were  cut  down  to  10 
octavos  in  the  year  1773,  under  the  title  of  British  Biography,  or  an 
accurate  and  impartial  account  of  the  Lives  and  Writings  of  Eminent 
Persons  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Of  this  work,  the  late  Dr.  Towers 
was  the  reputed  author.  It  is  closely  printed,  in  double  columns  — 
accompanied,  rather  than  adorned,  with  engraved  portraits. 

In  the  year  1747  appeared  the  BIOGRAPHIA  BRITANNICA,  of  which 
Birch,  Lloyd,  and  others  had  the  chief  superintendence.  It  is  com- 
plete  in  7  folio  volumes.  In  the  library  of  the  Royal  Institution  there 
is  a  copy  with  ms.  notes  by  Morant.  But  in  the  year  17/8  appeared 
a  new  edition  of  this  work,  under  the  editorship  of  Dr.  KIPPIS,  who 
received  however  the  assistance  of  several  able  coadjutors.  There 
are  some  capitally  executed  articles ;  but  truth  compels  me  to  avow, 
that  very  many  of  these  articles  are  seasoned  with  the  spice  of  the 
Editor's  religious  principles,  with  which,  far  be  it  from  me  here  to 
wage  war — although  it  may  be  as  well  to  observe,  that  Dr.  Kippis  was 
a  Dissenter.  This  work,  to  the  regret  of  the  learned,  was  continued 
only  to  the  letter  F : — in  5  vols. :  but  Mr.  A.  Chalmers  has  shewn  me 
a  portion  of  the  sixth  volume,  continuing  that  letter — beginning  with 
<f  FEATLEY  "  and  ending  with  FOSTER  (Sir  Michael.)  Of  this 
precious  portion  there  are  but  two  known  copies  in  existence.  Mr. 
Chalmers  has  one,  and  Mr.  John  Nichols  has  the  other.  Better 
placed,  neither  of  them  can  be.  The  late  Dr.  AIKIN  and  others  pro- 
jected, and  carried  on,  with  infinite  labour,  and  with  many  delays 
from  the  tardiness  of  its  sale)  a  work,  called  General  Biography  5  or 
Lives  Critical  and  Historical  of  the  most  eminent  Persons,  of  all  Ages 
and  Countries:  1799-1815,  4to.  1O  vols.  Dr.  Aikin  was  also  a  dis- 
senter ;  so  that  the  same  "  seasoning  "  may  be  supposed  to  prevail  in 
certain  articles.  This  work  is  low  in  price.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  it 
at  7l.  17*.  6d.  in  boards  ;  and  III.  Us.  in  russia.  The  General  Bio- 
graphical Dictionary  of  Mr.  A.  CHALMERS,  is  in  fact  a  new  edition  of 
the  work  so  called,  of  which  the  best  impression  was  that  of  1798,  in 
15  vols.  octavo.  The  labours  of  Mr.  Chalmers  have  increased  it 
to  more  than  double  that  number  of  volumes  -t  and  not  fewer  than 
thirty  two  octavo  tomes  form,  now,  our  most  popular  biographical 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  489 

lections  of  Lives  by  the  ancient  writers  of  GREECE  and 
ROME  ;  and  as  my  object  is  rather  compression  than 
dilation,  I  shall  content  myself  with  the  mention  only 
of  Plutarch,  Diogenes  Laertius,  Cornelius  Nepos,  and 
Suetonius.  With  the  Parallel  Lives  of  PLUTARCH,* 

Dictionary.  The  sale  has  been  great  and  prosperous  :  and  they  talk, 
in  the  Row,  of  the  stock  in  sheets  ' '  getting  low."  If  this  be  the  case, 
the  Editor  will  be  thinking  of  buckling  on  his  armour  for  another 
biographical  campaign.  Nor  let  him  despair  of  getting  through  that 
campaign  in  the  same  creditable  manner  as  heretofore.  His  "  leaf" 
is  far  from  being  "  sered  "  all  over.  The  edges  only  are  tawny  and 
autumnal.  When  this  work  is  republished,  I  recommend  its  being 
printed  in  double  columns,  and  with  better  ink,  upon  better  paper. 
Such  a  HOST  of  publishers  can  command  any  thing. 

*  Of  this  immortal  monument  of  biography  I  shall  be  excused  for 
recommending  the  Greek  and  Latin  edition  of  BRYANT,  published  at 
London  in  1729,  in  5  handsome  quarto  volumes,  in  a  large  and  legible 
type;  of  which  a  good  copy  is  worth  5L  1 5s.  6d.  Those  who  wish  to  go 
into  critical  questions,  or  examine  learned  dissertations,  connected 
with  this  or  other  portions  of  the  text  of  Plutarch,  will  do  well  to 
consult  the  full  and  erudite  editions  of  REISKE  and  WYTTENBACH. 
Those,  whose  less  auspicious  stars  do  not  enable  them  to  read  the 
original  text,  may  probably  betake  themselves  to  the  naivete  of  the 
French  version  of  good  old  AMYOT  ;  f  or  to  our  own  translations 
by  North,  Dryden,  and  Langhorne ;  of  which,  the  latter  (corrected 
by  Mr.  Archdeacon  Wrangham)  is  the  popular  publication.  But 
"  Master  North,"  when  in  comely  condition,  may  find  admittance 
into  the  choicest  library; 

•^  good  old  Amyotl\  There  are  few  or  none,  among  the  very  interesting  French 
authors  of  the  xvith  century,  of  whom  so  pleasing  a  Biography — and  especially  an 
auto-biography—might  have  been  composed,  as  of  JACQUES  AMYOT.  The  obscurity 
of  his  birth,  his  rising  talents,  his  gradual  promotion,  his  varied  and  important 
occupations,  and,  above  all,  his  love  of  veracity  and  his  almost  unrivalled  style  of 
writing,  would  have  afforded  materials  which  could  not  have  failed  to  delight  and 
instruct  the  latest  generation.  Amyot  was  intimate  with  Francis  I.  and  his  sister 
Marguerite  de  Valois.  He  was  also  a  great  Diplomatist,  and  well  acquainted  with 
the  leading  men  of  the  Italian  states,  whither  he  was  often  sent  in  an  ambassadorial 
capacity.  He  must  have  had  a  fund  of  personal  anecdote,  which,  when  imparted 
in  the  simple  graces  of  his  style,  would  have  charmed  all  readers.  He  was  tutor 


490  BIOGRAPHY, 

where  is  the  reader,  from  sixteen  to  sixty,  who  is  un- 
acquainted ?  I  consider  his  biography  of  the  Illus- 
trious Men  of  Greece  and  Rome,  to  be  not  only  a 
never  failing  source  of  amusement  and  instruction, 
but  as  containing  those  germs,  or  elements,  which, 
deeply  received,  in  after  ages,  into  the  bosoms  of  the 
susceptible  and  ambitious,  may  have  been  the  cause 
of  producing  philosophers,  legislators,  and  warriors 
of  scarcely  less  celebrity.  The  loss  of  Plutarch's  bio- 
graphical works  had  been  perhaps  the  greatest  loss, 
amongst  those  of  ancient  classical  lore,  which  we 
could  have  experienced — had  they  perished  during  the 


to  Henry  III.,  and  had  withal  a  great  share  of  drollery.  His  replies  and  Ion  mots 
are  yet,  many  of  them,  preserved  in  the  pages  of  French  biography.  He  did  for  the 
prose  of  his  country,  what  M alherbe  did  for  its  poetry.  Amyot  and  Malherbe  were 
contemporaries  :  and  the  former  has  received  from  Racine,  the  same  complimen- 
tary criticism  which  the  latter  has  received  from  Boileau.  Amyot's  translation  of 
the  WORKS  of  Plutarch  (which  first  appeared  in  1567,  in  15  vols.  8vo.)  are  yet 
received  as  a  standard  translation ;  and  although  this  translation  abounds  with 
faults,  it  is,  on  account  of  the  seductive  simplicity  and  beauty  of  its  style?  consU 
dered  as  the  most  popular  extant. 

Renouard  tells  us  that  a  clean,  large,  and  fine  copy,  throughout,  of  this  first  edi- 
tion—" ce  livre,  tant  lu,  tant  use"  "  —  is  almost  to  be  despaired  of.  He  speaks  of 
possessing  several  of  the  volumes  in  such  a  desirable  state ;  and  hopes  (but  what 
are  the  hopes  of  man  ? )  they  will  one  day  find  suitable  companions.  Cat,  d'un 
Amateur,  vol.  iv.  p.  278.  But  let  the  critical,  as  well  as  the  curious  collector, 
avail  himself  of  Clavier's  enlarged  and  corrected  edition,  in  1801-6,  25  volumes  in 
8vo. :  less  beautiful  than  that  of  1783,  but  more  intrinsically  valuable.  A  previous 
and  very  superb  edition  had  appeared  in  1784-1805,  in  25  volumes  quarto  :  of 
which  M.  Renouard  possesses  one  of  the  twelve  copies  only  printed  upon  fine  vel- 
lum paper.  Of  these  twelve,  five  copies  of  the  fifth  were  stolen  out  of  the  book- 
seller's warehouse,  and  reprinted ;  but  in  a  very  inferior  manner.  M.  Renouard's 
copy  is  genuine  throughout.  Ibid.  Of  the  LIVES  of  Plutarch,  the  first  edition  of 
Amyot  was  in  1559,  in  2  vols.  folio--of  which  a  lovely  copy  UPON  VELLUM  was  sold 
at  the  Valliere  sale  for  900  francs.  This  copy  was  purchased  by  Count  Macarthy, 
and  at  the  sale  of  the  Count's  library,  by  the  king  of  France  for  1000  francs.  M. 
Van  Praet  describes  it  as  "  d'une  beaute  admirable,  superbe  exemplaire."  Cat. 
des  Liv.  Impr.  sur  ve'lin  de  la  Bibl.  du  Roi,  vol.  v.  p.  49-50.  Those  who  cannot 
thoroughly  decypher  the  old  style  of  Amyot,  may  see  a  modernised  edition  of  his 
Lives  in  1803,  12mo  13  volumes. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  491 

barbarity  of  the  middle  ages.  Of  the  Lives  of  Philo- 
sophers, written  in  Greek  by  DIOGENES  LAERTIUS, 
(who  flourished  about  the  year  of  Christ,  120)  I  must 
almost  exclusively  recommend  the  edition  of  Meibo- 
mius, published  at  Amst.  in  1692,  Gr.  &  Lat.  2  vols. 
4to.  Yet  the  less  pretending  labours  of  Longolius, 
put  forth  in  1739,  8vo.  2  vols,  will,  in  the  absence  of 
Meibomius,  be  far  from  affording  a  superficial  know- 
ledge of  the  sense  of  the  original.  *  In  regard  to 
CORNELIUS  NEPOS  and  SUETONIUS,  let  the  best  Vario- 
rum of  1675— or  rather,  perhaps,  the  second  edition  of 
Van  Staveren,  1 773,  8vo. — suffice  for  the/brwer ;  and 
I  fear  I  cannot  conscientiously  dismiss  the  latter) 
without  requesting  the  learned  to  revel  in  the  elabo- 
rate annotations  of  Barman.  1736,  4to.  2  vols.  or  the 
less  laborious  to  solace  themselves  with  the  elegant 
editions  of  Ernesti  and  Wolf.  ~\- 

In  bringing  the  chain  of  Biography  down  to  the 
present  times,  I  purpose  adopting  the  following  plan. 

*  The  reader  may  for  an  instant  consult  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics, 
vol.  i.  p.  312-13,  for  some  accountof  these  editions.  The  time,  when 
the  LARGE  PAPER  Meibomius  was  to  be  had  for  a  sum  not  under  thirty 
guineas,  is  past :  never,  even  if  a  war  break  out,  to  return.  It  may 
be  now  worth  one  half  of  that  sum.  A  small  paper  copy,  "  very 
neat  in  blue  morocco,"  is  marked  at  the  comforting  price  of  5Z.  15*.  6d. 
in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  :  and,  in  vellum  binding, 
at  the  still  more  comforting  price  of  2Z.  2s.  The  edition  of  Longo- 
lius, in  very  attractive  calf  garb,  may  be  had  for  \l.  Is. 

t  The  Variorum  Nepos  of  1675  is  worth  105.  6d.  and  the  second 
of  Van  Staveren,  18s. :  each  in  goodly  attire.  The  Bur  man  Sueto- 
nius may  be  worth  2Z.  2s. :  the  editions  of  Ernestit  about  10s.  6d. : 
and  that  of  Wolf\L  11s.  6d.  I  ought  to  observe  that  the  goodly 
quarto  impression  of  Pitiscus,  Leovard,  1714,  4to.  2  vols.  is  not  alto-» 
gether  superseded  by  that  of  Burman. 


492  BIOGRAPHY, 

First,  to  mention  a  few  of  the  more  popular  and  costly 
works,  containing  brief  Lives  and  Eulogies  of  illus- 
trious Characters,  in  ALL  classes,  and  of  all  countries, 
which  are  accompanied  by  Engravings  :  secondly,  to 
speak  of  the  more  popular  collections  of  Biographies 
confined  to  certain  Countries,  or  to  learned  Bodies 
within  those  countries :  thirdly,  to  make  brief  and  ho- 
nourable mention  of  the  most  celebrated  detached 
pieces  of  biography,  or  Single  Lives :  and,  fourthly, 
to  adopt  the  same  plan  in  regard  to  that  fascinat- 
ing branch  of  biography  called  Memoirs  and  Anec- 
dotes. There  is,  therefore,  abundance  of  game,  of  all 
sorts  and  of  all  flavours,  before  us — and,  while  I  en- 
deavour to  infuse  enthusiasm  into  the  "  old,"  I  must 
be  allowed  to  repress  the  imprudent  forwardness  of 
"  the  young,"  bibliographical  sportsman. 

The  first  of  these  four  divisions  is  doubtless,  and 
yet  continues  to  be,  the  most  pleasing  ;  especially 
where  the  biographical  accounts  are  accompanied  by 
faithful  portraits.  THEODORE  BEZA  may  be  consi- 
dered the  author  of  this  species  of  biography.  His 
Icones9  id  est  fierce  Imagines  Vtrorum  Doctrina  simul 
et  Pietate  lllustrium  was  first  published  at  Geneva,  in 
1580.  Beza  was  followed  by  BOISSARD  ;  whose  Icones 
Virorum  lllustrium  appeared  in  1597,4to.  in  five  parts. 
The  portraits  in  this  work  were  repeated  in  the  Biblio- 
theca  Chalcographia  Illust.  Viror.  1650.  4to.  two  vols. 
Of  all  these  works,  especially  the  first,  there  is  a  mi- 
nute account  in  the  Bibliographical  Decameron.*  A 

*  See  vol.  i.  p.  279-280.  The  accoutof  Beza's  book  is  accompa- 
nied by  a  fac-simile  of  the  portrait  of  James  I.  when  a  lad  :  but  a 
profusion  of  fac-similes  of  interesting  portraits  is  given,  from  a  work 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  493 

subsequent  examination  of  Morhof,  (Polyhisi.  Hist. 
Lib.  i.  Cap.  xix.  Sect.  49.)  has  confirmed  me  in  the 
opinion  of  the  portraits  executed  by  Theodore  De 
Bry,  in  Boissard's  work  : — "  they  are  obviously  (says 
Morhof)  not  drawn  or  executed  from  the  life."  And 
here,  in  chronological  order,  I  may  as  well  notice  the 
edition  of  the  Lives  of  the  Painters,  by  VASARI, 
which  contains  the  portraits,  cut  in  wood ;  and  which 
appeared  at  Florence  in  1568,  4to.  3  vols.  Tis  a  gem 
in  its  way ;  especially  if  the  margin  be  broad,  and  the 
impressions  of  a  uniform  mellow  tone.-f-  Here  also, 
although  somewhat  out  of  chronological  order,  but 
analogous  in  subject,  let  me  make  mention  of  JUNIUS 

of  a  similar  description,  which  preceded  that  of  Beza's  :  namely,  the 
Promptuarium  Icon.  Insig.  &c.  Lugd.  1553,  4to. 

f  Certain  curious  folks  prefer  this  impression  to  that  of  1759  at 
Rome  -j  "  but  they  are  wrong  in  so  doing,"  says  Brunet.  In  other 
words,  this  preference  is  given  on  account  of  the  cuts.  Intrinsically 
considered,  the  Milan  edition  of  1807,  in  sixteen  vols.  Svo.  is  the 
best.f  So  says  that  competent  judge,  my  very  good  friend,  Mr. 
Ottley.  But  the  same  authority  assures  me  it  is  necessary  to  have 
the  earliest  text  of  Vasari,  as  the  author  frequently  varied  his  opinions, 
and  suppressed  what  he  had  before  written.  Under  this  impression,  I 
recommend  the  curious,  by  all  means,  to  acquire  the  PR  IMA  EDI- 
ZIONE,  published  at  Florence,  in  1550,  4to.  two  vols.  :  and  if  ever 
they  happen  to  alight  upon  such  a  copy  of  this  impression,  as  I  once 
saw  at  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss — in  a  Grolier  sort  of  binding,  with 
the  leaves  as  fair,  thick,  and  crackling,  as  if  Vasari  had  at  that  mo- 
ment received  the  copy  from  his  book-binder— they  will  not  begrudge 
giving  5Z.  55.  for  the  same  :  the  sum  which  those  booksellers  received 
for  it.  The  Florence  edition  of  1568,  abovementioned,  and  printed 
in  the  Giunta  Office,  is  marked  by  them  ("  a  fine  copy,  old  red  mo- 
rocco,) at  4Z.  145.  6d.  This  book  has  the  margins  usually  shorn. 

t  An  edition  in  eleven  vols.  was  published  at  Siena,  in  1 792,  which  Messrs. 
Rivington  and  Cochrane  mark  at  51. 5s.  in  boards. 


494  BIOGRAPHY, 

de  Pictura  feterum,  comprehending  the  Lives  of  the 
Ancient  and  Modern  Painters;  published  after  the 
death  of  the  worthy  old  gentleman,  the  author,  at 
Amsterdam,  in  1694,  folio.* 

The  seventeenth  century  opens  brilliantly  with 
these  ornamented  pieces  of  Biography  by  HOLLAND  : 
whose  Basiloologia  and  Heroologia,  are  works  of 
great  beanty  and  attraction  ;  and  the  former  of  most 
excessive  rarity  and  price.  The  first  was  published 
in  1618,  and  the  second  in  1620.  They  have  been 
both  particularly  noticed  in  the  work  cited  below.*!*  In 

*  A  copy  of  this  book,  with  the  fine  portrait  of  the  author,  is 
marked  by  Mr.  Thorpe,  at  the  reasonable  sum  of  105.  6d.  The  work  is, 
perhaps,  held  too  cheap.  Morhof  saw  it,  in  Holland,  before  it  was 
published.  He  calls  it  fe  satis  copiose  et  vastum  j"  and  doubts  whe- 
ther it  would  ever  be  published :  adding,  that,  "  the  old  gentle- 
man, Junius,  then  in  his  80th  year,  was  unable  to  get  any  printer 
who  would  take  the  expences  upon  himself,  and  run  the  risk  of  the 
publication."  But  the  gallant  spirit  of  Graevius,  the  celebrated  An- 
tiquary, was  instrumental  to  its  appearance  j  and  to  him  we  are 
indebted  for  the  Life  of  Junius,  prefixed.  The  volume  is  divested  of 
embellishment.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  it  at  I/.  Is. 

f  I  must  again  refer  to  the  Bibliographical  Decameron,  vol.  i. 
p.  281-4,  for  the  most  copious  account,  with  which  I  am  acquainted, 
of  these  rare  and  high-priced  works.  Mr.  Thorpe  values  a  sump- 
tuous copy  of  the  Heroologia,  tickled  up  with  all  the  enticing  tooling 
of  Charles  Lewis,  at  the  price  of  12Z.  12s.  If  the  impressions  be 
good,  this  is  not  an  extravagant  price  :  but  consult  the  preceding 
authority  for  an  account  of  Mariette's  copy.  Of  the  Basiloologia, 
Brunet  mentions  a  copy  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris,  which>  as  it 
contains  more  than  one  hundred  portraits,  he  supposes  would  excite 
tremendous  competition  in  this  country,  were  it  to  come  to  the  ham- 
mer :  but  that  diligent  bibliographer  appears  to  have  overlooked  my 
description  of  a  copy  (Ibid.)  which  contained  not  fewer  than  152 
portraits.  He  says,  the  Parisian  copy  contains  twenty-four  portraits, 
up  to  that  of  James  I. :  if  so,  it  is  imperfect :  for  the  DELABEBE 


MEMOIRS  AND    ANECDOTES.  495 

the  same  year  in  which  the  first  of  these  works  ap- 
peared, there  was  published  at  Augsbourg,  in  folio,  the 
"  Fuggerorum  et  Fuggerarum,  8$c.  Imagines"  of  the 
once  mighty  FUGGER  FAMILY  ;*  and  about  the  middle 

COPY,  described  in  the  Decameron,  contained  twenty-nine,  inclusively 
of  the  frontispiece.  And  here,  I  fervently  entreat  both  the  young 
and  the  old  collector  never  to  suppose  the  acquisition  of  this  (unfind- 
alle)  volume  absolutely  necessary  to  make  them  die  "  easy  in  their 
beds," — as  the  phrase  runs.  Granger  breathed  his  last,  unconscious 
even  of  its  existence  !  !  Doubtless  there  are  books,  which,  like  the 
planets,  have  not  yet  become  visible  to  mortals — I  should  rather  say, 
to  the  present  race  of  men  ;  and  with  a  sight  of  which,  indeed,  their 
ancestors  were  rarely  illumined. 

*  <f  Once  mighty" — indeed,  was  this  family  j  and  their  might 
arose  as  much  from  their  wealth  as  their  prowess  in  arms.  They  were 
ennobled  by  Maximilian,  to  whom  they  had  rendered  the  most  essen- 
tial services.  For  a  century  (from  1500  to  1600)  there  was  nothing 
in  Italy— at  Venice,  at  Florence,  at  Milan,  or  at  Rome — like  the 
wealth  of  the  FUGGER s,  at  Augsbourg. f  Without  sending  my 
readers  to  Venice  or  Dresden,  to  turn  over  a  MS.  (in  the  German 
language)  of  which  the  leaves  are  embellished  with  not  fewer 
than  30,OOO  coats  of  armour,  seals,  and  portraits — executed  in  1555, 
in  two  enormous  folio  volumes — they  may  learn,  what  relates  to  the 
illustrious  house  of  Fugger,  in  the  printed  volumes  of  Lambecius 
and  Kollarius.  In  short,  this  family  was  not  less  distinguished  for 


t  The  cause  of  theii'  wealth  arose  from  the  possession  of  the  quicksilver  mines 
of  Almaden,  in  Spain,  the  produce  of  which  was  necessary  in  order  to  work  the 
mines  of  Potosi.  They  became  so  rich,  in  consequence,  that  it  was  thought  they 
possessed  the  philosopher's  stone.  Rabelais  says,  that,  after  the  Fuggers,  at  Augs- 
bourg, Philip  Strozzi  was  the  richest  merchant  in  Christendom.  An  anecdote  is 
recorded  of  their  wealth,  that,  on  Charles  the  Fifth's  passing  through  Augsbourg, 
on  his  expedition  against  Tunis,  he  found  a  faggot  of  cinnamon  placed  (by  their 
order}  in  his  chimney,  which  was  lighted  by  the  promissory  note  of  Charles,  to  re- 
pay them  a  large  sum  of  money  which  he  had  borrowed  of  them.  There  was  a  neat- 
ness, a  delicacy,  a  magnificence,  in  this  mode  of  proceeding,  which  could  not  be 
surpassed.  Some  blundering  bibliographers  (says  the  Biog.  Univ.  vol.  xvi.  p.  154) 
have  classed  the  Fuggerarum  Imagines  among  botanical  works  —  under  the  "  Re- 
semblance O/FERNS." 


496  BIOGRAPHY, 

of  the  same  century  came  forth  the  Portraits  and 
Lives  of  the  Illustrious  Men  of  France,  by  THE  VET,  in 
1648,  folio,  in  the  French  language.  This  book  of 
Thevet  is  a  splendid  folio,  with  large  margins,  and 
the  cuts,  on  copper,  have  a  handsome  aspect ;  but  its 
splendour  is  diminished  by  the  frequency  of  its  ap- 
pearance.* Alas,  for  the  caprice  of  the  BIBLIOMANIA  ! 

literature  than  for  the  fine  arts.  The  library  of  Huldrich  Fugger  is 
now  embalmed  in  the  public  library  at  Heidelberg,  but  his  brother, 
John  James,  with  the  famous  Jerom  Wolfius  for  his  librarian,  almost 
eclipsed  the  celebrity  of  his  predecessor.  To  the  city  of  Augs- 
bourg,  the  whole  family  were  the  most  generous  and  most  beloved 
of  benefactors.  The  volume  above-mentioned  (Fuggerurum  et  Fuggera- 
rum,  8fc.  Imagines)  was  published  by  Dominic  Custos,  a  skilful  artist 
at  Antwerp,  towards  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  (1593,  qu  ?) 
containing  127  portraits,  engraved  on  copper.  The  edition  of  1618 
is  the  second,  with  the  plates  somewhat  worn :  the  same  may  be 
said  of  the  third  in  1620  (see  Bill.  Cicognara,  n°.  2033);  that  of 
Ulm,  1750,  in  folio,  under  the  title  of  Pinacotheca,  &c.  has  the  plates 
retouched.  A  copy  of  the  second  and  third  editions  may  be  each  worth 
2Z.  2*.  Mr.  Douce  has  a  copy  of  the  first,  with  the  date  of  1593  in  the 
corner  of  the  first  plate.  He  also  possesses  a  copy  of  the  second.  Many 
of  these  plates  (of  which  the  effect  is  a  little  injured  by  the  elaborate 
borders)  are  engraved  by  the  Kilians,  and  have  a  truly  Titianic  air  ! 
When  at  Augsbourg,  I  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  many  surviving 
races  of  the  liberality  of  this  once  far-famed  family  :  and  especially 
of  Antony  and  Raymund,  who  were  singularly  munificent  to  the 
churches  and  hospitals  of  that  yet  beautiful  city. 

*  THEVET'S  Vrais  Pourtraits  et  Vies  desHommes  Illustres,  is  omitted 
by  Brunet :  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy  of  an  edition  of 
the  date  of  1584,  at  31.  3s.  This  book  has  generally  a  large  paper 
appearance.  Mr.  Stace  once  shewed  me  a  fine  copy  of  this  kind, 
bound  by  C.  Lewis  in  blue  morocco,  destined  for  the  library  of  the 
late  Marquis  of  Bute  at  Luton.  I  have  possessed  it  in  an  almost 
equally  splendid  condition  It  is  not  in  the  Cicognara  collection. 
Morhof  seems  to  speak  in  praise  of  the  fullness  of  the  text  of  Thevet : 
Polyhist.  Lit.  vol.  i.  p.  226 :  edit.  1714. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  497 

The  next  work  of  this  description,  in  the  order  of 
our  enquiries,  is  BULLART'S  Acaddrnie  des  Sciences  et 
des  Arts  contenant  les  Vies  et  les  Eloges  Historiques 
des  Hommes  Illustres.  Amst.  1682,  folio.  The  em- 
bellishments, on  the  whole,  are  second  rate :  but  bold 
and  striking.  The  text  (into  which  it  is  clear  that 
Morhof  never  looked)  is  said  to  contain  "  some  curi- 
ous anecdotes."*  I  now  reach  the  charming  perform- 
ance of  PERRAULT:  "  Les  Hommes  Illustres  qui  ont 
paruen  France  pendant  ce  siecle"  Paris,  1696-1700, 
folio,  2  vols.  in  1.  There  is  no  previous  work  to  be 
put  in  competition  with  it ;  and  the  engravers  are 
worthy  of  the  illustrious  characters  whose  physiog- 
nomies will  go  down  to  posterity  from  the  magic  of 
their  burin.*f~  I  do  earnestly  recommend  the  tasteful 

*  Biogr.  Univ.  vol.  vi.  p.  252.  My  friend  Mr.  A.  Chalmers  pos- 
sesses the  most  beautiful  copy  of  BULLART  with  which  I  am  ac- 
quainted. It  is  bound  in  old  French  red  morocco,  and  has  the 
reasonable  mark  of  31,  3s.  in  the  corner  of  the  first  fly  leaf,  inserted 
by  the  well  known  pencil  of  Mr.  Payne.  An  ordinary  copy  may  be 
obtained  for  two-thirds  of  this  sum.  From  the  authority  here  refer- 
red to,  it  should  seem  that  this  work  contains  249  portraits  engraved 
by  Larmessin  and  Boulonnois,  who  were  afterwards  pensioned  by  the 
author.  Those  copies,  which  have  the  date  of  1682,  as  printed  at 
Brussels;  or  Amsterdam — or  that  of  1695,  as  printed  at  Brussels — are, 
in  fact,  only  the  Paris  edition  with  a  fresh  title-page. 

f  The  principal  engravers  are  Edelinck  and  Nanteuil :  and  those 
who  wish  to  possess  right  copies,  must  see  that  the  heads  of  ARNAULD 
and  PASCAL  be  there  j  as,  on  their  appearance,  the  bile  of  the  Jesuits 
was  moved  to  such  a  pitch,  that  they  caused  their  suppression  in  many 
of  the  copies  of  this  first  edition.  But  they  were  triumphantly  re- 
stored :  and  the  celebrity  of  Port- Royal  (where  the  characters  of 
these  two  effective  members  were  so  much  reverenced)  was  exalted 
by  an  adaptation  of  the  following  passage,  from  Tacitus,  to  the  sup- 
pression of  their  portraits  :  "  Praefulgebant  Cassius  atque  Brutus,  eo 

K  K 


498  BIOGRAPHY, 

collector  to  spare  no  cost  in  procuring  a  copy  of  this 
work,  (whether  on  large  or  small  paper,)  which  con- 
tains beautiful  impressions  of  the  plates. 

In  the  year  1739  were  published,  at  Amsterdam,  two 
quarto  volumes,  full  of  copper  plates,  of  the  illustrious 
men  of  Holland  and  Flanders,  under  the  title  of  Bib" 
liotheca  Belgica ;  of  which  FOPPENS  was  the  author. 
This  work  is  not  without  its  use,  and  I  have  consulted 
it  with  advantage.*  The  art  is  not  first-rate ;  but 
there  are  portraits  of  some  distinguished  men  of  whom 
no  others  are  to  be  found.  Nor  is  the  text  divested 
of  interest.  At  length  I  have  to  record  the  introduc- 
tion of  ornamented  biography,  in  our  own  country,  on 
a  scale  of  splendour  which  has  hardly  been  exceeded 
by  any  other.  In  the  year  1743  came  forth,  in  one 
magnificent  folio  volume,  Dr.  BIRCH'S  Heads  of  the 
most  Illustrious  Persons  in  Great  Britain  :  of  which 

ipso  quod  effigies  eorwn  non  videbantur."  In  the  second  impression, 
the  heads  of  THOMASIN  and  DUCANGE,  substituted  for  those  of  Ar- 
nauld  and  Pascal,  were  withdrawn.  The  new  edition  of  1805  is  not 
worth  seeking  after.  A  fine  copy  of  Perrault  may  be  worth  51.  5s. : 
and,  on  large  paper,  71.  7s.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  copy  at  31.  3s. 
Each  life  occupies  a  sheet,  or  two  pages,  only.f  I  have  seen  several 
beautiful  copies  on  large  paper. 

*  The  head  of  PLANTIN,  the  famous  printer,  given  in  theBibliogr. 
Decameron,  vol.  ii.  p.  156,  was  copied  from  that  in  Foppens  :  which, 
again,  was  borrowed  from  that  in  Bullart.  A  good  copy  of  the  Bibli- 
otheca  Belgica  is  worth  Ql.  2s. 


f  Let  me  here  briefly  make  mention  of  the  Theatrum  Virorum  eruditione  Claro- 
rum  of  FREHER,  published  in  two  folio  volumes,  at  Nuremberg,  1688  :  and  con- 
taining not  fewer  than  1310  portraits — placed  in  rows,  as  you  see  oranges  in  a 
fruitshop— on  a  little,  mean,  unsatisfactory  scale.  Yet  Freher  is  worth  an  occa- 
sional consultation ;  and  a  good  copy  of  him  may  be  valued  at  31.  3s.  The  secret,  or 
private,  history  of  such  a  work,  muit  be  curioui.  What  was  given  per  plate  to  the 
engravers  ? 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  499 

the  lives  are  written  in  a  neat  and  unaffected  manner. 
The  appearance  of  this  book  produced  an  electrical 
effect  upon  the  public.  It  was  the  first  great  work  of 
art  which  accompanied  a  popular  text :  and  HOU- 
BRAKEN, whose  magical  burin  was  chiefly  instru- 
mental to  its  popularity,  was  at  once  lifted  to  the  very 
pinnacle  of  fame.*  He  has  doubtless  achieved  much, 

*  A  secret  has  been  imparted  to  me  about  the  probable  actual  share 
of  HOUBRAKEN,  in  this  immortal  book.  He  worked  upon  the  etch- 
ings of  GRAVELOT  :  and  all  the  ornamental  parts,  round,  and  below, 
the  portraits,  are  from  the  latter,  untouched  by  the  former  It  is 
wonderful  to  see  the  magical  effect  of  Houbraken's  burin  upon  that  of 
Gravelot.  Mr.  T.  Wilson  (a  gentleman,  whose  collection  of  fine 
prints  is  almost  unrivalled)  has  a  complete  illustration  of  it.  He  pos- 
sesses the  portrait  of  Anne  Boleyn,  by  both  artists :  one  and  the  same, 
as  to  lineaments  and  dimensions.  Houbraken  began  by  clearing  away, 
or  scraping  out,  the  shadows  j  softening,  what  he  allowed  to  remain, 
by  a  most  beautiful,  undulating  effect ;  and  marking  the  prominent 
parts  of  the  features,  by  bold  and  yet  harmonious  indentations.  Life 
and  soul  seem  to  take  possession  of  his  heads. f  The  eye,  globular, 
pellucid,  and  sparkling,  moves  in  its  socket.  The  lips  breathe,  and 
the  nostrils  distend.  Gravelot  placed  before  his  master  a  dry,  inani- 
mate, and  repulsive  subject— which  that  master  endued  with  every 
thing  to  render  it  beautiful  and  attractive.  In  the  mechanical  ma- 
nagement of  a  countenance,  Houbraken  has  never  been  exceeded : 
no,  not  by  Morghen  or  Longhi.  I  have  mentioned  this  curiosity  in 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Wilson :  but  that  gentleman  has  graphic  trea- 


•f*  It  should  appear,  from  NichoFs  Literary  Anecdotes,  vol.  viii.  p.578,  that  Horace 
Walpole  had  a  design  of  continuing  this  Collection  of  Illustrious  Heads,  "  not 
merely  in  chronological  order  from  the  last  of  the  others,  but  to  fill  up  gaps  among 
them.  An  original  portrait  of  Edward  IV.  is  just  come  to  light — I  forget  where  ; 
and  innumerable  others  have  been  attended  to  in  private  galleries  since  Houbra- 
ken's time.  They  are  to  be  engraved  by  the  best  artists,  at  one  guinea  for  four  in 
a  .number,  with  letter  press.  Some  doubt  whether  they  are  not  rated  too  high ;  but 
our  present  engravers  do  not  work  so  cheap  as  Houbraken."  Gough  to  Tyson  : 
Jan.  30, 1772.  An  ample  and  excellent  account  of  Birch's  book  will  be  found  in 
Savage's  Librarian,  vol.  iii.  p.  49. 


500  BIOGRAPHY, 

and  overshadowed  the  merits  of  his  fellow  labourer — 
the  honest,  the  steady,  the  diligent,  and  faithful  VER- 
TUE.  A  fine  copy  of  this  book  (that  is  to  say,  a  copy 
with  fine  impressions  of  the  plates)  is  yet  worth  a 
round  dozen  of  sovereigns  —  even  on  small  paper: 
which  in  fact  is  hardly  more  common  than  the 
large.  * 

The  passion  for  this  species  of  ornamented  biogra- 
phy seemed  now  to  be  pretty  general  throughout  Eu- 
rope ;  and  at  Copenhagen,  in  1746,  there  appeared  a 
quarto  volume,  of  which  TYCHO- HOFFMANN  was  the 
author,  called  Portraits  des  Hommes  Illustres  de  Dan- 
nemark.  I  cannot  conceal  my  unqualified  admira- 
tion of  this  brilliant,  and  now  scarce,  volume ;  and 

sures  of  infinitely  greater  importance  j  and  it  is  here  only  necessary 
to  observe,  that  he  possesses  PBOOFS,  "  before  the  letter,"  of  every 
portrait  in  this  volume :  such  proofs,  as  I  have  never  before  seen,  and 
which  I  could  have  never  reasonably  hoped  to  see. 

*  I  should  apprehend  this  to  be  not  far  from  the  fact :  at  least  to  my 
experience  Houbraken  is  as  common  on  large  as  on  small  paper.  I 
have  seen  glorious  copies  of  the  large  :  in  old  calf  binding,  with  broad 
border  of  gold  on  the  sides  :  marble-gilt  leaves  :  and,  doubtless,  worth 
hard  upon  thirty  guineas.  There  would  be  no  end  to  references  to 
sale-catalogues.  I  observe  however  two  copies  on  large  paper,  of 
the  edition  of  1756,  with  old  impressions  of  the  plates,  in  the  cata- 
logue of  Messrs.  Arch  :  one,  in  russia  binding,  marked  at  24Z. :  and 
the  other,  in  morocco,  at  29/.  Ss.  It  has  risen  greatly  since  Osborne's 
time  ;  for,  I  find  a  "  royal  paper"  copy  of  it  marked  at  61.  6s.  only,  in 
his  sheet  catalogue  of  1759.  A  reasonable  doubt  may  be  entertained 
as  to  there  being  three  sorts  of  paper  :  small,  royal,  and  imperial ;  as 
noticed  by  Brunet.  Mark  well  that  the  supplemental  plates  81  and 
108  are  found  in  the  copy  which  you  purchase.  The  text  of  this 
work  has  been  reprinted,  with  some  few  additions  j  and  a  copy  of  it, 
with  most  brilliant  impressions  from  the  first  edition,  is  in  the  library 
at  Althorp. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  501 

have  spent  many  an  half  hour  in  reading  its  text,  and 
gazing  upon  its  graphic  gems,  in  the  magnificent  (and, 
as  far  as  I  know,  unique)  copy  of  it  at  Althorp,  upon 
LARGE  PAPER.*  Possible  it  is  that  several  beautiful 
biographical  works  may  have  been  published  between 
this  last  and  the  Portraits  of  the  Illustrious  Persons 
of  the  Court  of  Henry  FIJI,  designed  by  HOLBEIN 
and  engraved  by  Bartolozzi ;  of  which  the  biographical 
notices  are  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Edmund  Lodge,  then 
Lancaster  Herald.  The  work  was  published  by  the 
late  Mr.  John  Chamberlaine,  in  a  folio  volume,  or  four- 
teen parts,  in  1792.  Let  me  unhesitatingly  introduce 
this  very  charming,  costly,  and  captivating  perform- 

*  Brunei  mentions  no  such  copy  $  nor  do  the  authors  of  the  Biogr. 
Universelle,  vol.  xx.  p.  452  :  although  they  state  that  the  six  parts,  of 
which  it  is  composed,  are  not  always  found  upon  paper  of  exactly 
the  same  size,  which  leads  to  a  supposition  that  they  were  printed  at 
different  places.  But  the  Althorp  copy  is  a  palpable  and  glorious 
LARGE  PAPER  one  :  boundin  red  morocco — and  containing,  as  all  per- 
fect copies  ought  to  contain,  the  seventh  part,  entitled  ' r  Mtfmoires  du 
ci-devant  grand  ckancelier  de  Danemark"  &c.  The  plates,  including 
many  beautiful  little  vignettes,  as  well  as  striking  portraits,  are  by 
different  hands,  and  are  almost  all  of  them  bright  and  bewitching  ? 
though  perhaps  a  little  too  metallic  and  severe.  That  of  Hoffmann, 
in  the  frontispiece,  is  by  the  unrivalled  Will;  whose  "  Lady  in  the 
Satin  Gown"  (I  allude  to  a  well  known,  separately  published,  printf) 
will  hand  his  name  down  to  the  latest  posterity.  A  perfect  copy  of 
Hoffmann's  book  is  rare  ;  and  worth,  I  should  imagine,  5/.  5*.  To 
the  large  paper,  I  will  not  affix  any  price.  The  reprint  of  Hoffmann 
in  1773,  4to.  three  vols.  though  it  has  additions,  is  in  the  Danish  lan- 
guage, with  worn  impressions  of  the  plates,  and  therefore  scarcely 
worth  purchasing.  

t  Mr.  John  Nichols  has  a  fine  copy  of  this  fascinating  furniture-ornament,  hang- 
ing up  in  his  Tusculum  near  Highgate  :  but  Mr.  Wilson  has,  as  it  seemeth  to  my 
fond  fancy,  the  NONPAREIL  of  all  impressions  !  He  has  also  an  early  proof  of  Dan 
Tycho  himself. 


502  BIOGRAPHY, 

ance,  to  the  attention  of  every  tasteful  Collector,  be 
he  "  young  "  or  be  he  "  old. "  The  subjoined  note  will 
furnish  some  details  about  the  worth  and  value  of  the 
volume.*  It  may  be  as  well  to  observe,  that  a  repub- 

*  First,  let  it  be  observed  that  all  the  engravings  are  taken  from  ORI- 
GINAL DRAWINGS  in  the  possession  of  his  late  and  present  Majesty. 
These  engravings  are  eighty-two  in  number,  f     They  are  executed 
in  the  stippling  manner,  with  great  freedom  of  outline,  and  delicacy 
of  execution.  But  there  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  a  few  of  them 
are  FAITHLESS  performances ;    and  I  will  tell  the  reader  why.     Bar- 
tolozzi  had   a  notion  that  he  could  improve  every  thing  which  he 
touched  j  and  he  also  knew  the  force  of  his  own  powers,  and  the 
popularity  of  his  own  name  with  the  public.     He  was  fond,  too,  of 
italianismg  his  faces ;  and  you  generally  see  something  like  the  same 
face  in  all  his  graphic  productions.      This  however  may  be  mere 
surmise  or  declamation.    Now  for  <f  proof  positive."     Do  any  of  my 
readers  remember  the  first  anonymous  female  portrait,  which  has  been 
thought  to  be  Margaret  Roper,  Sir  T.  More's  eldest  daughter?    That 
portrait,  as  engraved  by  Bartolozzi,  is  NOT  the  portrait  as  drawn  by 
Hans  Holbein.     Most  of  the  ornaments  are  added:  and  the  features 
are  wholly  different.     I  have  examined  the  FAC-SIMILE  of  the  ori- 
ginal drawing,  executed  by  Mr.  Frederick  Lewis,  the  engraver— in  a 
manner  so  minute,  and  so  faithful  to  the  original,  (allowed  by  those 
who  have  seen  BOTH)  as  to  leave  it  beyond  dispute  that  the  produc- 
tion of  Bartolozzi  is,  comparatively,  faithless.    Those  who  have  seen 
Mr.  Lewis's  fac-similes  of  the  drawings  of  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence, 
will  be  readily  disposed  to  admit  the  extraordinary  truth  and  delicacy 
of  that  artist's  burin.     Even  to  an  experienced  eye,  these  drawings 
may  now  and  then  be  mistaken  for  originals.     They  are  singularly 
sweet  and  masterly. 

What  should  follow  ?  First,  in  every  degree  of  probability,  a  few 
other  of  these  portraits  by  Bartolozzi  are  faithless  -t  and,  if  faithless 
to  the  extent  which  appears  in  this  of  Margaret  Roper,  then  we  have 
many  of  Bartolozzi's  conceits,  and  not  Holbein's  truths,  in  the  vo- 


f  Of  these  eighty-two  plates,  two  are  of  Holbein  and  his  Wife  :  sixty-eight  are 
of  persons  whose  names  are  known,  and  twelve  of  anonymous  personages.  There 
are  about  seven  or  eight  only  not  engraved  by  Bartolozzi. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  503 

lication  of  it,  in  a  smaller  folio  form,  appeared  in  1812. 
Both  editions  were  published  by  Mr.  George  Nicol, 
bookseller  to  his  late  Majesty. 

It  was  after  twenty  years  of  established  celebrity  of 
the  portraits  of  Holbein,  that  another  similar  work,  of 
greater  extent,  and  executed  by  the  same  literary 
pen,  appeared  before  the  public  in  a  succession  of 
numbers,  under  the  following  title :  Ci  Portraits  of 
Illustrious  Personages  of  Great  Britain,  with  biogra- 
phical and  historical  Memoirs  of  their  Lives  and 
Actions"  which  was  completed  in  two  royal  folio 
volumes,  in  1821.  These  volumes  contain  not  fewer 
than  "  120  portraits  by  the  most  celebrated  artists, 
from  original  paintings  in  the  possession  of  the  No- 

lume  under  consideration.  Secondly,  might  not  his  present  Majesty, 
who  loves  and  understands  art,  and  whose  collection  of  DRAWINGS 
alone  is  almost  beyond  all  price,  be  prevailed  upon  to  allow  these 
Holbeinian  treasures  to  be  again  submitted  to  the  eye  of  a  copyist, 
and  that  copyist  an  ENGLISHMAN  ?  It  is  Holbein  as  he  is,  that  we 
want ;  it  is  his  drawings  as  they  are,  that  we  desiderate :  and  all  pret- 
tiness  and  conceits,  in  the  way  of  additions  or  corrections,  are  viola- 
tions of  truth  and  taste.  I  predict  —  and  with  the  confidence  of  cer- 
tainty— that  were  such  a  work  to  be  announced,  under  the  title  of 
HANS  HOLBEIN  RESTORED  ....  its  success  would  be  equal  to  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  most  ardent  of  that  great  man's  admirers. 

But  of  this  splendid  performance,  as  it  is,  copies  are  now  becom- 
ing rare,  and  sell  at  an  advanced  price.  These  copies  usually  pre- 
sent the  plates  struck  off  on  a  pink  paper,  in  imitation  of  the  origi- 
nals ;  but  there  are  some  few  and  scarce  copies  which  shew  them 
in  brown  colour,  upon  white  paper.  The  late  Mr.  Yenn,  of  Ken- 
sington, Inspector  of  the  Board  of  Works,  used  to  lay  great  stress 
on  the  one  of  his  two  copies  which  had  the  plates  in  this  latter  con- 
dition. A  good  copy,  in  the  usual  style,  and  bound  in  morocco 
(its  ordinary  coat)  is  worth  five  and  twenty  guineas.  A  perfect  copy 
of  the  republication,  in  small  folio,  is  worth  12J.  12s. 


504  BIOGRAPHY, 

bility  and  Gentry  of  this  country/'*  The  plan  was 
admirable  ;  and  the  execution  of  it,  throughout,  is 
entitled  to  equal  admiration.  Such  a  union  of  various 
talents — such  a  GALLERY  OF  ILLUSTRIOUS  DEAD — was 
scarcely  ever  before  presented  to  the  eyes  of  the 
public,  in  colours,  almost  as  vivid  and  sparkling  as  if 
the  ORIGINALS  occupied  the  canvas  whence  their 

*  The  publishers  of  this  truly  splendid  and  national  performance 
were  Messrs.  Lackington,  Hughes,  Harding,  and  Co. ;  while  the 
executive  department  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  partner  here  last  named.  Mr. 
Harding  proved  himself,  in  all  respects,  worthy  of  the  task  confided 
to  him.  Bonaparte  had  not  a  more  active  war  minister  in  Berthier, 
than  Messrs.  Lackington  and  Hughes  found  an  associate  in  Mr. 
Harding.  He  scoured  the  country  from  one  extremity  to  the  other. 
From  Truro  to  the  Tweed,  not  a  castle,  in  which  were  tapestries 
and  picture-galleries,  escaped  his  researches,  or  disappointed  his 
hopes.  The  whiskered  warrior,  and  the  ermined  judge — the  coifed 
Dowager,  and  the  strait-laced  Queen — were  cleansed,  and  delivered 
from  the  cobwebs  and  dirt  in  which  they  had  been  embedded  for  cen- 
turies. After  completing  his  reconnoissances,  Mr.  Harding  dispatched 
artists,  in  all  directions,  to  make  those  copies,  in  water  colours,  of  the 
Originals  which  he  had  seen,  and  from  which  the  engravings,  now 
before  the  public,  were  executed.  Meanwhile,  the  pen  of  the  Lan- 
caster Herald,  Mr.  Lodge,  was  roused  from  a  state  of  inactivity,  in 
which,  well  nigh  to  the  shame  of  the  age,  it  had  been  suffe'red  to 
remain  j  and  that  pen  has,  in  the  MEMOIRS  attached  to  these  En- 
gravings, performed  its  task  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  former 
reputation  of  the  author.  These  short  pieces  of  biography  are  indeed 
admirable ;  very  models  of  taste  and  imitation.  As  might  be  ex- 
pected, this  work  has  made  its  appearance,  in  all  the  varieties  of 
temptation :  with  etchings  j  with  proofs  ;  on  large  paper,  and  the 
plates  on  India  paper.  A  copy  of  the  ordinary  paper,  with  good  im- 
pressions of  the  plates,  is  worth  about  thirty-six  guineas :  of  the  large 
paper,  with  proofs  on  India  paper,  a  copy  may  sell  for  ,§£80,  in 
handsome  morocco  binding.  The  reprint,  in  a  large  octavo  and  quarto 
form,  has  five  beautiful  heads  in  each  number,  which  sell  for  12*.  6d. 
the  number.  The  size  of  this  reprint  is  delightfully  commodious. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  505 

copies  were  taken.  The  work  is,  in  truth,  an  honour 
to  our  country,  and  cannot  fail  (especially  now  that 
the  plates  are  destroyed)  to  maintain  a  high  and  legi- 
timate price.  Like  the  portraits  of  Holbein,  this 
work  has  been  also  republished  on  a  smaller  scale,  at 
a  reduced  price,  but  in  a  style  of  equal  graphic  beauty. 
Yet  such  has  been  its  attractions,  that  the  first  num- 
ber of  a  third  volume,  in  the  original  folio  size,  has 
made  its  appearance — equally  to  the  surprise  and 
gratification  of  the  public.  The  portraits,  in  this  con- 
tinuation, are  even  of  superior  beauty  to  those  which 
preceded  them  ;*  and  if  the  publishers  continue  thus 
to  gather  strength  as  their  work  goes  on,  there  is  no 
saying  to  what  extent,  or  of  what  a  character,  their 
future  labours  may  be.  Why  should  they  fear  or  pause? 
In  the  overwhelming  masses  of  trash,  which  are  weekly, 
if  not  daily,  pouring  in  upon  the  republic  of  literature, 
it  is  pleasing  to  alight  upon  such  productions  as  these : 
which  cheer  and  guide  us,  like  friendly  watch-fires, 
across  a  country  of  darkness  and  peril. 

I  come  now,  as  the  second  division  of  this  present 
enquiry,  to  speak  of  Bodies  of  National  Biography, 
whether  confined  to  the  whole,  or  to  a  part  of  our 
country:  and  craving  pardon  fora  blunder,  in  having 
incorporated  the  Biographia  Britannica  in  the  past 
ages,  I  proceed,  in  a  trice,  to  dispatch  this  de- 
partment of  Biography.  First,  take  up  LELAND,  de 
Scriptoribus  Britannicis :  then,  solace  yourself  with 
BALE'S  Scriptores  Illustres  Major  is  Brit  annice ;  and, 


*  Of  the  six  portraits,  in  the  first  number  of  this  CONTINUATION, 
those  of  Sir  T.  More,  the  Duchess  of  Richmond,  and  Sir  Christopher 
Hatton,  are  singularly  beautiful  and  attractive. 


506  BIOGRAPHY, 

if  you  please,  with  PITS'S  Relationes  Historicce  de  Re- 
bus Anglicis,  which  carry  you  pretty  nearly  through 
one  century.*  Anon,  take  up  TOM  FULLER'S  His- 
tory of  the  Worthies  of  England,  which  brings  you 
down  to  the  year  1662  ;  and  be  sure  that  the  head  of 
"  honest  Tom/'  by  Loggan,  prefixed  to  the  title,  be  not 
missing.  The  opening  of  the  seventeenth  century 
presents  us  with  the  historico-biographical  labours  of 
BISHOP  NICOLSON  ;  and  a  good  copy  of  the  folio  edi- 
tion (of  1736)  of  his  English,  Scotch,  and  Irish  His- 
torical Libraries,  (first  published  in  piece-meal  about 

*  Leland,  Bale,  and  Pits,  shall  occupy  the  present  note  :  premis- 
ing that  all  these  works  have  been  more  or  less  noticed  in  the 
tf  Cabinet"  of  the  Bibliomania,  p.  41,  &c.  The  Commentarii  de 
Scriptoribus  Britannids  of  Leland  were  published  from  the  originals 
in  the  Bodleian  Library,  by  Anthony  Hall,  Fellow  of  Queen's  Col- 
lege, in  two  octavo  volumes,  at  Oxford,  in  1709  j  and  may  be  had 
for  about  10s.  "  Hearne's  copy  of  this  work  is  now  in  the  Bodleian 
Library  (8vo.  Rawl.  57-)  and  that  diligent  antiquary  has  collated  it 
with  Leland' s  MS.  as  far  as  page  135.  He  complains  of  Hall's,  as 
fe  a  very  faulty  edition,"  and  with  great  justice,  for  it  abounds  in 
mistakes  and  omissions,  many  of  great  import  to  the  sense  of  the 
work  "  Letters  by  Eminent  Persons,  &c.  Oxford,  1813,  8vo.  vol.  i. 
p.  198.  Of  Bale's  work,  the  edition  of  1559,  in  folio,  is  alone  to  be 
purchased  j  and  such  a  copy  of  it  as  that  now  at  Althorp,  is  perhaps 
hardly  elsewhere  to  be  found.  It  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  an 
extensive  bibliographical  collection,  in  1817,  (designated  as  large 
paper)  for  4l.  5*.  A  fair,  good  copy  may  be  worth  31.  3s.  I  never 
heard  of  its  existence  uncut.  A  good  copy  of  Pitseus,  is  worth 
1Z.  11s.  6d.  Tis  a  sorrily  printed  book.  The  work  is  by  a  Roman 
Catholic,  and  incomplete.  Does  the  remaining  portion  of  the  MS. 
exist  >  What  say  Messrs.  Butler  and  Lingard  ?  I  forgot  to  add, 
that  a  fac-simile  of  the  supposed  portrait  of  Bale,  presenting  his 
work  to  Edward  VI. — from  the  frontispiece  to  the  Ipswich  edition, 
of  1548,  4to.may  be  found  in  the  Bibliogr.  Decameron,  vol.ii.  p.  309  : 
see  also  vol.  iii.  242. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  507 

the  years  1690-5)  is  a  very  comfort  to  a  lover  of  his 
country's  literary  renown.  About  this  period — that  is, 
between  the  years  1708-22 — appeared  Dr.  MACKEN- 
ZIE'S Lives  of  the  Scotish  Writers,  in  three  folio  vo- 
lumes ;  a  work  of  very  considerable  utility,  and  now 
becoming  scarce,  and  in  great  want  of  republication, 
with  additions  and  corrections.* 

Thrice  welcome  be  the  Athence  Oxonienses  of  old 
ANTHONY  A  WOOD  !  of  which  work,  till  the  recent  very 
valuable  edition  of  it  by  Dr.  Philip  Bliss,  the  impres- 
sion of  1721,  in  two  folio  volumes,  was  considered  to 

*  Fuller,  Nicolson  and  Mackenzie,  shall  occupy  this  following 
note.  Fuller  must  be  always  read  with  a  certain  degree  of  caution  j 
for  he  was  fond  of  a  joke,  and  often  picked  up  intelligence  in  a  slo- 
venly manner.  There  was  a  time  when  a  fine  copy  of  the  folio 
(t  Worthies/'  with  a  rich,  warm  impression  of  the  portrait,  was  worth 
12/.  12s.  :f  that  time  will  never  again  return,  because  the  new  quarto 
edition  of  the  same  work,  in  two  volumes,  is  in  reality  the  better 
edition,  having  corrections  and  a  few  additions — and  being  obtain- 
able for  one  third  of  the  money.  But  the  portrait — 'ay,  there  is  the 
rub  !  "Tis  a  fine  specimen  of  Loggan's  bold  burin.  If  my  memory 
be  not  treacherous,  Mr.  Wilson  has  an  isolated  proof  of  it.  Why 
was  it  unknown  to  Granger  ?  The  quarto  edition  of  NICOLSON,  of 
1776>  is  considered  to  be  the  best ;  but  I  see  no  advantage  which  it 
possesses  over  the  folio  of  1736  j  and  the  previous  pages  of  this 
work  will  shew  the  importance  of  the  historico-biographical  labours 
of  this  able  Prelate.  Either  edition  is  worth  %l.  %s.  MACKENZIE  is 
more  frequently  found  in  two,  than  in  three  volumes  j  and  the  third 
volume  is  often  stilted,  in  order  to  make  it  dress  with  its  companions. 
These  three  volumes  are  worth  41.  4s. 

f  In  a  Specimen  Billiothecce  Britannicce  (of  which  I  printed  and  circulated 
among  my  friends  only  50  copies)  this  work  of  Tom  Fuller  is  particularly  de- 
scrihed,  and  many  errors  of  pagination,  catch-words,  &c.  pointed  out :  see  p.  41, 
&c. :  Mr.  Nichols's  reprint  renders  further  notice  of  "  corrigenda"  unnecessary. 
Only  I  may  here  remark,  that,  of  the  folio  Fuller  there  are  two  title  pages,  each  of 
the  date  of  1662  :  the  one  is  printed  by  J.  G.  W.  L.  and  W.  G.  for  Thomas  Wil- 
liams, &c.;  the  other, "  London,  printed  by  J.  G.  W.  L.  and  W,  G. !" 


508  BIOGRAPHY, 

be  the  best.*  And  if  this  work  be  "  thrice  welcome/' 
in  any  shape,  it  is  nine  times  welcome  in  the  recent 
impression  just  alluded  to  ! — for  more  care,  attention, 
accuracy;  and  valuable  enlargement,  from  an  inex- 
haustible stock  of  materials  (some  of  them  contem- 
poraneous) has  rarely  been  witnessed,  than  in  the 
editorial  labours  of  Dr.  Bliss  upon  the  text  of  his 
beloved  ANTHONY  A  WOOD.^  If  to  this  work,  the 
"  Young  Man"  add  TANNER'S  Bibliotheca  Briton. 
Hibernica ;  BERKENHOUT'S  Biographia  Literaria,  and 
GRANGER'S  Biographical  History  of  England,  he 
may  thank  his  stars  for  a  delightful  stock  of  informa- 
tion, which  shall  throw  him  back  into  past  ages, 
when  he  may  fancy  himself  conversing  with  those,  of 

*  Again  I  refer  the  bibliomaniacal  reader  to  a  certain  Bibliographi- 
cal Romance,  p.  412 — 416,  for  a  particular,  and  I  trust  not  uninte- 
resting, account  of  WOOD'S  Athena  Oxonienses :  a  work,  which  every 
young  man,  who  prefers  intellectual  reputation  to  fleeting  and  frivo- 
lous pursuits  (not  worth  the  mention  ! )  should  be  enjoined  to  pur- 
chase, and  to  read,  on  quitting  the  University  of  Oxford.  What 
nobler  impulses  can  be  imparted  to  a  young  head,  and  susceptible 
heart,  than  those  which  may  stir  within  him  a  desire  of  being  ranked 
hereafter  among  the  Worthies  of  his  own  ALMA  MATER  ?  !  I  must 
not  here  forget  to  observe,  that  of  this  work  there  were  twenty-five 
copies  printed  upon  LARGE  PAPER  ;  one  of  which  was  recently  sold 
at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Nassau's  library,  for  42/.  Note  further  :  there  is 
a  copy  of  the  Athen.  Oxon.  edition  of  1721,  with  ms.  notes  by  G. 
Wanley  and  Mo  rant,  in  the  library  of  the  Royal  Institution. 

f  I  shall  only  repeat — speaking  of  this  valuable  work — what  I 
unfeignedly  observed  eleven  years  ago.  ff  The  recent  edition  of 
Wood's  Athence  Oxonienses  has  furnished  me  with  too  many  valuable 
notices  not  to  merit  my  best  acknowledgments  5  and  not  to  justify 
me  in  predicting,  for  the  Editor  of  it,  that  station  in  the  temple  of 
future  OXFORD  WORTHIES,  to  which  his  labours  so  fairly  entitle 
him."  Typog,  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  Pref. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  509 

whose  monuments  even  all  traces  have  perished  from 
the  devastations  of  accident  and  time.* 

As  the  third  division  of  Biography,  I  am  to  notice 
separate  lives ;  or  the  lives  of  characters  of  the  same 
class  (such  as  GROVE'S  History  of  the  Times,  and  Life 
of  Wolsey,  JOHNSON'S  Lives  of  the  Poets,  and  MAC- 
DIARMID'S  of  British  Statesmen)^  published  in  one  or 

*  Another  TRIO  to  figure  in  this  present  note.  BISHOP  TANNER'S 
work,  above  specified,  is,  with  all  its  imperfections,  a  highly  valu- 
able performance  j  but  let  us  hope  that  report  speaks  true  in  an- 
nouncing a  new  edition  of  this  work  by  Mr.  Henry  Ellis,  of  the 
British  Museum.  My  friend,  Mr.  Amyot,  points  out  to  me,  that, 
according  to  an  advertisement  at  the  end  of  vol.  i.  of  Jortin's  Life  of 
Erasmus,  there  were  only  250  copies  printed  of  Tanner's  book. 
This  work  is  becoming  rare  and  high  priced:  and  I  apprehend 
a  fine  copy  of  it  cannot  be  procured  under  31.  3s.  The  notes  to 
BERKENHOUT'S  Biographia  Literaria,  1777,  4to.  are  said  to  have 
oeen  chiefly  supplied  by  George  Steevens  ;  but  they  are  of  no  par- 
ticularly high  calibre :  and  methinks  that  Berkenhout's  book,  after 
all,  is  little  better  than  "  skimmed  milk."  A  copy  may  be  worth 
145.  Not  so  is  the  popular  work  of  the  Rev.  JAMES  GRANGER  :  of 
which  editions  have  multiplied  and  will  continue  to  multiply.  Re- 
calling all  the  jocose  carbine- shots  fired  against  it  in  the  Biblio- 
mania, page  67O,  &c.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  designating  it  as  a 
delightful  and  instructive  book  :  but  whoever  republishes  it,  should 
add  the  portraits  of  the  different  characters  which  were  unknown  to 
the  author.  Considering  that  Granger  may  be  said  to  have  first 
walked  the  field  alone,  it  is  surprising  what  he  has  done.  His 
catalogue  of  engraved  heads  is  immense.  His  style  is  always  clear, 
pointed,  and  lively  :  and  if  he  talked  and  preached,  as  he  wrote  in  his 
biographical  history,  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  have  withdrawn 
attention  from  so  intelligent  a  quarter.  Consult  Nichols's  Literary 
Anecdotes,  vol.  ix.  p.  112,  where  the  amiable  character  of  this  cler- 
gyman is  embalmed  in  the  verses  of  Thomson. 

f  These  three  works,  above  parenthetically  disposed  of,  may  claim 
a  larger  share  of  attention  in  note.  GROVE'S  book  is  scarce,  and 
may  be  worth  2J.  2*.  It  was  printed  in  1742-4,  in  four  octavo  vo- 


510  BIOGRAPHY, 

more  sets  of  volumes :  while,  in  approaching  recent  and 
present  times,  I  cannot  but  feel  conscious  of  some- 

lumes,  and  the  fourth  vol.  has  Grove's  name  subjoined  to  a  dedica- 
tion to  the  Earl  of  Harrington.  The  recherche"  morceau  of  biography 
in  these  volumes,  is, ' '  Cavendish's  Life  of  Wolsey,"  which  is  reprinted 
in  Dr.  Wordsworth's  Ecclesiastical  Biography.  Dr.  JOHNSON'S  Lives 
of  the  Poets  are  necessarily  a  prominent  ornament  of  every  library  $ 
as  they  have  been  the  common  theme  of  admiration  of  all  countries. 
The  style  and  the  reflections  are  the  chief  charm  of  this  popular 
work.  Many  of  the  facts  must  be  cautiously  admitted.  Not  that 
Johnson  designedly  falsified;  but  he  always  wanted  time,  diligence, 
and  patience,  in  the  collection  of  his  materials ;  and,  he  rejoiced  to 
find  the  fact  as  he  wished  to  find  it :  without  sufficiently  weighing  it 
in  the  balance  of  impartiality.  He  hugged  every  thing  which 
he  thought  might  throw  a  shade  on  a  republican,  a  whig,  or  a 
dissenter  5  and  spared  no  pains  in  executing  such  a  picture  in  his 
most  powerful  and  overwhelming  colours.  But  toryism  and  ortho- 
doxy neither  require  nor  recommend  such  intemperate  conduct. 
Even  the  very  loose  reports  which  had  reached  him  of  Dryden's 
funeral,  were  inserted  without  a  suspicion  of  their  veracity:  and  it 
remained  for  Mr.  Malone  (in  his  admirable  edition  of  Dryden's  prose 
works,  to  which  a  biography  of  the  poet  is  prefixed)  to  dispel  and 
dissipate  this  idle  story  as  a  barefaced  fiction.  But  Johnson,  had  he 
been  living,  would  not  have  surrendered  it  without  a  growl. 

Much  that  he  has  inserted  in  the  life  of  Pope,  and  more  in  that  of 
Milton,  has  been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  corrected  and  disproved  : 
but  who  that  reads  Johnson's  criticisms  on  certain  portions  of  the 
Paradise  Lost,  is  not  convinced  that  he  is  reading  one  of  the  most 
masterly  performances  of  the  human  intellect  ?  exhibiting  an  extent 
and  power  of  conception— a  vigour  and  felicity  of  diction — such  as  one 
knows  not  where  to  find  equalled  in  any  modern  production.  His 
life  of  Savage,  the  first  in  the  order  of  execution,  is  considered  to  be 
the  chef-d'oeuvre ;  but  this  may  be  because  it  was  the  first  3*  and  be- 


*  I  once  marked  all  the  passages  of  censure,  and  all  of  praise,  of  Savage's  con- 
duct, in  this  piece  of  biography ;  and,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  the  praise  pre- 
dominated. The  whole  is  a  fine  effort  of  cultivated  taste  and  honourable  feeling. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  511 

* 

thing  like  alarm,  at  the  magnitude,  delicacy,  and  diffi- 
culty, of  the  undertaking :  and  shall  shroud  myself 
"  in  the  vast  wood  "  in  which  Morhof  supposes  this 
subject  to  be  involved.  "  So  great,  (says  that  able 
man)  is  the  number  of  writers  of  Lives,  that  they 
might  fill  an  entire  library.  Labbe"  and  Teissier  have 
given  copious  lists  of  them,  and  a  similar  notice  will 
be  found  in  the  catalogue  of  De  Thou's  library.'  * 

cause  we  have  long  known  that  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  read  it  with  such 
intense  interest,  as  to  be  unconscious  that  he  was  nearly  dislocating 
his  arm  against  a  chimney  piece,  all  the  time !  In  consequence,  he 
sought  Johnson's  acquaintance,  and  respected  and  loved  the  great 
philologist  to  his  dying  day.  Still,  the  lives  of  Dryden  and  Pope 
abound  with  some  of  the  happiest  specimens  of  Johnson's  powers  of 
narrative  and  criticism.  The  whole  set  of  Lives  is  indeed  charming : 
fraught  with  wisdom  and  excellent  taste.  They  are  usually  found  in 
four  volumes,  separately ;  or  incorporated  with  the  texts  of  the  Poets 
and  Johnson's  other  works.  I  will  not  let  my  tf  Young  Man"  take 
any  rest,  unless  he  promises  me  to  read  these  lives  through,  once 
every  three  years  at  the  least. 

Able,  but  hapless  MACDIARMID  !— cut  off  from  us  in  the  very 
bloom  of  existence.  His  Lives  of  British  Statesmen  (Sir  Thomas 
More,  Lord  Burleigh,  Lord  Sir  afford,  and  Lord  Clarendon,)  was  a 
work  full  of  great  promise.  The  author  survived  it  but  a  short 
period.  It  is  beautifully  printed  in  quarto,  with  portraits  of  these 
four  statesmen  as  beautifully  engraved  in  stippling  by  Freeman 
This  book  (from  which  more  than  one  extract  will  be  found  in  the 
edition  of  Sir  T.  More's  Utopia,  1808,  12mo.  2  vols.)  is  now,  I  un. 
derstand,  scarce,  and  of  rather  high  price.  Shall  I  say  2/.  2s.? 
It  has  been  luckily,  and  wisely,  reprinted  in  two  handsome  octavo 
volumes  by  the  publishers  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  at  11.  Is.  in 
boards. 

*  Polyhist.  Lit.  lib.  i.  Cap.  XIX.  Sect.  16.  A  more  complete  list 
will  be  found  in  the  catalogue  of  the  library  of  Count  Bunau  j  but  the 
4th  volume  of  Brunet  renders  even  this  unnecessary  to  be  consulted. 


512  BIOGRAPHY, 

The  same  authority  then  goes  on  to  mention  seve- 
ral separate  pieces  of  biography,  which  he  thinks 
have  more  decided  merit — but  of  which,  how  few 
are  now  ever  remembered  by  name  to  the  general 
reader!* 

During  the  sixteenth  century  we  have  few  detached 
specimens  of  Biography.  The  Life  of  Sir  T.  More  was 

*  The  SINGLE  LIVES  noticed  by  Morhof,  are  these :  Gassendus's 
Life  of  Peiresc;  Gualdus  s,  of  Vincentius  Pinelli ;  Fulgentius,  of  Paul 
Sarpi'j  Rigaltius,  of  Puteanus ;f  Thomas,  of  the  Duke  of  Valentinois, 
1655,  4to.  j  Lord  Bacon,  of  Henry  VII.  j  Camerarius,  of  Melanch. 
thon ;  Life  of  Reuchlin  j  Hagius,  of  Peter  Lotichius,  jun.-,  Boeder,  of 
Forstner ;  Gualdus,  of  Wallenstein.  Now,  with  one  exception,  (that 
of  Lord  Bacon's  Henry  VII.)  which,  and  how  many,  of  my  readers, 
young  or  old,  have  turned  over  the  leaves  of  these  tomes  ?  And  yet, 
I  will  venture  to  affirm,  that  the  greater  part  richly  merit  an  atten- 
tive perusal.  To  myself,  the  biographies  of  Gualdus  and  Loti- 
chius are  chiefly  familiar;  but,  I  believe,  through  the  reprint  of  them 
in  that  too  much  despised,  or  peradventure  forgotten,  homely  vo- 
lume, entitled  "  Vitcc  Selectorum  aliquot  Virorum  qui  doctrind,  digni- 
tate,  aut  pietate  claruere,"  1681,  4to.  of  which  one  Dr.  Bates,  a 
once  celebrated  non-conformist  divine,  was  the  editor.  Mr.  Chal- 
mers observes  that  ef  Bates's  name  is  riot  in  the  title-page,  but  at  the 
end  of  the  dedication  to  the  celebrated  Lord  Russell,  and  the  work  is 
generally  quoted  by  the  title  of  "  Batesii  Vita  Selectee."  He  also 
further,  and  properly,  observes,  "  it  is  now,  although  scarce,  much 
less  valued  than  such  a  collection  deserves."  Biograph.  Diet  vol.  iv. 
p.  137-  What  shall  we  say,  after  these  testimonies?  Must  this 
book  continue  to  lie  on  its  back,  on  a  stall,  ticketed  on  white  paper, 
as  "  very  curious,  3s.  6d."  ? — the  price  at  which  it  became  my  pro- 
perty !  Forbid  it,  even  genius  of  Thomas  Hearne ! 


f  What  a  Bibliomaniac,  what  a  BOOK  GLUTTON,  was  this  famous  Puteanus !  His 
taste  ran  in  the  line  of  collecting  public  acts — ("  — trahit  sua  quemque  voluptas  ") 
and  he  appears  to  have  done  as  much  for  France,  in  this  department,  as  Conringius 
did  for  Germany.  Morhof  exults  over  his  "  fifty  huge  folio  volumes  "  filled  with 
these  acts,  and  of  which  his  biographer  gives  the  titles. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  513 

among  the  most  fertile  of  subjects,  and  of  that  various 
have  been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  the  memoirs  and 
details.*  It  is  a  pity  that  the  great  writers  of  the  time 

*  Having  several  years  ago  (Utopia,  vol.  i.  p.  xxxix.liii.)  given  a 
list  of  the  various  biographies  of  Sir  Thomas  More,  I  may  here  only 
add,  that  an  elegantly  executed  reprint  of  Roper's  celebrated  life  has 
been  recently  published  by  Mr.  Triphook,  to  which  the  received  por- 
trait of  More  is  prefixed.  The  earliest  piece  of  biography  appeared  in 
Latin,  in  1550,  4to. :  of  which  I  never  saw  a  copy.  It  is  noticed  by 
Lewis  :  but  the  fountain  head  of  all  modern  performances,  is  the 
anonymous  4to.  volume,  supposed  to  have  been  printed  abroad,  by 
More's  great  grandson,  T.  More,  who  died  in  1625.  Such  was  its 
rarity  in  Anthony  a  Wood's  time,  "  twas  scarce  to  be  had."  All  the 
book  world  knows  Hearnes  Roper's  biography  of  More,  published 
in  1716,  8vo.  and  considered  to  be  the  first  text  of  his  son-in-law 
Roper's  biography. f  Why  this  book  should  sell  so  high,  is  a  little 
unaccountable.  Even  as  late  as  Mr.  Nassau's  sale,  February,  1824,  a 
copy  on  LARGE  PAPER  brought  the  astounding  sum  of  3 It.  10s.  There 
were  forty-two  printed  on  large,  and  106  on  small  paper  5  of  which 
latter,  I  remember  seeing  the  late  Mr.  S.  Lysons  go  as  high  as  9L  9s. 
for  a  copy,  at  a  sale  in  Mr.  Sotheby's  rooms ;  though  a  good  copy 
may  now  be  procured  for  3Z.  3s.  Had  More  left  us  his  auto-biogra- 
phy, even  in  Latin,  what  charms  would  it  have  had  for  posterity  ! 
His  supposed  Life  of  Richard  III.  (in  which  appears  one  of  the  most 
striking  descriptions  of  Jane  Shore,  THEN  ALIVE]:)  is  now  in  fact 


t  See  page  2 19,  ante. 

1 1  cannot  resist  the  following  delineation  of  her  person  and  character :  "  Pro- 
per she  was  and  fair ;  nothing  in  her  body  that  you  would  have  changed,  but  if  you 
would  have  wished  her  somewhat  higher.  Thus  say  they  that  knew  her  in  her 
youth.  Albeit  some  that  now  see  her  (for  yet  she  liveth]  deem  her  never  to  have 
been  well  visaged.  Whose  judgment  seemeth  to  me,  somewhat  like  as  though  men 
should  guess  the  beauty  of  one  long  before  departed,  by  her  scalp  taken  out  of  the 
charnel-house  :  for  now  she  is  old,  lean,  withered,  and  dried  up,  nothing  left  but 
[sh]  rivild  skin  and  hard  bone.  And  yet,  being  even  such,  whoso  will  advise  her 
visage,  might  guess  and  devise  which  parts,  how  filled,  would  make  it  a  fair  face. 
Yet  delighted  not  men  so  much  in  her  beauty  as  in  her  pleasant  behaviour.  For  a 
proper  wit  had  she,  and  could  both  read  well  and  write  :  merry  in  company,  ready 
and  quick  of  answer,  neither  mute  nor  full  of  babble,  sometimes  taunting  without 
displeasure  and  not  without  disport.  The  King  would  say  that  he  had  three  coucu- 

L    L 


514  BIOGRAPHY, 

of  Elizabeth  did  not  favour  us  with  some  accounts  of 
their  immediate  predecessors ;  for,  after  all,  (notwith- 
standing the  commendable  assiduity  of  Dr.  Nott) 
what  particulars,  worthy  of  the  subject,  have  we  of 
Surrey  and  Wyatt?  —  and  indeed  the  same  maybe 
said  of  the  whole  court  of  Henry  VIII.,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  invaluable  piece  of  biography  ofWolsey 
by  his  faithful  secretary  Cavendish. 

The  seventeenth  century  made  some  amends.  Lord 

admitted  to  have  been  by  his  patron,  Archbishop  Morton,  first  written 
in  Latin.  Utopia,  vol.  i.  p.  Ixxxii-vii. 


bines  which  in  three  divers  properties  diversely  excelled.  One  the  merriest,  ano- 
ther the  wiliest,  the  third  the  holiest  harlot  in  his  realm,  as  one  who  no  man  could 
get  out  of  the  church  lightly  to  any  place,  but  it  were  to  his  bed.  The  other  two 
were  somewhat  greater  personages,  and,  nathless,  of  their  humility  content  to  be 
nameless ;  and  to  forbear  the  praise  of  those  properties.  But  the  merriest  was  this 
SHORE'S  wife,  in  whom  the  King  therefore  took  special  pleasure.  For  many  he  had, 
but  her  he  loved ;  whose  favour,  to  say  the  truth,  (for  sin  it  were  to  bely  the  devil) 
she  never  abused  to  any  man's  hurt,  but  to  many  a  man's  comfort  and  relief. 
Where  the  King  took  displeasure,  she  would  mitigate  and  appease  his  mind  :  where 
men  were  out  of  favour,  she  would  bring  them  in  his  grace.  For  many  that  had 
highly  offended,  she  obtained  pardon.  Of  great  forfeitures  she  gat  men  remission. 
And,  finally,  in  many  weighty  suits,  she  stood  many  men  in  great  stead,  either  for 
none,  or  very  small,  rewards,  and  those  rather  gay  than  rich.  Either  for  that  she 
was  content  with  the  deed  itself  well  done,  or,  for  that  she  delighted  to  be  sued 
unto,  and  to  shew  what  she  was  able  to  do  with  the  King;  or,  for  that  wanton 
women  and  wealthy  be  not  always  covetous!  I  doubt  not  some  shall  think  the 
woman  too  slight  a  thing  to  be  written  of,  and  set  among  the  remembrances  of 
great  matters  :  which  they  shall  specially  think,  that  happily  shall  esteem  her  only 
by  that  they  now  see  of  her.  But  me  seemeth  the  chance  so  much  the  more  wor- 
thy to  be  remembered,  in  how  much  she  is  now  in  the  more  beggarly  condition ; 
unfriended,  and  worn  out  of  acquaintance,  after  good  substance;  after  as  great 
favour  with  the  Prince,  after  as  great  suit  and  seeking  to  with  all  those  that  in 
those  days  had  business  to  speed  :  as  many  other  men  were  in  their  times,  which 
be  now  famous  only  by  the  infamy  of  their  ill  deeds.  Her  doings  were  not  much 
less ;  albeit  they  be  much  less  remembered  because  they  were  not  so  evil.  For  men 
use,  if  they  have  an  evil  turn,  to  write  it  in  marble:  and  whoso  doth  us  a  good  turn, 
we  write  it  in  dust  —  which  is  not  worst  proved  by  her :  for,  at  this  day,  SHE  BEG- 
«F.TH  of  many  at  this  day  living,  who,  at  this  day,  had  BEGGED  if  she  had  not 
been! "p.  56. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  515 

Bacon's  Life  of  Henry  VII,  and  Lord  Herbert's  Life 
of  Henry  VIII.  are  too  well  known  to  require  parti- 
cular specification.*  Then  followed  ISAAC  WALTON'S 
delightful  biographies  of  Donne,  Wotton,  &c. :  gems, 
which,  "  within  small  compass,  and  in  purest  gold," 
will  preserve  their  lustre  for  ages.-f*  The  opening  of 

*  I  subjoin  with  pleasure  Morhof  s  eulogy  of  the  biography  of 
Henry  VII.  by  LORD  BACON — first  published,  in  a  thin  folio  volume, 
in  1622,  with  a  portrait  of  the  Monarch  3  having,  beneath,  the  very 
quaint  inscription  of  <(  Cor  regis  inscrutabile."  "  Plenum  hoc  (says 
the  Dutch  critic)  omnis  civilis  et  architectonicse  artis  opus ;  qu6  inte- 
riora  turn  regni  ipsius  Angliae,  turn  omnis  in  universum  prudentiae 
continentur.  Invenies  hie  pacis  et  belli  artes,  in  praxin  ipsam  deduc- 
tas  :  nam  e  typo  illo  wH^rartxw  plus  intelligitur,  quam  exinfinitisprae- 
ceptis.  Maximi  facit  hunc  librum  passim  in  scriptis  suis  Boclerus. 
omnibusque  commendat,  ut  sane  commendari  hi  libri  omnibus  debent 
in  quibus  quisque  describitur,  qualis  in  imperio  fuerit,  et  qualis  inte- 
rior ac  familiarior  vita.  Nam  TO  ^$t«o>  et  TO  woXilixov  hie  utrumque 
spectandum  est."  Polyhist.  Lit.  vol.  i.  page  223,  edit.  1714.  This 
folio  volume  was  reprinted  in  1676,  with  the  reigns  of  Henry  VIII. 
Edward  VI.,  and  Mary.  A  few  shillings  only  will  secure  either  edi- 
tion. The  same  may  be  said  of  Lord  Herbert's  Henry  Fill.  Lond. 
1649,  folio  :  both  of  them  having  been  reprinted  in  Kennett's  Hist,  of 
England  j  see  p.  206,  ante.  Lord  Spencer  lately  purchased  of  Mr. 
Triphook  a  copy  of  the  first  folio  of  Lord  Herbert's  book,  on  LARGE 
PAPER  j  the  only  copy  of  the  kind  which  I  remember  to  have 
heard  of. 

f  To  swell  the  list  of  eulogists  of  these  delightful  pieces  of  biogra. 
phy — comprising  the  lives  of  Dr.  Donne,  Sir  H.  Wotton,  Mr.  R. 
Hooker,  Mr.  G.  Herbert,  and  Bishop  Sanderson — were  an  idle  and 
perhaps  unprofitable  task.  The  original  editions,  with  neat  little  por- 
traits by  Lombart,  are  yet  very  desirable ;  but  the  best  is  considered 
to  be  by  Dr.  Zouch,  1796,  4to.  Dr.  Zouch  (as  his  life  of  Sir  Philip 
Sidney,  1808,  in  4to.  too  palpably  testifies)  was  not  a  fit  editor  of 
Walton.  A  scholar,  fe  a  ripe  and  a  good  one,"  Dr.  Zouch  undoubt- 
edly was ;  but  the  heart  must  go  in  unison  with  the  head— impas- 
sioned feeling  must  now  and  then  impart  life  and  soul  to  scholastic 


516  BIOGRAPHY. 

the  eighteenth  century  witnessed  the  very  considerable 
biographical  labours  of  STRYPE  ;  a  writer,  who,  all  fide- 
lity, and  honest  and  honourable  in  the  letter  and  spirit 
of  every  thing  which  he  wrote,  seems,  nevertheless,  too 
frequently  to  have  been  under  the  influence  of  a  som- 
nolency which  it  was  impossible  to  shake  off.*  Strype 
is  a  fine,  solid,  instructive  fellow,  for  a  large  arm  chair, 
in  a  gothic  study,  before  a  winter's  fire  ;  but  you  must 
not  deposit  him  on  the  shelves  of  your  Tusculum — to 
be  carried  to  rustic  seats  in  arbours  and  bowers  ;  by  the 
side  of  gurgling  streams  or  rushing  cascades.  There  is 
neither  fancy,  nor  brilliancy,  nor  buoyancy,  about  him; 
he  is  a  sage  to  consult,  rather  than  a  companion  to 

lore — in  order  to  give  such  works  as  these  a  general  currency  and  a 
popular  reception.  A  very  neat  edition,  printed  by  Mr.  Collingwood 
at  Oxford,  in  two  duodecimo  volumes,  was  published  a  short  time 
since,  and  has  met  with  a  considerable  sale. 

While  this  pen  is  engaged  in  the  composition  of  these  periods, 
intelligence  reaches  me  that  a  NEW  edition  of  WALTON'S  LIVES  is 
about  to  be  launched,  by  the  tasteful  and  successful  publisher  of  the 
late  unrivalled  edition  of  honest  Isaac's  "  Complete  Angler  j" — It  will 
be  comprised  in  two  volumes  of  the  same  form,  with  numerous  wood 
cut  and  copper  plate  embellishments,  executed  from  original  portraits 
and  designs.  Considering  therefore  the  popularity  of  the  text,  I 
anticipate  with  perfect  confidence  the  successful  circulation  of  a 
work,  so  calculated,  in  all  respects,  to  promote  the  best  interests  of 
virtue  and  morality. 

*  I  am  not  sure  whether  this  criticism  be  not  a  little  too  severe. 
At  least,  there  are  some  passages  in  his  "  Life  of  Cranmer"  (per- 
haps the  best  of  his  performances)  which  entitle  Strype  to  more  lau- 
datory notice.  When  I  read  that  fine  passage,  relating  to  Cranmer, 
which  is  extracted  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  328 — 9,  to  a  distinguished 
scholar  and  philologist,  he  would  scarcely  credit  it  as  the  production 
of  its  author.  "  I  did  not  think  (said  he)  that  old  Strype  could  strike 
such  a  note  as  this  !" 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  51? 

enliven.*  Of  the  same  school  or  class  is  Dr.  KNIGHT  ; 
whose  Lives  of'  Colet  and  Erasmus  are  in  every  well- 
appointed  library,  and  bring  considerable  prices ; 
merely  because  they  contain  some  interesting  plates 
— executed  by  the  respectable  burin  of  Vertue.-f"  De- 
prive these  two  octavo  volumes  of  their  embellish- 
ments, and  such  is  the  lethargy,  or  plodding  humility, 

*  Yet  Strype  must  be  consulted  j  but  the  possession  of  all  his 
pieces,  including  the  Annals  and  Memorials,  in  their  original  folio 
and  octavo  forms,  will  cost  the  enterprising  Young  Man  somewhat 
hard  upon  fifty  guineas — if  he  set  his  heart  on  having  them  in  russia 
binding,  as  they  glitter  on  the  shelves  of  Messrs  Rivington  and 
Cochran.  The  dates  and  forms  of  these  biographies  are  as  follow  : 
Cranmer,  1694,  folio:  Sir  Thomas  Smith,  1698,  octavo:  Bishop 
Aylmer,  1701,  octavo:  Sir  John  Cheke,  1705,  octavo  :  Bishop  Grindal, 
1710,  folio  :  Archbishop  Parker,  1711,  folio  :  Bishop  Whitgift,  1718, 
folio.  These  biographies  may  be  worth  lOl.  10s.;  but  they  have 
reprinted  them  very  handsomely  at  Oxford,  in  uniform  octavo  vo- 
lumes, for  about  half  the  sum  ;  and  my  friend,  Mr.  Ponton,  (Soc. 
ROXB.)  views  with  enviable  complacency  his  lovely  copies  of  these 
reprints,  on  LARGE  PAPER — now  very  scarce — clad  in  the  dark  blue  and 
truly  appropriate  morocco  binding  of  that  ' (  cunning  "  artist  Charles 
Lewis. 

f  The  date  of  Colet' s  Life  is  1724  •  of  Erasmus's,  1726  :  each  in 
a  handsome  octavo  volume  ;  and  worth  %l.  2s.,  or  CZI.  21s.  6d.  apiece, 
according  to  the  condition.  Sometimes  the  Colet  has  brought  31.  3s. 
and  the  Erasmus,  41.  4s. :  but  then  they  were  PRIMITIVES  ! — in  other 
words,  in  primitive  morocco  bindings,  with  margins  of  tolerable 
amplitude.  I  never  saw  them,  either  on  small  or  large  paper,  in  an 
uncut  state.  Of  the  LARGE  PAPER,  which  I  suspect  to  be  commoner 
than  is  generally  supposed,  copies  bring  as  much  as  7/.  7s.  The  plates, 
by  Vertue,  are  excellent  of  their  kind  ;  leaving  the  similar  ones  of 
Vandergucht  (with  which  Tom  Hearne  used  to  stuff  many  of  his 
tomes)  at  an  immeasureable  distance.  I  know  not  how  it  is,  but 
every  tasteful  collector  likes  to  have ' '  a  good  Knight"  The  extracts 
from  these  two  Lives,  in  the  work  referred  to  in  a  previous  note, 
proves  that  1  do  not  speak  of  them  in  an  unauthorised  manner. 


518  BIOGRAPHY, 

of  their  style — (although  the  subject  might  have  eli- 
cited energy  from  a  moderately  instructed  Tyro  !)  you 
can  hardly  buckle  yourself  to  the  perusal  of  half  a 
dozen  pages.  And  here,  for  the  sake  of  juxta-position, 
I  will  briefly  notice  JORTIN'S  Life  of  Erasmus,  in  two 
ponderous  quartos,  of  which  mention  has  been  before 
made  in  this  work.  These  volumes,  which  are  little 
more  than  an  incorporation  of  the  materials  of  Le 
Clerc,  are  doubtless  unworthy  of  their  author.*  Why 
is  an  excellent  Life  of  Erasmus  yet  a  desideratum  r 

Ungrateful  should  I  be  to  omit  the  mention  of  the 
biographical  labours  of  the  REV.  JOHN  LEWIS  ;  whose 
Lives  of  Widiffe,  Caxton,  and  Bishop  Pecock,^  are 

*  Mention  has  been  made  of  this  work  at  page  90,  ante.  It  is 
useful,  and  carefully  compiled  ;  but  wholly  unanimated  by  a  stroke  of 
genius.  The  life  of  one  of  the  greatest  wits  of  his  age  has  produced 
only  sombre  biographies.  I  once  urged  Mr.  Roscoe  to  the  undertak- 
ing ;  but  he  replied,  and  replied  properly,  that  it  required  a  knowledge 
of  the  German  language,  which  he  wanted.  Jortin's  book,  in  two 
quarto  volumes,  1758 — 60,  may  be  worth  2/.  12s.  6d.  It  has  been 
reprinted  for  about  U.  4s.  After  all,  one  gains  the  -  best  notion  of 
Erasmus  from  a  perusal  of  his  Letters. 

f  The  Life  of  Wicliffe  was  published  in  a  small  octavo  volume,  in 
1720;  and  was  scarce,  till  its  recent  beautiful  reprint  at  the  Claren- 
don presSjJ  to  be  obtained  for  some  nine  shillings.  There  are  copies 
of  this  reprint  on  LARGE  PAPER.  With  the  Life  of  Caxtun,  1737,  8vo. 
I  am  necessarily  well  acquainted,  since  the  first  and  second  volumes 
of  the  Typographical  Antiquities  of  Great  Britain  contain  every  thing 
to  be  found  in  it — but  its  errors.  See  also  vol.  i.  p.  Ix.  Ixxiv.  Why  does 
the  infatuation  of  giving  thirty  shillings  and  upwards  for  this  super- 


J  If  ever  Wicliffe's  Life  be  published  in  an  enlarged  form,  it  would  be  very  de- 
sirable to  give  notices  (when  obtainable)  of  copies  of  his  supposed  ms.  version  of 
the  Bible.  Such  copies  abound  in  this  country.  Perhaps  the  finest  of  them  is  in 
tlie  library  of  the  Royal  Society,  although  my  friend  and  neighbour,  Mr.  Douce, 
justly  exults  over  the  splendour  of  his  own  copy.  I  think  I  have  seen  a  dozen 
copies,  including  portions  of  the  version. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  5 1 9 

much  cherished  in  the  libraries  of  the  curious.  They 
are  compositions  of  great  care,  apparent  fidelity,  and 
some  utility;  but,  during  their  perusal,  one  is  conscious 
of  a  feeling,  somewhat  similar  to  that  from  a  view  of  a 
dull,  dead,  level  country,  where  the  soil  and  produce 
are  equally  good,  but  where  there  is  no  variety,  and 
where  wearisomeness  as  naturally  follows. 

Let  me  not  omit  the  mention  of  that  respectably 
executed  performance,  put  forth  in  a  stately  and  even 
splendid  folio  volume,,  entitled  the  Life  of  Cardinal 
Wolsey,  of  which  Dr.  RICHARD  FIDDES  was  the  au- 
thor, *  in  1724,  folio  :  and  again  in  1726,  in  the  same 

ficial  book  (superficial,  in  the  present  advanced  state  of  bibliography) 
continue  ?  The  Life  of  Reynold  Pecock,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  and 
Chichester,  1744.  8vo.  was  the  last,  and  is  the  best,  of  Lewis's  bio- 
graphical labours.  It  has  been,  to  the  joy  of  all  ecclesiastical  phi- 
logists,  reprinted  at  the  Clarendon  press.f 

*  Great  expectations  were  formed  of  this  piece  of  biography  from 
the  "Body  of  Practical  Divinity,"  published  about  four  years  before,by 
the  same  author,  in  two  folio  volumes  :  and  accordingly  the  ' '  Life  of 
Wolsey"  was  graced  by  a  list  of  subscribers,  amounting  to  little  short; 
of  eight  hundred  !  —  including  the  names  of  almost  every  individual 
and  Body  corporate  of  respect  and  distinction.     These  were  indeed 
' '  the  good  old  times"  of  subscription,  and  which  enabled  Fiddes  and 
Pope  to  "  put  money  in  their  purses  "  to  some  purpose.     A  portrait 
of  the  author,  full  of  intellectual  vigour  of  expression,  in  Vertue's 
best  manner,  faces  the  title  page ;  another  portrait  of  Wolsey  precedes 
the  text.    The  third,  and  best,  is  that  of  Bishop  Fox.    Fiddes's  book 
is  so  handsome  in  the  small  paper,  that  I  will  not  recommend  the 
large,  which  is  common  enough.     The  former  may  be  worth  1Z.  Is.  : 
the  latter,  double.     Fiddes  was  attacked  in  the  London  Journal,  and 
he  replied  to  it  in  three  letters,  1725.     His  work,  after  all,  is  a  mine 


f  I  must  not  dismiss  the  commendable  labours  of  Lewis,  without  mentioning  his 
Life  of  Fisher,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  which  is  now  being  printed,  at  the  Shakspearc 
Press,  under  the  eye  of  the  Rev.  Theodore  Williams,  Vicar  of  Hcndou,  to  whom 
the  MS.  belongs.  1  learn  that  the  work  is  intended  only  for  presents. 


520  BIOGRAPHY, 

form.  Another  elaborate  life  of  the  same  extraordinary 
character  has  been  recently  put  forth  by  Mr.  GALT,  in 
1812,  4to. :  the  reputed,  and  justly  celebrated,  author 
of  what  are  called  the  "  Minor  Scotch  Novels." 

But,  adhering  to  chronological  order,  the  reader 
must  be  reminded  that,  in  tracing  the  progress  of  bio- 
graphy in  this  country,  he  is  scarcely  yet  in  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century: — about  which  time  appeared 
DR.  MIDDLETON'S  Life  of  Cicero,  1741  4to.  two  vols. 
an  elaborate,  learned,  and  admirably  written  perform- 
ance.* The  style  of  Middleton  is  considered  to  be  as 
pure  English  as  can  be  read  ;  and  whether  Hume  did, 
or  did  not,  form  his  own  style  upon  that  of  this  author, 
it  is  certain  that  the  late  Mr.  Fox  (no  mean  arbiter  in 
literary  taste)  always  spoke  warmly  of  the  biography 
of  Cicero,  by  Middleton  ;  for  its  style  as  well  as  its 
matter.  Hard  upon  the  publication  of  this  work, 
appeared  the  Lives  of  the  Lord  Keeper  Guildford,  Sir 
Dudley  North,  and  Dr.  John  North,  by  ROGER  NORTH, 
1742,  4to.f  a  substantial  and  commendable  volume, 

of  useful  intelligence,  where  one  may  dig  —  till  one  is  tired.  Mr. 
Gait's  biography  of  the  Cardinal  was  reviewed  in  the  Quarterly  Re- 
view, vol.  viii.  p.  163  j  and  an  admirable  review  of  his  Novels,  above 
mentioned,  appeared  in  the  Edinburgh,  n°.  Ixxvii. 

*  Copies  of  this  work  are  common,  even  on  LARGE  PAPER.  It  is 
printed  in  the  handsome  style  of  the  period,  and  most  inviting  to  the 
perusal.  There  was  scarcely  a  family  of  distinction,  at  the  time,  but 
what  possessed  a  copy  of  Middleton' s  Cicero ;  and  when  old  libraries 
now  come  to  the  hammer,  you  are  pretty  sure  to  find  this  work,  in 
mottled  calf  binding,  with  a  broad  border  of  gold  on  the  sides,  and  red 
or  green  sprinkled  edges  to  the  leaves.  In  this  state,  it  may  be 
worth  2£.  2s.  ;  and  on  LARGE  PAPER,  another  guinea  to  boot.  It  was 
commodiously  reprinted  in  3  octavo  volumes,  now  worth ll.  \ls.6d. 
in  neat  calf  binding. 

•)•  Copious  extracts  from  this  gossiping,  and  not  unamusing,  vo-» 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  521 

on  many  accounts;  and  of  which  I  rejoice  at  the 
reprint  of  the  Life  of  the  Lord  Keeper,  alone,  in  two 
octavo  tomes. 

In  the  year  1752  there  came  forth  a  handsome  folio 
volume,  of  which  ARTHUR  COLLINS  was  the  author — 
entitled  Historical  Collection  of  the  Noble  Families 
of  Cavendish,  Holies,  Fere,  Harley,  and  Ogle  ;  with 
portraits  of  these  distinguished  personages  by  Ver- 
tue.  This  work  should  have  been,  perhaps,  noticed 
in  the  previous  division  of  biography,  but,  wherever 
noticed,  it  cannot  be  mentioned  without  great  com- 
mendation. The  researches  are  elaborate;  and  the 
facts  are  faithfully  drawn  out,  and  the  conclusions 
correct.  Its  graphic  embellishment  is  its  least  praise.* 
The  name  of  HARRIS,  as  a  writer  of  Regal  Biographies, 
is  too  popular  to  justify  omission.  His  works  are  these, 
the  Life  and  Writings  of  James  I.  1753,  8vo. ;  Life 
and  Writings  of  Charles  I.  1758,  8vo. ;  Life  of  Oliver 
Cromwell,  1762,  8vo. ;  Life  of  Charles  II.  1766,  8vo. 
2  vols/r  All  these  were  reprinted,  with  the  addition 
of  the  Life  of  the  Author,  and  of  his  Life  of  Hugh 

lume,  appear  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  407-9.  A  good  calf-bound  copy 
of  the  first  impression,  is  yet  worth  2Z.  2s.  Works,  like  these,  are 
the  most  durable,  as  well  as  creditable,  monuments  which  a  family 
can  possess.  May  they  increase  aud  multiply  in  our  land  ! 

*  The  heads  are,  in  fact,  very  inferior  specimens  even  of  the  art  of  the 
engraver,  Vertue  :  but  the  book  is  scarce,  and  generally  sells  at  a  high 
price  :  about  5£.  5s.  On  LARGE  PAPER,  it  is  necessarily  much  scarcer. 
Messrs.  Arch  have  a  remarkably  fine  copy  of  the  latter  kind,,  bound 
out  of  sheets,  by  Lewis,  in  red  morocco,  which  they  mark  at  £12. 
In  this  form  the  book  has  a  most  inviting  aspect.  Note  :  Collins,  the 
author,  was  the  same  man  who  wrote  the  Peerage  of  England. 

f  There  are,  I  believe,  copies  of  all  these  original  editions  on 
LARGE  PAPER.  They  are  unostentatiously  printed  j  and  the  small 
paper  sell  for  about  105.  6d.  a-piece. 


522  BIOGRAPHY, 

Peters,  in  1814,  8?o.  five  vols. :  and  crabbed  as  may 
be  the  composition,  and  combatable  the  opinions,  of 
the  author,  yet  these  volumes  must  have  a  place  in  a 
well  stored  library.  Harris  is  perhaps,  with  two  ex- 
ceptions, the  most  wo^e-able  writer  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. All  his  works  are  professed  to  be  taken  "  from 
Original  Writings  and  State  Papers." 

The  reputation  of  DR.  LOWTH,  Bishop  of  London,  was 
assuredly  not  promoted  by  his  Life  of  the  great  William 
of  Wykeham,  published  in  a  creditable  octavo  form,  in 
1757.^  The  facts  (collected  from  a  period,  abounding 

f  A  good  copy  of  Dr.  Lowth's  Life  of  Wykeham,  in  calf  binding, 
may  be  had  for  10s.  6d. ;  and  a  very  good  account  of  the  earlier  bio- 
graphies of  Wykeham  will  be  found  in  Savage's  Librarian.  Why  will 
not  some  zealous  and  well-read  Wickamite  give  us  an  orthodox  quarto 
volume  of  the  Life  of  perhaps  the  greatest  Prelate  of  his  age,  as  well 
as  country  ?  How  it  would  have  cheered  the  latter  days  of  this  muni- 
ficent and  enlightened  man,  could  he  have  had,  not  only  a  distinctly 
prophetic  view  of  the  establishment  of  the  ART  of  POINTING,  but  of  a 
complete  VELLUM  copy  (the  only  one  known)  of  Aristotle's  Works, 
printed  by  the  elder  Aldus,  1495,  &c.  in  six  folio  volumes,  deposited 
in  the  library  of  his  OWN  COLLEGE  at  Oxford  —  and  a  copy,  too, 
the  property  of  a  scarcely  much  less  distinguished  character — THOMAS 
LINACKE  !  !  There  they  lie,  those  beauteous  and  covetable  tomes 
—  on  the  shelves  of  New  College  Library,  in  their  (second)  rough- 
calf  coated  binding,  ("  'twould  a  saint  provoke !  ")  shorn  some- 
what in  the  margins,  especially  the  first — with  the  autograph  of 
dear  old  Linacre  in  the  title  page.  WThy,  why,  good  Mister  Warden, 
will  you  not  call  a  caput,  to  divest  such  treasures  of  their  worthless 
outsides,  and  to  clothe  and  protect  them  in  the  rough-grained  mag- 
nificent morocco  of  Charles  Lewis,  the  o  na.vv  Bibliopegist  ?  The 
bibliographical  world  is  under  infinite  obligations  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gais- 
ford,  the  Greek  Professor  at  Oxford,  for  his  discovery  of  this  first  tome 
upon  vellum  —  pronounced  over  and  over  again,  by  Mr.  Van  Praet, 
to  be  a  mere  phantom,  a  non-entity,  a  bubble,  a  shadow,  and  I  know 
not  what.  But  THERE  it  is  ! — in  the  library  of  New  College ;  and  I 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  523 

in  facts  of  the  most  Splendid  description,,  and  relating  to 
a  man  of  the  most  splendid  and  munificent  character) 
are  thinly  scattered,  and  of  an  uninteresting  descrip- 
tion ;  while  the  reflections  are  sparing,  and  the  style 
is  languid.  Even  in  antiquarian  lore,  there  is  a 
dearth  of  intelligence  :  but  the  subject  was  not  suited 
to  the  taste,  habits,  and  learning,  of  Lowth.  That 
eminent  prelate  flew  at  nobler  game ;  and  his  suc- 
cess has  been  such  as  to  rank  him  among  the  most 
distinguished  theologians  of  his  country.  The  Life 
of  Wykeham  was  the  mere  fulfilment  of  a  debt  of 
gratitude. 

We  are  fast  hastening  towards  our  own  times.  In 
1772,  octavo  appeared  the  Life  of  Sir  Thomas  Pope, 
Founder  of  Trinity  College,  Oxford,  written  by  the 
celebrated  THOMAS  WARTON.*  This,  like  the  piece  of 
biography  previously  mentioned,  is  unworthy  of  the 
great  reputation  of  its  author.  The  famous  Life  of 
Charles  V.  by  ROBERTSON,  is  matter  of  history,  and 
as  such  has  been  before  treated.-}-  I  now  approach, 
with  a  keen  recollection  of  the  pleasure,  which,  in 
common  with  every  tolerably  well-educated  English- 
man, I  have  felt,  and  shall  continue  to  my  latest  hour 
to  feel,  in  the  perusal  of  it — the  Biography  of  Dr. 

have  seen,  handled,  and  half  adored  it.  I  should  therefore  call  this 
book  the  Linacre  Planet  in  the  bibliographical  hemisphere. 

*  A  few  shillings  will  secure  this  purely  antiquarian  tome ;  which 
may  be  numbered  among  the  "  dry  diets  "  of  Dr.  Buttes's  Dry  Din- 
ner, consisting  of  eight  seuerall  Courses;  1599,  12mo.  A  volume,  by 
the  by,  of  most  excessive  rarity,  and  with  the  money  to  purchase 
which,  J  you  may  command  a  haunch  of  venison,  and  every  moist 
herb  which  Dr.  Kitchener's  culinary  oracle  unfolds. 

t  See  page  329,  £c.  ante. 


524  BIOGRAPHY 

SAMUEL  JOHNSON, by  James  Boswell*  his  companion, 
his  chronicler,  and  his  friend.  This  fascinating,  and 
I  may  add  truly  original,  composition,  is  a  work  for 
all  times.  In  reading  it,  we  see  THE  MAN — "Vir  ipse". . 

"  Sic  oculos,  sic  ille  manus,  sic  ora  ferebat." 

We  even  hear  his  voice,  and  observe  his  gesticula- 
tions. The  growl  of  discontent  and  the  shout  of  tri- 
umph equally  pervades  our  ears.  Walking,  sitting, 
reading,  writing,  talking,  ALL  is  JOHSONIAN.  Such 
another  piece  of  domestic  painting,  in  black  and  white, 
is,  perhaps,  no  where  to  be  seen.  We  place  BoswelVs 
Johnson  in  our  libraries,  as  an  Enthusiast  hangs  up 

*  The  Life  of  Johnson,  by  Boswell,  was  first  published  in  two 
quarto  volumes,  in  179O,  (<  and  was  received  by  the  world  with  ex- 
traordinary avidity."  "  It  is  a  faithful  history  of  Johnson's  life  ;  and 
exhibits  a  most  interesting  picture  of  the  character  of  that  illustrious 
moralist,  delineated  with  a  masterly  hand."  So  says — and  says  very 
justly — Mr.  A.  Chalmers,  in  his  Biographical  Dictionary,  vol.  vi. 
p.  174.  To  the  best  of  my  memory,  an  excellent  and  interesting 
review  of  this  masterly  performance  appeared  in  the  Monthly  Review. 
The  second  edition  formed  the  occupation  of  the  latter  part  of  Mr. 
Boswell's  life,  and  is,  of  course,  the  best :  but,  since  the  death  of 
the  biographer,  his  own  life  has  been  added  to  that  of  his  master  j 
and  Johnson  and  Boswell  are  now,  in  all  shapes,  and  at  all  prices, 
the  property  of  the  public.  I  still  adhere  to  the  reasonableness  and 
feasibility  of  an  ILLUSTRATED  Johnson's  life,  taking  the  last  quarto 
as  a  substratum,  for  the  better  reception  of  the  prints  j  and  as  the 
portraits  of  the  illustrious  men,  whose  company  and  conversation  are 
recorded  in  the  text,  are  turned  over,  or  gazed  upon,  let  us  ask  our- 
selves who,  of  the  ORIGINALS,  now  survive  ?  Earl  Spencer,  Lord 
Stowell,  Mr*  Grenville,  and  that  venerable  bibliopole,  Mr.  G.  Nicol, 
are  the  only  ones  with  which  my  recollection  serves  me.  "  Eheu, 
fugaces  labuntur  anni"  1 — and  life  itself  is  as  a  magic  lantern,  where; 
figures  and  events  flit  across  with  the  celerity  of  conjuration  ! 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  525 

his  Gerard  Dow  in  his  cabinet — to  be  gazed  at  again 
and  again  ;  to  feed  upon,  and  to  devour.  * 

We  now  approach  the  delightful  biographical  la- 
bours of  Mr.  ROSCOE  :  which,  at  the  period  of  their 
publication,  and  to  the  latest  period,  procured,  and 
will  continue  to  procure,  for  their  author,  a  deservedly 
high  reputation.  The  Life  of  Lorenzo  de  Medici,  first 
published  at  Liverpool,  in  1795,  4to.  two  vols.  quickly 
attracted  the  attention,  and  excited  the  applause,  of  a 
discerning  public,  f  The  style  is  pure  and  elegant ; 
the  facts  are  interesting  and  instructive ;  and  the 
moral  or  application  is  (if  I  may  so  speak)  of  an  in- 
comparable tendency.  These  facts  were  new  to  the 
greater  part  of  English  readers  :  fresh  fountain  heads 

*  "  In  good  sooth"  there  is  no  fitter  word  for  the  degree  of  gra- 
tification derived  from  the  perusal  of  Johnson's  Life  by  Boswell.  But 
the  charm  is  almost  exclusively  NATIONAL  j  inasmuch  as  the  power 
and  felicity  of  Johnson's  intellect  greatly  consisted  in  colloquial  elo- 
quence ,-  and  that  eloquence  must  be  necessarily  less  felt  or  un- 
derstood by  foreigners.  Thus,  when  abroad,  I  was  frequently  asked, 
"  Why  are  you  all  so  fond  of  Dr.  Johnson  ?  His  Rambler  is,  with 
us,  his  principal  performance  :  and  his  Life,  by  Boswell,  is  less  read." 
But,  suppose  the  French  had  such  a  Life  of  their  Racine,  or  Monies- 
quieu,  or  Voltaire,  would  they  not  ' e  devour"  the  pages  of  such  a  piece 
of  biography  ?  Vicomte  Chateaubriand,  who  loves  and  understands 
English  thoroughly,  shall  answer  this  question. 

f  This  work  was  well  criticised  in  the  Monthly  Review  and  British 
Critic  j  but  it  was  to  a  strong  commendation  of  it  in  the  popular 
notes  of  the  Pursuits  of  Literature,  that  the  author  was  indebted  for 
its  rapid  and  increased  popularity.  It  has  now  gone  through  several 
editions,  chiefly  in  octavo,  3  vols.  :  but  an  elegantly  bound  copy  of 
the  original  quarto  is  yet  worth  31. 13s  6d.  The  work  possesses  many 
charms  of  appropriate  embellishment,  in  vignettes,  from  medals  and 
coins,  &c. :  and  the  fine  portrait  of  Lorenzo  at  the  beginning,  can 
hardly  be  viewed  with  indifference.  The  printing  is  delicious. 


626  BIOGRAPHY, 

of  pleasing  intelligence  were  explored  ;  and  a  stream 
of  knowledge  flowed  forth,  at  once  bright,  pure,  and 
nourishing.  I  hardly  know  a  work,  of  its  kind,  which 
evinces  throughout  a  more  delicate  taste,  exercised 
upon  a  more  felicitous  subject.  Roscoe  is  almost  the 
regenerator,  among  Englishmen,  of  a  love  of  Italian 
literature.  In  1805  appeared  his  more  elaborate  per- 
formance of  the  Life  and  Pontificate  of  Leo,  in  four 
quarto  volumes  ;  printed  at  Liverpool  in  all  the  luxury 
of  paper  and  press  work  by  Mr.  M'Creery,  and  of 
which  a  certain  number  of  copies  were  struck  off  on 
LARGE  PAPER.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  great  expec- 
tations were  formed  of  this  work  ;  and  it  must  be  as 
fairly  conceded  that  those  expectations  were,  in  a  great 
measure,  disappointed.  But  it  may  be  questioned 
whether  the  love  and  support  of  a  very  singular  hypo- 
thesis, did  not  injure  the  popularity  which  the  recol- 
lection of  the  merits  of  Lorenzo's  life  had  justly  pre- 
pared the  public  to  anticipate  ?  —  and  if  Mr.  Roscoe 
had  not  been  the  apologist  for  Lucretia  Borgia,  the  his- 
tory of  Leo  had  been  thought  worthy  of  the  biography 
of  his  grandfather.*  Upon  the  whole,  these  works  are 

*  An  elaborate  and  somewhat  fierce  review  of  this  work  appeared  in 
the  Edinburgh,  vol.vii.  page  336  j  chiefly,  as  it  should  seem,  in  con- 
sequence of  Mr.  Roscoe's  becoming  the  champion  for  the  purity  of  a 
woman's  character,  which  appeared  to  be  infamous  beyond  redemp- 
tion, from  the  prevailing  evidence  of  contemporaneous  history.  But, 
surely  this  was  a  mootable  point ;  and  no  living  reputation  could  be 
tarnished  by  the  discussion.  If  the  Father  and  the  Brother  of  Lucre- 
tia were  really  monsters  of  the  age,  were  the  daughter  and  the  sister 
necessarily  alike  criminal  ?  And  would  the  virtuous  and  accomplished 
Bembo  have  been  the  eulogist  of  a  woman,  had  her  character  been 
deserving  of  the  deep  shade  of  infamy  with  which  other  testimonies 
had  darkened  it  ?  Yet,  it  cannot  be  dissembled  that  there  exists  a 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  52? 

a  proud  monument  of  the  taste  and  research  of  their 
author;  and,  after  all,  it  may  be  doubted  whether 
Ginguene'  and  Sismondi  have  not  lighted  their  torches 

printed  volume  in  the  Latin  language,  of  the  date  of  1697,  4to.  writ- 
ten by  John  Burchard,*  Master  of  the  Ceremonies  of  the  Chapel  of 
Pope  Alexander  VI.  the  father  of  Lucretia,  which  very  extraordinary 
volume  charges  her  with  such  practices,  as,  if  true,  are  overwhelming 
demonstrations  of  depravity  and  guilt.  Perhaps  the  more  vulner- 
able part  of  Mr.  Roscoe's  great  work  of  the  Pontificate  of  Leo  X.  is 
the  very  unamiable  character  of  LUTHER  which  he  has  drawn.  But 
surely  the  coarseness,  and  even  virulence,  of  Luther,  was  the  foible 
and  fault  of  the  day.  I  possess,  and  have  read  much  of,  Secken- 
dorff's  Comment arius  Historicus  et  Apologeticus  de  Luther  anismo, 
Lips.  1694,  folio,  (a  book,  which  I  strongly  recommend  to  the  eccle- 
siastical antiquary-)-)  and  am  abundantly  convinced  that,  if  ever  a  man 
was  RAISED  by  Providence  for  the  work  which  he  had  to  accomplish, 
and  which  he  did  accomplish,  it  was  MARTIN  LUTHER.  I  could  select 
passages  from  the  writings  of  his  opponents,  (not  excepting  even  the 
classical  More  and  courtly  Stapleton)  and  especially  from  those  of 
Eckius,  which  evince  equal  coarseness  of  feeling  and  expression. 
These  are  different"  Tu  quoques"  from  those  of  ROBERT  GREEN! 
And  yet,  having,  when  at  Landshut,  handled  Eckius's  copy  of  the 
Complutensian  Polyglot,  once  belonging  to  Demetrius  Chalcondylas, 
and  sat  in  his  chair,  and  placed  his  doctor's  cap  upon  my  head — I 
cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  turn  to  his  Ars  enquirendi  et  damnandi 
Hareticos,  or  to  his  De  Primatu  Petri,  adversus  Lutherutn,  or  to 
his  Enchiridion  Locorum  Communium,  adversus  Lutheranos — for  spe- 
cimens of  Billingsgate  latinity.  And  so,  we  will  pronounce  them  both 
to  be  alike  innocent  or  guilty. 


*  It  is  called,  Historia  Arcana^  sive  de  Vita  Alexandri  VI.  Papee,  seu  Excerpta 
ex  Diario  J.  JSurchardi,  fyc.  The  famous  Leibnitz  was  the  editor.  A  copy  of  this 
singularly  rare  and  curious  volume  is  in  the  library  of  Mr.  R.  Wilbraham,  and 
another  is  in  that  of  Mr.  Douce.  I  have  seen  both  copies,  and  examined  much  of  the 
volume.  Gordon  incorporated  a  part  of  it  in  his  Biography  of  Alexander  VI.  &c. 
Land.  1729,  folio.  I  am  not  sure  whether  a  copy  of  Burchard's  book  would  not 
fetch  seven  guineas.  Did  either  of  the  copies  just  mentioned  fetch  so  many  shil- 
lings ?  I  trow  not. 

f  A  good  copy  of  Seckendorff  should  be  snapped  up,  when  obtainable,  at  I/.  10*. 


528  BIOGRAPHY, 

at  the  flame  kindled  by  Roscoe.*  For  the  sake  of  the 
subject,  let  me  here  annex  the  Life  of  Poggio  Brac~ 

*  It  is  in  his  later  work  tf  On  the  History  of  the.  Italian  Republics 
of  the  Middle  Ages"  Svo.  sixteen  vols.  that  Mr.  Sismondi  has  taken,  I 
think,  unwarrantable  liberties  with,  or  drawn  unfounded  conclusions 
from,  the  text  of  Mr.  Roscoe's  works.  The  veteran  English  author 
however  was  not  slow  to  reply.  He  furnished  his  quiver  with  a 
goodly  store  of  arrows,  and  plied  them  with  activity  and  success  : 

Ativy  $t  xX*/7»7  ytvtr*  dpyvgeoio  fHwo. 

In  other  words,  in  1822,  Mr.  Roscoe  put  forth  an  elegantly  printed, 
and  as  elegantly  written,  work,  entitled  "  Illustrations  Historical  and 
Critical  of  the  Life  of  Lorenzo  de  Medici,'"  &c.  This  volume  is  full  of 
interest  j  and  it  is  delightful  to  see  with  what  courtesy  and  urbanity 
the  author  notices  the  labours  of  Fabroni  and  Pozzetti  (connected 
with  his  own  biography  of  Leo)  and  with  what  temper,  spirit,  and 
success,  he  answers  the  animadversions  of  the  able,  but  too  sensitive 
and  precipitate,  Sismondi.  Mr.  Roscoe  may  be  fearless  about  the  re- 
sult. This  is  probably  the  last  time  that  his  name  will  adorn  these 
pages :  and,  in  taking  leave  of  it,  how  can  I  better  express  my  feel- 
ings than  in  the  beautiful  language  of  the  author  of  the  Sketch  Book  ? 
"  Mr.  Roscoe  is  independent  of  the  world  around  him.  He  lives  with 
antiquity  and  with  posterity :  with  antiquity,  in  the  sweet  commu- 
nion of  studious  retirement ;  and  with  posterity,  in  the  generous 
aspiring  after  future  renown.  The  solitude  of  such  a  mind  is  its  state 
of  highest  enjoyment.  It  is  then  visited  by  those  elevated  medita- 
tions which  are  the  proper  aliment  of  noble  souls,  and  are,  Jike 
manna,  sent  from  heaven,  in  the  wilderness  of  this  world."  What  a 
flow  of  sentiment  and  of  style  is  evinced  in  this  highly  polished, 
and  heart-touching  period  !  It  looks  like  amber,  poured  out  from 
the  charmed  phial  of  a  necromancer — bright,  warm,  and  transparent ! 
No  wonder  that  a  very  old,  black-letter,  Roxburghe-club,  friend,  on 
visiting  me  almost  every  alternate  Saturday  evening,  exclaims,  among 
his  first  observations,  ' (  hand  me  the  Sketch  Book,  and  I'll  read  to  you 
what  Washington  Irving  says  of  William  Roscoe."  But  though 
I  grant  my  friend  all  that  he  requires,  yet  I  stick  out  for  a  few,  per- 
haps superior,  passages  in  Bracebridge  Hall.  Of  both  these  works — 
"  anon,  anon,"  good  Master  Bernardo. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  529 

eiolini,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  SHEPHERD,  in  1802,  4to. : 
another  important  acquisition  to  the  knowledge  of 
Italian  literature  in  the  middle  ages.* 

We  are  now  "  in  the  thick  and  bustle  "  of  living 
biographers ;  but  let  a  tribute  of  literary  respect  be 
paid  to  the  recent  dead.  The  auto-biography  of 
GIBBON,  attached  to  his  Posthumous  Works  edited  by 
Lord  Sheffield,  has  been  perhaps  the  most  popular 
production,  of  its  kind,  of  modern  times.-}-  It  is  win- 

*  A  copy  of  Mr.  Shepherd's  Poggio  Bracciolini  in  4to.  is,  I  learn, 
obtainable  for  1Z.  Is.  With  this  work,  should  be  united  the  Rev.  Mr, 
GRESWELL'S  Memoirs  of  Politian,  Pico  de  Mirandula,  &c.  with  other 
biographies  of  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries,  1801 ,  8vo.  price 
7*.  6d.  :  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  BERING-TON'S  Literary  History  of  the 
Middle  Ages,  1814,  4to. :  for  a  criticism  on  which,  consult  the  Edinb, 
Review,  vol.  xxiii,  p.  229.  I  must  ingenuously  affirm,  that  the  dis- 
appointment felt  in  the  perusal  of  this  latter  work  was  not  exclusively 
confined  to  Protestants. 

t  It  was  first  published  in  1796,  prefixed  to  the  Letters  and  Mis- 
cellaneous Works  of  Gibbon,  in  2  vols.  4to.  An  excellent  account  of 
it  appeared  in  the  Monthly  Review,  vol.  xx,  p.  78,  N.  S.  This  polished 
little  auto-biographical  gem  was  read  in  all  circles,  and  admired  by 
critics  of  every  description.  Nor  were  the  Letters,  and  especially 
the  Journal  of  Gibbon's  Studies,  considered  to  be  less  commendable. 
The  latter  is  indeed  a  valuable  legacy  bequeathed  to  posterity.  Bating 
the  well  known  prejudices  of  the  author,  which  are  here  compara- 
tively softened  and  subdued,  I  know  of  nothing  more  inviting  to 
perusal — more  seductive  to  all  the  honourable  objects  of  intellectual 
cultivation  and  gratification — than  this  "  Journal."  It  makes  us  in 
love  with  our  study  and  our  books :  and  situated  as  was  Gibbon's 
library,  overlooking  a  portion  of  the  lake  of  Geneva,  one  can  hardly 
conceive  any  earthly  luxury,  to  an  enlarged  mind  like  his,  to 
have  been  more  complete.  Indeed,  Gibbon  occasionally  describes 
himself  as  marching  into  his  LIBRARY,  of  a  bright,  beauteous  morn- 
ing, to  handle  his  Byzantine  historians,  with  all  the  zest  and  activity 
of  an  horticulturist  into  his  hot  house — to  cut  his  black  Antigua  pine, 

M    M 


530  BIOGRAPHY, 

rung  in  an  unusual  degree.  The  periods  flow  with  a 
sort  of  liquid  cadence.  The  facts  are  beautifully 
brought  together,  and  ingeniously  argued  upon ;  and 
the  life  of  a  studious  Recluse  has  something  about  it 
of  the  air  of  a  romantic  Adventurer.  This  is  attri- 
butable to  the  charm  —  the  polish  —  the  harmony  of 
the  style.  But  the  auto-biography  of  Gibbon  is,  in 
fact,  the  consummation  of  ART  :  and  never  were  pages 
more  determinedly  and  more  elaborately  written  for 
the  admiration  of  posterity.  How  different  is  the  auto- 
biography of  HUME  !  But  both  these  great  writers 
were  the  same  —  in  their  own  memoirs  and  their  his- 
tories :  the  former,  like  Johnson's  description  of  Gray, 
had  generally  "  a  kind  of  strutting  dignity,  and  was 
tall  by  walking  on  tip-toe  :  "  the  latter,  all  simplicity 
and  perspicuity,  would  rather  be  courted  by,  than 
court,  the  Graces :  and  his  style  was  grace  itself. 

or  gather  his  favourite  nectarine,  yet  impearled  with  the  early  dews 
of  a  hot-house  !  The  author  of  f  (  The  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman 
Empire,  "  seems  to  revel  in  the  intellectual  banquet  placed  before 
him;*  and,  indeed  Nature,  which,  from  bodily  infirmities,  denied 
Gibbon  the  luxuries  of  out  of  door  exercise,  seems  to  have  abundantly 
compensated  this  defect,  by  enduing  him  with  a  hale,  active,  and 
comprehensive  mind,  which  was  scarcely  sensible  of  fatigue.  I 
hardly  know  a  greater  favour  conferred  on  the  republic  of  literature 
by  Mr.  Murray,  than  the  reprint  of  these  instructive  volumes  in  the 


*  I  know  of  few  passages — indeed,  I  know  of  none — which  so  completely,  and  so 
deliciously  (if  I  may  so  speak)  describes  the  comforts  of  a  well-stored  library,  as 
the  following,  from  the  Author  of  the  Sketch  Book.  "  When  all  that  is  worldly 
turns  to  dross  around  us,  these  only  retain  their  steady  value.  When  friends  grow 
cold,  and  the  converse  of  intimates  languishes  into  vapid  civility  and  common 
place,  these  only  continue  the  unaltered  countenance  of  happier  days,  and  cheer 
us  with  that  true  friendship  which  never  deceived  hope,  nor  deserted  sorrow." 
Vol.  i.  p.  31.  Edit.  1820.  Can  sentiment  (I  ask)  be  purer,  or  language  mor« 
harmonious,  than  this  ? 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  531 

The  biographical  labours  of  Mr.  ARCHDEACON 
COXE  here  present  themselves  for  immediate  and  dis- 
tinct notice.  They  are  considerable  in  extent,  and 
meritorious  in  quality ;  and,  as  they  appear  to  my 
judgment,  are  likely  to  be  yet  more  appreciated  by 
posterity  than  in  the  present  times.  His  Memoirs  of 
the  two  Walpoles*  possess  sterling  and  unquestionable 
merit :  and  his  recent  Memoirs  of  the  Duke  of  Marl- 
borough^  afford  abundant  evidence  that  the  powers  of 

commodious  form,  and  at  the  reasonable  price,  of  an  octavo,  in  five 
vols.  A  useful  Index  is  added.  The  work  is  published  at  31.  13$.  6d. 
in  boards. 

*  The  Memoirs  of  Horatio  Lord  Walpole,  appeared  in  1802,  4  to.; 
and  those  of  the  Life  and  Administration  of  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  Earl 
of  Orford,  in  1798,  4to.  three  vols.  They  have  been  reprinted,  in  oc- 
tavo, with  the  omission  of  the  curious  documents,  and  private  corres- 
pondence, which  form  the  third  volume  ;  and  the  second  octavo 
edition,  in  4  vols.  has  only  a  portion  of  it.  No  well  appointed  library 
can  be  considered  as  complete  without  this  work.  It  sells  for  2Z.  2*. 

f  This  work,  comprising  f(  the  original  Correspondence"  of  the  great 
general  whose  deeds  it  celebrates,  was  published  in  1818,  4to.  3  vols. j 
and  has  been  also  reprinted  in  octavo,  with  the  plans  of  the  battles  in 
a  thin  quarto.  Never  were  past  battles  better  described  as  well  as 
fought.  The  author,  as  his  preface  informs  us,  has  judiciously  availed 
himself  of  the  professional  talents  of  Major  Hamilton  Smith — so  well 
known  and  highly  estimated  by  military  judges.  The  great  battles  of 
Ramillies,  Oudenarde,  and  Blenheim,  are  here  fought  over  again  with 
a  precision  and  effect  which  we  seek  in  vain  in  the  somnolent 
pages  of  Lediard  :J  and  I  do  hope  that  every  well  educated,  and  well 


J  The  Life  of  John  Duke  of  Mar  thorough,  with  cuts,  1736,  8vo.  3  vols.  In  the 
same  year  was  published  a  pompous  folio,  called  The  Military  History  of  Prince 
Eugene  and  John  Duhe  of  Marlborough,  with  portraits  and  plans  of  battles.  A  copy 
may  even  now  be  worth  I/.  lls,6d.  Previously  to  the  appearance  of  Mr.  Coxe's 
biography  of  Marlborough,  there  appeared,  and  it  is  said  at  the  command  of  Bona- 
parte, a  military  life  of  him,  in  three  octavo  volumes  :  written  with  great  care  and 
considerable  impartiality.  The  indirect  view  of  Bonaparte  was,  to  exalt  his  own 
victories  upon  the  defeats  of  the  Generals  of  Louis  XIV. 


532  BIOGRAPHY, 

his  pen  do  not  decay  with  the  course  of  his  years  :  for 
Mr.  Coxe  is  now  in  the  plenitude  of  septuagenarianism. 
But  should  not  these  works  have  been  chronicled  in 
the  following  department   of  biography  —  as   they 
are  entitled  Memoirs?    No  matter:   let  them  here 
pass.     The  opening  of  the  nineteenth  century   was 
marked  by  a  publication,  of  the  biographical  species, 
of  which  the  reputation,  in  its  way,  is  perhaps  as 
likely  to  be  as  permanent  as  that  of  Boswell's  Life  of 
Johnson.     The  reader  will,  I  dare  say,  immediately 
anticipate  the  Life  and  Posthumous  Writings  of  Wil- 
liam Cowper  the  Poet,  in  two  quarto  volumes,  1802, 
by  the  late  poet  WILLIAM  HAYLEY.  *     The  sensation 
produced  by  this  publication  was  as  delightful  as  it 
was  general.     Such  a  series  of  Letters  (from  Cowper) 
had  been  hardly  ever  before  perused  ;  and  the  mode  of 
illustrating  his  Life,  by  the  insertion  of  his  letters,  was 
eminently  judicious  and  happy.     The  public  caught 

connected  "  Young  Man,  "  whose  eyes  may  chance  to  glance  over 
this  work,  will  forthwith  betake  himself  to  the  perusal  of  these  in- 
structive and  patriotic  volumes.  It  has  been  said  (and  I  believe  on 
good  authority)  that  the  present  great  CAPTAIN  of  THE  AGE  declared, 
from  the  account  of  the  battle  of  Ramilies,  as  here  described,  that  he 
considered  that  victory  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  on  record.  The 
manoeuvres  that  led  to  it  were^  at  the  time,  equally  new  and  deci- 
sive. A  delightful  review  of  this  work  appeared  in  the  Quarterly, 
vol.  xxiii,  p.  1-73.  I  should  not  close  this  note  without  adding,  that 
there  are  copies,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  of  all  the  quarto  productions  of 
Mr.  Archdeacon  Coxe. 

*  One  of  the  best  efforts  of  critical  taste  in  the  Edinburgh  Review, 
will  be  found  in  the  strictures  on  this  publication,  vol.ii.  p.  64.  See 
also  vol.  iv.  p.  273,  &c.  an  equally  interesting  specimen  of  criticism 
on  a  third  quarto  volume  of  Cowper's  Letters,  published  by  the  same 
editor.  But  I  am  also  in  duty  bound  to  notice  a  brief  and-able  review 
of  the  Poems  of  Cowper,  in  the  Quarterly,  vol.  xvi.  p.  116. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  533 

with  avidity  at  such  charming  productions  —  such 
unequivocal  proofs  of  an  enlightened  mind  and  a 
benevolent  heart  —  and  Cowper's  seemed  to  be  the 
example  of  every  thing  of  which  he  proved  the  beauty 
in  theory.  But  the  philanthropist  mourned  over 
those  dark  shadows  which  occasionally  hung  over  a 
mind,  naturally  bright,  cheerful,  and  serene.  If,  in 
any  soul,  religion  seemed  likely  to  impart  her  conso- 
lations, it  was  in  Cowpers;  but  an  early  and  unset- 
tled state  of  mind,  arising  from  physical  aberrations 
which  no  earthly  physician  could  rectify,  afflicted  and 
overwhelmed  the  sensitive  and  yielding  frame  of  this 
excellent  man.*  Yet  he  seemed  to  be  always  smiling, 
even  in  sorrow :  and,  extraordinary  to  relate,  in  the 
moments  of  his  deepest  depression,  there  was  often  a 
gay  and  elastic  play  of  heart — for,  it  was  in  one  of 
these  moments,  that  he  penned  his  Johnny  Gilpin  f 

*  I  could  have  wished  a  stronger  tone  of  severity  to  have  been  ex- 
pressed, in  the  authority  last  referred  to,  (p.  123)  against  the  publi- 
cation of  those  Memoirs  of  Cowper,  1816,  8vo.  which  were  written  by 
himself,  and  which  betrayed  his  morbid  and  unhappy  state  of  feelings 
in  an  attempt  to  commit  suicide.  There  is  perhaps  no  species  of 
mental  depravation,  connected  with  a  LUST  OF  LUCRE,  more  deserv- 
ing of  reproof  and  castigation,  than  that  which  led  to  the  publication 
of  these  Memoirs.  First,  this  composition  could  never  have  been  in- 
tended for  the  public  eye  -,  and  was  therefore  on  every  account  sacred. 
Secondly,  it  could  only  lead  to  the  debasement  of  that  amiable 
creature,  whom  it  was  the  bounden  duty  of  the  publisher  to  have  kept 
as  free  from  all  imputation  as  the  pages  of  Hayley  had  justly  repre- 
sented him.  Thirdly,  if  the  feeling  which  led  to  this  publication  were 
a  religious  one,  I  must  say  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  perverted  and 
mischievous  views  of  religion  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  Cant, 
or  lucre,  in  its  genuine  form,  was,  I  fear,  the  source  or  the  motive 
of  this  highly  injudicious  publication.  We  love  and  respect  Cowper 
too  sincerely,  to  "  drag  his  frailties  from  their  drear  abode." 


534  BIOGRAPHY, 

Such  is  the  "  fearful  and  wonderful"  mechanism  of 
man.  How  opposite,  in  all  respects,  are  BoswelVs 
Johnson  and  Hayleifs  Cowper  !  —  and  yet,  as  before 
intimated,  the  works  and  memories  of  BOTH  will  live 
to  the  latest  posterity.  We  are  now  fully  within  the 
limits  of  the  present  century,  when  there  appeared  an 
animated  and  interesting  piece  of  auto-biography  by 
the  late  Richard  Cumberland,  in  one  quarto  volume,* 
which  has  been  reprinted  in  octavo,  and  of  which  I 
warrant  the  perusal  to  be  a  source  of  entertainment  to 
the  reader.  Cumberland  was  a  brilliant  scholar,  dra- 
matist, and  prose  writer;  almost  the  last  of  the  John- 
sonian school. 

Great  was  the  satisfaction  felt,  about  this  time,  by 
the  appearance  of  two  pieces  of  ecclesiastical  biogra- 
phy, from  the  pens  of  two  eminent  Oxford  scholars. 
First,  The  Life  of  the  Chancellor  Waynftete,  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  and  Founder  of  Magdalen  College,  by  Dr. 
RICHARD  CHANDLER — written  about  the  year  1790, 

*  This  auto-biography  was  elaborately  criticised  in  the  Edinb.  Re- 
view, vol.  viii,  p.  107^  &c.,  where,  it  seems  to  me,  substantial  justice 
was  not  rendered  it.  It  begins  by  calling  the  work  a  (f  sort  of  gos- 
sipping  one  " — and  concludes  by  pronouncing  it  to  be  "  the  produc- 
tion of  no  ordinary  man."  Much  perhaps  may  be  said  to  correct, 
and  reconcile,  these  apparently  contradictory  extremes  :  but  the  per- 
formance of  Cumberland  is,  in  truth,  in  many  and  most  parts,  tho- 
roughly racy  and  entertaining.  His  whole  portrait  of  Bub  Dodding- 
ton  is  executed  perfectly  tf  con  amore."  It  has  all  the  freshness 
of  Rubens  with  the  force  of  Velasquez.  His  successful  defence  of 
the  imputed  domestic  moroseness  of  Bentley,  has  endeared  Cumber- 
land to  the  Cantabsj  and  we  shall  see  what  good  use  has  been  made 
of  his  materials,  in  the  forthcoming  biography  of  that  great  Critic  by 
Dr.  Monk,  Dean  of  Peterborough.  The  late  Mr.  Lackington,  the  pub- 
lisher, gave  the  author  5001.  for  this  volume. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  535 

but  not  published  till  the  death  of  its  author,  in  1811  :* 
secondly,  The  Life  of  Alexander  Nowell,  Dean  of  St. 
Paul's,  by  the  Rev.  RALPH  CHURTON,  in  1809,  8vo. — 
a  volume^  which  has  enjoyed  a  greater  share  of  popu- 
larity than  the  one  previously  mentioned.  Of  its 
author,  I  have  before  had  occasion  to  speak  with  the 
commendation  to  which  his  talents  and  character  so 
justly  entitle  him.  £  And  here,  let  me  make  brief  but 

*  This  piece  of  biography,  however  carefully  composed,  and  how- 
ever true  to  chronological  authorities,  is,  in  truth,  but  a  heavy  book. 
The  notes  do  not  betray  curious  research,  and  the  absence  of  inter- 
esting facts  is  not  compensated  by  vigour  or  fluency  of  style.  And 
yet,  WAYNFLETE  was  a  sort  of  a  second  William  of  Wykeham  !  His 
portrait  looks  commandingly  in  the  frontispiece,  and  the  volume  is 
handsomely  printed  at  the  Bensley  press  j  but,  to  my  poor  fancy, 
the  whole  length,  sitting  figure,  of  this  excellent  Prelate,  attired  in 
his  robes — which  crowns  the  entrance-porch  of  Magdalen  College — 
should,  on  no  account,  have  been  omitted  to  be  transferred  to  copper. 
I  never  pass  under  this  porch,  for  the  BIBLIOMANIACAL  REVELS  in  the 
library  of  the  present  excellent  and  erudite  President  of  the  College, 
Dr.  Routh — without  stopping  "  a  brief  instant "  to  contemplate  and 
commend  this  solid  piece  of  not  incurious  sculpture.  "  There  were 
GIANTS  in  those  days  3"  and  Waykeham  and  Wynflete  were  of  the 
number.  Note  :  the  LARGE  PAPER  of  Chandler's  book,  when  attired  in 
purple  morocco,  has  a  most  episcopalian  air  :  and  it  is  worthy  of  a 
place  even  on  the  shelves  of  an  archiepiscopalian  library. 

f  The  biography  of  Dean  Nowell  by  Mr.  Churton,  is,  without  an 
unmeaning  compliment,  among  the  happiest  specimens  of  its  kind 
which  the  present  century  has  seen.  The  very  portrait  of  the  good 
old  Dean,  placing  his  hand  upon  his  fishing  rod,  makes  a  Walto- 
nian  dance  a  capriola.  The  large  paper,  worth  about  2/.  12s.  6d.,  is 
getting  fast  out  of  the  market  5  and  the  small,  (worth  1Z.  Is.)  begins 
now  to  be  scarce.  My  friend  Mr.  Haslewood  has  a  gaily  adorned, 
illustrated,  copy  of  it :  classing  it  among  his  books  of  sports.  But 
PALEY  and  PARSONS,  also  "  true  Sons  of  the  Angle,"  might  be  ranged 
in  a  similar  class.  Yet  this  must  not  be. 

J  See  page  73,  ante. 


536  BIOGRAPHY, 

honourable  mention  of  Mr.  Churton's  Lives  of  the 
Founders  of  Brazen  Nose  College  published  in  1800, 
8vo.  and  now  difficult  to  procure,  especially  in  a  large 
paper  form.* 

The  Life  and  Writings  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney  ap- 
peared in  a  slim  quarto  volume,  in  1808,  from  the  pen 
of  the  late  Dr.  ZOUCH,  prebendary  of  Durham.  This 
work — which  intended  to  embalm  the  memory  of  the 
most  illustrious  man  of  his  age,  and  of  which  the  au- 
thor had  established  high  claims  to  reputation — if  it 
did  not  fall  still-born  from  the  press,  at  least  disap- 
pointed the  well  founded  expectations  of  the  curious 
and  learned.  The  very  portrait  prefixed,  so  different 
from  the  received  one  at  Penshurst,  (and  which  shines 
with  so  much  splendour  in  Mr.  H-arding's  Illustrious 
Portraits)  threw  a  chill  upon  the  volume.  It  was 
almost  a  scarecrow  to  frighten  away  purchasers.  In 
1810,  appeared  the  Life  of  Torquato  Tasso,  by  the 
Rev.  JOHN  BLACK,  in  two  quarto  volumes  ;  a  work, 
deserving,  on  many  accounts,  a  place  in  a  well-chosen 
library .•}•  Those  who  love  the  memory  of  Tasso,  and 
the  literature  of  his  times,  will  do  well  to  make 
themselves  masters  of  the  text  and  notes  of  these  in- 
structive volumes. 

The  last,  but  not  the  least,  in  this  bright  squadron 
of  biographical  champions,  is  Mr.  ROBERT  SOUTHEY, 
our  present  poet  laurcat.  The  excellence  of  his  Life 
of  Nelson  has  been  before  noticed.;}:  To  that  work  has 

*  A  perfect  copy  of  the  book  should  have  a  supplement,  printed  in 
1803, 8vo.  containing  a  plate  of  Bishop  Croxton's  monument.  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss  affix  no  price  to  such  a  perfect  copy  of  this  work. 
Mr.  Haslewood  has  it — choked  with  illustrations. 

f  A  copy  of  it  is  worth  2/.  12*.  6d.  in  good  calf  binding. 

t  See  page  471,  ante.  The  substance  of  this  charming  little  piece 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  537 

succeeded  his  Life  of  John  Wesley  >  and  the  Rise  and 
Progress  of  Methodism,  1820,  in  two  large  octavo  vo- 
lumes. The  pith  of  this  animated  production  appeared 
in  a  Quarterly  Journal,  called  The  Correspondent :  * 

of  biography  was  given  in  the  review  of  an  elaborate  Life  of  Nelson, 
by  the  Reverend  James  STANIER  CLARKE,  and  Mr.  Mf  ARTHUR,  pub- 
lished in  1809,  in  two  quarto  volumes,  f  This  review  appeared 
in  the  Quarterly,  vol.  iii.  page  218,  &c.  and  it  was  one  of  those 
reviews  which,  undoubtedly  and  justly,  contributed  to  establish 
the  reputation  of  that  Journal  upon  its  present  solid  basis.  Nu- 
merous were  the  conjectures  about  its  author.  The  remarkably 
splendid  peroration  had  induced  a  belief  that  the  pen  of  Mr.  Canning 
might  have  been  exercised  on  it.  That  peroration  is  incorporated 
in  the  published  life  of  Nelson  by  Mr.  Southey  j  and  although,  as 
probably  beyond  the  comprehension  of  an  ordinarily  educated  sea- 
faring man,  it  may  be  thought  less  applicable  to  the  biography  than 
to  the  review,  yet  there  is  no  right-minded  scholar  who  would  wish 
it  away.  It  is  like  a  splendid  last  act  of  an  interesting  play,  which 
brings  down  thunders  of  applause  from  an  enthusiastically  approving 
audience.  But  the  whole  review,  as  well  as  the  LIFE,  rivets  you  to 
your  seat ;  and,  peradventure,  the  embryo  seeds  of  future  valour 
may  be  traced  to  this  production.  I  hope  and  trust  that  Mr.  Murray, 
the  publisher,  will  put  forth  ten  thousand  copies  of  his  next  edition, 
in  one  pocket  volume,  at  5s.  the  copy  :  and  let  us  have  Lord  Nelson 
in  the  frontispiece  —  cut  on  the  steel  plate  of  that  truly  marvellous 
mechanic,  hight  Richard  Perkins. 

*  Of  which  Journal,  three  numbers  only  appeared.    But  the  same 


•f*'  This  work  naturally  excited  great  expectations.  The  death  and  victory  of 
Nelson  were  unprecedentedly  glorious  and  triumphant :  and  gentlemen  flocked, 
almost  in  crowds,  to  Messrs.  Cadell  and  Davies,  the  publishers,  to  set  their  names 
down  as  subscribers.  Not  fewer,  I  believe,  than  1200  copies  of  an  jeight-guinea 
book  were  secured  before  the  day  of  publication  :  including  those  on  LARGE  PAPER. 
Two  copies  were  even  printed  ON  VELLUM  :  but  the  result  proved  a  little  unfortu- 
nate. Not  but  what  the  contents  of  the  work  were  composed  of  authentic  docu- 
ments, and  included  much  really  valuable  matter :  but  the  text,  sufficiently  adorned 
by  plates,  wanted  a  sort  of  continuous  stream  of  interesting  narrative ;  and  the 
work  could  only  be  leisurely  consulted  as  "  matter  of  record."  It  is,  however,  by  no 
means  a  common  book  ;  and  may  be  worth  4/:  4s.  A  copy, ON  VELLUM,  was  sold  at 
the  sale  of  Mr.  Hodgson's  library,  Feb.  1824,  for  311.  10^. 


588  BIOGRAPHY, 

Its  sale  has  been  great,  as  might  have  been  expected ; 
and  it  is  hoped  that  a  pen,  which  can  execute  such 
pieces  in  so  masterly  a  manner,  will  not  be  unem- 
ployed on  other  similar  subjects :  when  the  great 
work,  (the  History  of  the  Peninsular  War)  which  now 
occupies  his  attention,  shall  have  been  completed. 
The  author  is  yet  in  the  vigour  of  mind  and  body : 
possessing  the  "  mens  sana  in  corpore  sano." 

As  the  fourth  and  last  division  of  this  BIOGRAPHICAL 
department,*  I  come  to  notice  the  MEMOIRS  and 
ANECDOTES  of  distinguished  people,  or  of  the  times  in 
which  eminent  characters  lived :  and,  as  far  as  I  am 
able  to  anticipate,  there  will  be  little,  consistently 
with  my  plan,  and  considering  what  has  been  pre- 
viously accomplished,  to  execute.  I  commence  im- 
mediately with  the  Hommes  et  Dames  Illustres  of 
BRANTOME  ;  of  which  the  best  edition,  incorporating 
all  the  works  of  the  author,  is  that  published  at  the 
Hague  in  1740,  12mo.  fifteen  vois.-f-  Brantome  is 

spirit  with  which  Mr.  Southey  has  executed  all  his  articles  in  the 
Quarterly  Review,  connected  with  METHODISM,  most  strikingly  ap- 
pears in  his  reputed  review  of  the  works  of  Huntingdon,  the  Coal- 
heaver  :  see  vol.  xxiv,  p.  462. 

*  Perhaps  I  ought  to  have  referred  the  reader,  in  regard  to  the 
lives  of  foreigners,  to  the  pages  of  Brunet,  vol.  iv.  p.  456,  for  an  ac- 
count of  publications  exclusively  confined  to  LOCAL  biography.  Not 
a  city  in  Italy,  nor  perhaps  in  France,  but  what  has  had  its  quarto  or 
folio  printed  record  of  the  eminent  men  whom  it  has  brought  forth. 
Something,  and  much  similar,  may  be  said  of  our  COUNTY  Histories. 
They  frequently  contain  Memoirs  and  Memorials  of  eminent  men, 
no  where  else  to  be  found — and  among  living  writers  of  topography, 
I  know  of  few  who  shew  so  commendable  a  partiality  to  this  depart- 
ment of  research,  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  SURTEES,  author  of  the  magnifi- 
cent history  of  Durham,  in  three  folio  volumes. 

t  This  edition,  which  contains  historical  annotations,  in  neat  calf 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  539 

frequently  a  most  amusing  and  instructive  writer ; 
but  his  naivete*  often  borders  upon  what  must  be 
considered  not  a  little  licentious.  He  has  preserved 
many  important  facts,  as  well  as  entertaining  anec- 
dotes, which  must  have  otherwise  perished.  It  is 
pleasant  to  find  the  unaccountable  omission  of  his 
name  by  Laharpe.  supplied  by  a  short,  but  smart 
notice  of  him,  by  Barbier.* 

As  I  have  begun  with  French  Memoirs,  or  works 
written  in  the  French  language,  I  will  continue  and 
conclude  with  them  :  observing,  by  the  way,  that,  of 
all  species  of  writing,  it  is  one  in  which  the  French 
excel  the  most ;  even  in  their  own  literary  republic  : 
— and  it  is  quite  clear,  that  we  have  few  productions, 

binding,  may  be  worth  51.  5s.  The  principal  portion  of  Brantome's 
works  consists  of  his  Memoires  des  Grands  Capitaines  Fran$ais ;  and 
I  should  think  that  his  pages  might  be  foraged  with  success  by  the 
great  Scotch  novelist.  We  heartily  thank  the  Sieur  de  Brantome  for 
what  he  has  handed  down  to  us  relating  to  our  favourite  Mary.-f 
Many  of  his  female  characters  are  hit  off  in  a  manner  to  justify  the 
observations  of  Barbier. 

*  Barbier's  observations  are  these : — "  Get  auteur,  qui  avoit  la 
g£nie  de  la  cour,  s'est  plu  \  peindre  les  hommes  avec  ces  traits  qui 
attachent  1'esprit  et  remuent  le  cceur.  II  assaissonne  les  faits  les 
plus  curieux  du  sel  de  son  style,  qui  n'etoit  fai  t  que  pour  lui  seul.Comme 
il  avoit  participe  aux  desordres  qui  regnoient  alors  parmi  les  courti- 
sans,  il  faut  £tre  en  garde  contre  certaines  licences,  auxquelles  son 
imagination  se  livre  trop  aise'ment."  Bibl.  (Tun  Homme  de  Gout.  vol. 
iv.  p.  17-  Renouard,  not  very  vaguely,  surmises,  that  it  may  be 
probable,  in  the  present  rage  for  reprints,  that  some  one  may  republish 
the  works  of  Brantome  :  the  Paris  edition  of  1787,  in  eight  vols.  8vo. 


t  We  owe  to  Brantome,  I  believe,  the  preservation  of  the  affecting  song  which 
Mary  sung,  in  the  vessel,  while  quitting  the  shores  of  France  to  return  to  her  king- 
dom. Yet  there  may  be  reasonable  doubts  of  its  authenticity.  Was  the  sensitive 
mind  of  a  woman,  in  her  situation,  in  a  state  to  warble  ditties  ? 


540  BIOGRAPHY, 

of  a  similar  character,  which  can  pretend  to  vie  with 
them,  and  none  that  can  eclipse  them.  La  Harpe 
has  given  a  good  notion  of  the  quality  and  effect  of 
memoir-writing.*  Three  of  the  greatest  statesmen  of 
France  have  had  their  names  and  transactions  incor- 
porated in  a  series  of  Memoirs.,  which  cannot  fail  to 
be  familiar  to  the  well-educated  "  Young  Man."  I 
mean  SULLY,  RICHELIEU,  and  RETZ.-{~  La  Harpe 

being  in  little  request.  Cat.  de  la  Bibl.  d'un  Amateur,  vol.  iii.  p.  294. 
Suppose  the  French  were  modernised,  and  pretty  portraits  added, 
from  legitimate  originals  ? 

*  "  Les  nombreux  me'moires  qui  nous  restent  du  dernier  sieele 
offrent  un  plus  grand  fonds  destruction,  et  surtout  plus  d'agrement 
que  les  historiens.  Us  representent  plus  en  detail  et  plus  naivement 
les  faits  et  les  personnages  :  ils  fouillent  plus  avant  dans  le  secret  des 
causes  et  des  ressorts,  et  c'est  avec  leur  secours  que  nous  avons  eu, 
dans  le  sieele  present,  de  meilleurs  morceaux  d'histoire.  II  est  peu 
de  lectures  plus  agr£ables,  si  Ton  ne  veut  qu'etre  amuse*  j  mais  ge'ne'- 
ralement  il  en  est  peu  dont  il  faille  se  de'fier  d'avantage,  si  Ton  ne 
veut  pas  6tre  trompeV'  Cours  de  Litte'rature,  vol.  vii.  p.  172. 

f  Brunet  is  gloriously  communicative  about  various  editions  of  the 
Due  DE  SULLY  :  but,  fortified  by  him  and  Renouard,  I  cannot,  in  con- 
science, allow  either  my  young  or  old  Collector  to  dispense  with  an 
edition  of  the  original  work  in  folio  as  a  curiosity  only.  Sully  is  re- 
presented as  sitting  attentive  to  his  own  applause,  in  a  chair  of  state, 
while  his  Secretaries  address  him  thus :  —  "  Upon  which,  Sir,  you 
thought  proper  to  act  thus,  or  to  do  this,  &c.  "  The  best  edition  of 
this  work  is  that  which  is  printed  in  the  castle  of  Sully,  by  a  printer 
of  Angen,  under  the  designation  of  Amsterdam,  chez  Attthinosgraphe, 
#c.  in  1638,  in  two  folio  volumes ....  Renouard  boasts  of  a  copy  of 
it  on  LARGE  PAPER,  2  vols.  in  1,  in  ancient  binding.  Cat.  de  la  Bibl. 
d'un  Amateur,  vol.  iv.  p.  136.  The  Amst.  edition  of  the  modern  Mem. 
de  Sully  f  1723,  in  12  small  duodecimos,  is  worth  a  couple  of  guineas, 
if  it  be  only  for  the  sake  of  the  side  pocket  in  your  travelling  car- 
riage. The  quarto  London  (Paris)  edition  of  1745-7,  in  three  vols. 
on  LARGE  PAPER,  with  the  portraits  of  Odieuvre  inserted,  is  scarce ; 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  541 

speaks  in  a  species  of  extasy  of  the  cleverness  dis- 
played in  the  memoirs  of  the  latter  ;  but  an  English- 
man has  almost  a  national  feeling  for  those  of  Sully ; 
and  where  Retz  is  read  once,  in  this  country,  Sully 
may  be  read  twenty,  or  even  forty  times.  Henry  IV. 
and  his  prime  minister  remind  us  occasionally  of  our 
Elizabeth  and  her  Cecil,  so  that  the  partiality  is  easily 
accounted  for. 

But  strong  and  commendable  as  our  neighbours 
undoubtedly  are,  for  their  political  and  literary  Me- 
moirs, they  are  culpable  in  the  extreme  for  the  publi- 
cation of  a  tissue  of  works,  under  this  title,  which 

and  worth  some  fl.  7s.  The  editions  of  the  English  translation  need 
not  be  enumerated ;  but  that  published  by  Miller,  in  four  oc- 
tavo volumes,  1810,  with  good  heads  by  Scriven,  is  among  the 
best.  So  popular  is  Sully  with  us,  that  an  abridgement  of  it,  in 
two  octodecimo  volumes,  is  just  announced  by  Messrs.  Whitaker. 
The  memoirs  or  history  of  CARDINAL,  RICHELIEU  were  published  in 
two  pretty  duodecimo  volumes,  in  1650 — with  a  continuation  in  five 
vols.  in  1667  —  both  by  the  Elzevirs.  These  five  latter  volumes  are 
rather  miscellaneous  memoirs,  letters,  and  instructions.  The  seven 
volumes,  in  such  condition  as  Mons.  Renouard  appears  to  possess 
them,  must  not  be  precipitately  hoped  for.  The  Memoirs  of  CAR- 
DINAL DE  RETZ  (during  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.)  were  put  forth  in 
four  crown  octavo  volumes,  at  Amst.  in  1731 :  to  which  you  must 
join  the  Mtinoires  de  GuyJoly,  Amst.  1J38,  12mo.  2  vols.  :  and  those 
of  Madame  la  Duchesse  de  Nemours,  Amst.  1738,  12mo.  1  vol. — and 
then  you  have  a  concatenation  of  court  and  domestic  intrigues,  sharp 
and  witty  sayings,  and  most  marvellous  occurrences,  which  will  cause 
more  than  ordinary  surprise.  Consult  Barbier,  vol.  iv.  p.  22.  Fine, 
clean  copies,  of  these  seven  volumes,  are  of  rare  occurrence ;  and 
must  be  paid  for :  perhaps  to  the  tune  of  31.  13s.  6d.  They  were  all 
reprinted  at  Paris,  in  1817*  in  six  octavo  volumes — worth  ll.  Us.  6d. 
in  bds.  As  to  the  CARDINAL  MAZARIN,  the  books  relating  to  him 
appear  to  be  almost  numberless.  Renouard  has  seventy-one  porte 
feuilles,  in  4to.,  called  Recueil  de  Mazarinades.  It  was  the  Duke  de  la 


542  BIOGRAPHY, 

develope  the  sickly  sentiments  and  disgusting  intrigues 
of  courtiers  of  every  description.  A  French  Duchess, 
of  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,  seems  to 
have  always  had  a  secretary  at  her  elbow,  even  at  her 
toilette,  to  register  the  flippancy  of  her  conversation, 
as  well  as  the  indelicacy  of  her  conduct.  I  may  men- 
tion the  names  of  MOTTEVILLE,  MONTPENSIER,  MAZA- 
RIN,  and  MAINTENON,*  alone :  nor  must  the  more  anti- 

Valliere's  copy,  but  is  much  increased  by  him.  See  Cat.de  la  BibL 
d'un  Amateur,  vol.  iv.  p.  146,  for  other  Mazariniana. 

*  These  Dames,  and  a  few  OTHERS,  shall  be  marshalled  and  dis- 
patched in  the  following  order.  1.  MADAME  DE  MOTTEVILLE  :  Mtf- 
moirespour  servir  ft  Vhistoire  de  Louis  XIII.,  &c.  Amst.  1723,  12mo. 
5  vols.  :  MADEMOISELLE  DE  MONTPENSIER,  Les  Me'moires  de,:  Amst. 
1735,  12mo.  8  vols.  reprinted  in  1776.  Hear  what  La  Harpe  says 
about  these  two  publications.  "  These  Memoirs,  although  written  with 
extreme  negligence,  are  nevertheless  sufficiently  communicative  of 
many  particulars  and  anecdotes  which  are  not  wholly  indifferent. 
Those  of  Madame  de  Motteville  are  better  deserving  of  perusal, 
bating  her  extreme  attachment  to  Anne  of  Austria  :  an  attachment, 
sufficiently  praise-worthy  in  friendship,  but  a  little  suspicious  in  his- 
tory." Cours  de  Littfrature,  vol.  vii.  p.  176.  Barbier  designates 
the  Montpensier  Memoirs  as  "  written  with  an  elegant  simplicity, 
but  too  crowded  with  minutiae  and  trifles."  BibL.  &c.  vol.  iv.  p.  23. 
He  says  those  of  Madame  de  Motteville  "  contain  many  little  facts 
stated  with  great  simplicity,  and  written  with  a  sufficiently  noble 
spirit."  The  "  Young  Man  "  must  not  give  more  than  3s.  6d.  per 
volume  for  each  set.  The  Memoirs  of  the  DUCHESSE  DE  MAZARIN 
were  published  in  a  small  volume  under  the  title  of  Me'moires  de  M. 
L.  D.  D.  M.  at  Cologne,  in  1675,  12mo.  They  are  scarcely  worth 
purchasing.  Not  so  those  of  MADAME  DE  MAINTENON  -,  of  which, 
the  edition  by  De  la  Beaumelle,  with  critical  remarks  by  M.  de  V. 
(Voltaire)  containing  a  collection  of  her  letters,  1757*  12mo.  fifteen 
vols.  must  be  the  sought  after  —  and  may  be  worth  perhaps  2Z.  2s. 
Barbier's  brief  but  brilliant  criticism  upon  it  (vol.  iv.  p.  45)  will  whet 
the  appetitite  of  the  curious  in  this  lore :  ' '  but  in  order  to  know  the 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  543 

quated  Memoirs  of  QUEEN  MARGARET,  Sister  of 
Francis  /.  be  exempted  from  something  of  a  similar 
censure  ;*  while  the  Amours  of  their  Kings,  and  of 
their  Princes  of  the  Blood  Royal^  are  chronicled  in 

true  character  (continues  Barbier)  of  this  woman,  you  must  procure 
the  edition  of  her  life  and  letters  published  by  Auger  at  Paris  in  1806, 
12mo.  6  vols."  —  and  obtainable,  I  may  add,  for  a  louis  d'or— in  the 
Metropolis  of  France.  Of  a  few  OTHER  Ladies,  evincing  the  same 
character  and  talent,  purchase,  if  you  will,  the  Mtfmoires  de  la  Du- 
CHESSE  DE  LONGUEVILLE,  1738,  12mo.  two  vols. ;  de  MADAME  DE 
CAYLUS,  1804,  12mo. :  best  edition.  Each  may  be  worth  55.  a  copy. 

*  Her  Memoirs  were  first  published  in  1 628, 8vo.  and  M.  Renouard 
is  the  enviable  possessor  of  a  copy  of  this  book,  once  belonging  to  the 
family  of  De  Thou,  on  LARGE  PAPER.  They  were  twice  republished, 
more  correctly,  by  the  Elzevirs,  in  1658,  12mo  and  for  the  fourth 
time,  by  Godefroy,  at  Liege  in  1713,  8vo.  A  few  shillings  will  secure 
a  copy  of  either  impression. 

-J-  I  will  here  chronicle  a  few  of  these  regal  Memoirs,  without  pre- 
suming or  pretending  to  recommend  one  edition,  or  one  work,  in 
preference  to  another.  Louis  XIII.  and  Louis  XIV.  Histoires  des 
Rtgnes  de.%  Amst.  1720,  12mo.  forming  the  seventh  and  eighth  vo- 
lumes of  the  duodecimo  edition  of  Mezeray's  history  ;  by  P.  H.  de 
Limiers.  Due  D'ORLEANS  :  M^moires  de  —  depuis  Van  1608-1636. 
Amst.  1685,  12mo.  To  this  is  sometimes  added,  Mtmoires  d*un 
Favory  de  son  Vitesse  Roy  ale,  Mr.  Le  Due  d'OrUans.  Leyde,  1668, 
12mo.  "  This  little  volume  (says  Renouard,  who  seems  to  hug  his 
copy  of  it — in  yellow  morocco)  is  rare  and  always  sharply  looked 
after."  The  thorough-bred  bibliomaniac  scorns  the  tender  of  the 
copies  of  the  reimpressions  of  1669,  1670,  and  1702.  HENRI  IV. 
and  Louis  XIII.  :  L' Intrigue  du  Cabinet  sous — par  Anquetil :  Didot, 
1818,  8vo.  2  vols.  As  to  the  pitiable  tomes,  under  the  titles  of  Vie 
privfe,  Amours,  or  Secrets,  of  these  Monarchs,  and  especially  of  Louis 
XV.,  let  them  be  destroyed — as  lighters  of  fires  or  pipes. 


t  Look  well  after  Let  Codicilks  de  Louis  XIJL,  1643,  24mo. :  a  very  rare  little 
book,  and  usually  found  in  a  cruelly  shorn  state. 


544  BIOGRAPHY, 

little  wretched  duodecimos,  rendered  yet  more  con- 
temptible by  the  absence  alike  of  wit  and  useful  intel- 
ligence. Still  there  are  many  useful  and  interesting 
memoirs  of  Generals,  Statesmen,*  and  Philosophers, 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  which  may  be  safely  and 
advantageously  placed  upon  the  shelves  of  our  libra- 
ries; and  he,  who,  giving  up  the  gratification  of 
choosing  pic-nic  copies — clad  in  morocco,  or  satin- 

*  Such,  for  instance,  as  BASSOMPIERE,  D'ESTRADES,  CONDE,  Lo- 
MENIE,  VILLEROY,  and  RocnEFOucAULT.  Of  the  first,  get  the  edition 
of  Cologne,  by  Pierre  de  Marleau  (not  the  copy  by  Jouxte}  Elz.  1666, 
12mo.  2  vols.  A  pretty  and  rare  book  :  worth  105.  6d.  These  me- 
moirs were  recently  translated  (with  additions)  into  our  own  language, 
and  published  by  Mr.  Murray  of  Albemarle  Street,  in  one  volume 
octavo.  Secondly,  the  Due  D'ESTRADES  :  from  1637  to  1677. 
Londres  (in  fact,  at  the  Hague}  1743,  12mo.  9  vols.  Amusing 
books  :  and  worth  1Z.  4s.  Of  CONDE,  see  that  you  have  the  recent 
Paris  edition  of  1820,  8vo.  2  vols.:  containing  forty  fac-similes  of 
the  writings  of  several  illustrious  men  (including  the  great  Conde)  of 
that  renowned  family.  Fourthly,  of  LOMENIE,  COMTE  DE  BRIEXNE. 
Amst.  1719,  12mo.  three  vols. :  12s.  6d.  Of  VILLEROY,  Secretary  to 
Charles  IX.,  Henry  III.,  and  Louis  XIII.,  purchase,  for  one  guinea, 
the  Amst.  edition  in  seven  duodecimo  volumes.  If  any  unexplored 
MSS.  exist  at  Paris,  connected  with  this  work,  a  new  edition  should 
forthwith  appear.  But  let  the  MEMOIRS  of  MARSHAL  BERWICK,  of 
which  the  true  edition  is  that  of  1778,  in  two  vols.  12mo.  on  no  ac- 
count be  omitted.  It  is  a  curious  and  instructive  work :  the  notes, 
by  Mons.  Hook,  are  valuable.  The  Memoirs  of  James  II.  "  written 
with  his  own  hand*'  are  frequently  cited  in  these  notes.  This 
work  may  be  worth  7$«  6d.  Lastly,  who  has  not  heard  of,  if  not  read, 
ROCHEFOUCAULT  ?  The  edition  of  1754,  12mo.  2  vols.  is  the  first. 
The  style  exhibits  all  the  strength  of  Tacitus,  says  Barbier :  but  the 
same  sound  critic  and  bibliographer  recommends,  exclusively,  the 
improved  and  enlarged  edition  of  Renouard,  in  18O4 — with  addi- 
tions taken  "  from  the  autograph  of  the  illustrious  author.' '  This  is, 
as  it  should  be,  a  cheap  book. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  545 

wood  coloured  calf,  of  sundry  curious  and  droll  edi^ 
tions — shall  be  satisfied  with  the  COLLECTION  DE  ME- 
MOIRES  FARTICULIERS,  in  sixty-seven  octavo  volumes,* 
may  obtain,  at  one  purchase,  every  thing  which  may 
be  reasonably  desired. 

The  beginning-  of  the  eighteenth  century  witnessed 
the  publication  of  perhaps  the  most  popular  volume  of 
memoirs  ever  put  forth  in  France — under  the  title  of 
Mtmoires  de  Grammont,  of  which  ANTHONY  HAMIL- 
TON was  the  author.^  All  the  better  French  critics 

*  A  universal  collection  of  particular  Memoirs  relating  to  the  His- 
tory of  France  appeared  in  1785,  and  the  following  year,  in  sixty- 
seven  octavo  volumes  :  comprising  two  volumes  of  tables.  f<  C'est 
dans  les  Memoires  (says  Barbier)  qu'il  faut  chercher  ces  details  in- 
teressans,  qui  plaisent  davantage  a  1'imagination,  en  depouillant  la 
v£rite*  de  ce  qu'elle  a  quelquefois  de  trop  imposant  dans  les  grandes 
histoires  j  c'est  Ik  surtout  qu'on  peut  voir  de  petits  interets  opferer  les 
grandes  revolutions."  Bibl.  d'un  Humme  de  Gout,  vol.  iv.  p.  58. 
But  read  the  entire  article  in  Barbier :  little  more  than  two  pages.  A 
copy  of  this  work  in  good  French  binding  may  be  worth  21Z. 

f  First  of  all,  the  Grammont  enthusiast  (for,  in  spite  of  every 
thing  said  above,  two  out  of  three  of  my  readers  will,  I  fear,  prove 
to  be  such)  must  turn  over  the  leaves  of  the  pretty  quarto  edition, 
printed  in  1772,  4to.  at  Strawberry-Hill:  of  which  somewhat  of  a 
tempting  description  appears  in  the  Bibliomania,  at  p.  7*20 :  and  of 
which  only  one  hundred  copies  were  printed — and  of  these,  thirty 
were  sent  as  presents  to  Paris.  The  first,  unornamented  edition,  ap- 
peared in  1749,  with  the  works  of  the  author,  Anthony  Hamilton,  in 
six  volumes,  12mo.  Is  Horace  Walpole's  the  first  ornamented  edi- 
tion ?  A  copy  of  it  may  be  worth  9,1.  Vs.  As  to  the  quarto  edition  of 
1792 — copiously  and  kindly  as  Brunet  has  treated  it — it  is  a  second 
rate  production  on  the  score  of  art.  The  octavo  editions,  published 
by  Mr.  Miller  in  1809-12,  are  preferable,  although  less  ostentatious 
and  imposing.  The  engravings  arestipple^d  by  Scriven.  It  is  a  very 
cheap  book.  After  all,  Grammont's  portraits,  with  some  trifling  ex- 
ceptions, admit  of  a  happier  effort  of  art.  Good  copies,  from 
undoubted  originals,  executed  in  the  style  of  the  "  Portraits  of  Illus- 

N  N 


546  BIOGRAPHY, 

unite  in  extolling  the  style,  wit,  and  sentimentality, 
of  this  book  up  to  the  skies.  I  may  be  singular  in  my 
feelings,  and  perhaps  severe  in  my  opinion ;  but,  if 
you  deprive  this  work  of  the  exquisite  ease  and  polish 
of  its  style,  it  seems  to  me  to  contain  but  little  wit 
and  less  wisdom.  In  short,  one  hardly  knows  where- 
fore, but  the  leaves  of  this  book  are  turned  over  by 
hands,  and  perused  by  eyes,  which  are  forbidden  to  be 
exercised  on  other  books  of  comparatively  less  mis- 
chief. It  may  indeed  be  called,  in  too  many  instances, 
a  privileged  volume  of  systematic  profligacy. 

trious  Personages"  (seep.  503,  ante)  and  accompanied  by  handsome 
paper  and  printing  —  to  which  add  a  few  pithy,  pertinent,  and  pala- 
table, notes  —  could  not  fail  to  form  a  publication  most  agreeable  to 
the  taste  of  the  public  on  the  score  of  ART.  The  beautiful  gallery 
at  Althorp  (from  which  I  will  fearlessly  say  that  three  of  the  most 
exquisite  Grammont  prints  have  been  recently  published*)  afford  rich 
materials  towards  such  a  work  :  and  the  portrait,  there,  of  the  Coun- 
tess of  Grammont  in  particular,  by  Lely,  is  among  the  sweetest 
known  representations  of  that  interesting,  and  barbarously  treated, 
original.  The  best  edition  of  Hamilton's  WORKS  (of  course  including 
these"  Memoirs")  is  byRenouard,  in  1812,  4  vols.  8vo.  :  with  twelve 
engravings  from  the  designs  of  Moreau  and  St.  Aubin.  Of  this  edi- 
tion, four  copies  only  were  printed  on  large  paper,  and  one  UPON 
VELLUM.  The  vellum  copy  (with  the  original  drawings)  is  with 
Renouard,  in  seven  small  quarto  tomes.  He  has  also  one  of  the 
large  paper  -,  and  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  Earl  Spencer,  and  Mr. 
Grenville  possess  the  remaining  three.  A  pretty  stereotype  impres- 
sion of  the  same  works,  by  the  same  publisher,  appeared  in  1812-16, 
in  five  octodecimo  volumes. 

The  reader  may,  if  he  pleases,  peruse  the  animated  eulogies  upon 
these  Memoirs  by  La  Harpe  (Cours  de  Litttrature,  vol.  vii.  p.  318) 
and  Barbier :  Bibl.  d'un  Homme  de  Gout,  vol.  iv.  p.  SO.  I  accord 
fully  in  every  thing  which  relates  to  style  and  pleasantry  :  ready  and 
lively  repartee  :  but  I  must  be  permitted  to  doubt  the  force  of  the  wit 

*  Mdes  Althorpiana;,  I  allude  particularly  to  the  portraits  of  Nell  Gwyn,  the 
Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  and  Mrs.  Middleton. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  547 

This  seems  to  be  the  proper  place  to  make  mention, 
and  most  honourable  mention,  of  a  work,  under  the 
title  ofMemoires,  which  is  rather,  perhaps,  in  the  nature 
of  a  Biographical  Dictionary — but  which,  for  intrinsic 
merit,  and  general  utility,  is  greatly  superior  to  most 
publications  of  its  kind.  It  is  the  Memoires  pour  ser- 
vir  a  VHlstoire  des  Homines  Illustres  ;  of  which  NICE- 
RON  is  the  well  known  author.  Having  before  * 
strongly  pointed  out  the  merits  of  this  performance 
(of  which  indeed  some  few  of  the  previous  pages  of 
this  work  bear  evidence)  it  remains  only  to  entreat 
the  ardent  Young  Collector  to  consider  these  Memoirs 
as  among  the  absolutely  necessary  foundation  stones 
of  a  well  chosen  library. 

Perhaps  nothing  should  now  detain  me  from  no- 
ticing the  most  interesting  collection  of  Literary  Me- 
moirs, of  which,  not  only  France,  but  any  other  coun- 
try, can  boast.  The  reader  will  doubtless  anticipate 
the  work  entitled  Memoires  Historiques  Litteraires, 

and  the  propriety  of  the  moral.  In  other  words,  are  intrigue  and 
criminality  to  be  tolerated  and  applauded,  because  the  gentlemen, 
guilty  of  it,  go  to  court,  and  wear  flowing  perukes,  and  white  fea~ 
thers  in  their  hats?  — and  the  ladies,  equally  guilty,  appear  in  bro- 
cades of  silk  or  satin,  topped  with  stomachers  of  pearls  and  point 
lace  ?  There  is,  to  my  old-fashioned  set  of  feelings,  a  thorough  heart- 
lessness  pervading  the  whole  book  :  the  sketches  are  also,  at  times, 
very  flimsy,  and  the  wit  is  usually  pointless.  But  enough. 

*  Let  me  stand  excused  for  again  referring  to  the  Bibliomania, 
p.  71 1  for  a  high  eulogy  of  this  work.  It  consists  of  40  duodecimo 
volumes — with  a  Supplement  usually  bound  in  four  additional  vo- 
lumes—from the  year  1729  to  1740 :  and  a  good  copy  of  it  will 
produce  61.  16s.  6d.  The  biographies  are  brief  j  but  the  catalogue 
of  the  works  of  each  illustrious  man  introduced,  is  usually  full,  me- 
thodical, and  most  accurate.  You  cannot  fail  to  consult  Niceron  but 
with  advantage. 


548  BIOGRAPHY, 

et  Anecdotiques,  fyc.,  in  which  BARON  DE  GRIMM  and 
DIDEROT*  cut  the  most  conspicuous  figures ;  and 
which  forms  "  a  piquant  picture  of  good  society  at 
Paris,  during  the  reigns  of  Louis  XV.  and  Louis  XVI." 
Such  is  the  announce  in  the  title-page.  With  this 
may  be  united,  the  M^molres  et  Correspondence  de 
MADAME  D'ESPIGNAY.-}-  Similar  works  and  publica- 
tions, under  the  form  of  Letters,  will  be  found  in  the 
next  branch  or  division  of  this  work,  entitled  "  Belles 
Lettres? 

*  This  work  consists  of  seventeen  goodly  octavo  tomes,  of  which 
the  first  of  the  three  parts,  into  which  it  is  divided,  was  published  in 
1812.  The  ensuing  two  parts  were  published  in  the  ensuing  year. 
Elaborate  and  lively  reviews  of  it  appeared  in  the  Quarterly  (volume 
ix.  x.  xi.)  and  Edinburgh  Critical  Journals.  Of  its  fame,  Renouard 
not  inaptly  observes,  that  "  this  voluminous  collection  has  received  a 
certain  fashionable  support,  and  the  perusal  of  it  may  be  considered 
truly  amusing — but  only  for  those  who  have  leisure.  'Tis  an  excel- 
lent work  for  the  country."  He  speaks  of  the  great  rarity  of  copies 
on  VELLUM  PAPER  ;  and  especially  of  the  xviith  supplemental  volume, 
published  by  Barbier — which  is  almost  unfindable  in  this  state.  Cat. 
(Tun  Amateur,  vol.  iii.  p.  342.  Whatever  may  be  the  degree  of 
amusement  found  from  the  perusal  of  these  gossipping  volumes,  I 
will  put  it  to  the  sound  and  impartial  heads  of  our  neighbours  to  say, 
whether  they  do  not  betray  a  state  of  society,  in  the  UPPER  CLASSES, 
ripe  for  all  the  ruinous  consequences  of  the  revolution  which  followed? 
Grapes  are  not  gathered  from  thorns,  nor  figs  from  thistles.  I  will 
just  add,  that  a  copy  of  Grimm,  in  the  ordinary  state,  well  bound, 
may  be  obtained  for  Si.  8s. 

f  The  Memoirs  and  Correspondence  of  Madame  d'Espignay, 
which  contain  a  good  number  of  letters  of  Grimm,  Diderot,  and 
Rousseau,  were  published  at  Paris  in  1818,  8vo,  in  three  vols.  There 
are  copies,  on  fine  vellum  paper,  worth  perhaps  \l.  16s.  "  Si  Ton 
avoit  voulu  6ter  (says  Renouard)  de  ce  livre  toutes  les  choses  incon- 
venantes,  il  auroit  fallu  en  retrancher  beaucoup  -,  mais  le  mieux  cut 
e*te"  d'abord  de  ne  pas  les  publier"  Cat.  de  la  Bibl.  d?un  Amateur  -, 
vol.  iii.  p.  342.  These  volumes  may  be  considered  rather  in  the  light 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  549 

There  is  no  occasion  to  be  diffuse  on  the  Memoirs 
of  the  literary,  scientific,  political,  or  philosophical, 
characters  of  our  own  country.  Many  of  these  have 
been  incorporated  in  the  previous  pages,  under  the 
departments  of  "  History  "  and  "  Biography."  But  a 
few,  and  those  popular,  works  shall  bring  up  the  rear 
of  this  division  of  "  The  Library  Companion."  To 
speak  with  reference  to  chronology,  the  memoirs  of 
COLONEL  HUTCHINSON  and  JOHN  EVELYN,*  though 

of  a  Supplement  to  the  preceding  work — and  to  the  shelves  of  a  rural 
residence  let  them  be  forthwith  transported. 

*  To  commence  with  HUTCHINSON  and  EVELYN — although  it  were 
hardly  possible  to  mention  two  works  more  dissimilar  in  themselves  t 
the  former  developing  the  active  spirit  of  a  brave  and  generous  sol- 
dier, the  latter  the  tranquil  and  instructive  course  of  life  of  a  gentle- 
man and  a  scholar.  There  can  be  no  question  however  about  the 
quantity  of  interest  imparted  by  these  very  opposite  and  valuable 
publications.  The  former  is  read,  admired,  and  probably  in  part  for- 
gotten :  the  latter  is  made  up  of  materials,  which  are  the  property  of 
all  times,  and  the  theme  of  admiration  of  all  ages.  Yet  great  is  the 
praise  due  to  the  fluent  and  na'ive  style  of  the  author  of  the  Memoirs  of 
Colonel  Hutchinson.  That  author  was  the  wife  and  widow  of  the 
Colonel :  a  woman  of  equal  spirit,  talent,  and  virtue.  The  Memoirs 
are  those  of  a  brave,  intrepid  soldier — one  of  Cromwell's  Generals — 
and  Member  for  the  County  of  Nottingham  in  the  Long  Parliament : 
also  Member  for  the  Town  of  Nottingham  in  the  first  Parliament  of 
Charles  II.  These  Memoirs  were  published  for  the  first  time,  from 
original  documents,  in  a  handsome  quarto  volume,  in  1806,  under  the 
editorial  care  of  the  Rev.  Julius  Hutchinson,  a  descendant :  but  they 
ar«  not  CONFINED  to  the  personal  transactions  of  the  Ancestor  —  for 
within  the  same  pages  are  introduced  many  amusing  anecdotes  of 
several  of  the  most  distinguished  characters  of  the  times.  A  Life  of 
the  Authoress  is  also  prefixed.  This  charming  piece  of  biography 
has  been  most  judiciously  republished  in  an  octavo  form,  equally  to 
the  comfort  and  economical  convenience  of  all  readers  and  lovers  of 
the  tempestuous  and  hardy  period  to  which  they  relate.  An  excel- 


550  BIOGRAPHY, 

wholly  dissimilar  in  their  contents,  are  alike  admirable 
in  their  intrinsic  merits,  and  should  be  among  the 

lent  review  of  the  work  appeared  in  the  xiiith  volume  of  the  Edin- 
burgh Review. 

And  now,  more  than  "  a  little  word,"  for  the  gentle  EVELYN. 
There  can  scarcely  be  a  reader  in  England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland,  but 
what,  through  the  medium  of  Reviews  and  Magazines,  has  had  some 
acquaintance  with  the  MEMOIRS  of  this  amiable  and  accomplished 
man  :  apparently,  the  ornament  of  every  circle,  and  the  object  of  ge- 
neral applause,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
Evelyn  was  at  least  the  Sir  Joseph  Banks  of  his  times.  I  have  be- 
fore *  had  occasion  to  notice  his  intimacy  with  the  leading  families 
of  rank,  which  appears  little,  if  at  all,  to  have  spoilt  his  natural 
frankness  of  manner,  and  sincerity  of  character — but  for  these  "  ME- 
MOIRS "  which  have  lately  furnished  such  a  source  of  amusement,  and 
such  a  general  theme  of  praise,  singular  to  remark,  posterity  is 
indebted  for  them  to — an  accident — the  relation  of  which  will  afford 
one  of  the  most  AMUSING  ANECDOTES  of  literary  History.  It  is  here 
given  on  authority  which  cannot  be  questioned: 

At  the  beginning  of  April,  1813,  Mr.  William  Upcott  (author  of 
the  most  valuable  bibliographical  work  extant  on  British  Topography) 
went  to  Wotton,  in  Surrey,  the  residence  of  the  EVELYN  FAMILY,  for 
the  first  time,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Bray,  the  highly  respected  author 
of  the  History  of  Surry,  and  acknowledged  editor  of  John  Evelyn's 
Memoirs,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  and  making  a  Catalogue  of 
the  Library,  which  had  been  thrown  into  much  confusion  by  its  re- 
moval for  safety,  in  consequence  of  accidental  fire  in  an  outbuilding. 
Early  in  the  following  year  (1814)  the  task  was  completed.  Sitting 
one  evening  after  dinner  with  Lady  Evelyn,  and  her  intimate  friend 
Mrs.  Molineux,  Mr.  Upcott's  attention  was  attracted  to  a  tippet, 
being  made  of  feathers,  on  which  Lady  Evelyn  was  employed  : — c  We 
have  all  of  us  our  hobbies,  I  perceive  My  Lady '  said  Mr.  Upcott — 
•'  Very  true,'  rejoined  her  Ladyship.  '  And  pray  what  may  yours  be  ?' 
1  Mine,  Madam,  from  a  very  early  age,  began  by  collecting  provincial 
Copper  Tokens  —  and,  latterly,  the  hand-writing  (or  autographs) f  of 


*  JEdes  Althorpiantf,  vol.  i.  p.  xlvi,  &c. 

f  I  make  no  apology  for  engrafting  a  lengthy  sub-note  upon  a  note— of  no  very 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  551 

foremost  of  my  Young  Man's  acquisitions  in  the 
English  department  of  Memoirs.  I  will  only  briefly 

men  who  have  distinguished  themselves  in  every  walk  of  Life — 
"  Hand  writings ! "  answered  Lady  E.  with  much  surprise  — -"  what 
do  you  mean  by  handwritings  ?  surely  you  don't  mean  OLD  LETTERS  ?" 
at  the  same  time  opening  the  drawer  of  her  work  table,  and  taking 


moderate  dimensions :  but,  really,  Mr.  Upcott  might  well  have  expressed  his  un- 
qualified love  of  AUTOGRAPHS,  when  he  was,  and  is,  in  the  possession  of  such  a 
Collection,  of  this  description,  as  the  like  before— for  an  Individual— hath  never 
been  heard  of.  And  be  it  further  premised,  that  these  precious  original  relics  of 
past  times  are  preserved  in  a  most  inviting  parlour-like  boudoir,  fully  equal  to  the 
above  mentioned  mysterious ' '  ebony  cabinet  "  into  which  the  Owner  freely  invites 
every  Lady  and  Gentleman  who  has  any  love  or  curiosity  about "  the  olden  time." 
There  you  sit,  and  look  about  you,  as  if  you  were  holding  familiar  converse  with 
the  great  Originals- -whose  letters,  memorials,  or  journals,  in  their  genuine,  unso* 
phisticated  condition,  are  contained  in  not  fewer  than  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY 
FOLIO  VOLUMES  —  arranged  in  chronological  order,  and  coated,  in  an  uncut  state, 
in  morocco  and  russia  bindings.  Hereafter  followeth  a  list  of  these  truly  interest- 
ing treasures :  VOL. 
Sovereigns  (British)  and  their  issue,  .  .  .  .  .  1 

(Foreign) ,         ...  .2 

Letters  of  Frederick  III.  King  of  Prussia,  .  .  .  .      .       1 

State  Documents  signed  by  Kings  of  France,  from  1319  to  1811,        .          .       2 

— , of  French  Kings,  Statesmen,  Generals,  &c.        .     .      2 

Official  Despatches,  and  other  Documents,  from  the  French  army  in  Italy, 

from  1800,  to  1810,  .  .  .3 

— — — in  Egypt,      I 

Letters  by  Cardinals,  from  1647,  to  1714.  ...  .1 
by  the  most  distinguished  Englishmen,  in  every  walk  of  Life,  termed 

LIONS,  .  .  .  .  .  6 

•  by  Foreigners,  chiefly  French,  .  .  .  .          .      4 

. of  English  Nobility,  from  1544  to  1 704,  .  .  .      2 

..  — —  to  the  present  time,  .  .  .       .      8 

by  the  Countess  of  Sunderland  to  J.  Evelyn,  .  .  .1 

.     *       by  Archbishops  and  Bishops,  .  .  ...      3 
-Miscellaneous, from  1553  to  1620,             ...  3 

-  — Statesmen  and  Warriors,  .  1 


Miscellaneous  Papers,  from  1560  to  1757,             ...  1 

Accounts  of  Monies  Paid  and  Received  for  Robert  Earl  of  Leicester,            .  2 

Orders  of  House  of  Peers  during  the  late  Queen's  Trial,         ....  1 

Franks  of  the  House  of  Peers,            .            .             .            .            •           .  1 

— Commons,  from  1676,             .             .                     .  3 


552  BIOGRAPHY, 

mention  BALLARD'S  Memoirs  of  Learned  Ladies  of 
Great  Britain  ;  the  Memoirs  of  the  Earls  of  Warren 

out  a  small  parcel  of  papers,  some  of  which  had  been  just  used  by 
Mrs.  Molineux,  as  patterns  for  articles  of  dress.  The  sight  of  this 
packet,  (though  of  no  literary  importance,  yet  containing  letters 
written  by  eminent  characters  of  the  seventeenth  century — more  par- 
ticularly one  from  the  celebrated  Sarah,  Duchess  of  Marlborough,) 


VOL. 

Lord  Halifax's  Official  Correspondence,  .  .  •  .         .       1 

Letters,  Ambassadors,  .  .  .  .  .  .        .       1 ' 

Public  Men,  .  .  .  ....      3 

of  Sir  William  Curtis,  .  .  .  .  .        .       1 

•  •  —  Baronets,  .  .  *  ....       1 

—  Authors,  general,  .  .  .  •  •  .30 

.—  Poets,  ........      2 

David  Hume,  .  .  .  .  ...       1 

— - Painters  and  Engravers,  .  .  .  .  7 

— -  —  Military  and  Naval,  .  .  .  .  .  .      3 

Law,  ....  ....       2 

—Medical  Men, .2 

•         —  Clergy  and  Non-conformists,  .  .  .  .  .5 

'—-  Antiquaries,  .  .  .  .  2 

Eminent  Females,  .  .  .  .  .2 

on  Natural  History,  to  and  from  Emanuel  Da  Costa,  .          .13 

Original  Theatrical  Leases  and  Agreements  .  .  3 

A  volume  of  Theatrical  Documents  in  the  handwriting  of  J.  P.  Kemble,        .       1 
Dramatic  Characters,  .  .  .  .  .2 

Scientific,  .  .  .  .  .  .          .       2 

Ralph  Thoresby's  Autographic  Correspondence,  1 

My  Own,  ditto.  .  .  .  .       2 

Other  Miscellaneous  Autographs,  not  included  in  the  foregoing  List,  say     .    12 

BESIDES, 
Letters  of  Bishop  Nicolson,  .  .  .  .  .      1 

Browne  Willis,  .  .  .  .  .       1 

Book  Collectors,  Coin  Collectors,  &c.  .  .  .  .3 

J.  Evelyn's  Catalogue,  written  by  himself,  .  .  .1 

These  form  154  volumes — but  when  the  whole  are  bound,  the  five  may  be  altered 
to  seven  :  to  each  volume,  it  has  been  Mr.  Upcott's  aim  to  insert  the  portrait  of  the 
individual  writer,  if  attainable,  together  with  short  biographical  notices  Next  to 
this  Collection  of  Autographs  and  Original  Documents,  I  should  pronounce  that  of 
my  friend  Mr.  DAWSON  TURNER,  of  Yarmouth,  to  be.  .  .  .'That  gentleman  medi- 
tates a  publication  connected  with  them. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  553 

and  Surrey,  by  WATSON  ;  the  Genealogical  History  of 

afforded  the  greatest  pleasure  to  Mr.  U.  who  took  occasion  to  express 
his  exceeding  delight  in  looking  them  over.  "Oh!"  added  Lady 
Evelyn,  "  if  you  care  for  papers  like  these,  you  shall  have  plenty  ; 
for  SYLVA  EVELYN  (the  familiar  appellation  applied  to  John  Eve- 
lyn by  his  descendants)  and  those  who  succeeded  him,  preserved  all 
their  letters."  Then,  ringing  for  her  confidential  attendant,  ' '  Here," 
said  her  Ladyship,  "Mr.  Upcott  tells  me  that  he  is  fond  of  collect- 
ing old  letters : — take  the  key  of  the  Ebony  Cabinet  in  the  Billiard 
Room — procure  a  basket  and  bring  down  some  of  the  bundles."  Mr. 
Upcott  accompanied  the  attendant,  and  having  brought  a  quantity  of 
these  letters  into  the  dining  room — passed  one  of  the  most  agreeable 
evenings  imaginable  in  examining  the  contents  of  each  packet  5  with 
the  assurance,  from  Lady  Evelyn,  that  he  was  welcome  to  lay  aside 
any  that  might  add  to  his  own  collection. 

The  following  evening,  the  delicious  Ebony  Cabinet  was  visited  a 
second  time,  when  Evelyn's  "  Kalendarium ,"  as  he  entitled  it,  or 
Diary — a  small  4to.  volume,  without  covers,  very  closely  written 
with  his  own  hand,  presented  itself ! 

Although  this  interesting  family  document  had  been  for  some  time 
unnoticed — Lady  Evelyn,  it  has  been  shewn,  was  far  from  being 
careless  in  preserving  it — having  lent  it  from  time  to  time  to  her  par- 
ticular friends — but  at  the  same  time  she  considered  its  contents  as 
not  of  sufficient  importance  for  publication,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
middle  of  the  year  1816,  that  she  was  induced  to  consent  to  its  appear- 
ance in  print.  As  her  ladyship  died  November  12,  18 17,  she  of 
course  did  not  witness  the  favourable  reception  which  the  volumes 
met  with  from  the  public. 

And  now,  before  I  proceed  farther,  will  the  reader  forgive  my  ask- 
ing him  whether  the  foregoing  anecdote  be  not  among  the  most  sin- 
gular and  gratifying,  of  its  kind,  extant  ?  Such  then  was  the  origin 
of  the  Memoirs  of  Evelyn,  as  they  are  now  before  the  public.  Two 
editions  of  them,  each  in  two  royal  quarto  volumes,  have  been  nearly 
disposed  of.  Will  the  publisher  (Mr.  Colbourn)  allow  me  to  suggest 
whether  an  octavo  reprint  might  not  be  extremely  acceptable  ?  For, 
dear  as  is  Evelyn's  memory,  and  delightful  as  are  the  contents  of  these 
wide-spreading  quartos,  it  is  not  within  the  compass  of  every  man's 
purse  to  allow  him  to  become  master  of  such  treasures.  Whereas, 


554  BIOGRAPHY. 

the  House  of  Yvery,  by  ANDERSON,  and  the  Memoirs  of' 

in  an  octavo  form,  this  work  would  have  a  rapid  and  extensive  sale. 
Yet  in  another  point  of  view — and  to  prove  how  varied  and  interest- 
ing are  the  contents  of  these  volumes — even  an  enlarged  edition 
might  be  tolerated  :  that  is  to  say,  an  edition  with  brief  and  perti- 
nent notes,  containing  sketches  of  the  parentage,  birth,  education, 
life,  behaviour,  death,  and  character,  of  a  great  number  of  the  most 
illustrious  personages  of  the  times,  and  with  whom  Evelyn  was  well 
acquainted.  Let  both  propositions  be  reflected  upon.  Meantime,  it 
is  gratifying  to  know,  that  a  third  volume,  containing  the  small, 
detached,  works  of  Evelyn  (includinghis  Sculptura,  but  excluding  the 
Sylva*)  is  about  to  be  published  in  a  quarto  form,  as  "  companion 
meet"  for  its  precursors,  the  Memoirs.  A  good  copy  of  Evelyn,  even 
in  white  calf  binding,  with  full  charged  gilt  tooling,  may  be  had  for 
5J.  1 5s.  6d.  These  tomes  are  delightful ff  Library  Companions"  for 
the  country— on  retreating,  for  the  autumnal  season,  from  the  "  fu* 
mum,  et  opes,  strepitumque"  of  our  noisy  and  murky  metropolis. 
And  happy  the  country  gentleman  who  forms  his  taste,  and  regulates 
his  conduct,  by  the  example  of  JOHN  EVELYN  !  But  there  would  be 
no  end  to  the  indulgence  of  a  subject  of  this  kind  :  and  therefore,  in 
conclusion,  I  earnestly  recommend  a  perusal  of  a  notice  of  these  Me- 
moirs in  the  Quarterly  Review,  vol.  xix.  p.  1-54,  of  which  Mr.  Southey 
is  the  reputed  author :  and  which  is  executed  perfectly  ee  con  amore," 
and  in  the  Reviewer's  very  best  manner. 

WATSON'S  History  of  the  Ancient  Earls  of  Warren  and  Surrey, 
1782,  4to.  2  vols.  may  be,  and  doubtless  is,  a  valuable  book  to  the 
antiquary  j  but  it  has  little  general  interest.  Yet  it  holds  up  its  head 
in  the  market,  to  the  tune  of  41.  4s.  in  an  uncut  state :  see  Payne's 
Cat.  1822,  no.  5811.  Clothed  in  russia  binding,  you  have  it,  in  the 


*  "  Or  a  Discourse  of  Forest  Trees"  &c.  The  first  edition  was  in  1664,  in  a  slim 
folio  form  :  and  I  once  handled  at  Mr.  Triphook's,  a  copy  of  "  this  first  edition," 
in  such  delicious  blue  morocco  attire,  sprinkled  with  stars,  and  intersected  with 
harmonious  lines,  that  I  know  not  if  I  would  have  exchanged  it  even  for  a  morocco 
copy  of  what  is  considered  to  be  the  best  edition— that  by  Dr.  Hunter,  in  1776, 
4to.  2  vols.  now  worth  about  21.  12*.  6rf.  This  again  is  said  to  be  improved  in  a 
subsequent  edition  of  1812,  4to.  2  vols. :  containing  the  Editor's  "  last  correc- 
tions 5"  and  worth  4/,  14*.  6rf.  in  substantial  calf  binding. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  555 

theHollises,  by  Messrs.  HOLLIS  and  DiSNEY,*in  order  to 
make  wayfor  a  work  of,  which  the  success  can  scarcely 
be  doubted,  from  its  extensive  sale,  under  a  new  title, 
and  expanded  into  fourteen  not  very  portable  octavo 
volumes.  The  reader  immediately  anticipates  the 
Biographical  and  Literary  Anecdotes  of  WILLIAM 
BOWYER,  (Printer)  and  of  many  of  his  learned  Friends; 

same  catalogue,  for  5/.  5*.  Of  the  House  of  Yvery,  by  Anderson, 
published  in  two  capacious  octavo  tomes,  1742,  dear  and  covetable 
is  the  possession  of  a  PERFECT  COPY.  It  has  long  been  accounted  a 
crack  article  in  the  most  finished  collection.  Mr.  Dent  points  with 
little  short  of  ecstacy  to  his  fine  copy  of  it :  but tf  the  copy  of  copies  " 
(as  I  learn)  is  that  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Baker,  of  St.  Paul's  Church 
yard  —  belonging  to  his  late  brother:  a  gentleman,  most  curious  in 
treasures  of  this  description.  A  perfect  copy  of  this  very  odd,  but  not 
very  diverting,  work  runs  hard  upon  twenty  guineas.  To  be  perfect, 
it  should  contain  four  additional  portraits  of  the  Rawdon  Family,  by 
Faber  j  which  are  scarce. 

*  THOMAS  HOLLIS  has  been  considered  as  the  "  ultimus  Romano- 
rum,"  in  his  way.  He  was,  in  other  words,  a  <f  dear  Liberty  Boy;"  and 
patronised  the  works  chiefly  of  Harington,  Toland,  and  Sydney — of 
each  of  whom  he  edited  some  opuscula,  but  particularly  the  <e  Dw- 
courses  on  Government"  of  the  latter — in  one  handsome  quarto  volume 
in  1763 — now  worth  2Z.  2*.  His  own  Memoirs  were  written  by  his 
son  THOMAS  BRAND  HOLLIS,  and  published  in  1780,  with  engravings 
of  the  heads  of  Milton  and  Sydney,  in  two  quarto  volumes  j  of  which  I 
find  a  copy,  with  "  fine  impressions  of  the  plates,  new  and  very  neat" 
marked  at  5Z.  5s. — and  another,  2  vols.  in  1,  at  3/.  13s,  6d. — in  the 
catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss.  The  books  of  Mr.  Brand  Hollis 
were  usually  bound  in  red  calf,  lettered  perpendicularly  with  the  cap 
of  liberty  on  the  back :  and  they  are  now  dispersed  all  over  the  country. 
His  books  and  coins,  &c.  weresold  about  1816 :  and  among  the  latter, 
a  very  small  gold  piece  of  Edward  III.,  produced  the  gigantic  sum  of 
961.  The  life  of  Mr.  Brand  Hollis  was  written  in  1808,  4to.  by  the 
late  Rev.  Dr.  Disney,  who  in  fact  succeeded  to  his  real  and  personal 
property  :  and  the  life  of  Dr.  Disney,  in  turn,  (' '  so  runs  the  world 
away !")  has  been  written  by  his  son.,  the  present  Thomas  Disney,  Esq. 


556  BIOGRAPHY, 

first  published  in  a  quarto  volume,  1782 :  by  his 
partner  and  successor  the  present  octogenarian  Mr. 
JOHN  NICHOLS.* 

There  is  hardly  an  instance  on  record  of  such  an 
expansion  of  an  original  biographical  work ;  and  the 
extended  flat  surfaces  of  Mr.  Perkins's  steam-dis- 
charged bullets,  must  not  be  mentioned  in  the  same 
breath  as  proof  of  a  greater  miracle.^  The  Anec- 
dotes of  Wm.  Bowyer  are  now  called  Nichols's  Anec- 
dotes of  the  Eighteenth  Century.  To  the  first  nine 
volumes,  an  excellent  Index  has  been  added ;  and 
running  one's  eye  down  the  names  of  persons,  in  the 
alphabetical  order  in  which  they  occur,  we  find  such 
a  BODY  of  PERSONAL  ANECDOTE  as  almost  irresistibly 
compels  us  to  buy  the  work — costly  as  it  has  now  be- 
come,^ and  to  make  it  a  sort  of  "  travelling,"  as  well 

*  I  say  (t  octogenarian,"  because  it  is  more  probable  that  Mr.  Ni- 
chols touches  his  eightieth,  closer  than  his  seventieth,  year  j  inasmuch 
as  his  physiognomy  appears  in  the  pages  of  a  certain  Decameron, 
(vol.  ii.  p.  403)  as  a  Septuagenarian,  six  years  ago.  In  regard  to  the 
original  quarto  volume,  called  Anecdotes  of  Bowyer,  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  it  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  and  most  instructive  books  of 
Literary  Anecdotes  in  the  world.  It  is  now  hardly  vendible,  from  the 
increased  matter  of  the  new  edition. 

f  That  this  passage  may  not  appear  mysterious  and  inexplicable  to 
posterity,  be  it  known  that  Mr.  Perkins,  (see  p.  537*  ante)  celebrated 
for  his  extraordinary  and  successful  experiments  in  steam,  has  in- 
vented a  process,  by  the  same  means,  of  discharging  two  hundred 
bullets  in  one  minute,  from  a  double  barrelled  gun  —  against  a  point- 
blank  iron  target,  at  about  thirty-six  feet  distant  —  and,  with  such 
force,  as  to  cause  the  bullet  to  be  flattened  to  the  width  of  a-six-part 
of  an  inch,  and  to  an  inch  and  a  quarter's  diameter  of  a  circle. 

$  The  first  ten  volumes,  including  the  Index,  is  worth  Wl.  10s.  in 
good  calf  binding.  The  remaining  sell  for  about  ll  7s.  in  bds.  I 
believe  every  copy  has  left  the  warehouse  of  Mr,  Bowyer  Nichols, 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  557 

as  a  "  Library  "  Companion.  The  hand  that  has  di- 
rected the  spade,  in  the  digging  of  such  materials,  now 
rests  from  its  labours  —  but  not  in  the  cold  regions  of 
the  tomb  :  for  it  is  yet  raised  in  begging  a  blessing  upon 
those,  who,  I  am  persuaded,  will  inherit  the  virtues,  as 
well  as  the  name,  of  the  venerable  Suppliant. 


ADDITIONS. 

I  cannot  consent  to  dismiss  the  foregoing  pages, 
without  an  "  Addition  "  or  two  which  properly  be- 
longs to  this  department  of  the  u  LIBRARY  COMPA- 
NION. "  As  these  Additions  will  be  included  in  the 
"  General  Index,"  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  refer- 
ring to  them. 

At  page  543,  I  should  have  probably  noticed  the 
Vie  d*  Henri  Quatre,  by  HARDOUIN  DE  PEREFIXE,* 
and  the  M&moires  de  MARGARET  DE  VALOIS,  the  first 
Queen  of  that  monarch  ;f  but,  as  over  and  over  again 
observed,  the  reader  must  not  consider  this  volume  as 
complete  in  any  one  department  of  literature  which  it 
has  undertaken  to  develope.  Were  it  so,  the  same 
reader  would  have  had  as  many  volumes  as  depart- 
ments. 

the  publisher,  and  son  of  the  above  lauded  octogenarian.  The  suc- 
cess of  such  an  extensive  and  costly  work  shews  the  fondness  of  the 
English  for  LITERARY  ANECDOTES. 

*  The  beautiful  edition  of  this  interesting  piece  of  biography  by 
the  Elzevirs  is,  when  in  fine  condition  and  bound  in  morocco,  worth 
about  I/.  Is. 

f  The  English  translation  of  these  Memoirs,  by  Codrington,  is  now 
a  scarce  book,  though  it  may  be  obtained  for  a  few  shillings.  They 
are  well  deserving  of  perusal. 


558  BIOGRAPHY, 

And  may  not,  by  way  of  by  play,  a  notice  of  the 
Apology  of  the  Life  of  Colley  Cibber,  written  by  that 
dramatist  himself,  occupy  a  few  moments  of  our  at- 
tention ?  It  is  perfectly  a  performance  sui  generis  : 
full  of  humour,  candour,  pleasant  prattle,  and  odd 
incidents  and  conceits.  Mr.  Chalmers,  in  his  Biogra- 
phical Dictionary,  vol.  ix.  346-9,  has  done  substan- 
tial justice  to  the  character  of  the  author.  This  very 
popular  volume  first  appeared  in  1740,  4 to.  and 
has  been  frequently  reprinted ;  but  I  recommend 
the  recent  elegant  octavo  reimpression  of  it,  in 
1823,  published  at  15s.  There  are  monotonous  mo- 
ments in  life,  when  the  flagging  spirits  may  be  recre- 
ated and  strengthened  by  the  perusal  of  Colley  Gibber's 
Apology  for  the  Life  of  an  Actor.* 

At  page  520  there  is  an  omission  of  a  somewhat 
grievous  nature ;  namely,  that  of  the  PARENTALIA,  or 
Memoirs  of  the  Family  of  the  WRENS,  published  in  a 
handsome  folio  volume,  in  1750;  of  which  a  copious 
account  appears  in  SAVAGE'S  British  Librarian,  vol. 
ii.  p.  241  -277.  This  is  a  noble,  gentlemanly  looking 
book;  and  full  of  valuable  materials ;  a  proud  and 
imperishable  monument  of  family  worth.  The  mez- 
zotint portraits  of  Bishop  Wren,DeanWren,  Sir  Chris- 
topher Wren,  and  Christopher  Wren,  (the  son  of  Sir 
Christopher,  and  author  of  the  work,)  command  our 
attention,  and  delight  our  hearts.  A  good  copy  of  this 
desirable  book  is  worth  10/.  10s.  A  new  edition  of  it, 
with  additions,  and  plates — together  with  a  fresh  por- 

*  My  friend,  Mr.  Joseph  Haslewood,  usually  reads  it  in  the  March 
and  November  months  ;  and  it  will  be  the  amusement  of  his  old  age 
(he  says)  to  distend  it  into  three  bulky  tomes  by  the  illustration  of 
appropriate  prints. 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  559 

trait  of  Sir  Christopher — without  any  other  portrait — 
has  been  recently  published  in  a  large  4to.  volume,  by 
Mr.  Elmes,  architect,  at  the  price  of  31.  3s.  in  bds. 

The  Strawberry  Hill  Press}  which,  upon  the  whole, 
sent  forth  more  trivial  than  solid  works  to  the  public, 
conferred  nevertheless  a  considerable  obligation  upon 
it  by  printing  the  auto-biography  of  EDWARD  LORD 
HERBERT  of  CHERBURY,  in  a  neat  quarto  volume,  in 
1764  :  with  a  portrait  of  the  author,  lying  under  a  tree, 
engraved  by  Walker  from  an  original  of  A.  Oliver.* 
This  workj  was  reprinted  by  Dodsley,  for  sale,  in 
1770,  4to. ;  and  a  second  reimpression  appeared  in 
1792.  Old  William  Cole,  the  great  Chronicler  of 
scandal  in  the  times  in  which  he  wrote,  designates  this 
work,  not  inaptly,  as  being  "  most  romantic,"  and  the 
author  of  it  as  "  the  vainest  of  all  mortals,  as  also  the 
most  of  a  Quixot,  a  character  one  would  not  expect  in 
the  author  of  "  De  Feritate"^- 

We  have  recently  had  a  new  edition,  under  the 

*  The  reader,  if  he  feel  so  disposed,  may  consult  the  Bibliomania, 
p.  718,  for  particulars  about  the  Strawberry  Hill  edition:  from  which 
it  seems  uncertain  whether  100  or  200  copies  were  struck  off.  It  is 
now  worth  about  31.  3s. :  with  the  "  Genealogical  Table  of  the  Her- 
bert Family"  annexed ;  and  which  Walpole  strove  anxiously  to  sup- 
press on  account  of  its  inaccuracies.  The  Dodsley  reprint  may  be 
worth  7s.  6d. 

f  Consult  Bliss's  edition  of  Wood's  Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  iii.  col.  242. 
And  for  a  specimen  of  the  rhodomontade  stuff  of  the  noble  biogra- 
pher, read  the  extract  in  col.  239,  note  4.  The  work,  De  Veritate, 
&c.  alluded  to  by  Cole,  was  that  in  which  Lord  Herbert  openly  pro- 
fessed Deism,  and  which  was  first  published  at  Paris  in  1624,  4to. 
The  motives  which  induced  the  author  to  write  this  work,  are  stated 
at  p.  171  of  his  Life;  and  in  Grangers  Biographical  Hist,  of  England, 
vol.  ii.  p.  319 — as  noticed  by  the  diligent  and  exact  Editor  of  Wood, 


560  BIOGRAPHY, 

care  of  Thomas  Roscoe,  Esq.  of  the  Life  of  that  most 
capricious  man  and  wonderful  artist,  BENVENUTO 
CELLINI  ;  of  which  I  understand  the  original  Italian 
text*  to  be  a  singularly  naif  and  amusing  volume. 
Dr.  Nugent  was  the  first  translator  of  it  ("  from  the 
original  Tuscan'' )  in  1771,  8vo.  2  vols. ;  a  book,  by 
the  by,  of  no  ordinary  occurrence.  The  PORTRAIT, 
prefixed  to  Mr.  Roscoe's  edition,  is  unworthy,  in  all 
respects,  of  the  character  of  the  work. 

Reluctant  indeed  should  I  be  to  dismiss  these  pages 
to  the  world,  without,  not  only  the  mention,  but  the 
strong  recommendation,  of  Mason's  Lifeo/Gray^m^, 
4to. :  with  a  portrait  of  that  eminent  poet  prefixed. 
I  should  rather  perhaps  call  this  book,  Grays  Me- 
moirs  of  Himself,  as  the  biography  is  composed  chiefly 
of  the  poet's  own  letters.  Delightful  indeed  are  these 
"  Letters :"  evincing  the  taste  of  a  virtuoso,  the  at- 
tainments of  a  scholar,  and  the  gaiety  of  a  classical 
wit.  The  neatest  and  best  edition  of  Mason  is  that 
printed  in  1778,  at  York,  in  4  vol.  crown  8vo.  worth 
about  24*. :  but,  of  all  the  portraits  of  Gray,  I  consi- 
der that  prefixed  to  the  quarto,  as  decidedly  the  best. 

The  auto-biography  of  GILBERT  WAKE  FIELD  should 
not  be  forgotten.  These  memoirs  were  written  and 

*  The  auto-biography  of  Cellini  was  published  by  Martello,  with- 
out date  (but  1730)  in  4to.:  a  volume,  which  must  find  a  place  in 
all  curiously  furnished  cabinets.  It  is  rare.f  Avoid  the  counter- 
feit of  it  published  at  Florence,  which  has  the  "  table  of  Persons  " 
with  the  pages  numbered.  A  new  edition  of  it  appeared  at  Milan,  in 
wo  quarto  volumes,  1810,  of  which  the  first  few  leaves  only  are 
enriched  with  various  readings  :  but  a  good  edition  of  the  Works  of 
Cellini  appeared  iu  1806,  8vo.  2  vols.  forming  part  of  the  ITALIAN 
CLASSICS.  Cellini's  name,  in  bronze  and  silver  relievos,  is  as  fre* 
quently  profaned  as  that  of  Rafaelle  in  china  vases  and  salvers. 

t  The  original  MS.  written  at  the  dictation  of  Cellini,  is  still  at  Florence, 


MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  561 

published  by  himself  in  1792,  8vo.  and  a  new  and  en- 
larged edition  of  them  appeared  in  1804,  in  two  similar 
volumes.  The  work  is  almost  purely  scholastic ; 
that  is,  it  developes  little  more  than  the  habits,  feel- 
ings, and  pursuits  of  a  secluded  student,  enamoured 
of  his  books.  A  scholar,  and  an  ardent  and  multifari- 
ous one,  Gilbert  Wakefield  undoubtedly  was ;  but,  with 
his  talents  and  attainments,  we  regret  that  a  more 
elegant  and  interesting  air  is  not  given  to  the  pages  of 
his  biography  :  and  while  the  sincerity  of  his  religious 
principles,  and  the  integrity  of  his  private  life,  cannot 
fail  to  be  readily  admitted,  it  must  be  regretted  that 
these  excellent  qualities  did  not  produce  a  more  plac- 
able temper  in  argument,  and  a  more  peaceful  tone  in 
literary  and  political  controversies.  Why  should  hu- 
man beings,  gifted  as  was  Gilbert  Wakefield,  dip  their 
pens  in  gall,  when  there  is  abundance  of  milk  within 
their  reach  ?  And  why  do  eminently  intellectual 
characters  seem  to  strive  their  utmost  to  make  us  dis- 
gusted with  the  pursuits  and  consolations  of  Litera- 
ture ?  Nevertheless,  let  Gilbert  Wakefield's  biogra- 
phy find  a  place  upon  the  shelves  of  the  curious — for 
a  sum  somewhat  less  than  a  sovereign. 

It  is  not  long  ago,  since  there  appeared  one  of  the 
most  entertaining  volumes  of  Literary  Anecdotes  ima- 
ginable ;  the  materials  of  which  furnished  Johnson 
with  much  of  his  biography  of  Pope  and  his  contem- 
poraries. I  allude  to  that  of  which  JOSEPH  SPENCE, 
the  friend  of  Pope,  was  the  author  ;  and  of  which  the 
enlarged  edition,  under  the  editorial  care  of  Mr. 
Singer,  is  by  all  means  to  be  procured.  The  ample 
and  able  notice  of  this  volume  1820,  3vo.  (purchasable 

o  o 


56*  BIOGRAPHY,  fcc. 

for  some  15$.)  in  the  Quarterly  (vol.  xxiii,  p.  400)  will 
shew  the  necessity  of  its  being  admitted  into  such 
company  as  will  be  found  in  an  elegantly  furnished 
library.  It  is,  in  all  respects,  a  charming  book :  and 
the  well  known  title  is,  Spences  Anecdotes  of  Books 
and  Men. 


If,  during  the  perusal  of  the  last  fourscore  pages  of 
this  work,  the  refined  reader  shall  conceive  that  I  have 
not  extracted  the  proper  "  pith  and  marrow"  for  that 
department  of  a  library  which  is  connected  with  "  BI- 
OGRAPHY, MEMOIRS,  and  ANECDOTES,"  let  him,  by  way 
of  a  supplemental  rider,  turn  his  eyes  towards  "  The 
Sources  of  Secret  History"  as  developed  in  Mr.  D'ls- 
raeli's  Second  Series  of  Curiosities  of  Literature,  vol. 
iii.  p.  210 :  and,  from  the  whole,  draw  those  inferences 
which  are  fairly  deducible  from  a  union  of  the  two 
works.  Contemporaneous  BIOGRAPHY  (when  built 
upon  truth,)  is  as  a  fresh,  speaking  picture,  from  the 
hand  of  a  powerful  master.  HISTORY  is  something  like 
the  same  picture,  rendered  faded  by  time,  or  copied 
by  the  hand  of  an  inferior  artist. 


PHILOLOGY  AND  BELLES  LETTRES. 

Bibliographers  usually  commence  this  instructive 
department  of  a  LIBRARY  with  an  account  of  the  prin- 
cipal works  upon  Grammar  and  Lexicography ;  as 
well  as  with  a  copious  list  of  Grammars  and  Dic- 
tionaries themselves.  The  propriety  of  such  a  com- 
mencement may  be  questionable  ;  because  "  Philo- 
logy" seems  to  imply  a  competent  knowledge  of  lan- 
guages, and  the  power  both  of  selecting  what  is  good 
and  rejecting  what  is  bad.  It  is  as  a  field,  varied  with 
innumerable  flowers  and  weeds ;  some  nutritious, 
others  poisonous ;  but  the  Collector  is  supposed  to 
have  a  previous  knowledge  of  the  respective  proper- 
ties of  the  plants  which  he  sees  before  him.  Grammar 
and  Lexicography  may  therefore  more  properly  be 
classed  in  a  distinct  department. 

Here,  however,  they  can  be  only  slightly  noticed  as 
the  incipient  branch  of  our  enquiries  :  and,  once  for  all, 
as  Bibliographers  have  so  determined  it,  it  may  be  ra- 
ther folly  than  wisdom  to  disturb  the  established  order. 
It  so  happens,  however,  that  the  greatest  Philologists 
of  this  country,  (for  there  is  little  or  no  space  for  the 
notice  of  those  of  our  continental  neighbours)  at  the  re- 
vival of  Literature,  were  the  greatest  Grammarians ; 
and,  here,  the  names  of  STANBRIDGE,  JOHN  DE  GAR- 
LAN  DIA,  WHITTINTON,  HOLT,  LILYE,  and  other  simi- 
lar authors,  crowd  upon  our  recollection.  To  enume- 
rate the  various  editions  of  their  grammatical  works, 
would  be  to  count  the  pebbles  on  the  western  beach  of 


564  PHILOLOGY 

Brighton.  Yet,  a  total  silence  respecting  these  pro- 
ductions might  be  thought  too  tantalising  for  endu- 
rance ;  arid  therefore,  in  compassion  to  those  readers 
who  desiderate,  rather  than  to  those  who  possess,  the 
interminable  slim  quartos,  put  forth  by  the  foremen- 
tioned  pedagogical  Worthies,  I  string  a  few  of  the 
rarer  and  more  precious  editions  together,  in  the  sub- 
joined note.* 

*  First  of  JOHN  STANBRIDGEJ  concerning  whom  Wood  (Athen. 
Oxon.  Edit.  Bliss,  vol.  i.  col.  39)  is  copious  in  commendation,  although 
he  seems  to  have  been  little  acquainted  with  his  works,  The  reader 
may  also  consult  the  note  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  95.  1  take 
Stanbridge's  first  grammatical  treatise  to  have  been  his  ACCEDENCE  j 
of  which  Wynkyn  de  Worde  printed  the  Edit.  Prin.  in  ' (  Caxton's 
House  at  Westminster."  Mr.  Douce  has  a  copy  of  this  very  rare  vo- 
lume j  which  is  complete  in  thirteen  leaves.  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  page 
172-324.  But  a  cloud  of  mystery  and  doubt  hangs  over  the  earlier 
impressions  of  this  work.  Id.  p.  95.  The  VOCABULARY  of  Stanbridge 
was  first  printed  in  1500,  4to.  A  specimen  of  it  is  given  at  p.  92  of 
the  work  last  referred  to.  The  editions  are  innumerable.  De  Worde 
continued  to  republish  it  till  as  late  as  1532.  The  PARVULORUM  IN- 
STITUTIO,  by  the  same  author,  is  a  collection  from  his  other  treatises ; 
and  I  know  of  no  edition  earlier  than  152O.  See  p.  93  of  the  Typ. 
Antiq.  For  other  pieces  by  Stanbridge,  consult  Wood  ut  supra. 

Of  JOHN  DE  GARLANDIA,  the  Synonymes  are  probably  the  first 
grammatical  production.  If  not  printed  in  1496,  by  Pynson,  they 
were  doubtless  printed  in  1500  by  both  Pynson  and  De  Worde,  till  as 
late  as  1510,  and  probably  later.  The  reader  is  referred  to  the  par- 
ticular account  of  some  of  these  impressions  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol. 
ii.  p.  97,  406,  &c.  The  Multorum  Vocabulorum  Equivocorum  Inter- 
pretatio  was  probably  the  most  popular  work  of  I .  de  Garlandia.  It 
was  printed  as  early  as  1500,  and  as  late  as  1517,  (if  not  later)  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde.  Concerning  the  editions  of  this  work,  as  well  as 
of  some  account  of  the  author,  consult  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii  p.  96, 
&c.  OH,  RARE  ROBERT  WHITTINTON!  how  shall  I  attempt  to  de- 
scribe the  innumerable  impressions  of  thy  almost  innumerable  gram- 
matical works  ? !  Betake  thee,  gentle  reader,  to  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol. 
ii,  p.  172,  &c.  where  not  fewer  than  thirty  pages  are  devoted  to  them, 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  5G5 

To  these"  Worthies,"  must  be  added  two  others,  of 
no  very  dissimilar  character,  but  perhaps  of  greater 

as  productions  from  the  press  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde  alone,  beginning 
as  early  as  1513.  Again,  at  page  449,  are  five  pages  containing  an 
account  of  such  as  were  printed  by  Pynson,  beginning  with  the  date 
of  1515.  Happy  however  shall  HE  be,  who,  among  the  Opuscula  of 
Whittinton,  gets  possession  of  such  a  copy  of  the  "  Epigrammata,  cum 
Quibusdam  Panegyricis,"  &c.  1519,  4to.  as  is  described  (op.  cit.  page 
181)  to  belong  to  Mr.  Heber:  and  see  Bliss's  note  upon  the  original 
ms.  presentation  copy  (to  Cardinal  Wolsey)  UPON  VELLUM,  in  the 
Bodleian  Library — as  well  as  a  compressed  list  of  Whittinton' s  works. 
Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  i.  col.  56.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  copy  of 
the  Grammatices  Prima  Pars,  1527,  "  scarce,  "  at  1Z.  Is.  Of  JOHN 
HOLT— who  <f  carried  on  the  art  of  pedagogy  so  zealous,  that,  by  his 
admirable  way  of  teaching  the  faculty  of  grammar,  many  from  his 
school  were  transplanted  to  the  several  colleges  and  halls,"  &c. — 
we  have,  unluckily,  little  or  no  biographical  materials  :  and  the  only 
work  which  we  can  fasten  upon,  with  certainty,  as  the  production  of 
his  pen,  is  the  "  Lac  Puerorum,  or  My  Ike  for  Children;"  which 
Wood  gratuitously  imagined  to  have  been  first  printed  in  1497.  Athen. 
Oxon.  vol.  i.  col.  15.  Mr.  Heber  possesses  the  only  known  copy  of 
this  work,  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  without  date,  in  4to. :  which 
seems  to  have  been  unseen  by  Tanner,  Pits,  and  Bale,  although,  as  he 
observes,  it  is  noticed  by  each.  In  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  38O,  I 
have  given  an  account  of  this  rare  book,  with  a  fac-simile  copper- 
plate of  the  mode  of  instruction.  This  volume  was  obtained,  if  I 
remember  rightly,  along  with  several  others  of  the  same  covetable 
character,  in  fine  condition,  from  Mr.  Stace  the  bookseller.  Such  a 
book  as  that  just  described,  is  "  meat  for  mep  •'  as  well  as  ' '  milk  for 
children." 

Of  WILLIAM  LILYE,  the  venerable  father  of  "  Propria  quce  Man- 
bus"  and  "  As  in  prcesenti  "  I  cannot  discover  any  impression  of  his 
famous  work  upon  the  Eight  parts  of  Speech,  or  his  Short  Institution, 
or  method  of  knowing  Grammar,  &c.  (in  which  the  first  named  por- 
tions of  Grammar  occur)  during  his  life  time,  and  he  died  in  1522. 
Doubtless  there  must  have  been  several  impressions,  and  Wood 
notices  some  as  early  as  1513 :  but,  as  Dr.  Bliss  has  observed,  "  the 
real  share  each  person  had  in  Lilye's  celebrated  grammar  will  be 


566  PHILOLOGY 

pretensions  to  the  applause  of  posterity ;  the  more 
so  as  one  of  them  published  the  Jirst  arithmetical 
treatise  in  this  country.  I  mean  TONSTALL,  Bishop  of 
London.  The  second  was  a  yet  more  illustrious  name 
in  the  annals  of  philology :  THOMAS  Li  NACRE* — at 

found  in  the  preface  to  Ward's  edition  of  it,  which  was  copied  into 
the  Biographia  Britannica."  The  earliest  edition  of  the  "  De  Octo 
Partibus" — is  that  by  Berthelet,  in  1540  j  but  a  glorious  copy  of  Li- 
lye's  Grammar  of  1542  (also  by  Berthelet)  printed  UPON  VELLUM  is 
in  the  Cracherode  Collection  in  the  British  Museum.  See  Bibliogr. 
Decameron,  vol.  ii.  p.  37O.  W.  Lilye  was  the  first  head  master  (ap- 
pointed by  Dean  Colet  the  founder)  of  St.  Paul's  school.  But  these 
Grammarians,  or  Pedagogues,  v^ere  starch  and  testy  fellows,  and 
sometimes  loved  to  have  a  scratch  at  each  other.  It  may  be  doubted 
whether,  from  the  account  of  Wood  (Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  i.  col.  34) 
Whittinton  and  Lilye  had  not  a  <e  battle  royal"  together  in  the  church- 
yard of  "  Powles "?  —  to  the  great  delight  of  the  boys  and  bv- 
standers.  Did  they  fight  with  fists,  or  with  whips — such  as  they 
laid  upon  the  backs  of  their  scholars  ?  See  the  wood-cuts,  passim. 

And  here,  a  word  only  about  the  ELEVEN  GRAMMARS  —  supposed 
by  Palmer  to  have  been  printed  by  Caxton  \  of  which  copies  are  in 
Lord  Pembroke's  library  at  Wilton.  From  the  notice  in  the  Typ. 
Antiq*  vol.  ii.  p.  369,  the  reader  will  immediately  see  that  I  consider 
them  non-entities,  as  the  productions  of  Caxton.  Recently,  my  friend 
Mr.  Heber  has  seen  these  Grammars,  and  they  turn  out  to  be,  as  con- 
jectured, the  works  of  Whittinton  printed  by  W.  de  Worde. 

*  I  learn  from  the  judicious  notes  of  the  Editor  of  Anthony  a  Wood, 
that  the  best  Life  of  the  celebrated  THOMAS  LINACRE  is  given  in 
Dr.  Aikin's  Medical  Biography,  1780,  8vo.  Linacre  was  equally 
famous  for  his  grammatical  and  physical  publications.  He  was  a 
clergyman  by  profession ;  but  both  Wood  and  Aikin  (according  to 
Bliss)  appear  to  have  been  ignorant  of  his  inordinate  powers  of  di- 
gestion for  pluralities,  I  have  only  to  do  with  him  as  a  Grammarian , 
except  that  it  may  be  worth  while  stating,  that  his  edition  of  Galen, 
De  Temperamentis  et  de  inaquali  temperie,  printed  by  Siberch  at 
Cambridge  in  1521,  is  supposed  by  Warton  and  Bliss  to  be  the  first 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  567 

once  a  grammarian,  a  physician,  and  the  most  accom- 
plished scholar  of  his  day.  Their  more  particular 
works  are  briefly  noticed  below.  *  But  in  this  phalanx 

book  printed  in  England  in  which  the  Greek  type  was  introduced : 
but  the  fact  is  not  so,  unless  it  be  meant  to  apply  to  Greek  metal 
types :  since  Greek  letters,  by  means  of  wood,  will  be  found  in  the 
De  Concinnitate  Grammatices  &c.  of  Whittinton,  printed  by  Wyn- 
kyn  de  Wordein  1519  :  see  a  fac-simile  of  these  letters  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  180.  A  copy  of  Linacre's  work,  just  mentioned,  and 
printed  UPON  VKLLUM,  (being  the  presentation  copy  to  Henry  VIII.) 
will  be  found  in  the  Bodleian  Library — "  given  to  the  University  by 
Dr.  Clayton,  regius  professor  of  physic  in  1634."  See  Athen.  Oxon. 
vol.  i.  col.  44,  note  8.  This  however  is  not  the  edition  printed  by 
Siberch.  To  return  to  Linacre's  grammatical  productions.  What 
Wood  calls  his  "  Rudiments  of  Grammar  " — and  which  book,  con- 
tinues he,  "  hath  ever  since  been  the  cynosura  for  many  of  our  best 
grammarians,"  has,  in  fact,  no  existence  under  such  title.  Dr. 
Bliss  assigns  to  it  the  date  of  1524,  which  I  take  to  be  that  exclusively 
applicable  to  the  De  Emendata  Structure,  Latini  Sermonis,  described 
in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  511:  and  to  this  work,  in  all  proba- 
bility, Wood's  compliment  is  to  be  transferred.  A  copy  of  this  work 
of  Linacre  should  be  in  all  judiciously  formed  libraries  j  but  I  cannot 
encourage  a  hope  of  it,  even  from  Mr.  Thorpe's  catalogue,  under  the 
sum  of  2J.  2s. :  especially  if  it  be  in  fair  and  sound  condition.  A 
sound  copy,  from  Mr.  Johnes's  collection,  is  in  the  library  of  Earl 

Spencer. 

*  CUTHBERT  TONSTALL,  successively  Bishop  of  London  and  Dur- 
ham, and  beyond  all  question  one  of  the  brightest  scholars  and  most 
amiable  men  of  his  time,  (dying  at  a  very  advanced  age  in  1559) 
was  the  first  man  who  published  a  treatise  on  arithmetic ;  and  who- 
ever chooses  to  be  at  the  pains  of  reading  his  motives  for  this  publica- 
tion (detailed  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  478)  will  be  convinced 
how  well  founded  and  just  they  were.  Tonstall  was  in  some  mea- 
sure a  philologist  as  well  as  theologian,  and  although  a  Roman  Catho- 
lic Bishop,  delivered  "  an  oration  in  praise  of  Matrimony."  His 
work,  with  which  I  have  here  more  particularly  to  do,  is  the  "  Libri 
IV.  De  Artc  Supputandi,"  printed  by  Pynson  in  1522,  4to.  when  the 


568  PHILOLOGY 

of  bright  names/ 1  should  deem  myself  unworthy  of 
the  humblest  place  in  the  rank  of  a  literary  chroni- 
cler, if  I  omitted  to  notice  the  very  uncommon,  but 
truly  valuable,  lucubrations  of  HORMAN  and  PALS- 
GRAVE ;  names,  which  confer  celebrity  on  the  period 
wherein  they  flourished.  The  Bulgaria*  of  the  former, 

author  was  Bishop  of  London.  It  is  obtainable  for  about  I/.  Is.  in 
good  condition.  But  the  Bishop's  own  (and  as  I  suspect  unique) 
copy  of  it,  UPON  VELLUM,  is  in  the  public  library  at  Cambridge ; 
where,  below  the  frontispiece,  in  the  author's  own  (sprawling)  hand 
writing,  we  read  as  follows  :  "  Cuthbertus  Londiesis  eps  studiosis  dono 
dedit."  'Tisan  exquisite  copy ;  sound  and  perfect  j  but,  as  I  suspect, 
on  comparing  it  with  Lord  Spencer's  marvellous  vellum  copy  of 
<(  Hen.  VIII.  de  septem  Sacramentis.*'  (also  printed  by  Pynson)  a  little 
crept.  It  measures  ten  inches  five-eighths,  by  seven  six- eighths. 
SUCH  a  book  deserves  such  Millerian  attention. 

*  The  reader,  I  rejoice  to  say,  will  find  a  full  and  particular  ac- 
count of  the  Vulgaria  of  WILLIAM  HORMAN,  printed  in  a  small  folio 
volume,  in  1519,  in  the  recent  edition  of  our  Typographical  Anti- 
quities, vol.  ii.  p.  479-82,  supplied  by  a  fine  copy  of  the  book  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Heber.  I  have  also  availed  myself  of  some  of  these 
curious  particulars  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  690.  Lord  Spencer  pos- 
sesses a  copy  of  the  reprint,  by  W.  de  Worde,  153O,  4to.  from  the 
Hafod  library,  but  much  cropt.  Such  a  volume  cannot  be  procured 
under  5J.  5*.  Of  JOHN  PALSGRAVE,  where  is  the  philological  Antiquary 
whose  heart  does  not  beat  with  a  fuller  pulsation  at  the  name  ?  His 
Eclaircissemens  de  la  Langue  Frangoyse,  (a  French  and  English  Dic- 
tionary, and  the  only  authenticated  book  from  the  press  of  its  printer, 
John  Hawkins)  was  published  in  a  handsome  folio  volume  in  153O; 
and  is  now  so  scarce  and  dear  (indeed  it  was  always  a  very  scarce 
book)  as  to  be  worth  2 1 Z.  at  the  least.  A  very  long  account  of 
it,  together  with  the  notice  of  five  copies,  will  be  seen  in  the  Typ. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  364-9  :  but  of  all  the  copies  there  noticed,  I  should 
pronounce  that  of  Mr.  Douce  to  be  the  finest—  in  primitive  wooden 
binding1,  covered  with  dark  stamped  calf.  I  possess  copious  ms.  ex- 
tracts from  this  truly  valuable  philological  volume.  Another  equally 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES,  569 

and  Les  Eclaircissemens  de  la  Langne  Francoise*  of 
the  latter,  remind  the  curious  of  two  of  the  most  pre- 
cious volumes  of  early  English  philology.  And  here, 
what  shall  we  say  of  the  minor  tribe  of  grammatical, 
lexicographical,  and  philological  works  ?  Of  Acci- 
dences,  Parvulas,  Lucidaries,  Orchards  of  Words, 
Promptuaries  for  little  Children,  and  Vocabularies 
$c.  for  Travellers  ?*  There  is  no  end  of  them  ;  and 

rare  volume,  but  of  a  different  description — also  from  the  pen  of  Pals- 
grave, and  called  the  Comedy e  of  Acolastus,  —  (154O,  4to.  being  a 
translation  from  the  Latin  original  of  Fullonius)  is  described  at  page 
308  of  the  work  last  referred  to,  The  copy  of  this  book  in  the  Bri- 
tish Museum,  and  that  in  the  Bodleian  library  (Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  i. 
col.  122)  were  the  only  ones  known ;  till  that  at  the  sale  of  Hayley's 
library,  which  brought  22 /.  Is. 

*  Upon  what  an  agitated  sea  of  doubt,  difficulty,  and  trouble,  ami 
embarking,  in  giving  a  sketch  only  of  a  few  of  the  rarer  pieces  in 
this  department  of  early  English  philology  ? !  My  slender  skiff  must 
keep  close  into  the  shore  ;  for  I  will  neither  hazard  it  nor  its  pilot  by 
rashly  venturing  into  "  the  deep  expanse."  Shall  Caxton  lead  the 
way  ?  I  wish  he  might,  with  safety  -t  but  what  is  to  be  observed  of  his 
supposed  edition  of  the  Accedence  ?  Look  at  page  355  of  the  first 
volume  of  the  Typ.  Antiq.  and  admit,  however  reluctantly,  that  the 
probability  is  against  the  existence  of  such  a  work  from  his  press. 
The  same  inference,  I  fear,  must  be  drawn  about  the  Long  Accy- 
dence,  supposedf  to  have  been  printed  by  W.  de  Worde  in  1513; 
although  it  is  certain  that  De  Worde  did  print  an  Accidence  in  Cax- 
ton's  house  ;  see  page  564,  ante :  and  Herbert  (note  p.  295,  Op.  Eod.) 
expressly  acknowledges  the  possession  of  a  copy  of  some  edition  of 
an  Accidence;  but  the  Introd.  Ling.  Lat.  1499,  folio,  decidedly 
printed  by  De  Worde,  and  once  In  Herbert's  possession,  seems  to  be 


t  The  Bibliomaniac  must, on  no  account,  confound  this"  LONG  ACCIDENCE"  with 
the  LONG  GRAMMAR  published  at  Tavistock  —  for  which  Master  John  Bagford 
"  would  have  stuck  at  no  price."  Who  possesses  a  copy  of  this  Long  Grammar, 
locked  up,  I  dare  think,  in  little  space  ?  There  is  a  bliss  in  the  very  indulgence  even 
of  some  bibliomaniaeal  doubts  and  uncertainties  about  its  existence. 


570  PHILOLOGY 

yet,  he  who,  like  Atticus,  shall  hope  to  obtain  first 
editions  of  such  as  are  mentioned  in  the  last  note,  may 

the  rarissima  avis  of  early  grammatical  treatises.  And  here,  methinks, 
I  see  my  friend  Mr.  Heber  extending  on  high,  with  triumphant  arm, 
his  precious  little  thin  tome  ("  presque  unique,"  according  to  the  re- 
cent phraseology  of  a  fashionable  catalogue-maker  of  prints)  called 
Longe  Parvula,  1509,  4to.  alike  unknown  to  Ames  and  Herbert.  It 
hath  eight  leaves,  only  j  worth  peradventure  13s.  a  leaf.  See  the 
Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  150. 

Again,  for  the  ORTUS  VOCABULORUM,  Lot. :  and  first  printed  by 
W.  de  Worde  in  150O,  4to. :  but,  as  I  apprehend,  having  little  or 
nothing  in  common  with  the  Gemma  Vocabulorum  printed  at  Deven- 
ter  in  the  same  year.  Mr.  R.  Wilbraham  possesses  a  copy  of  this 
very  rare  book  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  which  seems  to  have  escaped 
Ames  and  Herbert.  I  doubt  the  reprint  in  1508  by  de  Worde  j  but 
there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  reprint  by  Pynson,  in  1509,  from  an  in- 
spection of  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  439.  A  good  copy  of  either 
edition  may  be  worth  31  3s.  Of  infinitely  greater  importance  than 
the  preceding  work,  is  the  first  edition  of  the  PROMPTORIUS  PUERO- 
RUM,  printed  in  a  handsome  folio  volume,  in  his  neat  secretary  gothic 
type,  by  Pynson,  in  1499.  Lord  Spencer's  perfect  copy  of  this 
exceedingly  rare  book  (obtained  from  the  purchase  of  two  imperfect 
copies)  has  been  described  in  vol.  ii.  p.  241  of  the  JEdes  AlthorpiantE : 
but  the  most  copious  account  of  it  will  be  found  in  the  Typog.  Antiq. 
vol.  ii.  p.  416.  It  is  singular  that  there  should  be  no  known  copy  of  a 
reprint  of  so  valuable  a  book  by  Pynson  5  although  a  reprint  was  put 
forth  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  1510,  4to. :  see  specimens  of  the  work, 
from  this  reprint,  at  page  155  of  the  volume  last  referred  to.  But 
this  reprint,  it  should  seem,  is  only  an  abridgment  of  the  original 
work.  A  beautiful  copy  of  De  Worde's  reimpression  is  in  the  library 
of  Mr.  R.  Wilbraham.  Mr.  Douce  possesses  a  copy  of  the  third  re- 
print by  Worde  (that  of  1512  being  supposed  to  be  the  second)  of 
1528.  This  is  the  first  English  and  Latin  — as  the  Ortus  Vocabulo- 
rum is  the  first  Latin  and  English — Dictionary  in  our  language.  I 
cannot  value  the  Edit.  Prin.  by  Pynson  under  21 J. 

And  here  —  "  last  but  not  least "  in  the  catalogue  of  early  phi- 
lological rarities —  must  be  registered  THE  BOOK  FOR  TRAVELLERS — 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  5?l 

pass  the  longest  life  without  realising  even  two-thirds 
of  his  expectations. 

And  here,  bidding  adieu  to  that  portion  of  philology 
connected  with  grammar — which  I  choose  to  confine 
to  the  early  annals  of  English  literature  —  I  feel  dis- 
posed (ere  I  touch  upon  general  philology)  to  notice  a 
few  of  the  greater  philologists  of  Greece  and  Rome. 
For  the  former,  I  shall  content  myself  with  Plato, 
Aristotle,  Athenaeus,  Xenophon,  Plutarch,  and  iEsop : 
for  the  latter,  with  Cicero,  Seneca,  Boetius,  Aulus 
Gellius,  Apulems,  the  Younger  Pliny,  Petronius  Arbi- 
ter, and  Quintilian.  More  might  be  added ;  but  I  am 
only  anxious  to  secure  the  approbation  of  the  learned 
to  these  few — constituting,  nevertheless,  a  bright  pha- 
lanx of  some  of  the  most  powerful  prose  writers  of 
either  country. 

in  French  and  English  3  of  which,  not  only  the  first,  but  the  only  edi- 
tion,* was  put  forth  by  Caxton,  in  a  thin  folio  volume,  without  date 
This  marvellously  precious  book  hath  been  so  copiously  described  in 
the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  iv.  p.  319  that  I  will  here  say  no  more  of  it, 
except  that  Lord  Spencer's  copy  is  the  only  perfect  one  known.  The 
Duke  of  Devonshire  possesses  it  with  a  few  leaves  supplied  by  ms.  I 
question  if  twice  the  price  given  by  his  Lordship  for  this  intrinsically 
valuable  work,  would  now  secure  a  copy  for  the  ardent  and  heavy 
pursed  Collector.  Is  he  prepared  with  a  cheque  for  200  sovereigns  ? 

*  It  was  published  just  about  the  time  when  the  fashion  of  speaking  French  in 
the  English  Court  was  much  abated :  and  when  the  usage  of  the  English  language 
was  proportionally  being  established.  It  became  therefore  the  more  necessary  just 
to  know  the  relative  meaning  of  each  language  as  long  as  both  were  used.  Take  a 
brief  specimen : 

Pendoyrs  de  Soyey         ...  -  Pendants  of  silke- 

Lachets  lannieres,  -    Laces  poyntes. 

Soye  vermeylle,  -----     Reed  silke. 

Verde  gaune,         -         -          -  Grene  yelowe. 

Noire  6oye,         -         -          -          •'.-,""         *    Black  silke. 

Faitton  bordures,          «         »  -  Make  me  broytbures. 


572  PHILOLOGY 

First  then,  of  PLATO  ;  the  mighty  master  of  his 
mightier  pupil,  Aristotle.  The  first  edition  of  his  works 
was  put  forth  by  Aldus,  in  two  folio  volumes  in  1513, 
in  the  Greek  language.  It  is  a  most  beautiful,  though 
by  no  means  rare,  production.  *  The  more  critical 
editions  are  those  by  Serranus,  and  Bekker.  Below,  the 
reader  will  find  a  few  helps  to  the  acquisition  of  these 
editions.^  Aldus  had  also  the  honour  of  putting  forth 

*  Much  bibliographical  discussion  relating  to  this  production,  will 
be  found  in  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  ii.  pag  132  :  where  three 
copies,  UPON  VELLUM,  are  noticed.  Of  the  paper  copies,  I  should 
say,  dispassionately,  that  Lord  Spencer's  is  by  far  the  most  beautiful 
which  I  have  seen.  It  was  obtained  of  Mr.  Payne.  See  Bibl. 
Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  209.  A  fair  good  copy  may  be  worth  51.  5s. 

f  First  of  Serranus,  in  3  folio  volumes,  1578,  &c.  The  price  of  it 
varies  according  to  condition  3  but  I  should  say  that  61.  6s.  was  a 
sum  to  entitle  any  sober-minded  Collector  to  a  fair  copy  of  it.  On 
LARGE  PAPER,  it  holds  up  its  head  magnificently.  Mr.  Thorpe 
marks  it,  in  this  state,  at  311.  10s.  I  have  seen  the  fine  copies  at 
Althorp  and  Chatsworth  (the  latter  belonging  to  the  late  Bishop  of 
Ely)  in  a  similar  condition.  For  particulars,  as  to  a  perfect  copy  of 
this  edition,  consult  the  work  first  referred  to  in  the  preceding  note. 
Meanwhile,  read  the  subjoined  note.J  The  Bipont  Plato,  1781,  8vo. 
12  vols.  contains  the  Greek  text  of  Serranus  and  the  Latin  version  of 
Ficinus,  which  latter  is  better  than  that  of  Serranus.  It  has  also  a 
Varietas  Lectionum  by  Tiedeman.  Whoever  chooses  to  consult  Mr. 


J  In  the  address  to  Elizabeth,  dated  Lausanne  1577,  Kal.  Octob.  Serrauus  thus 

observes  :  — "  hoc  de  te  vere  praedicari  potest,  te  a  summo  Regum  reg-e 

hanc  sortem  essc  consequutam,  vt  non  modt>  maiorum  tuorum  Angliae  regum,  sed 
felicissimorum  quorumque  principum,  quos  vllavnquam  vidit  aetas,  felicitatem 
regnum  tuum  superare  videatur :  &  quemadmodum  Solomonis  vel  Augusti  felix 
imperiu,  notabile  fuit  ad  designandam  ciuilem  felicitatem  :  ita  &  tuum,  Regina,  eo 
nomine  posteritate  illustre  sit  futurum  :  tuaque  insula  non  amplius  Albion,  sed 
'OA&a  &  vere  fortunata  sit  porro  nuncupanda.  Quid  eniin  ?  in  regno  tuo  vera  ilia 
regnat  philosophia,  cuius  vix  ac  ne  vix  quide  vmbram  vidit  Plato :  "  &c. 

Sign.*  iii.  recto. 
Such  flattery  was  not  thrown  away  upon  ELIZABETH. 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  573 

the  first  edition  of  the  works  of  ARISTOTLE,  in  six  mag- 
nificent folio  volumes,  during  the  years  1495-8.  Copies 
of  these  volumes,  in  a  more  or  less  perfect  condition, 
are  yet  commoner  than  of  the  first  edition  of  the 
works  of  Plato :  but  an  entirely  fine  and  sound  copy, 
throughout,  of  the  six  volumes,  must  not  be  too 
hastily  hoped  for.  When  found,  such  a  copy  may  be 
worth  26/.  5s.  Of  copies  UI>ON  VELLUM,  disport  your- 
self, gentle  reader,  in  the  subjoined  note.* 

For  the  best  editions  of  Aristotle,  procure  the  drab 
coloured  one  of  Sylburgius,  published  at  Frankfort  in 
1584,  in  ten  stunted  quarto  tomes  This  excellent 
edition  used  to  sell  high  ;  but  since  the  peace  it  has 
drooped  its  head  somewhat  in  the  money  market.-^ 

Bohn's  catalogue,  1820,  parti,  page  108,  may  gratify  his  taste  with  a 
copy  in  any  variety  of  binding;  from  its  uncut  state  at  61.  6s.  to  its 
"  fair  calf,  extra,  marbled  edge  "  state  at  8/.  8s.  This  is  doubtless 
the  most  popular  edition  of  Plato,  and  is  now  scarce.  Bekker's  edi- 
tion, published  in  1816,  in  eight  vols.  8vo.  Gr.  &  Lat.  may  be  had  on 
fine  paper  for  51.  in  bds.  Consult  the  Museum  Criticum,  p.  275. 

*  It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  see  not  fewer  than  FIVE  copies  of 
this  membranaceous  TREASURE.  Two,  most  beautiful  ones,  in  the 
Public  Library  at  Paris :  vide  Tour,  vol.  ii.  p.  291.  A  third,  in  the 
library  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  at  Oxford.  Each  of  these  copies 
has  the  first  of  the  six  volumes  upon  paper.  But,  see  an  account  of 
all  the  six  volumes  upon  vellum,  at  page  522,  ante.  Lord  Spencer 
possesses  a  most  beautiful  copy  of  the  FOUR  last  volumes  upon 
vellum,  obtained  of  Messrs.  Debure  at  Paris.  The  Bodleian  Library 
possesses  the  SECOND  volume  only  upon  vellum.  Of  copies  upon 
paper,  I  consider  those  in  the  libraries  of  Earl  Spencer  and  Mr. 
Heber  to  be  among  the  very  finest.  I  once  possessed  an  imperfect 
paper  copy,  from  Mr.  Renouard,  in  an  uncut  state  j  but  unluckily  it 
was  disfigured  by  writing.  Mr.  Hayes  the  bookseller,  I  believe,  now 
possesses  it :  but  I  fear  it  will  be  a  sticker. 

f  Yet  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  gallantly  lift  it  up  to  7J.  7s.  in 


574  PHILOLOGY 

The  majestic  folios  of  Casaubon,  and  especially  of 
Du  Fal,  yet  bring  a  considerable  price;  but  who  does 
not  bemoan  the  incomplete  state  in  which  the  Bipont 
edition,  edited  by  Buhle,  yet  continues  ?  *  In  regard 
to  XENOPHON,  rest  satisfied  with  the  edition  of  his 
works  by  Thiemius,  Weiske,  or  Schneider-,  to  which 

<f  neat "  condition.  I  remember  having  the  offer  of  a  copy,  in  ori- 
ginal vellum  binding,  as  spotless  as  it  left  the  tools  of  the  binder,  for 
about  fifty  shillings,  in  the  library  of  the  Capuchin  Monastery,  in  the 
Rossau,  near  Vienna,  but  a  consideration  of  the  expenses  of  the  rou- 
lage  deterred  me  from  the  acquisition.  The  reader,  if  he  pleases, 
may  glance  at  the  pages  of  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  i.  p.  190. 

*  Whatever  Casaubon  did,  is  worthy  of  a  careful  perusal  j  yet  I 
cannot  conscientiously  recommend  the  young  or  old  Collector  to  give 
more  than  a  sovereign  for  his  edition  of  Aristotle,  published  at  Lyons 
159O,  Gr.  &  Lat.  two  vols.  in  folio.  Buhle  discharges  a  heavy  and 
destructive  fire  of  grape-shot,  from  his  critical  battery,  against  the 
"  Various  Readings  "  of  this  edition.  Du  FaVs  edition,  published  at 
Paris  in  1619,  2  vols.  folio,  may  be  worth  41.  14s.  6d.,  "  very  neat 
in  vellum,"  as  Mr.  Bohn  states  a  copy,  at  this  price,  to  be.  The 
copies  of  this  edition,  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  which  in  former  times 
used  to  unloose  the  purse-strings  of  the  collector  to  the  tune  of  twelve 
or  fifteen  guineas,  are  now  with  difficulty  vendible — even  when  in 
the  morocco  surtout  of  Padaloup  or  De  Rome.  Buhle' s  incomplete 
edition  in  five  octavo  volumes  is  worth  about  2Z.  125.  6d.  in  good 
calf  binding.  As  to  Portions  of  the  works  of  Aristotle,  separately 
published,  the  list  would  be  endless ;  I  shall  therefore  only  here  men- 
tion the  rarest  of  all  these  separately  published  pieces,  when  found  in 
a  particular  condition.  It  is  the  Commentary  of  EUSTRATIUS  DE  Mo- 
BIBUS,  &c.  1536,  folio,  published  by  Paul  Manutius,  upon  LARGE 
PAPER.  Renouard  knew  only  of  one  copy  ;  which  is  in  the  Royal  Li- 
brary at  Paris,  and  is  described  in  the  Bibliogr.  Tour,  vol.  ii.  p.  314. 
But  another  similar  copy,  of  paramount  magnificence,  and  once 
belonging  to  Francis  I.  graces  the  shelves  of  the  library  of  Worling- 
ham  in  Suffolk.  Further  particulars  of  this  marvellous  tome,  on  thick, 
white  paper,  may  hereafter  appear.  It  is  at  present  wanting  in  the 
glorious  suite  of  large  paper  folio  Alduses  belonging  to  Lord  Spencer. 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  575 

add  the  Lexicon  Xenophonteum  of  Sturzius,  in  four 
octavo  volumes.*  PLUTARCH  here  shall  only  detain  us 
as  to  his  Morals  ;  having,  under  the  head  of  Bio- 
graphy, &c.  (page  489)  recommended  the  most  useful 
edition  of  his  Lives  Wyttenbach  is  the  great  editor  of 
Plutarch's  works  :  and  securing  the  Oxford  edition 
of  that  great  Critic's  labours,  published  in  1795,  &c. 
in  quarto,  or  in  octavo,  you  possess  the  most  ample 
and  valuable  impression  of  the  entire  works  of  Plu- 
tarch. f  But  do  not  let  me  forget  that  the  Editio 
Princeps  of  the  Morals  of  Plutarch  was  put  forth  in 
two  elegantly  printed  folio  volumes  by  the  elder  Aldus 
in  1509  :  and  of  these  —  do  pray,  gentle  reader,  notice 
the  tempting  account  of  a  delicious  copy  UPON  VEL- 
LUM in  the  pages  of  a  certain  Bibliographical 


*  Weiske's  edition  of  Xeuophon's  works,  in  six  octavo  volumes, 
1804,  &c.  may  be  worth  105.  6d.  per  volume,  in  neat  binding.  That 
of  Thieme  and  Ernesti,  1801-4,  in  4  octavo  volumes,  about  the  same 
sum.  Schneider's  edition,  in  6  vols.  8vo.  Lips.  1815,  in  the  same 
ratio  :  but  get  the  large  paper  of  it,  published  at  Oxford,  for  about 
61.  6s.  The  volumes  have  been  separately  published  at  9s.  per  vol. 
The  Anabasis  and  Expeditio  of  Cyrus,  the  most  popular  works  of 
the  author  —  may  as  well  be  procured  from  this  impression.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  disport  about  Hutchinson's  editions  of  them. 

•f*  What  Schweighaeuser  has  proved  himself  to  be  for  Aihen&us, 
Epictetus,  and  Poly  bins,  the  late  Daniel  Wyttenbach  was  for  Plutarch. 
Get  the  Oxford  edition  of  the  Morals,  in  13  vol.  8vo.  which  will  be 
completed  in  14  vol.,  at  a  moderate  price  :  and  of  the  complete 
works  of  Plutarch,  procure  Hutteris  edition  (if  you  aspire  not  to 
Wyttenbach'  s)  in  14  octavo  volumes,  18O4,  at  41.  14s.  6d.  in  good 
binding.  See  Bonn's  Cat.  no.  1847. 

J  Vol.  ii.  p.  292.  I  am  not  sure  whether  another  similar  copy  be 
not  in  the  library  of  the  Grand  Duke  of  Tuscany  j  at  present,  the 
most  distinguished  Collector  of  fine  books  in  Italy.  Long  may  his 
Princely  Highness  pursue  such  a  career  ! 


576  PHILOLOGY. 

The  very  mention  of  y£sop*  darts  a  species  of  elec- 
tricity through  the  limbs  of  an  ardent  Collector.     He 

*  Let  me  hope  that  it  will  be  conceded  to  me,  without  the  impu- 
tation of  presumption,  that  it  has  happened  to  few  Bibliographers  to 
have  so  much  to  do  with  the  earlier  editions  of  JEsop,  in  most  lan- 
guages, as  myself:   witness  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  i.  p.  134  : 
Typog.  Antiq.  of  Gr.  Britain,  vol.  i.  page  208-19 ;  Bibl.  Spenceriana, 
vol.  i.  p.  221-246  5  vol.  iv.  p.  436  -,  vol.  vi.  p.  iv. ;  vol.  vii.  page  3-5  ; 
Bibliographical  Decameron,  vol.  i.  page  190, 194  3  and  Bibliographical 
Tour,  vol.  ii.  p.  296-8 ;  iii.  page  142,  228,  304,  493.   Here  are  chro- 
nicles of  editions  of  2Esop  (many  of  them  containing  fac-similes  of 
cuts)  with  a  vengeance  !    Upon  the  whole,  I  should  say  that  Cax- 
ton's  edition  (Typog  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  208)  is  the  RAREST  of  all  those 
in  the  xvth  century.    His  Majesty's  copy  of  it  is  the  only  perfect  one 
known.     That  copy  is  large,  fine,  and  perfect ;  and  was  given  to 
the  late  King  by  a  Mr.  Hewett  of  Ipswich.  Next  to  his  impression,  a 
perfect  and  fine  copy  of  that  printed  at  Ulm,  by  John  Zainer,  (as  in- 
timated in  the  text)  in  the  Latin  and  German  languages,  is  perhaps 
the  rarest.     See  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  i.  page  239.     Messrs.  Payne  and 
Foss  mark  a  copy  of  it,  wanting  six  leaves,  at  lol.  10s.    I  apprehend 
however  that  it  may  be  disputed  whether  the  SPANISH  edition,  printed 
at  Tholosa,  1489,  4to.  and  not  mentioned  by  any  Bibliographer,  be 
not  much  the  rarer  ?   Lord  Spencer  possesses  this  covetable  volume, 
which  was  obtained  by  Mr.  J.  Payne  at  Venice.     A  perfect  and  fine 
copy  of  the  EDITIO  PRINCEPS,  in  Greek  and  Latin,  without  date, 
4to.  may  be  worth  twelve  guineas.     But  the  best  Greek  and  Latin 
edition  is  that  of  De  Furia,  Lips.  1810,  8vo.  worth  about  15s.  in  neat 
binding.     The  pretty  little  edition  recently  printed  by  Mr.  Whitting- 
ham,   (the  ELZEVIR   of  modern  times,)    merits  a  morocco  coating  j 
if  the  impressions  of  the  wood-cuts  be  clear  and  distinct  throughout. 
It  would  be  a  species  of  scandalum  magnatum  to  depreciate  any  pro- 
duction connected  with  the  name  of  BEWICK  ;  but  I  will  fearlessly 
and  honestly  avow,  that  his  JEsop  disappointed  me  -,    the  more  so, 
as  his  Birds  and  Beasts  are  volumes,  perfectly  classical  of  their  kind. 
I  appeal  to  my  tasteful  friend  PALMERIN,  if  this  canon  be  not  ortho- 
dox r     Or,   why  coats  he  the  Birds  and  Beasts  in  damson-coloured 
morocco,  and  leaves  the  &sop  in  a  calf-skin  covering  > 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  577 

thinks  how  he  dearly  loved  in  his  boyish  days  to  read 
the  supposed  adventures,  the  wily  tricks,  and  the  arch 
sayings,  of  all  the  Animals  introduced  into  this  in- 
structive volume  :  and  as  his  knowledge  expands, 
and  his  taste  becomes  matured,  he  spares  no  trouble, 
nor  sticks  at  any  cost,  to  become  the  possessor  of  most 
of  those  impressions  which  are  distinguished  for  rarity, 
or  price,  or  curious  and  costly  embellishments.  From 
the  bizarre  wooden  cuts  of  Caxton,  or  the  more  cor- 
rect and  spirited  ones  of  John  Zeiner  —  running 
through  the  almost  countless  impressions  from  the 
Italian  presses,  down  to  the  latest  productions  of  Be- 
wick and  Whittingham  —  he  toils,  from  morning  till 
night,  and  from  year  to  year,  in  the  pleasurable  and 
interminable  pursuit  of  an  -^SOPIAN  COLLECTION  ! 

But  of  all  the  philologists  of  ancient  Greece,  ATHE- 
N^EUS  is  probably  the  most  amusing  and  instructive ; 
and  there  is  hardly  any  work,  of  which  the  incomplete 
state  in  which  it  is  left,  is  more  to  be  regretted,  than 
the  Deipnosopkistce  ("  The  Banquet  of  Wise  Men')  of 
this  curious  philologist.  It  may  be  only  essential  to 
remark,  that  the  Jirst  edition  of  Athenaeus  was  put 
forth  by  Aldus  in  1514,  Gr.  folio ;  and  that  the  best  edi- 
tions are  those  by  Casaubon  and  Schweighceuser.* 

*  Of  the  particulars  relating  to  a  perfect  copy  of  the  Editio  JPrin- 
cepsj  consult  the  BibL  Spencer,  vol.  i.  page  265.  A  good  copy  of  it 
rarely  turns  up  for  sale ;  but  I  never  heard  of  it  either  on  vellum,  or 
on  thick  paper;  although  a  thoroughly  clean  and  crackling  copy,  a  la 
Grolier,  might  produce  the  sura  of  161.  16s.  Of  Casaubon' s  edition,  of 
which  the  best  is  that  of  Lyons,  1657 >  folio,  2  vols.  in  one,  I  find  a 
"  fine  copy,  in  old  gilt  morocco/'  marked  at  41.  14s.  6d.  in  the  cata- 
logue of  Messrs  Payne  and  Foss  :  but  it  is  the  edition  of  Schweig- 
h&user,  Urgent.  1801,  &c.  8vo.  9  vols.  that  the  CLASSICAL  "  Young 
Man"  must  make  a  point  of  possessing  }  and  if  he  run  riot  in  his 

P   P 


578  PHILOLOGY 

I  now  come  to  the  more  ancient  and  popular  philo- 
logical writers  of  the  Roman  Period :  beseeching  the 
forgiveness  of  the  reader  for  the  omission  of  such  of 
the  Grecian  as  happen  to  be  his  particular  favourites. 
And  first,  of  the  greatest  of  all  the  great  men  about  to 
be  enumerated:  MARCUS  TULLIUS  CICERO:*  at  once  an 

affections  for  fine  or  large  paper  copies  of  it,  he  may  e'en  purchase  one, 
uncut,  and  half  bound  in  russia,  for  81.  18s.  6d.,  in  14  vols. :  — from 
the  catalogue  of  Mr.  Bohn,  no.  309. 

In  the  conversation  which  I  had  with  the  venerable  and  learned  Edi- 
tor, at  Strasbourg,  and  which  is  in  part  related  in  the  Bibliographical, 
Antiquarian,  and  Picturesque  Tour,  vol.  iii.  p.  1 10,  &c.,  I  took  occasion 
to  observe  upon  the  popularity  of  his  edition  of  Athenaeus,  and  how 
ably  and  highly  it  had  been  noticed  in  the  Edinb.  Review,  vol.  iii.  page 
181.  The  learned  Editor  assured  me  that  he  was  not  only  sensible 
of  the  good  opinion  of  the  English — who  were  perhaps,  on  the  whole, 
the  best  living  Greek  scholars  in  Europe — but  of  the  judgment  pro- 
nounced on  his  labours  by  the  critical  Journal  in  question.  He  then- 
assured  me  that  the  execution  of  THIS  editorial  task  was  the  most  dif- 
ficult which  he  had  ever  accomplished. 

*  As  to  the  entire  works  of  CICERO,  I  am  well  aware  how  equally 
injudicious  and  fruitless  it  would  be  to  recommend  any  edition  in  pre- 
ference to  that  of  OLIVET,  published  at  Paris,  in  1740,  4to.  in  9  vols. 
But  what  does  my  ardent  f(  Young  Man  "  think  of  a  copy  of  this 
edition,  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  in  an  uncut  state  ?  Such  a  treasure 
adorns  the  shelves  of  the  unrivalled  library  at  Blickling.*  The  bind- 


*  "  Unrivalled"  as  to  internal  characteristic  architecture, which  is  of  the  ge 
nuiue  period  of  the  erection  of  the  House,  in  1619.  This  library  measures  120  feet 
in  length,  with  a  lofty  cieling  divided  into  countless  compartments,  containing 
drolleries  and  oddities,  in  low  relief,  covered  with  ruthless  whitewash.  The  library 
was  formed  by  Maittaire,  for  Sir  Richard  Ellys,  Bart,  to  whom  he  dedicated  his 
Anacreou  of  1725.  At  the  mention  of  this  interesting  room — which  is  under  the 
care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Churchill,  librarian,  and  chaplain  to  the  Dowager  Lady  Suf- 
field,  a  descendant  of  the  Hobart  family— I  cannot  refrain  from  indulging  in  one 
minute's  delightful  recollection  of  the  morning,  passed  within  its  precincts,  when,  in 
company  with  Atticus,  and  Marcus,  and  Petronius,  we  revelled  and  rioted  midst 
strange  Greek  MSS.  and  quaint  printed  tomes :  a  morning,  followed  up  by  a  hos- 
pitable carousal  at  the  Tusculum  of  Mr.  Churchill— succeeded  by  a  night,  when  we 
slept  within  the  sound  of  the  roaring  surges  at  Cromer.  Here  we  were  joined  by 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES. 

orator,  a  philosopher,  and  Epistolographer — and,  with 
such  properties  combined,  classed  with  perfect  pro- 
ing  is  plain  and  simple  to  a  degree  :  between  a  sort  of  red  basil  back, 
with  blue  paper  sides  .  .  .  and  .  .  yet  I  would  almost  interdict  the  use 
of  Charles  Lewis's  tools  upon  such  a  unique  subject,  in  every  respect. 
The  legitimate  size  of  this  uncut  treasure  will,  I  fear>  render  the 
bound  copies,  by  Padaloup  and  De  Rome,  much  shorter  than  they 
ought  to  have  been.  The  edition  of  Olivet  was  reprinted  at  Geneva 
in  1758,  in  nine  quarto  volumes,  of  which  a  fine  good  copy  may  be 
Worth  61.  16s.  6d.  It  was  again  reprinted,  at  Oxford,  in  1783,  in  ten  j 
quarto  volumes ;  and  the  story  attached  to  this  reprint  is  whimsical 
enough.  Though  each  volume  contained  ' '  Various  Readings"  from 
twenty-nine  MSS.  collated  by  Hearne,  from  several  libraries  in 
the  University  of  Oxford,  and  from  two  MSS .  in  the  library  of  York 
Cathedral  recently  collated — and  though  the  tenth  volume  contained 
the  useful  "  Clavis  Ernestiana, "  and  the  whole  had  been  long  pro- 
nounced to  be  a  handsome  and  useful  edition-— yet,  strange  to  tell,  no 
body  bought  the  book !  Hundreds  of  copies  covered,  and  nearly 
weighed  down,  the  shelves  of  the  warehouse  of  the  Clarendon  Press  j 
when,  at  length,  the  signal  was  given  that  these  books  might  be  pur- 
chased at  thirty  shillings  a  copy :  confining  the  purchase,  as  much  as 
possible,  to  Members  of  the  University  of  Oxford.  Within  ' '  a  little 
month,"  every  copy  put  on  wings  and  flew  away.  And  now  .  .  it  is 
doubtful  whether  51.  5s.  can  procure  one*  But  Mr.  Parker,  the  lead* 
ing  Bibliopole  of  Oxford,  is  as  merciful  as  he  is  liberal* 

In  regard  to  other  critical  editions  of  the  entire  works  of  Cicero^ 
get,  if  you  can,  such  a  copy  of  the  Elzevir  edition  of  1642,  12mo.  ten 
vols.  as  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  at  this  moment  possess.  It  was 
Colbert's,  is  bound  in  red  morocco,  and  marked  at  71.  Is.  I  have  how- 
ever seen  a  whiter  copy,  and  of  ampler  marginal  latitude.  Five  gui- 
neas can  procure  an  excellent  copy  of  this  edition,  unless  it  happen  to 
be  in  an  uncut  state — and  that,  I  believe,  is  unprocurable,  if  not  a  non- 
entity. Does  the  cabinet  at  Hendon  possess  it  1  But  I  know  not 


PROSPERO — but  all  this  is  matter  of  foreign  import.  Only  it  is  pleasant  to  let  such 
sunny  spots,  in  the  landscape  of  life>  find  a  brief  chronicle  in  an  unassuming  sub- 
note.  There  are  those  who  might  consolidate  the  events,  which  took  place  on  that 
memorable  day,  into  a  sort  of  Novella:  of  which  thirty-one  copies  (the  Roxburghe- 
Club  number)  might  be  struck  off! 


580  PHILOLOGY 

priety  in  the  present  department  of  a  library.  The 
preceding  note  relates  chiefly  to  the  more  popular 
editions  of  the  collected  ivorks  of  this  great  man ;  since 
any  thing  like  a  detail  of  them,  in  their  separately  pub- 
lished forms,  would  scarcely  have  any  reasonable 
limits.  Next  to  Cicero,  I  venture  upon  SENECA,  and 
dismiss  the  best  editions  of  his  works  in  the  subjoined 
note.*  Of  BOETIUS,  APULEIUS,  AULUS  GELLIUS,  the 
YOUNGER  PLINY,  PETRONIUS  ARBITER,  and  QUIN- 
TILIAN,  the  account  must  be  necessarily  brief ;  and,  as 
such,  I  trust  that  the  materials  of  the  accompanying 
note  will  be  found  sufficiently  sat  is  factory,  f 

whether  the  Glasgow  edition,  by  Foulis,  in  1749,  12mo.  2O  vols.  be 
not  a  yet  more  recommendable  impression  ?  A  good  copy  of  it  is 
worth  5Z.  5s.  Ernesti's  edition  of  1774  has  been  well  reprinted  at 
Oxford  in  1810,  in  eight  vols.  8vo.  This  is  perhaps  the  best  of  all  the 
critical  editions  of  Cicero  j  and  yet  who  can  refuse  31.  13s.  6d.  for  a 
well  bound  copy  of  the  accurately  printed  edition  of  Lallemand  at 
Paris,  1768,  in  12  duodecimo  tomes? 

*  They  may  indeed  be  briefly  dismissed.  A  good  copy  of  the  Va- 
riorum edition  of  1672,  8vo.  3  vols— printed  by  the  Elzevirs,  and  by 
far  the  best  of  the  octavo  impressions— is  worth  31.  13s.  6d. :  but  if 
you  want  to  be  deeply  versed  in  the  supposed  Tragedies  of  this  same 
writer,  carry  home,  beneath  your  arm,  the  ample  quarto  of  Schroeder, 
published  at  Delft,  in  1728  j  which  you  may  get  in  the  best  condi- 
tion for  II.  11s.  6d. 

f  I  am  not  sure  that  it  will  be  found  sufficiently  satisfactory ;  but  I 
will  "  do  my  best  endeavour.''  Of  BOETIUS,  it  seems  now  deter- 
mined that  the  Edit.  Prin.  is  that  printed  by  Hans  Glim,  without 
date,  and  of  which  I  know  of  no  other  copy  but  the  one  described  in 
the  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  ii.  p.  78.  The  Koburger  of  1473,  once  so  rare, 
may  be  now  obtained  for  some  10Z.  For  the  best  edition,  procure 
the  Variorum  of  1671,  8vo.  for  about  15s. :  nor  is  the  philosophy  of 
Boetius  so  exquisite,  that  you  need  distract  yourself  about  the  choice 
of  copies  of  this  edition  displayed  in  the  copiously  stored  catalogue 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  581 

I  retrace  my  steps  in  the  pursuit  of  ENGLISH  PHI- 
LOLOGY ;  having  dispatched  the  earlier  and  more  im- 

of  Mr.  Bohn,  no.  377.  The  first  edition  of  APULEIUS  was  printed  in 
1469 ;  and  a  fine  copy  of  it  (very  rare  to  possess)  may  be  yet  worth 
3 IL  10s.  I  have  seen  several  copies,  but  none  which  comes  within 
many  degrees  of  that  in  the  public  library  of  Cambridge — which  my 
ms.  memorandum,  "  made  on  the  spot,"  describes  as  being  "  large, 
white,  crackling,  and  scarcely  cut.''  It  is  in  truth  a  noble,  and  per- 
haps matchless,  volume.  But  1  have  seen  it,  at  Vienna,  UPON  VEL- 
LUM, unique  !  Tour,  vol.  iii.  p.  493.  For  the  best  critical  edition 
of  the  Metamorphoses,  procure  that  of  Priceeus,  Goudce,  1750,  8vo. 
worth  11.  Is  :  and  of  the  entire  works,  that  of  Oudendorp  and  Rhun- 
ken,  Leida,  1786,  and  now  completed  in  3  vols.  4to.  by  the  addition 
of  two  volumes  which  were  published  at  the  end  of  last  year.  Price 
about  4L  14s.  6d.  A  yet  more  popular  philologist  than  Apuleius,  is 
AULUS  GELLIUS  j  the  first  edition  of  whose  works  was  also  published 
in  1469.  Of  this  I  have  also  seen  a  copy  UPON  VELLUM  —  of  a  size 
and  condition,  such  as  to  repay  a  passage  across  the  Alps,  in  mid- 
winter, to  inspect  it.  These  two  vellum  treasures  were  once  the  pro- 
perty of  the  famous  Cardinal  Bessarion,  one  of  the  patrons  of  the 
printers  -y  and  appear  to  have  been  but  recently  in  the  imperial  Col- 
lection at  Vienna.  Ibid  In  regard  to  critical  editions,  purchase  the 
Variorum  of  1666,  worth  somewhere  about  16s.,  or  the  bulkier  lucu- 
brations of  Gronovius,  1706,  4to.  worth  ll.  10s.  :  but  if  you  are  fas- 
tidious in  bindings,  as  well  as  condition,  content  yourself  with  the 
impression  of  Conradus/in  two  octavo  volumes,  Lips.  1762,  of  which 
you  may  procure  a  copy  "  in  prize  vellum"  for  ll.  6s.  from  the  cata. 
logue  of  Mr.  Bohn,  no.  338,  part  i.  But  the  Delphin  quarto,  1681, 
seems  to  be  the  most  expensive  of  all  these  critical  editions.  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss  elevate  it  to  the  price  of  2Z.  12s.  6d.  I  know  it  to 
be  a  rare  book. 

Of  the  YOUNGER  PLINY,  I  will  speak  only  of  his  EPISTLES  \  for 
who  can  trust  to  the  sincerity  of  his  Panegyric  of  Trajan  ?  Respect- 
ing the  Editio  Princeps  of  the  Epistles,  of  which  Vindelin  de  Spira 
was  in  all  probability  the  printer,  consult  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol. 
ii.  p.  264-5.  A  fine  copy  of  this  book  is  of  uncommon  occurrence  : 
but  of  yet  more  uncommon  occurrence  is  the  dateless  impression  sup- 
posed to  be  printed  by  Schurener  de  Bopardia  :  see  Cat.  of  the  Cat- 


582  PHILOLOGY 

portant  grammarians.  The  greater  number  of  my 
readers  will  be  probably  surprised  at  the  introduction 

sano  Library,  p.  92  :  being  a  Supplement  to  the  Bibl.  Spencer.  Of 
critical  editions,  treasure  highly  Jihe  much  lauded  Variorum  of  1669, 
Lug.  Bat.  8vo.  I  once  saw  it  in  afc  UNCUT  state  ;  and  I  think  this  very 
copy  afterwards  travelled  as  fat  as  the  vicarage  of  Hendon,  where  it  is 
now  cased  in  the  rich,  rough -grained,  morocco  of  C.  Lewis.  But  the 
labours  of  Longolius,  Am&t.  1734, 4to.  are  the  mine  in  which  the  critical 
student  must  dig,  respecting  the  Epistles  of  the  Younger  Pliny :  and 
with  this  well  filled  quarto  volume,  get  another  similar  one  of  the 
Panegyric  by  Schwaz,  published  at  Nuremberg  in  1746,  4to.  Both 
together  may  be  worth  31.  3s.  But  for  the  summer  alcove,  let  the 
late  Mr.  Homer's  edition  of  the  Epistles,  1790,  8vo.  (so  elegantly 
and  so  correctly  put  forth)  find  a  ready  admittance  $  and  if  bound  in 
green  morocco,  so  much  the  better.  As  the  first  edition  of  PETRO- 
NIUS  ARBITER  is  found  at  the  end  of  that  of  the  Panegyric  of  Trajan, 
I  must  counsel  my  "  young  man  "  (but  not  unless  his  purse  be  well 
garnished)  to  make  an  effort  to  secure  a  good  copy  of  that  scarce 
book^put  forth  in  1476— and  fully  described  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer. 
vol.  ii.  p.  267.  For  critical  editions,  content  yourself  with  the  Vari- 
orum of  1669,  8vo.  worth  II.  Is.  in  beautiful  condition ;  with  the  ela-. 
borate  quarto  of  Burman,  1743,  Amst.  worth  about  I/.  10s.;  and  per- 
haps, as  good  as  either,  with  the  Leipsic  edition  of  1781 ,  8vo.  by 
Antonius ;  of  which  a  fair,  good  copy  may  be  obtained  for  10s.  6d. 

The  Oratorical  Institutes  of  QUINTILIAN  deserve  every  attention 
from  every  class  of  students.  They  are  3,  branch  of  philology  of  the 
purest  and  most  instructive  description;  and  therefore  I  am  dis- 
posed to  <f  whet  the  blunted  purpose  "  of  the  most  timid  and  hesita- 
ting, to  "  stick  (like  John  Bagford — see  p.  569  note,  ante)  at  no  price" 
for  such  a  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  this  work — printed  by  I.  P.  de 
Lignamine,  Roma,  in  via  prope  sanctum  Marcum,  1470,  folio  —-  as  is 
described  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  305,  and  which  I  should  pro- 
pounce  to  be  worth  thirty  guineas  at  the  least.  Note :  another  edition 
of  the  same  date  was  printed  by  Sweynheym  and  Pannartz;  of  which  a 
fine  copy  may  be  worth  two  thirds  of  the  preceding  sum.  Consult  the 
shoal  of  authorities  referred  to  in  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  ii. 
p.  184.  And  now  for  critical  editions.  Mr.  Bohn  pushes  forward  a 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  583 

of  some  miscellaneous  works,  in  the  more  ancient 
department  of  our  philology,  for  which  I  find  no  place 
elsewhere,  but  which  may  be  rather  introduced  awk- 
wardly, than  wholly  omitted.  I  allude  to  that  mar- 
vellous compound  of  weakness  and  wisdom,  of  gossip- 
ping  and  instruction,  called  BARTHOLOM^EUS,  De  Pro- 
prietatibus  Rerum ;  put  forth  at  the  close  of  the 
fifteenth  century  in  one  of  the  most  splendid  typogra- 
phical productions  of  the  early  British  press.  *  And 

grenadier  copy  of  the  Variorum  of  1665,  8vo.  "  new,  in  vellum,"  to 
the  tune  of  2Z.  105.  What  would  the  sum  have  been,  had  the  coat- 
ing been  "  prize  vellum  "  ?  !  I  should  say  that  a  good  copy  might 
be  worth  ll.  Us.  6d.  But  is  it  so  scarce  ?  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
mark  it,  <(  very  neat,  "  in  2  vols.  at  2Z.  25.  It  is  said  that  old  Peter 
Burman  has  plunged  the  critical  spade  deepest  into  the  treasures 
of  this  author.  His  edition  appeared  in  1720,  at  Leyden,  in  2  vols. 
4to.  and  may  be  worth  31.  13s.  6d.  in  good  condition.  I  find  a  LARGE 
PAPER  copy  of  it,  in  French  calf,  marked  at  ll.  7s.  in  the  catalogue 
of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss.  Yet  is  Gesner's  edition  of  1738  a  very 
admirable  and  useful  one  :  worth  about  1 Z.  ]  Os.  But  Spalding's  recent 
edition  (comprehending,  like  all  the  critical  editions  here  noticed,  the 
entire  works  of  Quintilian)  published  in  1796-1816,  in  4  octavo  vo- 
lumes, at  about  2Z.  2s.  in  bds.  may  satisfy  every  reasonable  object  in 
the  acquisition  of  the  leading  impressions  of  Quintilian.  And  thus 
much  (or  probably,  as  the  severe  reader  may  think,  thus  little)  for 
ROMAN  PHILOLOGY. 

*  Consult  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  310-321  for  the  most  copious 
account  extant  of  this  extraordinary  volume,  executed  in  the  printing 
office  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  without  date.  Of  its  intrinsic  value, 
Mr.  Douce,  in  his  Illustrations  of  Shakspeare,  has  given  us  several 
very  curious  demonstrations.  'Tis  a  volume  to  be  placed  among  the 
lounging  tomes  of  an  Antiquary :  to  be  conned  in  dull  moments  of 
ennui,  of  winter's  evenings.  Of  all  the  copies  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's 
very  fine  and  rare  impression,  that  of  the  Right  Hon.  T.  Grenville 
(obtained  from  the  sale  of  Mr.  Watson  Taylor's  library  for  thirty-five 
guineas)  is  by  much  the  most  genuine,  perfect,  and  superb.  It  is 


584  PHILOLOGY 

here,  however  disjointedly  put  together,  let  liberty  be 
granted  me  to  notice,  with  becoming  respect,  those 
singularly  curious  prose  works  called  Reynard  the 
Fox,  Alain  Chart ier,  and  the  Greater  and  Lesser 
Cato :  *  the  two  latter,  sufficiently  dry  and  uninviting 
of  perusal ;  but  strictly  and  doggedly  philological. 

now  cased  in  the  appropriate  red  morocco  of  Charles  Lewis.  Next 
to  this  copy,  are  those  of  Earl  Spencer  and  Mr.  Heber.  It  must  be 
a  rarissima  avis  — a  very  OEM  —  in  an  uncut  state  !  It  was  reprinted 
by  Berthelet  in  1535,  folio,  which  is  comparatively  a  common  book,  t 
and  not  worth  more  than  31.  13s.  6d.  With  Bartholomaeus,  you 
must  have  his  Commentator,  Stephen  Batman ;  whose  folio  volume 
of  dull  annotations  came  forth  in  1582.  It  is  however  by  no  means 
a  common  book  in  fine  condition.  Consult  the  British  Bibliographer, 
vol.  iv.  p.  107,  for  some  account  of  a  beautiful  MS.  of  Bartholo- 
maeus, and  respecting  its  version  by  John  de  Trevisa. 

*  I  suspect  Caxton's  edition  of  REYNARD  THE  Fox  to  be  among 
the  most  intrinsically  curious,  as  well  as  rarest,  of  the  English  im- 
pressions of  this  extraordinary  work.  At  present,  I  know  of  no  copies 
of  it  but  those  in  the  libraries  of  His  Majesty  and  Earl  Spencer.  They 
have  both,  a  little  beyond  the  middle  of  the  book,  a  half  leaf,  printed 
only  on  one  side.  Pynson  reprinted  it  in  folio,  and  Mr.  Douce  pos- 
sesses the  only  copy  of  it  (unluckily  imperfect)  which  is  known.  See 
Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  364  j  ii.  525.  I  might  fearlessly  value  Caxton's 


f  Mr.  Haslewood,  in  despair  of  ever  caressing  the  first  English  edition  (by  de 
Worde)  of  Bartholomaeus,  contents  himself  with  Berthelet's  reprint,  in  his  ex- 
tracts in  the  Censura  Liter  aria,  vol.  x.  p.  154-248.  The  first  extract,  relating  to 
fishes,  might  have  warmed  the  heart,  or  fired  the  fancy,  of  honest  ISAAC  WALTON. 
We  are  there  told  that "  Some  sea  fish  ben  good ;  for  those  that  ben  subtle  be  best, 
and  ben  nourished  in  the  deep  sea  and  no  where  else  .  .  &c. . .  "  and  so  SEA  FISH  is 
BETTER  THAN  RIVER  FISH."  The  maxim,  however, — and  a  staunch  orthodox  one 
it  is — is  taken  from  good  old  Avicenna.  It  will  doubtless  be  opposed  by  those 
who  swear  by  \Valton,  and  especially  by  the  late  exquisite  edition  of  him  by  Mr. 
Major  ;  yet  who,  in  his  senses,  would  surrender  the  Dutch  turbot,  or  Dungeness 
sole,  for  the  Dove  Dale  grayling  or  Winchester  trout  ?  But  here  Mr.  Major  whis- 
pers in  my  ear—"  you  forget  my  salmon  !"  I  do— and  yield,  vanquished ;  "  vicisti, 
tuaest."  .  . . 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  585 

No  English  literary  antiquary  can  have  read  much 
of  the  earlier  half  of  the  sixteenth  century,  without 
being  struck  with  the  names  of  SIR  THOMAS  MORE, 
SIR  THOMAS  ELYOT,  SIR  ANTHONY  FITZHERBERT,  SIR 
THOMAS  WILSON,  ROGER  ASCHAM,  and  WILLIAM 
THOMAS  ;  *  and  if  the  voluminous  matter,  which  em- 
edition,  in  a  perfect  state,  at  200  guineas.  ALAIN  CHARTIER  is  among 
the  very  few  philologists  printed  by  Caxton,  Lord  Spencer's  copy 
(Bill.  Spencer,  vol.  iv.  page  331)  wants  the  first  of  the  six  leaves,  of 
which  a  perfect  copy  consists.  His  Majesty's  copy  is  perfect.  As  for 
the  BOOK  CALLED  CATHON,  dullness  can  hardly  be  heavier  than  are 
the  pages  of  its  text  —  among  the  commonest  of  Caxton's  pieces. 
The  authorities  referred  to  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  iv.  p.  263,  will 
satisfy  the  curious  about  all  particulars  connected  with  this  volume. 
The  Little  Cato  is,  in  truth,  a  poetical  (or  rather  a  rhythmical)  pro- 
duction ;  yet,  for  the  sake  of  juxta-position,  it  may  be  mentioned  in 
this  place.  Its  rarity  is  excessive  j  and  I  question  if,  in  the  present 
raging  times  for  old  English  poetry,  a  copy  of  it  could  be  procured 
under  the  sum  of  150  guineas.  It  consists  of  only  26  leaves.  See 
the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  iv.  p.  264.  I  know  of  no  other  copy  of  it  but 
that  in  the  library  of  St.  John's  College,  Oxford. 

*  In  the  frightful  quantity  of  trash  which  disfigures  the  literary,  or 
rather  the  pseudo-literary,  history  of  the  first  half  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  it  is  truly  refreshing  and  grateful  to  alight  upon  the  lucu- 
brations of  such  men  as  are  above  mentioned.  And  first,  of  SIR 
THOMAS  ELYOT  5  "  who  was  ever  (as  he  himself  observes,  in  one  of 
his  justificatory  pieces  to  Sir  T.  Cromwell)  desirous  to  read  many 
books,  especially  concerning  humanity  and  moral  philosophy."  He  is 
known  to  posterity  chiefly  by  the  following  works :  although  it  is 
infinitely  to  be  regretted  that,  of  his  correspondence  with  his  friend 
Sir  Thomas  More,  not  one  single  letter,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge, 
is  preserved.  1.  The  Boke  named  the  Governor,  first  printed  in  ]531, 
8vo.  See  the  authorities  in  favour  of  this  work  as  quoted  by  Mr. 
Chalmers,  in  his  Biographical  Dictionary,  vol.  xiii,  p.  177,  &c. :  and 
see  the  reasons  for  its  publication,  as  noticed  by  the  author  himself, 
in  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  ii.  p.  225.  It  is  perhaps  the  most 


596  PHILOLOGY 

braces  the  history  of  our  Typography  during  the  first 
half  of  the  sixteenth  century,  be  carefully  looked  into, 

popular  of  all  the  works  of  Sir  Thomas.  Mr.  Heber  possesses  a 
copy  of  this  first  edition,  so  frequently  reprinted  :  see  the  Typ.  Antiq. 
vol.  in.  p.  277.  I  should  unhesitatingly  pronounce  a  good  copy  of 
it  to  be  worth  fifteen  or  twenty  shillings.  2.  The  Dictionary ;  Lat. 
%  Engl.  1538,  folio.  First  edition  :  it  has  an  interesting  dedication 
to  Henry  VIII. :  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  300.  Mr.  Heber  possesses  a 
copy  of  it  j  which,  in  fine  condition,  is  always  a  treasure  of  its  kind, 
and  worth,  as  I  conjecture,  a  couple  of  sovereigns.  It  was  reprinted 
in  1545,  1552,  and  1559  5  each  in  folio.  3.  The  Castle  of  Health, 
[1537]  8vo.  Sir  Thomas  was  involved  in  quarrels,  if  not  difficulties, 
by  this  publication  $  as  entering  on  a  province  for  which  he  was  sup- 
posed not  to  have  the  proper  qualification.  Mr.  Chalmers  has  given 
the  pith  of  this  affair.  I  have  read  this  work,  and  it  is  rather  of  a 
curious  than  popular  cast  of  character.  4.  The  Image  of  Governance, 
1 540,  4to. :  a  wise,  solid,  and  instructive  performance.  In  the  pre- 
face, Sir  Thomas  gives  a  list  of  his  previous  publications :  see  Typ. 
Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  313.  Mr.  Heber  possesses  a  copy  of  this  first  edi- 
tion. 5.  The  Doctrinal  of  Princes,  8vo.  without  date.  Mr.  Heber 
possesses  a  beautiful  copy  of  this  first  edition.  6.  Education  of  Chil- 
dren, 1536,  4to.  Typ,  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  349.  Besides  these,  are  his 
Banquet  of  Sapience,  Knowledge  which  maketh  a  wise  man,  Defence  of 
Good  Women,  The  little  Pasquil,  (unknown),  &c.  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  viii. 
p.  251 3  Brit.  Bibliogr.  vol.  ii.  pp.  225,  229,  230,  231 :  vol.iv.p.  149. 
Retrosp.  Review,  vol.  iv.  p.  381.  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  33O.  ELYOTE 
is  quoted  by  the  antiquary,  the  lawyer,  and  the  philologist.  His 
printer  was  Berthelet :  but  did  he  ever  persuade  "  master  William 
Tildisley,  keeper  of  his  Grace's  [Henry  VIII's]  library,"  to  print  a 
catalogue  of  his  royal  Master's  books  in  the  office  of  the  same  printer  ? 
Would  that  he  had ! 

Having,  in  the  edition  of  the  Utopia,  published  by  me  in  1808, 
vol.  i.  p.  xxxix,  given  a  complete  list  of  the  pieces  which  constitute 
a  perfect  copy  of  SIB  THOMAS  MORE'S  works,  published  in  1557, 
folio,  I  refer  the  reader  to  that  catalogue,  as  well  as  to  a  curious 
extract  from  the  volume  itself,  at  p.  513,  ante.  I  may  here  only  fur- 
ther observe,  that  a  good  copy  of  this  very  rare  volume,  perfect  in  all 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES,  587 

it  will  be  found  that  there  is  very  little,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  works  of  which  these  distinguished  men 

respects,  is  worth  51.  5*.  It  is  in  the  libraries  of  most  of  our  collec- 
tors of  note.  ROGER  ASCHAM  will  be  chiefly,  and  most  honourably, 
known  to  the  latest  posterity,  by  his  Toxophilus  and  Schoolmaster ; 
the  former  was  printed  in  1544 — and  is  very  rare : — (see  an  excellent 
review  of  it  in  the  Retrospective,  vol.  i.  p.  76  :)  the  latter  in  1570,  and 
is  very  common :  the  Affairs  of  Germany  were  also  printed  in  1 57O ; 
and  all  these  works,  together  with  some  Letters  to  Queen  Elizabeth 
and  others*  first  published  from  original  MSS.  were  put  forth  by 
James  Bennet,  in  a  handsome  4to.  volume,  without  date :  but  some- 
where about  fifty  years  ago.  The  original  orthography  is  strictly  fol- 
lowed. The  preface  is  the  performance  of  Dr.  Johnson.  I  have  read 
this  quarto  volume  through,  and  some  portions  of  it  several  times 
over,  with  unfeigned  pleasure.  It  is  from  the  Schoolmaster  of 
Ascham,  that  we  are  put  in  possession  of  one  of  the  most  interesting 
anecdotes  in  the  world  relating  to  Lady  Jane  Grey :  so  often  and  often 
repeated,  that  it  were  tiresome  to  relate  it  anew.  Aschain  is  a  tho- 
rough bred  philologist,  and  of  the  purest  water,  I  should  add,  that 
Bennet's  collection  of  his  works  was  neatly  reprinted  in  a  small 
octavo  volume  in  1815  :  worth  ll.  Is.  in  goodly  binding.  Upton 
published  his  Schoolmaster  alone,  with  notes,  in  171 1>  8vo. :  which 
are  embodied  in  Bennet's  work.  J  have  unhesitatingly  ranked  As- 
cham among  my  more  illustrious  Bibliomaniacs:  see  Bibliomania, 
page  334. 

I  take  SIR  ANTHONY  FITZHERBERT  to  have  been  among  the  most 


*  Of  these  letters,  those  of  Ascham  to  his  fellow  Collegian,  Edward  Raven,  of  St. 
John's  Cambridge,  are  among  the  most  interesting.  The  conclusion  of  the  first  letter 
has  perfectly  an  apostolical  air  of  simplicity,  earnestness,  and  kind-heartedness. 
This  letter  was  written  at  Augsbourg,  during  the  visit  there  of  Charles  V. :  "  the 
Emperor  (says  Ascham)  drank  the  best  that  ever  I  saw .  he  had  his  head  in  the  glass 
five  times  as  long  as  any  of  us,  and  never  drank  less  than  a  good  quart  at  once  of 
Rhenish  wine.  His  chapel  sung  wonderful  cunningly  all  the  dinner  while."  But 
Ascham  himself  was  rather  fond  of  this  species  of  potation.  "  This  Rhenish 
wine  (says  he,  in  the  beginning  of  the  following  letter)  is  so  gentle  a  drink,  I 
cannot  tell  how  to  do  when  I  come  home" — "  without  it" — I  suppose  may  be  fairly 
added.  N.  B.  In  the  first  letter,  the  word  Tuccur  is  blunderingly  put  for  Fug- 
gers:  see  page  495,  ante. 


588  PHILOLOGY 

were  the  authors,  which  merits  to  be  placed  in  the 
department  of  which  we  are  treating. 

accomplished  characters  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived.  A  deep  and 
enlightened  lawyer,  there  is  scarcely  a  professional  student  but  what 
will  readily  admit  (see  Bridgman's  Legal  Bibliography)  his  obliga- 
tions to,  as  well  as  his  acquaintance  with,  his  Grand  Abridgment 
(1514,  folio)  Office  of  Justices  of  Peace,  (1538)  -Office  of  Sheriffs,  &c. 
1538,  Diversity  of  Courts  (1529)  and  New  Natura  Brevium.  How- 
ever, it  is  on  account  of  his  Books  of  Husbandry  and  Surveying — each 
in  4to. — and  published  in  1523 — that  Fitzherbert  ranks  here  among 
the  philologists  of  the  day.  A  particular  account  of  these  first,  and 
exceedingly  rare  editions,  will  be  found  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii. 
p.  503-6}  and  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  i.  p.  18-22  :  both  of  which 
accounts  are  taken  from  the  same  copies  —  namely,  those  which  are 
in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Heber.  It  is  delightful  to  contemplate  such 
a  man  as  Fitzherbert,  retiring,  in  seasons  of  rurality,  from  the  bustle 
and  oppression  of  law  business,  to  his  te  Sabine  farm  " — with  all  the 
relish  of  Virgil's  sentimental  husbandman  : 

Speluncae,  vivique  lacus,  &c. 

Mugitusque  bourn,  mollesque  sub  arbore  somni. 

to  compose  the  above  mentioned  agricultural  treatises.  Our  author 
"  appears  (says  Mr.  Chalmers)  to  have  been  the  FIRST  ENGLISHMAN 
who  studied  the  nature  of  soils,  and  the  laws  of  vegetation,  with  phi- 
losophical attention."  Biogr.  Diet.  vol.  xiv.  p.  336'. 

SIB  THOMAS  WILSON  is  worthy  of  the  phalanx  of  KNIGHTS  in 
which  he  is  here  embodied  j  and  will  be  long  remembered  as  a  phi- 
lologist, rather  than  as  a  statesman  or  divine.  His  slender  little  vo- 
lume, entitled  Epistola  de  vitd  et  obitu  duorum  fratrum  Suffolcien- 
sium,  Henrici  et  Caroli  Brandon,  1552,  4to.  is  a  volume  to  rack  the 
most  desperate  with  torture,  as  to  the  hopelessness  of  its  acquisition. 
The  Bodleian  Library  possesses  it ;  so  does  the  British  Museum  j  and 
so  does  Earl  Spencer.  Another  copy  is  not  known  to  me.  Wilson's 
Art  of  Logic,  1551,  8vo.  and  of  Rhetoric,  1553,  4to.  are  among  his 
best  performances — and  highly  commended  by  Tom  Warton.  Con- 
sult Chalmers's  interesting  article,  Biographical  Viet,  and  Typ.  Antiq. 
vol.  iii.  page  474  -,  vol.  xxxii.  page  1 73.  Wilson  was  also  among  our 
earliest  English  translators  from  the  Greek :  having  translated  Three 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  589 

After  Ascham  and  Wilson,  we  look  in  vain,  during 
the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  for  any  names 
equally  illustrious  in  the  annals  of  English  Philology; 
and,  towards  the  close  of  the  same  century,  we  find 
the  republic  of  literature  agitated  by  the  desperate 
conflicts  of  those  intellectual  gladiators,  who  mistook 
equivoque,  abuse,  and  impudence,  for  wit,  repartee, 
and  a  liberal  spirit  of  controversy.  A  passing  tribute 
of  respect  is  however  doubtless  due  to  ABRAHAM 
FRAUNCE,  who,  besides  being  the  author  of  several 
very  rare  and  not  incurious  pieces  of  poetry,*  put 

Orations  of  Demosthenes,  &c.  1570,  4to.  In  fact,  as  an  assistant  of 
Sir  Thomas  Walsingham,  one  would  be  glad  to  know  a  great  deal 
more  of  the  life  of  this  eminent  man  j  and  especially  to  get  at  the 
contents  of  some  of  his  correspondence. f  Does  it  enrich  the  cabinet 
of  Mr.  Upcott  ?  See  p.  552,  ante.  To  these  names,  let  me  quietly 
add  another — that  of  WILLIAM  THOMAS,  author  of  the  Italian  Gram- 
mar and  Dictionary,  1550,  4to.  and  a  History  of  Italy,  1556,  4to. : 
works,  both  of  them,  which  well  merit  to  be  cased  in  a  russia  coat- 
ing, if  in  good  condition. 

*  Among  the  rarest  and  most  curious  of  these  poetical  pieces — and 
to  be  mentioned  only  by  way  of  by-play,  —  is  Fraunce's  Countesse  of 
"  Pembroke's  Yuychurche,  containing  the  affectionate  life  and  unfortu- 
nate death  of  Phillis  and  Amyntas"  &c.  in  English  hexameters,  1591, 
4to.  The  first  and  second  parts  were  printed  for  William  Ponsonby  : 
the  third  for  Thomas  Woodcock,  by  Thomas  Orwin.  See  Herbert^ 
vol.  ii  p.  11 1 1 , 1247.  Herbert  appears  to  have  had  a  copy  of  each. 
A  copy  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Bindley's  books  for  25Z.  4s.  which 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Perry ;  at  the  sale  of  whose  library  Sir  M.  M. 
Sykes  obtained  it  for  2H.  10.  Mr.  William  Meredith  is  also  the  for- 
tunate possessor  of  a  copy. 

1 1  take  this  to  be  the  Wilson  thus  noticed  by  Roger  Ascham,  in  his  third  letter 
to  Edward  Raven.  "  I  trust  Will.  Taylor,  John  JBres,  and  Thomas  Wilson,  will  not 
be  behind.  I  pray  God  I  may  find  these  good  fellows  at  Cambridge;  for  there  is 
the  life  that  no  man  knows,  but  he  that  hath  sometimes  lacked  it;  and  especially 
if  one  be  able  to  live  plentifully  there." 


590  PHILOLOGY 

forth  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  instructive  volumes 
of  philology  with  which  I  am  acquainted ;  namely, 
the  Lawyer  s  Logike,  printed  in  1588,  4to.* 

*  In  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  ii.  p.  277-283,  there  is  an  ac- 
count of  this  rare  book,  together  with  a  notice  of  a  MS.  of  The  Shep- 
herd's Logic,  &c.  The  printed  volume,  to  be  complete,  should  con- 
tain 161  leaves.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  this  work  is  confined  to 
legal  knowledge,  or  logic  ;  for  it  abounds  with  extracts  from  ancient 
and  modern  poetry :  among  these,  is  a  te  verse  for  verse  "  English 
hexametrical  translation  of  the  Ilnd  Eclogue  of  Virgil : — thus  : 

Formosura  pastor  Corydon  ardebat  Alexin, 

Delicias  domini :  nee  quid  speraret  habebat. 
Seelly  shepheard  Corydon  lou'd  hartily  fairs  lad  Alexis, 
His  maisters  dear  ling,  but  saw  no  matter  of  hoping. 

I  have  known  copies  of  Fraunce's  Logic  bring  seven  and  eight  guineas, 
and  upwards  j  but,  among  those  which  I  have  seen,  not  one  equals 
the  beauty  of  that,  discovered  by  me,  some  five  years  ago,  in  an 
auncient  cupboard,  in  the  yet  more  auncient  mansion  of  Hardwicke— 
in  Derbyshire;  the  oldest  seat  belonging  to  his  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Devonshire.!  __ 

•f*  It  was  in  mid  winter  when  the  visit  to  this  old  mansion  took  place — as  a  sort  of 
episodical  variety  from  the  festivities  of  Chatsworth,  where  I  was  spending  a  few 
days  with  His  Grace.  Hardwicke  lies  about  fourteen  miles  beyond,  towards  Ches- 
terfield. What  a  contrast  it  was,  to  all  I  had  left  behind  me  ?  Silence,  gothic 
gloom,  uninhabited  chambers,  corridores,  and  galleries  !  The  vast  bay  and  auriol 
windows  of  the  larger-apartments,  without  a  curtain  drawn  across  them  since  the 
days  of  the  famous  Countess  of  Suffolk,  (1598)  the  founder  of  the  mansion.  The 
moon  appeared  at  her  full ;  and  her  light,  more  than  the  wax  flambeau  I  held  in 
my  hand,  helped  to  serve  me  in  my  peregrinations  (towards  midnight)  across  those 
spacious  and  singularly  characteristic  chambers.  Here  King  William  III.  held  a 
court,  out  of  compliment  to  the  first  Duke  of  Devonshire,  the  handsomest  man  of 
his  time,  and  who  had  been  the  most  active  of  William's  partisans  in  placing  him 
upon  his  throne.  A  magnificent  portrait  of  the  Duke,  on  horseback,  as  large  as 
life,  is  seen  above  the  mantle  piece  of  one  of  these  apartments ;  and  in  this  court- 
room stand  the  very  chairs  whereon  the  courtiers  and  attendants  on  King  William 
sat.  A  piece  of  tapestry  covers  the  door  way  which  connects  the  room  with  the 
great  gallery— 160  feet  in  length.  You  draw  this  tapestry  aside,  and  stand  amazed 
. .  as  you  look  to  the  right-  -down  this  very  gallery,  of  which  the  sides  are  covered 
with,  most  ancient  and  curious  portraits.  And  give  me  leave  to  add,  that,  at  such  a 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  591 

The  tribe  of  "  intellectual  gladiators,  "just  alluded 
to,  are  ROBERT  GREEN,  THOMAS  NASH,  GABRIEL 
HARVEY,  and  THOMAS  DEKKER.*  These  men  had  all 

*  A  pretty  little  instructive  bibliographical  volume  might  be  put 
forth,  respecting  the  works  —  with  choice  morsels  of  quotations 
therefrom  —  of  the  above  not  very  harmonious  quartetto.  Let 
ROBERT  GREENE  play  the  first  fiddle :  but  those,  who  wish  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  almost  endless  varieties  of  his  Concertos,  should 
examine  the  list  of  his  works  by  Mr.  Haslewood  in  the  Cens.  Literaria, 
vol.  viii.  page  380-391 :  and  if  you  want  a  specimen  from  his  Never 
too  late,  or  Farewell  to  Folly,  or  Pair  of  Turtle  Doves,  or  Planetoma- 
chia,  examine  pp.  7-16  :  133-14O  of  the  same  volume  j  or  the  British 
Bibliographer,  vol.  iv.  p.  159  :  210 :  338.  From  this  list,  it  appears 
that  there  are  not  fewer  than  forty-five  prosaical  or  metrical,  which 
are  acknowledged  to  be  the  legitimate  works  of  Greene  :  five  more 
are  added,  as  of  doubtful  authority.  But  among  the  legitimate  ones, 
the  FIRST  edition  of  the  Carde  of  Fancie  has  escaped  the  researches  of 
the  diligent  Chronicler.  Mr.Freelingf  possesses  a  most  extraordinary 
copy  of  it,  printed  in  1584  5  in  which  the  title  runs,  (e  Gwydonivs. 
The  Carde  of  Fancie."  The  dedications  to  "  Edward  deVere,  Earl  of 
Oxenford,"  and  to  the  "  Gentlemen  Readers  "  occupy,  with  the  title, 
three  leaves.  The  text,  seventy-eight  numbered  leaves.  The  reprint 


season,  in  such  a  place,  and  at  such  an  hour,  it  requires  something  almost  beyond 
mortal  courage  to  proceed  —  especially  if  the  moon  chance  to  "  stoop  her  head" 
'neath  a  succession  of  black  o'erspreading  clouds.  Mrs.  Ratcliffe  and  Sir  Walter 
Scott  might,  in  such  a  situation— but  is  not  this  ROMANCING  ?  True  nevertheless  it 
is,  that,  within  an  hour  of  such  nocturnal  perambulation,  a  clean  and  uncropt  copy  of 
the  Lawyer's  Logic,  by  Abraham  Fraunce,  together  with  sundry  slim  and  tiny  vo- 
lumes of  old  poetry,  each  and  all  clad  in  ancient  vellum  binding,  was  found  in  the 
aforesaid  cupboard,  within  the  aforesaid  mansion :  and  each  and  all  of  which  are 
now  coated  in  the  choicest  morocco  coverings  of  Charles  Lewis,  the  renowned 
Bibliopegist. 

t  The  same  gentleman  —  now  my  neighbour,  and  always  my  excellent  and 
tried,  good  friend— possesses  also  the  folio  wing  pieces  of  Greene,  in  most  comely  con- 
dition and  attire.  Euphues,  his  Censure  to  Philautus,  1634,4to.  Ciceronis  Amor. 
Tullies  Low,  1592, 4to.  Philomela,  the  Lady  Fitzwater's  Nightingale,  1615, 4to. 
Alcidat  Greene's  Metamorphoses,  1617, 4to.  Orpharion,  1599,  4to.  Mamilla,the 
Second  Part  of  the  Triumph  of  Pallas,  1593, 4to.  Pandosto  the  Triumph  of  Time, 
1619,  4to.  The  Spanish  Masquerade,  1589 :  fine  genuine  copy,  in  green  morocco. 


592 


PHILOLOGY 


lively  parts  ;  and  sometimes  attained  to  elegance,  and 
even  expression  and  pathos,  in  composition ;  but  their 


in  1593,  in  which  the  word  tf  Gwydonivs  "  is  omitted,  is  the  usually 
received  first  edition.  And  while  upon  the  "  Card  of  Fancy,"  suppose 
I  throw  out  "  a  card,"  connected  with  this  author,  which  shall  at 
least  delight  the  heart  of  all  thorough-bred  GREENITES.  It  is  this. 
In  a  lordly  mansion,  not  far  from  Warwick,  once  distinguished  by  the 
residence  of  the  noble  family  of  the  CONWAYS,  repose  sundry  precious 
MSS.  formerly  partly  examined  by  the  late  Horace  Walpole  j  but 
recently  more  carefully  examined  ;  and  of  the  recent  examination  of 
which,  the  fruits  are  about  to  be  given  to  the  world  in  a  most  accept- 
able form.  Well — among  these  said  MSS.  is  a  folio  sheet  of  paper, 
on  which  certain  Memoranda  are  inscribed— and  of  which  the  entries 
about  Greene's  pieces,  are  enough  to  make  the  heart  leap  from  the 
pericardium.  What  master  "  Henry  Seile  "  hath  charged,  to  the 
tune  of  ten  shillings,  would  now  be  at  least  worth  2000  shillings  : 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Conway.     May  21,  1638. 


1  Nosh's  Ha'  wee  you  to  Saffron  Walden 

1    Greene's  Arcadia. 

1  Farewell  to  Folly. 

1    Tullie's-Love. 

1  Lady  Fttzwater's  Nightingale 

1 

1 

1 


These  nine 
BooJces  were 
^•delivered  to     • 
your  Lordship 
at  xs. 


00     02     06 


OO     10       O 


Mamilia. 

Never  too  Late. 

Groatesworth  of  Wit. 
]  Mourning  Garment. 
1  Peers  pennylesse  supplicatio.  _ 
Those  who  wish  to  see,  and  to  take  warning  by,  the  last  end  of  such, 
who,  like  Greene,  have  perverted  the  talents  which  it  has  pleased 
heaven  to  grant  them,  may  consult  Mr.  D'Israeli's  Calamities  of 
Authors,  vol.  ii.  p.  \7>  note ;  p  235-6,  note.  Hogarth  never  depicted 
a  more  appalling  subject  upon  canvas,  than  Gabriel  Harvey,  and  even 
Greene  himself,  have  done  with  their  pens  :*  consult  the  Retrospective 


*  In  an  account  of  the  "  Alcida,  or  GREENES  METAMORPHOSES  (Brit.  Bibliog. 
vol.  iv.  p.  397)  Mr.  Haslewood  takes  occasion  to  become  the  apologist  of  Greene  ; 
praising  his  heart  at  the  expense  of  his  head.  But  this  is  aorry  logic,  if  not  danger- 
ous ethics .  The  truth  is,  Greene  was  a  sort  of  literary  Alsatian.  If  the  bulk  of 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  593 

liveliness  was  too  frequently  obscured  by  dull  con- 
ceits, coarse  imagery,  and  vituperative  declamation. 

Review,  vol.  ii.  p.  85  for  a  sympathising  notice  of  poor  Greene  :  see 
also  vol.  iii.  p.  110-114. 

As  to  TOM  NASH,  the  crony  of  Greene,  look  even  at  what  Dr. 
Watt  hath  written  of  the  list  of  his  pieces,  in  the  Bibl.  Britan.  col. 
695  :  and  yet  he  hath  omitted  to  make  mention  of  his  Terrors  of  the 
Night — that  exquisitely  rare  piece —printed  in  1594,  4to.j  of  which 
the  only  known  copy  is  in  the  library  of  the  Marquis  of  Stafford  :  see 
Todd's  Spenser,  vol.  i.  Ixxiv.*  Dr.  Wright,  whose  books  were  sold  in 
1787,  had  3  quarto  volumes  containing  twenty-one  pieces  of  Nash, 
which  were  sold  for  only  12Z.  15s.  Several  of  these  pieces  have  been 
reprinted.  The  next  to  the  preceding,  in  rarity  and  price,  is  his 
Tragedie  of  Dido,  1594,  written  conjointly  with  Kit  Marlowe,  of 
which  Steevens's  copy  was  sold  for  I?l.  His  Pierce  Penilesse,  Lenten 
Stuffe,  Have  with  you  to  Saffron  Walden,  and  Pappe  with  a  Hatchett, 
(here  are  titles  for  you,  gentle  reader  !)  are  the  most  popular  and 
generally  known  productions  of  Nash's  pen.  "  Nash  (says  Mr. 
D' Israeli)  was  a  great  favourite  with  the  wits  of  his  day.  One  calls 
him  "  our  true  English  Aretine;  "  another, te  sweet  satyric  Nash;"  a 
third  describes  his  muse  as  "  armed  with  a  gag  tooth,  and  his  pen 
possessed  of  Hercules'  furies."  He  is  well  characterised  in  the  "  Re- 
turn from  Parnassus  -t  " 

His  style  was  witty,  tho'  he  had  some  gall ; 
Something  he  might  have  mended,  so  may  all ! 
Yet  this  I  say,  that  for  a  mother's  wit, 
Few  men  have  ever  seen  the  like  of  it. 

Nash  abounds  with  <f  mother  wit  5  "  but  he  was  also  educated  at  the 
University,  with  every  advantage  of  classical  studies."  Calamities  of 
Authors,  vol.  ii.  p.  20.  Yet  his  life  was  a  life  of  misery.  Anthony  k 
Wood  calls  him,  in  his  usual  style,  a  "  noted  and  restless  buffoon." 


mankind,  gifted  as  he  was,  chose  to  waste  their  time  and  talents  as  he  did,  sad  in- 
deed were  the  lot  of  humanity  !  Sir  E.  Brydges,  in  his  reprint  of  Greene's  Groats 
worth  of  wit,  pur  chased  at  a  Million  of  Repentance  (what  a  SPEAKING  title  1)  has 
also  become  the  apologist  of  the  author  as  well  as  the  Chronicler  of  his  Pieces. 
This  may  be  very  well—in  its  way. 

*  I  possess  curious  extracts  from  this  piece— which  had  well  nigh  found  admis- 
sion here. 

Q     Q 


594  PHILOLOGY 

They  seem  to  have  been  for  ever  at  "  your  punto, 
your  re  verso,  your  stoccato" — with  each  other ;  giving 

GABRIEL  HARVEY,  the  infuriate  and  unrelenting  opponent  of  Nash, 
was  the  beloved  friend  of  Spenser  j  a  well-read,  able,  and  distin- 
guished writer  in  his  day.  His  "  Four  Letters  and  certain  Sonnets, 
especially  touching  Robert  Greene,  &c.  1592,  4to.  is  one  of  his  most 
curious  and  diverting  productions :  while  his  "  Three  proper,  and 
wittie  diverting  Letters,  lately  passed  between  two  Universitie  men, 
158O,  4to.  may  be  considered  the  rarest.  But  Mr.  D'Israeli,  in  the 
forecited  work,  has  given  us  the  pith  and  marrow  of  almost  every 
thing  relating  to  Harvey  5  and  Mr.  Todd,  in  his  Spenser,  has  allotted 
to  him  a  tolerably  ample  portion  of  his  pages.  Consult  also  Watt's 
Bibl.  Brit.  Yet  more  versatile,  whimsical,  and  even  prolific  than 
either  of  the  foregoing  writers  (perhaps  not  excepting  Greene)  was 
THOMAS  DEKKER  ;  who  was  firing  off  his  noisy  squibs  for  upwards  of 
thirty  years — from  the  year  1600,  when  appeared  his  first  piece,  the 
Comedie  of  Old  Fortunatus.  See  Baker's  Biographia  Dramatica,  edit. 
Jones  j  vol.  i.  page  179,  and  Watts  Bibl.  Brit.  col.  298,  m.  The 
greater  part  of  Dekker's  miscellaneous  pieces  (for  I  hope  to  be  spared 
the  reading  of  his  dramatic  ones)  are  equally  curious  and  instruc- 
tive to  the  philologist.  Among  them,  the  richly  furnished  library  of 
Mr.  Freeling  supplies  me  with  one  called  tf  A  Knight's  Coniuring 
done  in  earnest:  Discovered  in  Jest :  "  1607,  4to.  In  the  9th  Chap- 
ter, on  the  reverse  of  the  last  leaf  but  one,  some  of  the  contempora- 
neous poets  are  noticed,  and  Spencer  is  particularly  lauded.  Others 
are  thus  designated  :  the  "  learned  Watson,  industrious  Kyd,  ingeni. 
ous  Atchlow,  (who  was  he  ?)  and,  (and  tho'  hee  had  been  a  player, 
molded  out  of  their  pennes,)  yet  because  he  had  been  their  lover,  and 
a  register  to  the  Muses,  inimitable  Bentley :  these  (continues  Dekker) 
were  likewise  carousing  to  onex  another  at  the  holy  well,"  &c.  Was 
this  Bentley  the  editor  of  the  "  Lamps  of  Divinity,"  noticed  at  p.  123, 
ante  ?  Some  of  my  readers  may  scold  me,  from  such  a  specimen, 
for  not  giving  more  from  these  writers  j  but  a  recollection  of  what 
was  said  at  p.  5  ante,  compels  me  to  desist.  And  if  the  thoroughly 
greedy  and  ravenous,  after  Dekkers  and  Greenes,  wish  to  gratify 
themselves  to  satiety,  let  them  plunge,  chin  deep,  into  the  MALONE 
COLLECTION  at  Oxford. 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  595 

us  the  notion  of  dog  and  cat,  or  bull  and  bear,  or 
monkey  and  tiger.  Such  writers  as  these,  who  feel  no 
restraint,  and  acknowledge  no  obligation,  are  the  pest 
of  the  literary  world ;  but,  in  their  day,  they  were 
«  PRETTY  FELLOWS  ! "  They  revelled  in  midnight  or- 
gies —  for  aught  I  know  u  at  the  boar's  head  in  East- 
Yet  a  word  for  master  GEORGE  WHETSTONE,  chiefly  because  he 
was  a  contemporary,  and  because  a  few  of  his  pieces  are  of  excessive 
rarity.  His  Rocke  of  Regard ;  divided  into  foure  parts,  1576,  4to.  is 
minutely  analysed  by  Mr.  Park  in  the  Cens.  Liter  aria,  vol.  v.  page  i. : 
see  also  an  analysis,  by  the  same  gentleman,  of  his  English  Myrrour, 
1586,  4to.  at  page  351-5  of  the  same  volume.  His  Promos  and 
Cassandra,  1578,  4to.  appears  in  vol.  iv.  p.  269  j  and  at  p,  271*  his 
Mirour  for  Magistrates  of  Cyties,  1584,  4to.,  as  well  as  his  Enemie  to 
Unthryftiness,  1586,  4to.  This  latter  is  a  curious  tract,  and  contains 
a  list  of  Whetstone's  pieces  previously  published.  Of  these,  five 
relate  to  ff  lives  and  deaths  "  of  eminent  men, — and  are  of  such  pro- 
digious rarity,  that  the  Life  and  Death  of  Mr.  G.  Gascoyne — which  had 
been  obscurely  mentioned  by  Tanner,  but  of  which  all  traces  were  lost, 
and  which  had  therefore  been  supposed  to  have  perished — this  trifling 
tract,  dated  1577,  4to.and  consisting  of  a  very  few  leaves,  happened  to 
turn  up  at  the  sale  of  a  library  of  an  obscure  individual  (Mr.  Voigt, 
of  the  Excise)  in  1 807,  and  was  purchased  by  the  late  Mr.  Malone 
for  40l.  It  is  now  among  the  treasures  of  the  Malone  Collection  in 
the  Bodleian  Library.  Another  similar  piece — the  lyfe  and  death  and 
Vertues  of  Frauncis,  Earle  of  Bedforde  —  belonging  to  the  late  Mr. 
Bindley,  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  that  gentleman's  library  for  40Z, 
Where  lurk  (as  the  remaining  pieces  of  Whetstonian  biography)  the 
lyfe  and  death,  &c.  of  SIR  NYCHOLAS  BACON,  late  Lord  Keeper  —  of 
the  good  L.  DYER— and  the  noble  EARLE  OF  SUSSEXE  ?  In  palaces, 
in  castles,  in  mansions,  or  in  cottages  ?  Peradventure,  in  public 
libraries — bound  up  with  other  slim  quarto  tracts,  of  which  the  six- 
teenth century  teemed  with  an  inconceivable  fecundity.  My  friend 
Mr.  Haslewood  still  thinks  he  shall  one  day  "  pounce"  upon  the 
Panoplie  of  Devices,  supposed  to  have  been  published  by  the  same 
writer.  Thus,  Whetstone's  tracts  have  their  obvious  and  solid  uses, 


596  PHILOLOGY 

Cheap"  —  and  snatched  the  intervals,  between  their  bed 
and  board,  in  giving  shape  and  substance  to  all  the  im- 
petuous impulses  of  a  bewildered  imagination.  The 
Bibliomaniac  may  revel  in  the  enviable  possession  of 
a  complete  and  unrivalled  suite  of  the  pieces  of  which 
the  forenamed  Geniuses  were  the  authors  ;  and  the 
antiquary  may  rejoice  that  he  possesses  such  a  fund 
of  rich  illustration  (adding  STUBBES'S  Anatomy  of 
Abuses*  to  the  number)  of  the  manners  and  customs 
of  past  times  ;  but  the  young  and  tasteful  Student  in 
the  school  of  English  Literature,  must  shun,  as  he 
would  reptiles  of  the  most  venemous  species,  the  imi- 
tation of  such  a  baneful  class  of  writers  ;  nor  will  I 
allow  my  "  Young  Man,"  and  much  less  my  "  elderly 
Gentleman,"  to  walk  in  a  similar  path.  Each  of  them 
may,  when  a  fitting  opportunity  presents  itself,  indulge 
in  a  copy  or  two  of  a  few  of  the  rarer  pieces  —  but 
"  PRINCIPIIS  OBSTA,  "  must  be  the  motto  ;  and  I  dread 
the  result,  when  once  the  threshold  is  passed.  "  Re- 
vocare  gradum"  —  / 

The  opening  of  the  seventeenth  century  saw  more 
pleasing  and  profitable  fruits  in  the  career  of  English 
Philology.  The  names  of  BRAITHWAIT  and 


*  There  is  an  excellent  account  of  this  '  e  most  amusing  and  diver- 
sified of  the  many  splenetic  works  which  have  been  levelled,  by  the 
sour  spirit  of  puritanism,  against  the  gaieties  and  the  elegancies,  as 
well  as  the  vices  and  follies  of  life  "  —  in  the  Retrospective  Review, 
vol.  iii.  p.  126-141.  Mr.  Douce  is  constantly  availing  himself  of  it 
in  his  Illustrations  of  Shakspeare  -,  and  no  man,  at  all  anxious  about 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  sixteenth  century,  can  really  feel 
comfortable  without  a  perfect  copy  of  the  first  and  second  parts  of 
Philip  Stubbe's  book,  published  in  a  sort  of  crown  octavo  in  1583. 
A  good  copy  is  worth  10Z.  10s.  Stubbes  was  the  Prynne  of  his  day. 

f  BRAITHWAIT  and  PEACHAM  may  indeed  be  considered  as  a  ff  PAR 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  597 

are  clear  to  the  "  Young"  and  "  Old  Collector"  of  in- 
structive and  sound  books  ;  and  although,  about  the 

NOBILE  FRATRUM."  The  former  has  been  recently  rendered  more 
familiar  and  popular  to  us,  by  the  new  edition  of  Drunken  Barnaby ; 
(of  which  the  Editor,  Mr.  Joseph  Haslewood,  has  clearly  proved 
Braithwait  to  be  the  author)  put  forth  in  a  manner  the  most  tempting 
and  commodious  imaginable,  and  in  which  appears  a  list  or  rather 
catalogue  raisonne*  of  Braithwait's  works.  They  amount  to  not 
fewer  than  XLV.  in  number;  most  of  them,  I  admit,  irretrievably 
condemned  to  the  Capulet  vault  of  oblivion ;  but  several  yet  capable 
of  affording  instruction  and  delight.  See  the  Bibliomania,  p.  177.» 
376,  394.  What  I  have  here  to  do  with  Braithwait,  is,  to  recom- 
mend his  English  Gentleman,  published  in  1630,  4to.  with  an  en- 
graved frontispiece  by  Vaughan,  and  a  folding  broadside  by  way  of 
explanation  :  see  Drunken  Barnaby,  vol.  i.  p.  255.  It  was  reprinted 
in  1633.  With  this  work,  should  be  united  the  English  Gentlewoman, 
1631,  4to.  with  an  engraved  frontispiece,  by  Marshall.  But  both 
these  works  were  united  in  a  handsome  folio  volume,  with  a  brilliant 
frontispiece,  by  Marshall,  in  1641  :  and  I  should  prefer  this  edition. 
The  copy  of  it  which  I  once  saw  at  Mr.  Triphook's,  on  what  might 
be  considered  as  large  paper  —  bound  in  the  red  morocco  of  Charles 
Lewis — was  worth  5/.  55.  The  Nursery  for  Gentry,  1651,  4to.  con- 
tains the  author's  portrait,  by  Marshall,  re-engraved  for  Mr.  Hasle- 
wood's  edition  of  Drunken  Barnaby.  See  too  the  Bibliomania,  p.  394. 
Whatever  may  be  Braithwait's  merits,  and  they  were  doubtless  very 
considerable,  he  deserves  the  severest  castigation  for  the  disgusting 
indelicacies  betrayed  in  his  Strappado  for  the  Devil,  and  Art  asleep 
Husband  ?  a  bolster  lecture :  books,  luckily,  rare  to  find  in  any  state. 

HENRY  PEACHAM,  as  far  as  I  am  acquainted  with  his  works,  is  a 
writer  of  unimpeached  reputation.  A  spirit  of  purity,  gentleness,  and 
plain  good  sense,  pervades  all  his  productions.  I  will  here  speak  only 
of  his  Compleat  Gentleman,  first  published  in  1622,  4to.  and  frequently 
reprinted  :  nor  shall  I  hesitate  about  referring  the  reader  to  some  spe- 
cimens of  this  work  given  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  372-4.  ' '  This  work 
was,  (says  Mr.  Chalmers)  in  high  estimation  with  the  gentry  of  the 
age  in  which  it  was  published.  Sir  Charles  Sedley,  who  had  been 
guilty  of  an  offence  against  good  manners,  and  was  indicted  for  it, 


598  PHILOLOGY 

same  period,  the  literary  world  received  occasional 
shocks,  from  the  rapid  increase  of  cheap  pamphlets 
(under  the  title  of  MERRIMENTS*)  to  pervert  and  some- 
times poison  the  main  spring  of  public  taste  —  espe- 
cially among  the  lower  classes  of  the  people — yet  did 

was  asked  on  his  trial  by  the  Chief  Justice,  Sir  Robert  Hyde,  whether 
he  had  ever  read  the  COMPLETE  GENTLEMAN  ?  "  Biogr.  Dictionary, 
vol.  xxiv.  p.  217.  Peacham's  Worth  of  a  Penny,  or  a  Caution  to  keep 
Money,  1642,  4to.  frequently  republished,  has  been  recently  re- 
printed. 

*  These  "  MERRIMENTS  "  form  indeed  a  sufficiently  bizarre  and 
perplexing  class  in  the  department  of  old  English  philology  and 
belles  lettres.  And  yet,  they  are  hardly  entitled  to  a  niche  in  such 
a  department.  Nevertheless,  something  must  be  said  about  them. 
Had  Samuel  Pepys  been  alive,  he  would  have  led  me,  slily  and  in- 
sensibly, to  his  most  extraordinary  collection  of  this  kind  —  entitled 
Penny  Merriments  —  as  may  be  now  seen  in  the  Pepysian  Library  at 
Magdalen  College  Cambridge.  Between  twenty  and  thirty  chubby 
quarto  volumes,  each  containing  hard  upon  1000  pages,  lie  at  the  left, 
on  entrance  of  the  forementioned  library.  These  volumes  are 
chuck  full  of  droll  little  pieces  of  every  description,  supplied, 
for  the  greater  part,  (if  my  memory  be  not  treacherous)  by  the  re- 
nowned Nathaniel  Butter,  a  great  vendor  in  his  day,  (temp.  Jac.  I. 
et  Car.  I.)  of  this  species  of  lore.  I  tried  to  catalogue  one  of  these 
volumes;  but  my  strength  or  my  patience  failed  me  : '  *  hills  peep'do'er 
hills,  and  alps  o'er  alps  arose."  However,  let  the  curious  reader 
peruse  the  "  Facetue  Bibliographies,"  or  an  Account  of  the  "  Old 
English  Jesters,"  monthly  communicated  to  the  LondonMagazine,  by 
a  very  competent  handt — furnished  from  sources  equally  rich  and 
inexhaustible.  The  earliest  Jest  book  there  noticed,  is  "  Jests  to 
make  you  merie  ;  with  the  conjuring  up  of  Cock  Watt  (the  walking  spirit 
of  Newgate)  to  tell,  £c.  1607,  4to.  of  which  our  ancient  friend  Tho- 
mas Dekker  was  the  supposed  author. 

•f  "  Strange  as  it  may  appear,  these  facetia  are  entitled  to  a  much  more  general 
attention ;  for  their  contents  are  always  curious,  and  information,  on  many  minute 
points  of  literary  history  and  the  manners  of  the  times,  may  frequently  be  gleaned 
from  these  fugitive  collections,  which  would  be  sought  for  in  vain  in  works  of  a 
higher  character."  Lond.  Magazine,  May,  1823,  p.  515. 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  5<J9 

Braithwait  and  Peacham  —  to  whom  may  be  added 
GERVASE  MARKHAM,  and  ROBERT  BURTON,  and  SIR 
WILLIAM  CORNWALLYES* — do  much  to  keep  down  all 

*  GERVASE  MARKHAM  was  a  very  extraordinary  genius  :  a  poet,  a 
political  writer,  a  statist,  and  a  dramatist.  He  is  chiefly  known  by 
his  works  on  husbandry  and  rural  sports— and  especially  by  those  on 
angling,  hawking,  and  hunting.  The  earliest  known  piece  from  his 
pen  is  of  the  date  of  1596;  a  poem  entitled  The  Poem  of  Poems,  or 
Sioris  Muse.  The  whole  art  of  Angling :  1656,  quarto  is  perhaps  his 
latest  piece  —  if  he  really  be  (as  Granger  supposes)  the  author  of  it. 
From  Baker's  Biog.  Dram.  vol.  i.  page  49O,  repeated  in  Chalmers's 
Biograph.  Dictionary,  (vol.  xxi.  316)  I  gather  a  most  extraordinary 
piece  of  information  5  namely,  that  Markham,  in  the  year  1617,  made 
an  agreement  with  some  booksellers,  "  never  hereafter  to  write  any 
more  book  or  books  to  be  printed  of  the  diseases  or  cures  of  any 
cattle,  as  horse,  oxe,  cowe,  sheepe,  swine,  and  goates."  This  is 
extracted  from  the  books  of  the  Stationers'  Company.  For  Mark- 
ham's  dramatic  pieces,  consult  the  Biographia  Dramatica,  ibid.  On 
many  accounts  does  Markham  seem  entitled  to  more  notice  and  com- 
mendation. 

The  name  of  ROBERT  BURTON,  and  the  title  of  The  Anatomy  of 
Melancholy,  seem  to  run  naturally  and  smoothly  together.     Of  this 
work,  I  have  before  (M ore's  Utopia,  1808,  vol.  i.  Ixxii.  :  ii.  pp.  97O, 
140-1,)  given  a  brief  bibliographical  outline.     It  was  first  published 
in  a  small  thick  quarto,  in  1621,  with  Burton's  name  at  the  end  :  that 
of  "  Democritus  Junior"  being  in  the  title  page.  The  first  folio  edition 
was  of  the  date  of  1624 ;  and  the  first,  with  the  well  known  plate 
or  frontispiece,  having  Burton's  portrait  at  the  bottom,  was  of  1628  : 
so  that  Collectors  must  look  well  to  have  fine  proofs  of  this  first  or- 
namented edition.     The  finest  copy  of  it  which  I  ever  saw,  is  at 
Althorp.     Such  was  the  celebrity  of  the  work,  that  it  was  reprinted 
in  1632,  1638, 1652, 1660,  and  1676 — all  in  folio.  I  once  possessed 
a  good  copy  of  every  one  of  these  editions.    In  1800  it  was  reprinted 
in  two  octavo  volumes ;  and  since,  it  has  been  twice  reprinted  (I  be- 
lieve) in  the  same  form.     After  all,  we  know   little  or  nothing  of 
the   extraordinary  author  of  this  extraordinary  production — \vhieh, 
H  has  been  said,  was  the  only  work  that  could  force  Dr.  Johnson 


600  PHILOLOGY 

indications  of  a  coarse,  vulgar,  and  mischievous  spirit. 
I  love,  honour,  and  respect,  the  memories  of  these 

from  his  bed  two  hours  earlier  than  he  wished  to  rise.  This 
might  have  happened  once — in  his  life :  for  Burton's  book  is,  in  a 
great  measure,  a  task  to  peruse.  You  can  scarcely  travel  through 
thirty  pages,  without  taking  at  least  a  good  long  breathing  pause. 
The  multiplicity,  the  redundancy,  the  faint  forced  analogy,  of  the 
quotations — the  utter  absurdity  of  the  physical  illustrations — and  the 
limited  knowledge  of  pathology,  are  heavy  clogs  to  a  free  and  unre- 
strained perusal.  On  the  other  hand,  the  quaintness,  point,  and 
simplicity  of  its  style ;  the  whimsicality  of  the  anecdotes  and  illustra- 
tions j  its  recondite  lore,  and  extraordinary  manner  of  treating  the 
subject  itself — render  it,  as  Anthony  a  Wood  well  observes,  "  a  book 
so  full  of  variety  of  reading,  that  gentlemen,  who  have  lost  their 
time,  and  are  put  to  a  push  for  invention,  may  furnish  themselves 
with  matter  for  common  or  scholastical  discourse  and  writing. 
Several  authors  (continues  our  friend  Anthony)  have  unmercifully 
stolen  matter  from  the  said  book  without  any  acknowledgment." 
Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  ii.  p.  653.  Edit.  Bliss. 

Now,  Burton  was  a  great  Collector  of  certain  "  penny  merriments,"1 
mentioned  in  a  preceding  note.*  The  bequest  of  his  LIBRARY  to  the 
Bodleian,  "  is  (says  the  living  editor  of  the  Athen.  Oxon.)  without 
exception,  one  of  the  most  curious,  and ,  according  to  the  taste  of  th  e 
present  day,  valuable  additions  which  that  Repository  contains. 
Burton's  books  consist  of  all  the  historical,  political,  and  poetical 
tracts  of  his  own  time,  with  a  large  collection  of  miscellaneous  ac- 
counts of  murders,  monsters^  and  accidents.  In  short  he  seems  to 
have  purchased  indiscriminately  every  thing  that  was  published, 
which  accounts  for  the  uncommon  treasures  of  Paul's  Church-yard, 
which  are  now  to  be  found  only  in  the  OXFORD  VATICAN."  In  short, 


*  By  the  by,  I  find,  in  the  solid  and  really  instructive  pages  of  the  British  Bib- 
liographer ,  vol.  i.  p.  41,  an  account  of  a  very  comical  and  diverting  book  of  the 
mirth-provoking  class.  It  is  called  "  Pasquils  Jests,  mixed  with  Mother  Bunches 
Merriments  :  whereunto  is  added  a  Baiter's  Dozen  of  Guiles.  Very  prettie  and  plea- 
sant to  drive  away  the  tediousness  of  a  Winter's  Evening"  fyc.  1609,4to«  26  leaves. 
There  is  an  earlier  edition ;  but  without  the  Gulls.  Yet  who,  in  the  selection  of  a 
copy  of  this  work,  would  not  rather  be  gulled? 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  601 

excellent  men.  I  forgive  all  their  aberrations  from  a 
pure  classical  taste  —  common  to  the  age ;  separate 
their  excellences  from  their  defects ;  and  place  their 
works,  coated  in  grey  calf,  or  pale  russia,  upon  the  most 
conspicuous  shelf  of  my  inner  library. 

JAMES  HOWELL,  the  well-known  author  of  Fa- 
miliar Letters*  (first  published  in  1645,  8vo.)  merits,, 

this  observation  furnishes  us  with  the  key  to  the  history  of  Burton's 
work.  From  a  mind,  crammed  with  such  lore,  what  could  be  expected 
but  the  odd,  strange,  miscellaneous  gallimaufry  of  which  the  Ana- 
tomy of  Melancholy  is  composed?  !  Yet,  buy  it — you  must — suscep- 
tible "  Young  Man  :"  and  look  previously,  for  one  moment,  into  the 
Bibliomania,  p.  376}  and  more  fully  into  Nichols's  Leicestershire. 

The  Essayes  of  SIR  WILLIAM  CORNWALLYES  the  younger,  Knight, 
were  first  published  1601,  ocatvo  without  any  engraved  title  page. 
In  1632  they  first  appeared  with  an  engraved  title-page,  repre- 
senting two  figures  sitting  opposite  each  other  at  a  table,  one  writ- 
ing, the  other  reading  - —  fit  postures  for  both  young  and  old,  within 
the  precincts  of  a  library.  Granger  supposes  these  figures  to 
represent  the  Essayist  and  his  father.  It  may  be  so  :  but  who- 
ever shall  be  fortunate  enough  to  possess  such  a  copy  of  this  im- 
pression, or  rather  such  an  impression  of  this  frontispiece,  as  I  once 
saw — at  a  country  bookseller's,  at  Worcester — (unfortunately,  just 
parted  with  !)  will  probably  look  with  indifference  upon  every  other 
copy  which  he  may  chance  to  alight  upon.  At  least,  seventeen  long 
years  have  not  effaced  the  impression  made  by  a  sight  of  that  copy. 
It  was  bright,  clear,  genuine,  with  a  large  margin — but  (horribile 
dictu!)  had  been  pounced  upon,  for  the  sake  of  dismemberment,  by  a 
keen  and  rapacious  GRANGERITE  !  I  recommend  the  curious  to  read 
a  brief  but  amusing  account  of  this  work  in  the  Censura  Literaria, 
vol.  vi.  page  168.  A  fair  copy  of  it,  with  a  good  impression  of  the 
frontispiece,  is  worth  1Z.  Is. 

*  The  FAMILIAR  LETTERS  of  Howell  will  probably  outlive  all  his 
other  publications  —  somewhere  about  forty  in  number.  See  Chal. 
mers's  Biograph.  Diet.  vol.  xviii.  p.  267-  These  letters  were  written 
in  England,  but  are  not  the  coinage  of  British  soil.  They  are  amus- 
ing and  instructive,  and  have  deservedly  gone  through  half  a  score  of 


602  PHILOLOGY 

on  very  many  accounts,  a  distinct  and  commendatory 
notice.  His  style  is  easy,  and  even  playful ;  but  not 
free  from  the  vicious  fashion  of  the  age,  punning. 
The  day  light  of  pure  taste  rose,  when  SIR  WILLIAM 
TEMPLE  put  his  pen  to  paper,  and  committed  his 
lucubrations  to  the  press.  On  every  account  I  re- 
commend his  Works*  to  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 

editions.  The  account  in  them  of  the  assassination  of  Henry  IV.  of 
France,  is  minutely  curious.  A  couple  of  morning's  easy  application 
will  enable  any  one  to  peruse  this  little  volume  of  letters.  Howell's 
DodoncCs  Grove,  1640,  4to.  one  of  his  earliest  performances,  is 
noticed  in  the  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  iv.  213 :  and  his  England's  Teares,  &c. 
in  vol.  iii,  p.  65.  "  It  cannot  be  denied  (says  Mr,  Chalmers)  that 
Howell  has  given  way  frequently  to  low  witticisms  $  the  most  unpar- 
donable instance  of  which  is,  his  remark  upon  Charles  the  First's 
death,  where  he  says  — ft  I  will  attend  with  patience  how  England 
will  thrive,  now  that  she  is  let  blood  in  the  Basilical  vein,  and  cured 
as  they  say  of  the  King's  evil."  Upon  the  whole,  this  was  the  age  for 
hot,  hair-brained,  half  witty,  and  half  learned  writers  ;  and  James 
Howell  is  not  free  from  the  general  infection.  But  his  works  merit 
more  than  a  slight  attention  $  and  I  learn  with  pleasure  that  Mr. 
D'Israeli,  among  the  most  prominent  of  modern  philologists,  intends 
taking  <f  Jemmy  in  hand,"  in  some  future  lucubration,  connected 
with  the  CURIOSITIES  of  Literature.  There  is  an  excellent  account 
of  Howell's  Letters  in  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  iv.  page  183. 
What  will  not  the  Spirit  of  ILLUSTRATION  accomplish  ?  Mr.  Faunt- 
leroy  possesses,  in  his  select  and  judicious  library,  a  copy  of  Howell's 
Letters,  illustrated  in  THREE  IMPERIAL  FOLIOS,  bound  in  russia! 
Euge !  Euge ! 

*  These  "  Works  "  were  first  collected  in  a  folio  form,  in  two  vols. 
in  1720 :  with  a  portrait  of  the  author,  by  Vertue,  and  an  account  of 
his  life  and  Writings  by  Dr.  J.  Swift.  The  latest  folio  impression 
bears  the  date  of  1740.  But  these  were  elegantly  reprinted  in  1776, 
in  4  octavo  volumes :  and  a  fine,  large  copy  of  these  truly  classical 
tomes,  in  this  latter  form— especially  if  it  be  in  the  nice  old  Cam- 
bridge or  Montagu  binding  . .  (none  but  the  happily  initiated  know 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  603 

library  of  every  youthful  and  aged  person,  who  has  the 
literary  renown  of  his  country  at  heart.  Temple  was 
among  the  earliest  of  the  polishers  of  our  prose ;  and 
bringing  to  his  works  liberal  principles,  a  cultivated 
taste,  and  a  kind  heart,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at 
that  his  popularity  has  been  so  great,  as  it  is  generally 
allowed  to  be. 

With  the  materials  furnished  by  Sir  WILLIAM  TEM- 
PLE, DRYDEN — or  rather  perhaps  ADDISON  and  SWIFT* 

the  precise  force  of  these  technical  terms!)  causeth  the  heart  to 
rejoice  lustily.  I  think  I  once  saw  this  edition  on  large  paper,  but 
speak  hesitatingly.  It  has  been  beautifully  reprinted  (1814)  in  an 
octavo  form.  Of  the  character  of  the  AUTHOR,  all  panegyric  were 
now  useless.  The  ablest  and  the  wisest  have  equally  pronounced 
eulogies  upon  his  talents  as  a  statesman  and  writer,  and  upon  his 
virtues  as  a  man  and  a  member  of  society.  That  will  be  a  dark  and 
doubtful  moment,  in  the  «ra  of  national  taste,  when  the  volumes  of 
Sir  W.  Temple  shall  be  neglected  or  depreciated.  His  style  is  legiti- 
mate English  5  and  he  is  among  the  sweetest  of  ourEpistolographers. 

*  DRYDEN'S  prose  works  (for  I  have  here  nothing  to  do  with  his 
poetry)  were  first  collected  and  published,  in  a  critical  manner,  by 
the  late  Mr.  Malone,  in  1800,  octavo,  4  vols.  j  a  publication  which 
is  now  become  somewhat  scarce.  The  prose  works  are  of  course  in- 
corporated in  the  complete  works  of  Dryden,  by  Sir  W.  Scott,  1808, 
octavo,  18  vols.  Again,  in  1821,  in  the  same  number  of  volumes. 
The  prose  of  Dryden  is  like  his  poetry  j  full,  unaffected,  copious, 
and  energetic.  He  is  a  first  rate  philologist  as  well  as  poet ;  and  I 
cannot  let  the  enterprising  young  man  off,  without  a  promise  from 
him  to  "  put  by"  31.  13s.  6d.  for  Mr.  Malone's  edition,  just  men- 
tioned. Consult  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  iv.  p.  55,  for  a  review 
of  Dryden's  prose  works,  on  the  basis  of  Malone's  edition.  Of  Sir 
W.  Scott's  edition  two  copies  only  were  printed  upon  thick  paper. 

The  very  name  of  ADDISON  inspires  delight.  That  charming 
writer  was  not  only,  in  himself,  one  of  the  most  perfect  of  prose  au- 
thors, but,  in  the  Spectator,  (of  which  he  might  be  called  at  once 
the  patron  and  promoter)  he  set  an  example  of  instructing  the  Intel- 


604  PHILOLOGY 

went  gaily  and  successfully  to  work.  Poets  (espe- 
cially the  first)  as  well  as  philologists,  these  great  men 

lectual  public,  at  certain  short  periods,  with  essays,  tales,  allegories, 
and  criticisms,  such  as  had  never  before  met  their  eyes.  He  not  only 
brought  a  good  philological  taste  into  fashion,  and  placed  Milton 
upon  a  pedestal  from  which  he  can  never  be  pulled  down,  but  gave 
a  pleasing  and  popular  turn  to  religious  studies  and  duties.  In  this 
latter  department  there  is,  occasionally,  a  sort  of  easy  and  natural 
sublimity  about  Addison,  which  belongs  peculiarly  to  himself.  Con- 
fidence, hope,  comfort,  love,  gratitude,  and  adoration,  are  what  he 
infuses  into  a  Christian  spirit ;  and  his  two  celebrated  pieces  of  poetry, 
or  short  hymns, f  illustrative  of  what  he  has  inculcated  in  prose,  are 
perfect  master-pieces  of  their  kind.  But  the  reader,  I  apprehend, 
is  beginning  to  be  fearful  lest  I  should  omit  the  mention  of  that  pecu- 
liar feature  in  the  compositions  of  Addison,  which  stamps  him  as  an 
undoubted  original.  It  is  his  HUMOUR,  then,  wherein  he  is  unrivalled. 
But  this  is  a  theme,  almost  inexhaustible  in  itself,  and  familiar  to  us 
from  boyhood  j  and  so  I  draw  back  from  expatiating. 

The  WORKS  of  ADDISON  have  been,  as  they  deserve  to  be,  constantly 
reprinted.  They  were  first  collected  and  published  in  1721,  in  four 
quarto  volumes  -,  and  I  find  a  copy  of  this  kind,  amongst  several,  of 
various  editions  of  the  Author,  marked  at  31.  3s.  tl  neat  in  calf,  "  in 
the  very  copious  and  creditable  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Rivington  and 
Cochrane.  The  reprint  of  1730,  in  the  same  form,  need  not  be  par- 
ticularly mentioned  -,  but  he,  who  hath  the  Baskerville  edition,  1760, 
4to.  4  vols.,  hath  a  good  and  even  a  glorious  performance.  It  is 
pleasant  (and  of  course  profitable)  to  turn  over  the  pages  of  these 
lovely  tomes,  at  one's  Tusculum,  on  a  day  of  oppression  from  heat, 
or  of  confinement  from  rain  —  and  if  the  copy  be  in  goodly  calf,  full 


•fr  They  are  well  known  under  the  following  verses  :---the  first  of  each  hymn : 

When  all  thy  mercies,  O  my  God, 
&c.      &c.       &c. 

The  spacious  firmament  on  high. 
&c.      &c.       &c. 

effusions,  with  more  of  the  soul  of  true  poetry  about  them  than  in  the  whole  of  his 
other  metrical  compositions. 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  COS 

may  be  said  to  have  brought  our  language  almost  to 
the  highest  attainable  pitch  of  perfection.     It  was 

charged,  gilt  binding  —  with  marble  edges  to  the  leaves  —  such  as 
Posthumus  discards,  but  which  Atticus  dearly  doats  on — why,  so 
much  the  better :  so  therefore  hasten,  gallant  young  Bibliomaniac, 
with  six  sovereigns  and  six  shillings  to  boot,  to  make  yourself  master 
of  such  a  copy,  in  the  possession  of  Messrs.  Rivington  and  Cochrane 
aforesaid.  A  critical  edition  (at  least,  professed  so  to  be)  appeared 
from  the  pen  of  the  late  Bishop  Hurd  (a  writer,  in  many  respects,  of 
a  similar  turn  to  Addison  —  elegant,  chaste,  and  tasteful)  but  never 
were  my  humble  expectations  more  miserably  disappointed !  It 
seemed  to  me,  as  a  sad  "  potatoe-roasting  ''  performance  from  such  a 
quarter.  This  was  published  in  1811,  8vo.  six  vols. :  and  I  doubt 
whether  even  the  gaily  bound,  large  paper,  copy  of  it  —coming  from 
the  work- shop  of  that  bibliopegistical  Coryphaeus,  C.  Lewis — will 
secure  a  purchaser  at  the  subdued  price  of  7'.  17*.  6d.  ?  But  nume- 
rous and  delightful  are  many  of  the  octavo  and  duodecimo  editions  of 
the  works  of  Addison :  yet  Messrs,  Rivington  and  Cochrane  are  bold 
men  to  affix  the  price  of  2Z.  Zs.  to  a  copy  of  the  edition  of  1766,  four 
vols, — although  that  edition  be  a  beautiful  one,  and  the  copy  be  "  very 
fine,  neat  in  calf."  Addison  should  now  and  then  be  in  our  post 
chaises,  and  travelling  portmanteaus . . .  but  I  am  becoming  exuberant. 
SWIFT  is  a  glorious  fellow,  as  a  legitimate  English  philologist. 
His  style  is  all  nerve,  and  perspicuity  itself.  In  letter-writing,  he 
was  surely  the  foremost  of  the  well  known  triumvirate  Pope,  Arbuth- 
not,*  and  himself.  His  Gulliver  and  Tale  of  a  Tub  prove  with  what 
facility,  and  complete  success,  he  could  mould  his  periods  to  answer 
all  the  purposes  of  delicate  irony,  cutting  sarcasm,  and  overwhelming 
vituperation.  I  will  say  no  more  about  a  man,  who  is  allowed 
(hollow  and  heartless  as  he  was  !)  to  have  been  greatly  instrumental 
in  the  establishment  of  a  pure  style  and  taste  amongst  us.  Nothing 
is  left  for  "  the  Young  Man,"  but  to  put  six  additional  sovereigns  to 
those  just  mentioned,  and  betake  himself  to  the  publisher  of  Swift's 
Works,  edited  by  Sir  Walter  Scott/m  19  octavo  vols.,  1814  . .  as  he 
may  secure  them  in  boards  for  that  sum— <(  argent  comptant!"  These 


*  An  excellent  account  of  the  Life  and  Writings  of  Dr.  Arbuthnot  will  be  found 
in  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  viii.  p,  285, 


606  PHILOLOGY 

about  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  when  the 
works  of  DANIEL  DE  FOE  began  to  make  their  way 

works  were  first  edited  by  Hawkesworth  in  1765,  in  27  duodecimo 
volumes;  and  a  pretty  edition  it  is  — and  obtainable  for  about  5Z.  55. 
in  fair  neat  binding.  Mr.  John  Nichols  published  an  edition  in  1 808, 
in  19  8vo.  volumes;  and  I  have  reason  to  remember  it,  from  stumbling 
upon  the  subjoined  anecdote — which  only  proves  that  human  nature 
is  ever  the  same ;  and  that  what  has  been  said  of  Wellington  was  also 
said  of  Marlborough.* 

This  seems  to  be  the  proper  place  to  mention  the  name  of  SIR 
RICHARD  STEELE,  a  coadjutor  of  Addison  in  the  Spectator,  and  the 
principal  editor  of  the  Guardian  and  Taller.  Yet  I  question  if  his  works, 
detached  from  those  of  his  illustrious  coadjutor,  would  find  many 
purchasers.  His  "  Christian  Hero "  is  more  talked  of  than  read. 
His  Epistolary  Correspondence ,  1809,  octavo  two  vols.  may  find  a 
place  on  our  shelves.  And  here  I  take  leave  to  recommend  the 
collection  of  BRITISH  ESSAYISTS,  including  all  our  most  popular 
periodical  papers,  (such  as  the  Spectator,  Tatler,  Guardian,  f  &c.) 
published  in  forty- five  duodecimo  volumes,  under  the  editorial  care  of 
Mr.  Alexander  Chalmers  5  and  recently  republished,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  the  Looker  On,  in  3  vols.  I  do  indeed  strongly  recommend  a 
copy  of  either  edition  (procurable  in  neat  calf  gilt  binding  for  12J.  12*.) 
to  find  its  way  into  the  study  of  all  young  and  well  disposed  readers. 
Such  LIBRARY  COMPANIONS  are  the  very  joy  of  our  hearts.  "  Those 

*  The  anecdote,  or  rather  passage,  is  this  : — and  it  is  SWIFT  who  so  writes :  "  I 
confess  my  belief  that  he  (Marlborough)  has  not  one  good  quality  in  the  world, 
besides  that  of  a  General,  and  even  that  I  have  heard  denied  by  several  great  sol- 
diers." Volume  xiv.  In  the  first  place,  Marlborough  was  a  Whig,  and  therefore, 
in  the  estimation  of  Swift,  had  no  redeeming  quality  but  that  of  "  generalship. " 
In  the  second  place,  one  would  like  to  know  the  names  of  those  "  great  soldiers," 
or  military  critics,  who  had  the  egregious  folly  or  insolence  to  "  doubt  "  the  pro- 
fessional talents  of  Marlborough  ?  !  Such  drivelling  criticism  was  once  directed 
against  the  PRESENT  Great  Captain  of  the  age  — but  the  overwhelming  acclama- 
tions of  Europe  have  for  ever  set  it  at  rest. 

•f*  I  am  well  aware  of  that  felicitous  palpitation  of  heart,  in  a  thorough-bred  and 
enthusiastic  collector,  when  he  happens  to  stumble  upon  a  copy  of  the  above  men- 
tioned publications,  from  the  press  of  Tonson,  (and  especially  the  Tatler,  of  1744) 
on  LARGE  PAPER,  in  warm,  mottled  calf,  or  richly  ornamented  morocco,  bind 
ing.  Mr.  Payne  will  hardly  vouchsafe  a  glance,  with  or  without  spectacles,  upon 
any  edition  later  than  1793  —  and  this  has  only  faded  impressions  from  the  worn 
plates,  by  Vertue,  from  the  pencil  of  Hay  man. 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  607 

with  the  public,  and  especially  with  those  classes  of 
readers  in  a  middling  situation  of  life.  But  they 
were  calculated  for  almost  every  class.  The  subjects 
were,  many  of  them,  not  less  singular  in  their  selection, 
than  captivating  in  their  manner  of  execution.  De 
Foe  threw  himself  into  past  ages  with  all  the  zeal 
of  an  antiquary,  and  described  past  events  with  all 
the  apparent  fidelity  of  an  eye-witness.  His  Journal 
of  the  Plague  of  1665,  (1722,  8vo.)  deceived  the 
learned  Dr.  Mead ;  and  his  Memoirs  of  a  Cavalier 
found  a  believer  in  the  famous  Lord  Chatham.  But 
his  History  of  the  Union  between  England  and  Scot- 
land,  first  published  in  1709,  and  more  recently,  with 
valuable  additions,  by  Mr.  George  Chalmers,  1787, 4to. 
is  really  a  performance  to  place  the  author  among  the 
soundest  historians  of  his  day. 

The  works  of  De  Foe  seemed  alternately  to  delight 
and  disgust.  His  Robinson  Crusoe*  is  the  most 
enchanting  domestic  Romance  in  the  world  :  but  his 

who  wish  to  examine  the  subject  of  literary  Journals,  or  of  periodi- 
cal belles-lettres,  more  closely  and  critically,  will  necessarily  consult 
Dr.  Drake's  very  tasteful  volumes,  illustrative  of  the  Spectator,  &c. 
published  in  1805,  12mo.  3  vols. :  and  1809,  8vo.  2  vols. 

*  It  is  generally  supposed  that  the  FIRST  EDITION  of  this  popular 
work  appeared  in  1719,  8vo.  CZ  vols.  :  which  certainly  is  its  first  ap- 
pearance in  the  form  of  a  book :  but  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that  Robin- 
son Crusoe  first  greeted  the  public  eye  in  the  sorrily-printed  pages  of 
The  Original  London  Post,  or  Heathcote's  Intelligence,  from  no.  125, 
to  no.  289  inclusively  :  the  latter,  dated  7  October,  1719.  Of  this 
extraordinary  periodical  production,  the  only  copy  with  which  I  am  ac- 
quainted is  in  the  library  of  the  Right  Hon.  Thomas  Grenville.  The 
edition  of  1719  is  obtainable  for  ll.  Us.  6d. ;  but  Mr.  Grenville  has 
not  fewer  than  three  editions  of  that  year,  with  an  abridgement  in 
12mo.  of  the  same  date. 


608  PHILOLOGY 

Fortunes  and  Misfortunes  of  Moll  Flanders,  and  his 
Life  of  Col.  Jaque,  (1721,  Svo.)  are  such  low-bred 
productions,  as  to  induce  us  to  put  an  instantaneous 
negative  on  their  admission  into  our  Cabinets.  A  few 
of  the  more  important  of  De  Foe's  works  are  noticed 
below.*  At  length  rose  the  Colossus  of  English  Phi- 
lology, SAMUEL  JOHNSON  ;  having  secretly  and  unre- 
mittingly formed  his  style  upon  the  basis  of  that  of  Sir 
Thomas  Browne ;  a  name,  in  every  respect  to  be  held 
in  grateful  remembrance.^  But  Johnson,  as  a  philo- 

*  Such  as  his  History  of  Duncan  Campbell,  1720,  8vo,  The  Life 
and  Piracies  of  Captain  Singleton,  1720,  Svo.  Religious  Courtship, 
1722,  Svo.  Use  and  Abuse  of  the  Marriage  Bed,  1727,  Svo.  (scarce.) 
Memoirs  of  a  Cavalier  during  the  Civil  Wars  in  England,  &c.  But  see 
De  Foe's  Life,  published  by  Mr.  G.  Chalmers  in  1790,  Svo. :  and  the 
Biographical  Dictionary  of  Mr.  A.  Chalmers,  vol.  xi.  page  391,  &c. : 
and,  to  the  full  as  instructive  as  either  authority,  the  Retrospective  Re- 
view, vol.  iii.  p.  354.  The  same  periodical  work,  vol.  vi.  page  1-20, 
has  given  us  a  most  particular  analysis  of  De  Foe's  History  of  the 
Great  Plague.  Complete  sets  of  DE  FOE'S  pieces  are  now,  neces- 
sarily, difficult  to  procure.  The  last  collection  of  this  sort  (wanting 
only  one  of  the  commonest  of  them)  was  sold  for  35Z.  14s.  at  the  sale 
of  Mr.  Perry's  library. 

f  Dr.  Johnson  is  in  fact  the  ablest  biographer  of  Browne  ;  and 
Mr.  A.  Chalmers  in  his  Biogr.  Diet,  has  judiciously  availed  himself 
of  the  Doctor's  criticisms,  Perhaps  Johnson  praises  the  talents  of 
Browne  too  highly ;  especially  when  he  says  that  ee  there  was  no 
science  in  which  he  did  not  discover  some  skill."  Browne  was  in  all 
respects  an  abler  man,  and  a  profounder  thinker,  (comparatively 
freed  from  the  thraldom  of  alchemy  and  astrology)  than  his  contem- 
porary Sir  Kenelm  Digby.  His  works  were  collected  and  published 
by  Dr.  Tenison,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  1686,  folio 
—to  which  the  portrait  of  the  author  is  prefixed.  The  most  popular 
work  of  Browne  was  his  Enquiries  into  Vulgar  and  Common  Errors-,  of 
which  the  first  edition  appeared  in  !  646,  and  the  sixth  (in  the  life 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES.  609 

legist,  is  almost  an  original;  and  doubtless  among  the 
very  foremost  in  the  ranks  of  the  literature  of  his 
country.*  And  yet,  I  know  not  how  it  is,  but,  as 
years  creep  on,  we  do  not  read  his  pages  with  that 
devoted  enthusiasm  which  we  did  in  our  College  days : 
for  where  is  the  man,  who,  having  turned  his  thirtieth 
year,  peruses  Rasselas  or  the  Rambler  ?  It  is  as  a 
Colloq uialist  and  Biographer  that  Johnson  has  scarcely 
a  rival  —  especially  when  prejudices  did  not  spread  a 
film  over  those  intellectual  orbs,  which  were  con- 
structed to  gaze  uninjured  upon  the  sun ! 

With  the  mention  of  Johnson,  I  hope  to  be  per- 
mitted to  draw  the  curtain  over  the  department  of 

time  of  the  author,  and  with  improvements)  in  1673.  The  most 
curious  and  learned  of  his  performances  was  his  Hydriotaphia,  or  Urn 
Burial;  of  which  see  an  excellent  account  in  the  Retrospective  Review, 
vol.  i.  p.  83.  Murphy  was  among  the  first  of  the  critics  who  noticed 
the  similarity  of  Johnson's  style  to  that  of  Sir  T.  Browne ;  and  Mr. 
Southey,  in  several  of  his  critical  labours  in  the  Quarterly  Review, 
shews  how  fondly  and  familiarly  he  has  made  an  acquaintance  with 
the  prototype  of  Johnson.  A  good  copy  of  Browne's  works  is  worth 
II.  Is.f 

*  It  were  surely  idle  to  say  another  word  about  the  acknowledged 
and  transcendent  talents  of  this  GREAT  WRITER.  The  editions  of  his 
Works  are  almost  innumerable  j  and,  without  them,  no  "  Young 
Man  "  or  "  Old  Man  "  can  sleep  comfortably  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  his  library.  Get  Murphy's  edition,  in  12  vols.  8vo,  for  41. 14s.  6d. 
bound.  But  it  is  as  a  BIOGRAPHER,  that  Johnson's  name  will  live  as 
long  as  literature  shall  last.  And  fortunately  for  posterity,  Johnson's 
own  life  has  been  rendered  the  most  amusing  piece  of  biography  ex- 
tant. Consult  p  524,  ante. 

t  I  am  well  pleased  to  announce  a  forth  coming  edition  of  Sir  T.  Browne's 
works,  in  4  8vo.  volumes,  including  some  pieces  that  have  not  yet  been  published. 
This  acceptable  performance  is  about  to  appear  under  the  able  and  spirited  super- 
intendance  of  Mr.  Wilkin  of  Norwich  —  a  young  man,  sensibly  alive  to  the  glory 
of  his  native  city. 

R   R 


610  PHILOLOGY 

English  Philology  and  Belles-Lettres.  It  is  equally 
impolitic  and  unsafe  to  touch  upon  modern  times  and 
living  Writers :  or  I  could  adduce  names,  which  were 
an  honour  to  any  age  or  country.  As  to  foreign — or 
French  and  Italian  belles-lettres — the  field  is  equally 
varied  and  interminable  :  and  rather  than  traverse  it 
in  a  slovenly  and  unsatisfactory  manner,  it  were 
better  not  to  enter  upon  it  at  all  .... 

Quid  loquor  ?  aut  ubi  sum  ? .  .  .  . 

Here  is  the  department  of  Belles-Lettres  concluded— 
and  no  mention  made  of  the  labours  of  BACON, 
BOYLE,  or  LOCKE  !  NEWTON  is  strictly  a  philosopher, 
and  MILTON  almost  entirely  a  poet :  yet  no  lover  of 
his  country's  literary  Worthies  shall  turn  over  these 
pages  without  knowing  something  about  the  best  edi- 
tion of  each  of  these  authors  —  be  they  correctly  or 
incorrectly  here  introduced.  For  BACON'S  Works, 
complete,  secure  the  beautiful  quarto  edition  of  1765, 
or  1778,  each  in  5  vols. ;  or  the  not  less  respectable 
folio  of  1753,  in  3  vols.  The  latter  quarto  is  the  pre- 
ferable, and  worth  11.  \Ts.  6d.  I  have  seen  copies 
(even  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  of  the  folio)  in  delectable 
old  calf  bindings,  with  marble  edges  to  the  leaves, 
which  have  been  worth  hard  upon  10/.  10s.  a  copy. 
A  royal  octavo  edition  appeared  in  1803,  in  10  vols. : 
and  again  in  1819,  in  the  same  number  of  volumes  ; 
worth  about  61.  6s.  in  good  binding. 

For  BOYLE,  I  recommend  the  folio  of  1744,  in  five 
vols.:  or  the  quarto  of  1772,  in  6  vols. :  and  I  should 
say  that  51.  5s.  would  secure  a  neatly  bound  copy  of 
either  impression.  LOCKE'S  Works  were  published  by 


AND  BELLES  LETTRES,  611 

Des  Maizeaux  in  1759,  in  folio,  in  3  vols. :  again  in 
1777,  in  4to.  4  vols.  —  an  improved  edition;  now 
becoming  scarce,  and  worth  6/.  16*.  6d.  A  royal 
octavo  edition  was  put  forth  in  1801,  in  10  volumes ; 
and  again  in  1812,  in  the  same  number  of  volumes  — 
each  worth  about  51.  15*.  Gd.  in  fair,  neat  binding ; 
and  should  be  inseparable  companions  of  the  works  of 
Bacon,  published  in  the  same  form.  NEWTON'S  best 
editor  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  late  Bishop  Hors- 
ley ;  whose  edition,  in  5  large  quarto  tomes,  1779, 
1785,  now  brings  nearly  double  that  number  of  sove- 
reigns.* It  is  a  grand  monument  of  imperishable 
fame.  Milton's  Works,  complete,  were  published  by 
Birch  and  Bp.  Newton  in  1749-54,  in  5  4to.  volumes. 
These  are  now  become  scarce  and  dear:  and  I  find 
"  a  richly  bound  set,  in  old  red  morocco,  gilt  leaves," 
marked  at  16/.  16*.  in  the  second  part  of  the  cata- 
logues of  Messrs.  Rivington  and  Cochrane,  no.  13342. 
where  there  is  a  delicious  array  of  Miltonic  treasures  H* 
No  subsequent  edition  of  Milton's  prose  works  ap- 
peared till  the  recent  one  of  Dr.  Symmons  in  1806,  in 

*  The  Philosophic  naturalis  principia  mathematica,  alone,  were 
published  at  Geneva,  by  the  Jesuits  Le  Seur  and  Jacquier,  in  1739, 
4to.  3  vols. :  and  may  be  worth  about  Si.  3s.  The  same  work  had 
been  previously  published  at  London,  by  Dr.  Pemberton  in  1726, 
4to. — in  one  volume  j  a  book,  as  common  in  every  old  dispersed 
library,  as  any  volume  which  you  shall  mention :  but  Mr.  Payne 
shewed  me,  the  other  day,  the  only  copy  of  it  which  he  remembered 
to  have  seen  on  large  and  thick  paper — worth  about  81.  Ss. 

f  Some  account  of  Milton's  History  of  England  and  Areopagitica 
appears  in  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  ix,  page  1-19.  The  prose 
works  of  Milton  were  first  published  by  Dr.  Birch  in  1738,  folio,  two 
vols.  j  of  which  a  very  neat  CODJ  is  marked  at  31.  35.  in  the  catalogue 
of  Messrs  Payne  and  Foss  :  where  I  also  find  a  copy  of  the  quarto 


612  PHILOLOGY 

7  8vo.  volumes,  with  a  life  of  the  author.  These  vo- 
lumes, with  Mr.  Todd's  excellent  edition  of  the  poetry 
of  Milton,  in  the  same  numher  and  form  of  volumes, 
are  perfectly  classical  performances  of  their  kind  :  and 
ought  to  quit  the  shelves  of  booksellers  much  more 
frequently  than  they  do.  At  Althorp,  they  rejoice  the 
eye,  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  coated  in  green  morocco. 

BACON  of  1778,  ' '  bound  by  Johnson/'  marked  at  lcZl.  l<2s.  This  in- 
telligence is  a  little  out  of  place,  but  it  is  worth  imparting. 


[  613  ] 


POETRY. 

At  length  we  reach  "  DIVINE  POESY  : "  —  but  little 
more  can  be  done  than  to  afford  a  glimpse,  scarcely 
amounting  to  a  DIORAMA  View  =*,  of  the  principal 
rivers,  streams,  and  streamlets,  that  rush  or  roll  along 
the  banks  of  the  famous  Parnassian  Mountain.  There 
are  Parnassuses  for  all  countries ;  and  who,  learned  in 
our  own  lore,  has  not  heard  of,  and  longed  for,  a 
choice  and  delectable  copy  of  England's  Parnassus  Pf 
Doubtless,  I  shall  treat  more  copiously  of  the  indige- 
nous Bards  of  this  country,  than  of  any  others.  But, 
first  and  foremost,  we  turn  the  eye,  and  almost  bend 
the  knee,  to  the  venerable  and  immortal  HOMER: — 

Father  of  verse  !  in  holy  fillets  drest, 

His  silver  beard  waves  gently  o'er  his  breast. 

Pope's  Temple  of  Fame. 

Father  of  beauty,  of  instruction,  and  of  every  heroic 

*  Every  body  will  immediately  call  to  mind  a  certain  spectacle, 
under  this  name,  situated  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Metropolis, 
which  has  charmed  all  eyes  and  won  all  hearts.  Even  an  antiquary 
need  scarcely  go  to  Canterbury,  to  inspect  the  Trinity  Chapel  of  the 
Cathedral,  when  he  sees  it  so  wonderfully  brought  before  him  within 
400  yards  of  Portland  Place. 

f  Published  in  1600,  8vo.  for  NL.  CB.  and  TH.j  and  once  of  very 
considerable  price.  It  has  dropt  from  *20  to  2Z. :  owing  to  its  repub- 
lication,  with  notes,  &c.  It  is  a  very  inferior  collection  of  our  early 
poetry  to  England's  Helicon,  published  the  same  year,  in  the  same  un- 
assuming form.  This  latter  has  been  also  reprinted,  with  great  care 
and  atttenion,  and  with  a  biographical  and  critical  introduction,  in 
the  British  Bibliographer  f  vol.  iii.  and  iv. 


614  POETRY.  [GREEK. 

and  tender  sentiment,  too ! :  for,  where  is  there  an 
amiable  and  honourable  feeling,  which  may  not  be 
found  delineated  in  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey  ?  !  But  to 
business.  There  once  lived  a  man — yet  is  this  busi- 
ness ?  There  once  (I  say)  lived  a  medical  gentleman, 
of  the  name  of  Douglas,  who  made  a  point  of  collect- 
ing every  known  edition  of  HORACE.  To  perfect  this 
collection,  he  toiled  as  assiduously  as  in  visiting  pa- 
tients ;  and  yet  he  wanted  many  a  precious  impres- 
sion. *  If  Dr.  Douglas  have  been  long  pardoned  for 
this  classical  mania,  what  may  not  any  man  be  for 
that  of  collecting  an  HOMERIC  LIBRARY  ?  I  own,  it 
were  among  the  most  rational  of  all  book-manias  — 
with  the  exception  of  that  mentioned  in  a  note,  in  a 
certain  bibliographical  production  . . .  not  necessary  to 
be  here  particularly  specified. 

Yet,  of  the  early  editions  of  Homer,  I  will  only  notice 
the  FIRST  of  1488/1*  printed  at  Florence  in  2  folio  vols. 

*  A  catalogue  of  the  editions  of  Horace,  collected  by  Dr.  Douglas, 
is  prefixed  to  Watson's  Latin  and  English  edition  of  the  poet  in  1747, 
8vo.  2  vols.  2  edit.f  Although  the  Doctor  had  ten  impressions  in  the 
xvth  century,  there  was  not  one  of  the  highest  degree  of  rarity.  In 
the  whole,  he  possessed  about  450  editions  of  Horace  j  down  to  the 
year  of  1738.  This  collection,  or  very  nearly  the  whole  of  it,  was 
brought  to  the  public  hammer,  under  Mr.  Christie,  a  few  years  ago, 
and  disposed  of,  en  masse,  for  fourscore  pounds. 

•f  I  may  quietly  begin  this  inspiring  NOTE,  by  referring  the  curious 
to  a  particular  account  of  this  grand  work  to  be  found  in  the  Bibl. 
Spenceriana,  vol.ii.  p.  55-62  :  together  with  a  fac-simile  of  the  type. 
I  am  unable  to  add  any  thing  to  the  full  account  there  given  of  the 
bibliographical  history  of  this  first  edition  of  the  entire  Greek  text  of 
Homer.  As  to  COPIES  of  it,  one  hardly  knows  which  to  mention 


t  In  the  title-page,  below  Watson's  name,  it  runs  thus  :  "  Revised  by  a  Gentle- 
man well  skilled  in  this  sort  of  literature,  at  London."  This  sounds  oddly  enough, 
now  a  days.  My  copy  of  Watson's  Horace  was  Garrick's. 


GREEK.]  POETRY.  615 

and  still  worth  some  sixty  guineas,  if  in  a  perfect  and 
sound  condition.  I  shall  bestride  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  centuries  without  the  mention  of  a  single 
edition ;  and  come  at  once  to  those  of  Clarke,  Ernest 7, 
and  Heyne-— particularly  specified  in  the  subjoined 
note.*  And  yet  shall  the  rarest  and  most  splendid  of 

first.  Lord  Spencer's  is,  after  all,  the  finest  which  I  have  ever  seen 
upon  paper  j  if  that,  in  an  uncut  state,  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris 
be  excepted.  Mr.  Payne  tells  me  that  Earl  Mansfield  possesses  a  re- 
markably fine  large  copy  of  it.  The  copies  which  I  have  seen  in  the 
collections  of  Messrs.  Grenville,  Hibbert,  and  Dniry,  are  rather  exult- 
ing ones ;  but,  if  the  ravages  of  a  wicked  worm  could  be  overlooked, 
I  should  say  that  the  copy  in  the  library  of  the  late  John  Mordaunt 
Johnson,  Esq.  sold  by  auction  by  Mr.  Evans,  in  1817,  was  among  the 
very  finest  in  the  world.  It  was  in  the  original  binding,  and  had  the 
first  two  leaves  of  the  Odyssey  printed  UPON  VELLUM.  But  THE 
great  vellum  copy,  of  the  entire  work,  which  was  once  at  Paris,  now 
slumbers  on  the  shelves  of  St.  Marc,  at  Venice.  It  is  thoroughly 
beautiful,  as  those  tell  me  who  have  been  comforted  with  a  sight  of 
it.  Mr.  Dent  possesses  the  second  volume  UPON  VELLUM  —  which 
he  obtained  in  the  fortunate  purchase  of  the  beautiful  library  belong- 
ing to  the  late  Robert  Heathcote,  Esq.  But  the  very  sight  of  this 
lovely  volume,  torn  from  its  long  separated  and  inconsolable  partner, 
produces  a  momentary  heart-ach.  Will  a  re-union  take  place  ?  Or 
is  this  severed  associate  lost,  beyond  the  possibility  of  restoration? 
Who  shall  deny  that  a  perfect  and  white  copy  of  this  first  Homer, 
UPON  VELLUM,  is  richly  worth  50O  guineas  ?  But  I  would  not  give 
more  than  a  fifth  part  of  this  sum  for  the  membranaceous  copy  pub- 
lished by  Bodoni  in  1808,  in  two  thunderingly  large  folios:  see  Tour, 
vol.  ii.  283. 

And  shall  I  say  nothing  of  ALDINE  VELLUM  HOMERS  ?  !  Not  a 
word :  although  I  could  write  even  a  "  right  merie  "  chapter  thereon. 
"  Sunt  certi  denique  fines" — and  oaken  fences  must  neither  be  pulled 
down,  grubbed  up,  nor  jumped  over. 

*  First  of  Dr.  CLARKE'S  edition  in  1729-1740,  Gr.  et  Lat.  4to. 
4  volumes.  A  fine  copy  is  worth  61.  15s.  6d.  The  reprints  have 


616  POETRY.  [GREEK. 

ALL  editions  be  passed  over  in  a  sort  of  unseemly 
silence  ?     Is  the  ardent  "  Young  Man  "  to  be  kept  in 

been  innumerable.  I  have  seen  a  great  many  copies  on  LARGE 
PAPER;  but  they  now  droop  their  heads  somewhat  in  the  money 
market.  A  morocco  coated  copy,  and  they  are  usually  found  in  this 
condition,  may  however  be  worth  C25l.  The  Merly  copy  produced 
22/.  12*.  6d.  Does  it  exist,  uncut,  on  large  paper?*  ERNESTI'S  edi- 
tion is  with  me  a  great  favourite.  It  was  printed  at  Leipsic  in  1759, 
in  5  vols.  8vo.  Gr.  &  Lat. :  and  from  the  authorities  adduced  in  the 
Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  i.  p.  386,  it  ought  to  be  a  general  favou- 
rite. A  good  copy,  in  neat  calf  binding,  is  worth  31.  13$.  6d.  I  paid 
another  guinea  to  boot,  for  my  own  copy,  but  it  is  bound  in  russia, 
and  had  belonged  to  the  late  Lord  Glenbervie :  affording  the  fol- 
lowing testimony  of  the  application  of  its  possessor  :  "  Begun  a 
third  perusal  28  July,  1786.  Begun  a  fourth  perusal  with  Eustathius, 
at  Bushy,  llth  Aug.  1792."  The  choice  library  of  my  friend  Mr.  H. 
Drury  furnishes  another  instance  of  Homeric  application.  In  the 
copy  of  Barnes's  Homer,  possessed  by  his  grandfather,  the  late  Dr. 
Benjamin  Heath,  is  the  following  memorandum — in  the  hand-writing 
of  the  Doctor:  <(  Tertio  perlectum  hunc  librum  absolvi.  Octob,  14, 1744. 
Intro,  diem  29  Julij  1744  et  5  Feby.  sequentes  Quindedes  Iliadaper- 
legi:'  There  are  copies  of  Ernesti's  edit,  on  thick  writing  paper,  some- 
times called  large  paper,  which  are  probably  worth  a  dozen  sovereigns 
in  good  binding.  The  edition  was  beautifully  and  correctly  reprinted 


*  While  on  the  large  paper  HOMERIC  THEME,  let  me  correct  something  like  a 
rash  assertion,  uttered  by  me,  in  the  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  i.  p .  130,  about  the  Leyden 
edition  of  1656,  4to.  edited  by  Schrevelius  and  printed  by  Hackius,  I  have  there 
said  that  the  copy  of  this  book,  possessed  by  the  Rev.  H.  Drury,  is  the  only  one,  on 
large  paper,  which  I  have  heard  of  :  that  at  Althorp  approaching  it  very  sensibly. 
But  my  good  friend  Mr.  Payne  has  seen  several.  "  And  how  many,  I  pray?" 
"  Three  or  four,  at  least."  That  may  be ;  yet  Mr.  Drury 's  copy  continues  to  be  a 
most  covetable  gem.  Among  the  rarest  of  large  papers,  of  the  immortal  Maeonian 
Bard,  is  the  pretty  and  correct  Oxford  edition  of  1714,  octavo,  gr.  2  vols. :  and  a 
double  felicity  connected  with  this  book,  happened  to  me  on  one  and  the  same 
day.  In  Pall  Mall  I  saw  the  sweetest  copy  of  it  imaginable,  on  small  paper,  ruled 
with  red  lines,  and  bound  in  original  red  morocco.  In  Bedford-street,  Covent- 
Garden,  I  saw  the  same  edition,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  bound  in  pale  russia— each  copy 
to  be  sold.  Will  MENALCAS  hesitate  a  moment  in  turning  his  horses'  heads  to  one 
dep6t  or  the  other.  He  will  not :  he  cannot. 


GREEK.]  POETRY.  617 

Vandal  darkness  respecting  the  existence  of  an  im- 
pression which  goes  by  the  name  of  the  Grenville 
Homer,  published  in  four  small  quartos,  in  1800  ? 
And,  much  more,  if  he  wishes  to  purchase  a  LARGE 
PAPER  copy,  may  he  not  sit  down  and  make  a  calcu- 
lation of  its  probable  cost?*  Of  Translations,  I  must 
be  wholly  silent;  for  there  is  no  end  of  them:  but  let 
it  be  permitted  me  just  to  say,  that  the  most  curious 
and  rare  is  that  published  in  modern  Greek,  about  two 
centuries  ago.11 

at  Glasgow  in  1814,  8vo.  5  vols.  and  1  find  the  catalogue  of  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss  thickly  and  richly  studded  with  copies  of  this  reprint, 
in  all  forms  and  at  all  prices. 

For  an  account  of  HEYNE'S  edition,  Lips.  1802,  8vo.  Gr.  &  Lat. 
8  vols.  consult  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  i.  p.  389.  A  copy  in 
good  binding  is  worth  51.  It  appears  to  be  on  fine,  and  on  "  finest 
paper:"  for  the  former,  Mr.  Bohn  asks  11.  for  a  sewed  copy :  for  the 
latter,  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  value  a  copy,  in  sumptuous  morocco 
binding,  at  1 81.  1  Ss.  The  vignettes  in  Heyne's  edition  give  it  quite 
a  classical  air :  but,  if  you  wish  to  be  sober  as  well  as  sure  in  your 
Homeric  purchase,  content  yourself  with  the  edition  of  Oxford,  1811, 
gr.  5  vols.  with  the  Scholia  of  Didymus  and  the  index  of  Seber.  It 
is  worth  9,1.  6s.  in  neat  binding. 

*  At  the  mention  of  the  large  paper  GRENVILLE  HOMER,  where  is 
the  classical  Bibliomaniac  who  does  not  sigh  at  his  inability,  or  want 
of  opportunity,  to  possess  it  ?  —  and,  in  proportion,  rejoice  extrava- 
gantly on  its  possession  ?  The  last  copy  of  this  kind,  which  was  sold 
at  the  sale  of  the  late  Bishop  of  London's  library,  produced  the  sum  of 
&0l.  A  good  copy  of  the  small  paper,  bound  in  neat  calf  binding,  is 
worth  about  \l.  15s.  The  large  paper  was  printed  only  for  presents ; 
and  whoever  will  consult  the  Mdes  Althorp.  vol.  i.  page  130  will  find 
some  peculiarities  even  in  these  large  paper  copies.  It  seems  that 
every  possessor  of  them  cannot  be  equally  blest. 

•f  A  word  or  two,  before  this  rare  edition  is  chronicled  in  these 
pages.  As  to  foreign  translations  of  Homer,  of  a  comparatively  recent 
period,  consult  Barbier's  Bibl.  &un  Homme  de  Gout>  vol.  i.  p.  12.  As 


618  POETRY.  [GREEK. 

Of  course,  next  to  Homer,  HESIOD  claims  immediate 
notice;  although  these  two  venerable  poetic  Seers 

to  our  own,  I  should  unhesitatingly  say,  read  POPE  j  but  have  Cowper 
at  hand  for  occasional  consultation.  It  may  be  said  of  these  two  dis- 
tinguished translations,  that  the  learned  talk  of  Cowper,  but  read 
Pope  :  which  may  be  illustrated  by  a  celebrated  Law  Lord's  nice  dis- 
tinction between  sparkling  and  still  champagne.  <f  Sir,  people 
praise  the  still,  but  drink  the  lively.""  As  to  Pope's  performance,  it  is 
almost  beyond  all  conception  as  well  as  of  praise  :  and  even  what 
Dryden  has  executed  of  the  first  book  (see  this  subject  elegantly 
discussed  in  a  publication,  highly  popular  in  its  day,  called  Fitz- 
osborne's  Letters,  of  which  Melmoth  was  the  author)  there  can  be 
little  doubt  but  that,  had  that  version  been  completed,  it  would  have 
been  immeasurably  behind  Pope's  in  poetical  spirit  and  harmony. 

The  modern  Greek  version  (of  the  ILIAD  only)  alluded  to  in  the 
text,  is  as  follows  :  premising,  that  this  account  of  it  is  taken  from 
the  volume  itself  (of  excessive  rarity)  in  the  library  at  Chatsworth. 
It  had  belonged  to  the  late  Bishop  of  Ely  j  and  as  the  late  Mr.  Beloe 
had  access  to  the  Bishop's  library,  I  thought  it  likely  it  might  appear 
in  the  pages  of  the  Anecdotes  of  Literature,  but  on  traciag  all  the  re- 
ferences to  Homer  (in  the  index)  to  their  sources,  I  do  not  observe  it. 
Yet  it  may  have  possibly  escaped  me.  Take  it  therefore,  gentle 
reader,  as  you  find  it  here  : 

OMHPOY  IXlXc,   METABAH0E*?  A  IlAAAI   ElC  KOINHN  «yXwcr<ra»,  vvv 


(3S(3hos,  waga'  NixoXa'ot;  ra  Aoyxa'veu,  &C.  &C.  This  title  is  in  red. 
At  the  end,  on  the  recto  of  the  last  leaf,  in  black  letter  :  Starnpata  in 
Venetia  per  Maestro  Stefano  da  Sabio  :  il  quale  habita  a  Santa  Maria 
formosa:  ad  instantia  di  miser  Damian  di  santa  Maria  daSpici.  M.D. 
xxvi  nel  mese  di  magio.  It  is  printed  in  double  columns  :  beginning 
thus,  on  the  reverse  of  signature  a  viij  . 

a£e  xat 


&c.     &c. 


GREEK.]  POETRY.  619 

may  dispute  with  each  other  for  chronological  prece- 
dence. I  shall  refer  the  reader  to  the  subjoined  note* 
for  an  account  of  the  earlier  editions  of  this  poet,  and 
say  no  more  here  about  subsequent  impressions, 
than  that,  those,  to  which  the  names  of  Grcevius, 
Robinson,  and  Loesnerfi  are  attached,  as  Editors,  have 

The  giving  of  the  girdle  to  Juno,  by  Venus,  is  curiously  enough  re- 
presented (/*.  vj  recto.) 


ravryv 


xat  ythujoe,  tip  TO  rrj 

&c.     &c. 

There  are  bold  and  spirited  wood-cuts  throughout.  The  Duke's  copy 
is  in  sound  and  desirable  condition. 

*  The  first  printed  text  of  HESIOD  is  found  in  the  Milan  Theocritus 
of  1493,  and  the  Aldine  of  1495  :  (See  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  43.) 
the  former  containing  the  Opera  #  Dies,  the  latter  the  Theogonia. 
The  first  edition  of  the  complete  works  of  Hesiod,  is  that  of  Trinca- 
vellus,  printed  at  Venice  in  1537,  4to.  Gr.  and  containing  the  Scholia. 
A  copy  of  this  truly  valuable,  as  well  as  rare,  edition  is  marked  by 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  at  the  reasonable  sum  of  2Z.  2s. 

f  Of  Graevius,  including  the  labours  of  Le  Clerc,  the  best  edition 
is  considered  to  be  that  of  Amst.  1701,  8vo.  worth  about  145.  .  but  I 
should  prefer  the  Elzevir  edition  of  1667*  Svo.  worth  about  the  same 
sum.  Robinson's  edition  of  1737*  4to.  Gr.  &  Lat.  may  be  obtained 
for  1Z.  lls.  6d.  j  and  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  "  second 
paper"  copy  of  it,  scarce,  and  neat  at  3l.  3s.  But  the  GREAT  GUN  — 
not  only  of  this,  but  of  every  other  ancient  classic  —  is  the  large  paper 
of  Robinson,  of  a  srnall/oZio  form,  of  which  ten  copies  only  are  said  to 
have  been  struck  off,  and  for  which  the  Duke  of  Grafton's  copy,  the 
last  sold,  produced  the  sum  of  100Z.  Loesner's  edition  of  1778,  Svo. 
Gr.  &  Lat.  with  the  Scholia,  is  worth  II.  Is.  :  and  an  excellent  edi- 
tion it  is.  See  the  authorities  in  the  Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  i. 
page  363. 


620  POETRY.  [GREEK. 

the  greater  claims  to  be  admitted  among  his  "  Li- 
brary Companions.  "  As  the  dramatic  writers  of 
Greece  are  introduced  under  the  ensuing  department, 
I  shall  here  only  add,  to  the  foregoing  poets,  the  names 
of  Theocritus,  Pindar,  Anacreon,  and  Callimachus. 

THEOCRITUS  claims  an  early,  and  should  receive  a 
lasting,  attention ;  and  a  great  deal  of  bibliographical 
mystery  is  involved  in  ascertaining  the  "  right  points" 
of  sundry  editions  of  his  works.  The  text  of  this  in- 
teresting, and  thorougly  characteristic  writer,  was  first 
printed  at  Milan,  in  1493,  and  twice  in  1495,  by  Al- 
dus :*  but  the  Scholia  did  not  appear  till  about  twenty 
years  afterwards,  at  Rome,  under  the  care  of  Calli- 
ergus;  and  I  must  request  my  "  Young  Man,"  in  par- 
ticular, to  snap  up  a  fine  copy  of  this  intrinsically 
valuable  book,  in  all  respects,  whenever  such  a  treasure 
present  itself  in  any  particularly  tempting  condition. f 
Does  it  exist  in  a  Grolier  surtout :  As  to  critical  edi- 
tions, of  a  "later  date,  rest  contented  with  that  by 
Warton,  or  Valcknaer,  or  Kiessling.^. 

*  A  fine  and  perfect  copy  of  this  very  rare  Editio  Princeps  of  The- 
ocritus, in  1493,  is  surely  worth  42Z.  ?  Lord  Spencer's  is  a  most  desir- 
able copy.  At  Paris,  in  the  Royal  Library,  they  preserve  an  extra- 
ordinary curiosity — a  unique  copy  of  this  book,  on  LARGE  PAPER, 
with  a  title  and  imprint  of  the  date  of  1524.  See  Tour,  vol.  ii.  page 
315.  The  Aldine  editions  of  1495,  which  once  lifted  up  their  heads 
so  high,  on  account  of  their  rarity,  have  dropt  dreadfully  in  price. 
Mr.  Payne  has  a  ff  very  large  copy  "  of  the  first,  marked  at  31.  3s. 
only  5  and  of  the  second,  at  ll.  Is.  "  two  leaves  wanting."  See  BibL 
Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  438-443. 

f  This  desirable  volume  was  published  at  Rome,  in  1516:  Gr.  in 
small  4to.  and  is  of  very  uncommon  occurrence.  A  fine  copy  of  it 
may  be  worth  31.  13s.  6d. 

$  WARTON'S  sumptuous  edition  of  Theocritus,  printed  at  the  Ox- 


GREEK.]  POETRY.  621 

Let  PINDAR  here  come  in  for  especial  notice  and 
commendation  ;  and  if  he  be  difficult  to  master,  let  us 
solace  ourselves  that  he  will  be  found  sublime  when 
mastered.  Grasp  with  avidity  a  fine  ample-margined 
copy  of  the  Edit.  Prin.  1513,  executed  in  the  Aldine 
office  ;  *  and,  making  a  proud  display  of  a  tall  and 

ford  press  in  1770,  Gr.  &  Lat.  4to.  2  vols.  is  copiously  described  in 
the  Introd.  to  the  Classics,  vol.  ii.  p.  278  :  and  yet  some  particularities, 
about  cancelled  leaves,  which  I  will  not  even  here  attempt  to  specify, 
are  omitted.  Are  these  included  under  the  term  "  Cur&  Posteriores," 
introduced  in  the  description  of  the  copy  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss,  marked  at  51.  15s.  6d.  "  very  neat  ?"  A  fine  copy, 
in  russia  binding,  is  marked  at  11.  7s.  VALCKNAER'S  edition  of  1779, 
Svo.  may  be  considered  the  best  of  that  critic's  editions :  that  of  1781 
being  only  a  reprint  of  it.  It  is  worth  12  or  15*.  in  neat  binding — 
and  I  recommend  it  "  toils  viribus."  But  KIESSLING'S  edition  of 
1819,  Gr.  &  Lat.  with  Scholia,  &c.  is  undoubtedly  the  most  erudite 
and  elaborate  of  all  the  octavo  impressions  of  Theocritus  :  and  Mr. 
Bohn  will  supply  you  with  copies  in  every  state  and  at  almost  every 
price — from  humble  boards  to  imperial  morocco. 

*  I  can  never  think  of  this  first  edition  (without  the  Scholia)  but 
my  imagination  riots  (and  loves  to  riot)  in  the  contemplation,  as  it 
were,  of  the  unique  copy  of  it,  ON  VELLUM,  in  the  matchless  membra- 
naceous  Alduses  of  Spencer  House !  And  well  do  I  call  to  mind  the 
vehement  rapture  with  which  my  especial  good  friend,  the  Rev.  H. 
Drury,  read — and  seemed  to  feel "  the  inspiring  god" — ("  Deus,  ecce 
Deus  ")  as  he  read  —  a  few  of  the  verses  from  one  of  the  Olympic 
Odes — alternately  rejoicing  in  the  splendour  of  Pindaric  imagery  and 
the  lustre  of  Aldine  vellum !  To  be  sure,  such  a  volume  is  deserving 
of  every  species  of  classical  and  bibliomaniacal  enthusiasm.  It  was 
the  property  of  the  late  Count  Revickzy :  but  see  Bibliogr.  Decameron, 
vol.  ii.  p.  349.  A  fine  copy  on  paper  is  of  rare  occurrence.  Let  me 
just  add  that  the  Scholia  of  Pindar  were  first  printed  at  Rome  in 
1515,  4to.  and  that  it  is  the  first  Greek  book  published  in  that  city. 
For  a  critical  account  of  it,  consult  Heyne's  preface  j  Edit.  Secund, 
p.  107.  Mr.  Bohn  marks  a  fine  copy  of  it  at  ll.  8s. 


622  POETRY.  [GREEK. 

Oxford  bound  copy  of  the  edition  of  West  and  Wel- 
stedof  1697,  betake  yourself  to  the  copious  and  critical 
pages  of  Heyne,  for  the  most  thorough  and  satisfactory 
understanding  of  the  original  text  of  the  poet.* 

ANACREON  will  be  bought,  by  the  fond  enthusiast  of 
that  fascinating  author,  in  almost  every  form  and  con- 
dition :  from  the  editio  princeps,  by  Harry  Stephen  in 
1554,  to  the  last  of  the  critical  editions  of  Fischer.-J- 

*  In  most  of  our  old  libraries,  stand  tall,  and  comely  copies  of 
the  Oxford  Pindar  of  1697.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  value  a  "  fine 
copy,  russia,  gilt  leaves/'  at  3Z.  135.  6d. ;  and  support  that  "  fine 
copy  "  by  a  much  finer  one,  in  good  sooth — it  being  on  ff  LARGE 
PAPER,"  with  the  addition  of  "  EXTREMELY  RARE".. but  with  no 
price  subjoined.  Will  posterity  ever  be  made  acquainted  with  the 
sum  for  which  that  copy  has  been,  or  is  to  be,  disposed  of?  In 
Cleveland-square,  at  Althorp,  at  Chatsworth,  and  of  course  at  Buck- 
ingham House,  a  similar  gigantic  copy  may  be  seen.  Respecting 
Heyne's  edition,  you  may  have  copies  at  all  prices.  It  is  worth 
2Z.  2s.  in  plain  calf ;  and  about  5l.  15s.  6d.  on  LARGE  PAPER  in  neat 
binding.  For  the  critical  merits  of  this  edition,  consult  the  Introd.  to 
the  Classics,  vol.  ii.  p.  129-131. 

f  The  first  edition  of  Anacreon  +  was  published  by  Henry  Stephen 
in  1554,  in  a  4to.  form  5  and  is  by  no  means  a  volume  of  particular 
scarcity.  Yet  a  fine  copy  maybe  worth  2Z.  12s.  6d.  Maittaire  gave 
the  world  a  most  respectable,  as  well  as  critical  edition,  in  that  of 
1725,  4to.j  of  which  only  100  copies  were  printed,  and  which  was 
dedicated  to  his  particular  friend  Sir  Richard  Ellys,  Bart,  with  whom 
he  loved  to  disport  in  bibliographical  pleasantries  §  and  forlwhom, 


J  See  a  long  and  learned  disquisition  on  the  lyrical  metres  of  Anacreon  (which 
once  engaged  the  attention  of  Dr.  Burney  and  the  present  Bishop  of  Hereford)  in 
the  ClassicalJournal,  vol.  ii.  p.  31,  vol.  iv.  pp.  196-280. 

§  Of  these  "  pleasantries, "  take,  gentle  reader,  a  specimen  singularly  characte- 
ristic of  the  Writer,  and  delightfully  illustrative  of  the  "  pleasant "  terms  on  which 
that  writer  and  his  Correspondent  lived  with  each  other.  It  relates  to  the  pur- 
chase of  a  copy  of  the  Aldine  Greek  Psalter,  by  Maittaire,  from  a  bookseller,  who, 
it  must  be  admitted,  fought  a  tolerably  good  fight,  considering  the  insinuating 


GREEK.]  POETRY.  623 

The  tribe  of  little  minnow  pocket-editions,  is,  almost 
like  unto  that  of  the  fish  here  brought  into  the  adjec- 
tive form.  For  CALLIMACHUS,  despair  equally  of 
getting-  possession  of  the  edit.  prin.  executed  in  capital 
letters,  and  of  that  edited  by  Robortellus,  in  1555, 

chiefly,  that  magnificent  library  was  collected  which  adorns  the  oft- 
mentioned  mansion  of  Blickling :  see  p.  578,  ante.  Maittaire's  edi- 
tion was  reprinted  in  1740:  but  that  of  1725  is  the  game  at  which  a 
thorough  bred  bibliomaniacal  sportsman  must  fly.  It  is  worth 
2Z.  25.  in  fine  condition.  But,  after  all,  Fischer's  edition  of  1793, 
must  be  the  critical  Anacreontic  tome  for  ordinary  purposes  of  con- 
sultation. A  good  vellum-bound  copy  of  it  is  worth  12s.  6d. 


attack  of  the  purchaser.  This  letter  has  been  obligingly  copied  for  me  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Churchill,  from  the  original — hi  the  library  at  Blickling  : 

Viro  dignissimo,  antiquis  moribus,  proba  indole,  Literis  ornatissimo,  Richardo 
Ellys,  Bart0. 

S.P.D. 

Mich.  Maittaire. 

En  tibi,  Vir  Amicissime,  Psalterium,  quantivis  pretii ;  auro  contra  non  caruiu, 
Veruntamen,  priusquam  pecuniam  solverem,  multis  strenue  egi  cum  bibliopola. 
"  Heus,  inquam,  sperasne  hunc  librum  fore  vendibilem  ?  Tota  erras  via.  Isto  cha- 
ractere  peregrino,ignoto  ;  et  si  quis  Graecum  fuisse  conjiciat,  minime  intellecto  ; 
et  si  quis  paulum  intelligat,  minime  utili ;  nunc  praesertim  temporis,  quo  libri  ad 
illam  materiam  neglectam,  im5  in  ridiculo  habitam,  spectantes,  sint  rnerae  nug83. 
Si  igitur  me  audis,  pretium,  quod  postules,  divide ;  alia  lege  me  non  habetis  emp- 
torem.  Sero  poenitebit,  cum  liber  abjectus  in  Officina  putrescet."  Bibliopola,  qui 
libri  dignitatem  non  ignorabat,  his  verbis  primum  baud  permotus,  subrisit;  meque 
non  serio  loqui  suspicatus  est.  Instabam  utcunque,  et  consilio,  dixi,  meo  utere  ; 
"  huic  auro,  quod  postulas,  quantum  detrahes  ?  age,  et  fac  videam,  quantum  sapias." 
Homo,  vix  tandem  victus,  pro  numflao  semi-aureo,  vendidit  semi-argentem  ;  quern 
tibiremitto.  Nescio  an  risum  hoc  joculari  inter  me  et  bibliopolam  dialogo  tibi 
moverim.  locis  missis  ad  seria  transeo  .  .  . 

Maittaire  goes  on  to  prove,  very  justly,  that  the  book  was  printed  by  Aldus 
about  the  year  1495-6.  The  postscript  is  as  follows  : 

Vale.  Ex  Museolo  CID.  13  CCXXXVI.  Prid.  Cal.  Mat.  Vides,  Vir  humanissime, 
quam  familiariter  tecum  agam  :  nee  sane,  nisi  scirem  nihil  humani  a  te  alienum 
esse,  ausim  epistolam  lituris  quam  literis  pleniorem  tuis  oculis  exposuisse.  Facile 
me  haberes  excusaturn,  si  intueri  posses,  quali  erga  te  sim  animo ;  quos  affectus  in 
meo  pectore  excitet  tua  in  me  benevolentia. 


624  POETRY.  [GREEK. 

12mo.  :*  and,  shunning  the  large  paper  of  Grceviuss 
impression  of  1697,  (which  once  made  the  eye  of  the 
classical  bibliomaniac  sparkle  with  ecstacy !)  seek  for 
the  edition  of  Ernest i,  or  ofBlo??ifield ;  both  to  be  had 
at  "  comfortable  "  prices — and  both  capable  of  mak- 
ing you  learned  in  the  lore  of  a  poet,  whose  merits 
ought  to  render  him  more  familial-  to  the  bulk  of  clas- 
sical readers.-}- 

*  A  succinct  and  correct  account  of  the  editions  of  Callimachus 
appeared  in  the  second  volume  of  the  Museum  Criticum,  p.  146,  &c. 
from  which  it  should  seem  that  the  scarcest,  and  one  of  the  most  in- 
trinsically valuable,  is  that  of  Robortellus,  printed  at  Venice  in  1555, 
12mo.  Of  this  edition,  in  particular,  an  account  is  given  in  vol.  i. 
page  327  of  the  same  work ;  and  for  the  helps  which  it  afforded  Dr. 
Blomfield,  in  his  edition  of  1815,  see  the  pages  first  referred  to.  The 
only  known  copy  of  it,  in  this  country,  is  in  the  library  of  his  Grace 
the  Duke  of  Devonshire.  As  to  the  Editio  Princeps,  in  capital  letters, 
I  apprehend  it  to  be  among  the  very  scarcest  —  if  not  the  scarcest — 
of  all  the  famous  Greek  capital  letter  productions ;  and  the  copy  of 
it,  which  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  Library,  produced 
the  sum  of  601.  It  exists,  as  I  learn,  in  some  library  at  Florence,  or 
at  Rome,  along  with  the  Musaus,  Anthology,  Apollonius  Rhodius,  and 
Euripides,  in  one  volume,  UPON  VELLUM  !  Immeasurably  precious 
treasure : —  a  very  Valdarfar  Boccaccio  in  price  !  Will  it  ever  insinuate 
itself  into  this  country  ?  More  improbable  things  have  happened. 

f  Alas,  for  the  fate  of  LARGE  PAPER  copies — in  general !  although 
doubtless  with  many  splendid  exceptions.  There  was  a  time,  when 
the  buoyant  spirits  of  Bridges,  Mead,  Foulkes,  and  Askew,  knew  of 
no  greater  felicity  than  that  of  the  possession  of  the  Gr&vius  Calli- 
machus on  large  paper:  —  and  10,  12,  14,  16,  and  even  18  guineas 
have  been  given  for  such  a  copy.  Now,  it  reposes,  untouched  and 
unnoticed,  on  the  shelves  of  booksellers,  for  some  five  or  six  guineas. 
Do  I  hear  the  classical  moralist  exclaim,  in  the  language  of  Persius, 
tf  O  curas  hominum !  O  quantum  est  in  rebus  inane  ! "  And  yet, 
read  the  commendations  on  this  edition  in  the  Museum  Criticum,vol.  ii. 
p.  149  j  from  which  you  will  be  induced  to  give  at  least  a  dozen  or 
sixteen  shillings  for  a  good  copy  on  small  paper.  Had  Ernesti's  edi* 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  625 

From  the  poets  of  Greece,  the  step  is  at  once  natu- 
ral and  easy  to  those  of  ROME.  And  here,  at  very 
starting,  we  are  distracted  in  the  choice  :  with  "  the 
embarrassment  of  wealth  "  —  not  only  on  account  of 
the  comparative  facility  with  which  these  Roman 
poets  may  be  mastered,  but  on  account  of  their  abso- 
lute beauty,  variety,  and  interest.  These  poets  may 
perhaps  be  safely  divided  into  two  classes.  In  the 
first,  appear  Virgil,  Lucretius,  Ovid,  Juvenal,  Persius, 
Martial,  and  Horace :  in  the  second,  Lucan,  Statius, 
Silius  Italicus,  Claudian,  Catullus,  Tibullus,  Proper- 
tius,  and  Valerius  Flaccus ;  and  yet  I  admit  that,  if 
the  latter  Bard  find  a  place  here,  so  ought  APOLLO- 

tion,  in  1761,  8vo.  two  vol.  contained  the  emendations  and  notes  of 
Valcknaer,  it  would  have  had  better  pretensions  to  the  applause  of 
the  learned,  and  would  have  received  the  undivided  patronage  of  the 
classical  world.  It  is  yet  however  worth  ll.  Is.  in  good  condition. 
In  the  year  1815  appeared  the  critical  and  accurate  edition  of  Dr. 
Blomfield,  obtainable  at  an  easy  price,  and  in  all  respects  desirable 
from  the  purity  of  the  text,  the  accession  of  various  readings  from  the 
Edit.  Prin.  and  from  that  of  Robortellus ;  the  notes  of  Bentley,  Rhun- 
ken,  andErnesti ;  and  from  those  (the  greater  number)  of  the  learned 
Editor  himself.  <(  The  collection  of  Fragments,  quoted  from  vari- 
ous writers,  occupying,  with  the  comments  upon  them,  one  hundred 
and  seventy  pages,  has  now  been  enlarged  to  the  number  of  five 
hundred  and  eleven."  Mus.  Crit.  ibid.  After  such  an  account,  what 
remains,  but  to  give  a  prompt  order  for  this  edition  of  Callimachus  ? 
which,  had  it  been  accompanied  by  a  parallel  Latin  text,  ("  pace 
dixerim")  would,  I  am  persuaded,  have  been  the  inmate  of  the  li- 
brary of  every  ' '  Young  Man  "  of  any  pretension  to  classical  reputa- 
tion. It  exists  on  LAUGE  PAPER  :  and  why  should  it  not  ?  I  had 
almost  forgotten  to  add,  that  the  Scholia,  being  considered  as  spurious, 
are  rejected ;  and  that  Ernesti's  useful  Index,  corrected  and  mate- 
rially  enlarged,  is  added  to  the  edition. 

S   S 


626  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

NIUS  RHODIUS  and  B ION  and  MOSCHUS* — in  the  pre- 
vious arrangement  of  the  Grecian  poets. 

First,  then,  of  the  divine  VIRGIL  ;  the  very  Rafaelle 
of  poets  of  all  countries  —  for  so  I  venture  upon  pre- 
fixing that  epithet,  which  is  usually  attached  to  the 
great  painter  whose  name  is  here  coupled  with  the 
Mantuan  bard.  Of  the  earlier  editions-^  of  Virgil,  the 

*  These  poets  may  however  receive  a  slight  bibliographical  notice 
in  the  present  place.  The  Edit.  prin.  of  APOLLONIUS  RHODIUS  was 
published  in  1496,  4to.  Gr.  in  capital  letters.  Lord  Spencer  pos- 
sesses the  beautiful  copy  of  it  UPON  VELLUM,  (from  the  sale  of  the 
Macarthy  library)  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  Girardot  de  Pre*- 
fond.  A  similar  copy  is  in  the  royal  Collection,  and  another  in  that  at 
Blenheim.  A  sound  and  well  bound  copy,  on  paper,  may  be  ob- 
tained for  61.  6s.  For  critical  editions,  get  that  of  Schaefer  of  1810, 
Lips.  Gr.  &  Lat.two  vols.  worth  about  1Z.  11s.  6d.  Collectors  make 
boast  of  a  beautiful  copy  of  the  Elzevir  edition  of  1641,  8vo.  Gr.  & 
Lat.  edited  by  Hoelzlinus ;  but  many  make  boast  of  what  they  never 
look  into.  BION  and  MOSCHUS  have  been  most  accurately  as  well  as 
beautifully  published  in  the  Poetce  Minores  Grceci,  of  which  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Gaisford,  Regius  Professor  of  the  Greek  language  at  Oxford,  is 
the  Editor,  This  desirable  work  is  now  complete,  in  4  octavo  vo- 
lumes, 1815-1820}  the  two  latter  volumes  having  the  Scholia  on 
Hesiod  and  Theocritus :  but  copies  of  it  on  LARGE  PAPER,  must  be 
hoped  for,  rather  than  sought  after  —  as  where  shall  they  be  found  ? 
A  copy  on  small  paper  is  worth  about  2Z.  2*.  in  bds. 

f  If  the  bibliographical  critic  and  antiquary  be  anxious  to  embark 
on  a  sort  of  Bay  of  Biscay  voyage,  respecting  the  earlier,  rarer,  and 
more  precious  editions  of  Virgil,  he  may  consult  not  fewer  than 
FIFTY-THREE  pages,  relating  to  that  subject,  in  the  second  and  sixth 
volumes  of  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana.$  And,  again,  if  he  prefer  consult- 
ing some  score  pages  respecting  the  same,  let  him  turn  to  the  xlvth 
page  of  the  Index  of  the  Tour — where  shall  be  seen,  marshalled  indue 
array,  a  varied  and  tempting  list  of  these  desirable  objects  of  research. 


*  That  is,  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  ii.  for  the  vith  of  the  Bibl.  Spencer. 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  627 

difficulty  will  be  considerable  to  procure  fine  copies  of 
any  before  the  year  1476>  or  1480  :  and  as  to  the  impres- 

Here,  I  shall  only  place  the  larger  end  of  the  telescope  to  the  eye  of 
my  young  man,  39  as  to  reduce  these  objects  within  a  narrow  com- 
pass. And  first,  as  to  the  Editio  Princeps,  supposed  to  have  been 
printed  in  1469  by  Sweynheym  and  Pannartz.  The  most  beautiful 
copies  of  this  book  which  I  ever  saw,  are  those  in  the  libraries  of  Earl 
Spencer  and  Ste.  Genevieve  at  Paris:  but  this  latter,  although 
larger  than  his  Lordship's,  is  defective,  inasmuch  as  it  wants  the 
Priapeia.*  Count  Melzi's  copy,  now  in  this  country,  and  the  pro- 
perty of  Mr.  Standish,  has  also  the  same  deficiency.  The  copy  in  the 
Bodleian  library,  wanting  four  leaves,  and  otherwise  in  a  very  peril- 
ous condition,  had  belonged  to  the  Duke  di  Cassano,  and  was  sold 
among  Lord  Spencer's  duplicates  for  631.  But,  rarer  than  ihisjirst 
edition  from  the  press  of  Sweynheym  and  Pannartz,  is  the  second, 
from  the  same  printing  office,  of  the  date  of  1471 :  of  which  only 
two  copies  are  known  to  exist  in  this  country.  One,  perfect  and 
sound,  in  Lord  Spencer's  library,  and  formerly  in  the  Royal  Li- 
brary at  Stuttgart  $  the  other  in  the  Hunterian  Collection  at  Glasgow, 
but,  according  to  a  note  made  by  me  several  years  ago,  not  quite 
perfect  at  the  end.  At  Paris,  they  preserve  Politian's  copy  of  this 
second  Roman  edition,  UNCUT.  I  consider  a  fine  and  perfect  copy  of 
ei  ther  of  these  editions  worth  two  hundred  guineas,  at  the  least. 

What  shall  be  said  of  the  beauteous  tome — the  first  edition  of 
Virgil  with  a  date  —  put  forth  by  Vindelln  de  Spira,  in  1470  ?  On 
paper  or  on  vellum,  it  is  of  prodigious  rarity.  The  Royal  Library 
at  Paris  possesses  it  ON  VELLUM  —  lovely,  almost  beyond  all  loveli- 
ness !  Mr.  Grenville  has  a  similar  copy  j  larger,  but  not  quite  ia 
the  same  inviting  condition  throughout.  This  copy,  purchased  of 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  in  an  objectionable  state,  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  C.  Lewis,  and  left  those  same  hands  in  a  form  and  con- 
dition as  if  it  had  undergone  some  revivifying  and  enlarging  process. 
The  beauty  could  scarcely  have  known  itself  again  :  "  Miratufque 
novas  frondes  et  non  sua  poma."  On  paper,  such  a  volume,  in  per- 


*  It  is  however  a  moot  point  whether  the  PRIAPEIA  really  belong  to  the  first  edi- 
tion of  Virgil.    It  is  no  moot  point  that  they  are  not  the  production  of  that  author. 


628  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

sions  by  Sweynheym  and  Pannartz,  or  by  Mentelin,  or 
by  Vindelin  de  Spira,  the  "  YoungMan  "  must  not  set 
his  heart  too  devotedly  upon  either ;  for,  long  will  be 
the  period,  and  incessant  will  be  the  difficulties  and 
obstacles,  in  the  accomplishment  of  such  an  object. 
The  Brescia  edition  of  1473,  in  the  collection  of  Earl 
Spencer,  is  considered  as  unique. 

But  I  will  break  away  from  the  entanglements  in- 
volved in  a  discussion  of  these  ancient  impressions  of 
the  Bard  of  Mantua,  and,  scarcely  vouchsafing  to 
notice  any  of  the  earlier  and  more  brilliant  gems 
executed  in  the  office  of  Aldus*  betake  myself  only  to 
the  recommendation  of  those  thoroughly  useful  and 
substantial  editions  of  the  poet,  of  which  Burman  and 
Heyne  were  the  editors  :  recommending,  in  the  mean 
time,  an  occasionally  serviceable  impression  with  the 

feet  condition,  is  worth  1OOZ.  I  had  well  nigh  said  120  guineas- 
And  now,  as  to  Mentelin's  edition,  without  date,  but  supposed  to  be 
really  the  second  of  the  Poet.  It  is  a  volume  of  excessive  rarity, 
though  doubtless  of  less  rarity  than  the  preceding.  The  finest  copy 
of  it  with  which  I  am  acquainted  (and  I  have  seen  six)  is  that  in  the 
splendid  library  of  Mr.  George  Hibbert ;  well  worth  the  sum  (100/.) 
at  which  it  was  acquired.  These  four  editions  of  Virgil,  with  the 
exception  of  that  of  Zarotus  of  1472,  of  one  of  a  similar  date  in  the 
types  of  the  Ausonius  of  1472,  and  of  the  Brescia  of  1473,  are  un- 
questionably the  rarest  of  all  those  of  the  "  Divine  Virgii.  " 

*  First,  in  1501,  secondly,  in  1505,  and  thirdly,  in  1514:  all  of 
extreme  rarity  and  price.  Of  the  first,  I  have  seen  three  copies  UPON 
VELLUM  :  the  most  beautiful,  in  the  library  at  Spencer  House.  The 
second  edition  ON  VELLUM  is  of  tremendous  rarity.  It  is  in  the  Melzi 
collection,  now  belonging  to  Mr.  Standish ;  but  is  wanting  in  Earl 
Spencer's  j  where,  however,  is  a  most  exquisite  copy  on  paper.  The 
LARGE  PAPER  of  1514  (in  the  cabinet  just  mentioned)  is  much  sought 
after;  and  may  be  worth  151.  15*.  in  fine  condition. 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  629 

notes  of  various  commentators,  or  what  are  called  the 
Variorum  impressions.  * 

Of  LUCRETIUS,  you  can  only  hope  for  the  first  edi- 
tion, printed  at  Brescia,  by  Ferandus.^-  The  Aldine 
quarto  of  1500  is  probably  the  next  in  rarity ;  and  for 
critical  editions,  obtain  possession  of  that  by  Haver- 
camp,  or  Wakefield,  or  Eichstadt.  +  OVID  defies  pos- 

*  Burman's  Virgil,  1746,  4to.  4  vols.  is  worth  about  31.  in  good 
calf  binding;  and  that  of  Heyne,  Lips.  1800,  6  vols.  beautifully  and 
splendidly  got  up,  about  11.  ?s.  in  the  same  condition.  But  there  are 
copies  on  fine  vellum  paper,  which  bring  a  few  additional  guineas, 
especially  when  clothed  in  morocco  attire.  As  to  the  Variorum  edi- 
tion, that  of  Leyden,  1680,  8vo.  3  vols.  is  (whether  justly,  may  be 
questioned)  the  usual  favourite :  and  I  find  a  copy,  in  old  morocco 
binding,  marked  at  the  reasonable  sum  of  31.  3s.  in  the  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  Arch*  For  a  pocket  edition,  get  the  true  Elzevir  of  1636  — 
or,  why  not  the  little  elfin  32mo.  of  Mr.  Pickering  >  But  a  thousand 
pigmy  rivals  here  start  up-— and  threaten  to  pin  me  down  as  Gulliver 
was  pinned  down — and  so  I  precipitate  my  retreat, 

f  There  are  only  two  copies  of  this  editio  princeps,  by  Ferandus,  in 
England  :  one,  in  the  library  at  Spencer  House  j  the  other  in  that  of 
Mr.  Standish,  late  the  property  of  Count  Melzi :  and  I  believe  I  am 
speaking  within  compass  when  I  affirm  its  pecuniary  value  to  be  at 
least  300  guineas.  In  the  BibL  Spenceriana,  vol.  ii.  page  149-153,  a 
full  account  of  it  will  be  found.  The  discovery  of  this  edition  has 
pulled  down  the  worth  of  the  Verona  edit,  of  1486  prodigiously. 

J  The  Aldine  Lucretius  of  1500  is  in  truth  a  very  scarce  book; 
rarely  found  in  fine  and  perfect  condition  3  and,  when  so  found,  worth 
hard  upon  12Z.  12s.  The  Lucretius  of  Havercamp,  published  at 
Leyden  in  1725,  4to.  2  vols.  still  maintains  a  very  stiff  price  in  the 
market ;  but  I  had  conceived  Mr.  Bohn  to  have  put  an  unbendingly 
stiff  one  upon  it,  at  6Z.  6s,  —  although  it  was  in  morocco,  fine,  and 
bound  by  Staggemier — until  I  found  Messrs.  Arch  giving  81.  10s.  for 
the  same  work  at  the  sale  of  Dr.  Heath's  library.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered however  that  the  latter  was  a  war  price.  The  disappointment 
felt  at  Wakefield's  edition  1796,  4to.  3  vols.  was  in  part  the  cause  of 


630  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

session,  on  his  first  appearance,  in  a  perfect  form.  I 
repeat  it — a  PERFECT  copy  of  the  Edit.  Prln.  of  Ovid, 
by  Azzoguidi,  1471,  folio,  no  where  exists:  in  other 
words,  its  existence  is  unknown.  *  I  will  allow  both 
the  youthful  and  the  elderly  reader  to  become  master 
of  the  first  Aldine  of  1502  ;  but  in  no  wise  to  deceive 
himself  with  the  glittering  and  seductive  hope  of 
obtaining  it  UPON  vELLUM.f  Let  him  however  make 
sure  of  one  of  the  Variorums ;  and  if  he  be  particu- 

the  high  price  of  Havercamp's  5  but  the  reimpression  of  Wakefield, 
by  Mr.  Duncan  of  Glasgow,  in  4  beautiful  octavo  volumes,  1813,  is 
in  fact  the  edition  which  I  would  recommend  to  the  generality  of 
readers — as  containing  the  collation  of  the  Brescia  parent  text,  from 
Lord  Spencer's  copy.  It  may  be  had  in  all  bindings,  and  on  both  large 
and  small  paper.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  copy  of  the  LARGE,  (f  calf, 
elegant,  marble  leaves  "  at  71"  7s.  The  small  is  worth  about  I/.  185. 
in  bds.  Still  I  must  recommend  my  young  man  to  give  the  best 
part  of  a  sovereign  for  a  well  bound  copy  of  Eichstadfs  edition,  Lips. 
1801,  8vo. 

*  In  this  country,  there  are  copies  very  nearly  approaching  perfec- 
tion, in  the  libraries  of  the  King,  Earl  Spencer,  the  Right  Hon.  T. 
Grenville,  and  the  Bodleian.  The  Royal  Library  at  Paris  has  it 
also  in  an  imperfect  state.  The  only  chance  of  perfecting  either 
copy  is,  by  purchasing  portions  of  such  as  may  be  found  vendible  — 
but  where  ?  However  the  rival  edition,  of  the  same  date,  (1471)  by 
Sweynheym  and  Pannartz,  is  of  very  great  rarity ;  and  Mr.  Grenville 
could  not  obtain  possession  of  his  copy  of  it  (from  the  sale  of  the 
Cassano  library,  as  Lord  Spencer's  duplicates)  under  the  sum  of 
731.  10s.  Both  these  bibliographical  gems  of  classical  literature  are 
minutely  described  in  the  Bill.  Spenceriana,  vol.  ii.  p.  191-200. 

f  I  apprehend  that  a  perfect  copy  of  the  three  volumes  of  the  first 
Aldine  impression  of  1502,  12mo.  UPON  VELLUM,  to  be  of  excessively 
rare  occurrence ;  and  indeed  know  of  no  other  copy  than  that  in  the 
library  of  Earl  Spencer,  which  is  extremely  beautiful,  and  was  ob- 
tained from  the  Paris  Collection :  see  no.  210  of  the  catalogue.  The 
second  Aldine  impression  of  1515,  3  vols.  12mo.  is  perhaps  of  supe- 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  631 

larly  attached  to  the  pages  of  this  truly  beautiful  and 
original  author,  and  be  desirous  of  becoming  master 
of  all  the  mythological  learning  which  his  pages  in- 
volve, I  entreat  him  to  lose  no  time  in  devoting  his 
days  and  his  nights  to  the  critical  lucubrations  con- 
tained in  the  edition  of  Peter  Burman,  published  in 
1727,  4to.  4  vols.* 

There  is  no  author,  with  the  exception  of  Terence, 
of  whom  the  history  of  the  earlier  editions  involves  so 
many  difficulties  and  apparent  contradictions,  as  JUVE- 
NAL ;  and,  with  him,  let  me  couple  his  inseparable  com- 
panion, PERSIUS.  The  earliest  printed  text  of  the  former 
has  been  but  recently  introduced  into  this  country — in 
the  cabinet  of  Earl  Spencer.  It  is  that  executed  in 
the  smallest  roman  type  of  Ulric  Han,  and,  question- 
less, although  it  be  without  date,  before  the  year  1470.1* 

rior  critical  importance  j  and  of  this,  also,  Renouard  says  there  are 
copies  upon  vellum.  I  never  saw  one. 

*  Of  the  Variorum  impressions,  perhaps  there  is  not  much  choice 
between  that  superintended  by  Cnlppingius  at  Leyden,  1670,  8vo. 

3  vols.,  and  that  by  Schrevelius  at  Amsterdam   in  1683,  8vo.  3  vols. 
A  good  copy  of  either  impression  will  cost  the  purchaser  somewhere 
about  31.  3s.     Burman's  Ovid  was  published  at  Amsterdam  in  1727, 

4  to.  4  vols.  and  a  sound  copy  of  it,  in  ordinary  binding,  may  be  worth 
about  61.  16s.  6d.    On  LARGE  PAPER,  it  yet  maintains  something  like 
the  sovereign  pre-eminence  among  Dutch  quarto  Classics  ;  and  a 
fine  copy  of  it,  in  red  morocco,  is  marked  at  26Z.  5s.  in  the  catalogue 
of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss. 

f  This  edition  is  fully  described  in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Cassano 
Library,  p.  63,  which  forms  the  7th  vol.  to  the  Bibl.  Spencer. :  and  at 
this  moment  I  recal  with  pleasure  the  gratification  I  experienced  on 
the  first  sight  of  this  edition  at  Paris,  in  the  year  1820,  when  in  his 
Lordship's  possession — on  his  return  from  the  purchase  of  the  Duke 
di  Cassano's  library  at  Naples.  Only  two  other  copies  of  it  are 


632  POETRY.  [LATIN- 

The  earliest  Juvenal  with  a  date,  is  that  of  1470. 
Perhaps  the  parent  text  of  JUVENAL  and  PERSIUS, 
together,  is  that  which  issued  from  the  Sorbonne 
press  in  the  large  irregular  rornan  type  of  Gering, 
Crantz,  and  Friburger.  Leaving  the  bibliographical 
antiquary  to  disport  in  the  pages  of  the  subjoined 
work,*  I  proceed  at  once  to  the  recommendation  of 
the  best  critical  edition — that  of  Rupert i  —  published 
at  Leipsic  in  1801,  in  2  vols.  8vo.  premising,  that  the 
best  Aldine  impression  is  of  the  date  of  1501 — and  the 
best  Variorum^  that  of  Amst.  1684,  8vo.  -J~ 

known :  one  of  these  is  in  the  Magliabecchi  library,  and  the  other  in 
that  of  Count  D'Elci  at  Florence. x  But  it  must  be  remembered  that 
Ulric  Han  printed  an  edition  of  Juvenal  and  Persius,  (the  preceding 
being  only  Juvenal  apart)  in  his  larger  roman  type,  in  a  4to.  form, 
which  is  of  excessive  rarity,  \  and  will  be  found  described  in  the  Bill. 
Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  117-219.  Whether  originally  these  editions  were 
published  at  the  same  time,  1  will  not  take  upon  me  to  determine. 

*  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  ii.  page  115.127  :  219-225.  A  fac-simile  of 
Gering's  type  is  given  at  p.  221  :  and  I  should  imagine  that  the  edi- 
tion from  which  it  was  taken  could  not  have  issued  later  than  the 
year  1470.  All  the  Classics,  published  in  the  fast  Gering  letter,  are 
of  great  rarity  -,  and  extremely  difficult  to  procure  in  sound  condition. 
But,  as  above  observed,  the  early  impressions  of  Juvenal  and  Persius 
involve  cruces  of  discussion,  which  torture  the  patience  of  the  most 
diligent,  and  daunt  the  courage  of  the  most  intrepid. 

f  By  all  means  catch  firm  hold  of  Ruperti's  edition,  1801,  8vo. 
2  vols. — especially  as  it  is  obtainable  at  the  small  cost  of  a  couple  of 
sovereigns,  even  in  comely  attire.  The  fine  or  thick  paper  will  cause 
the  purse  to  bleed  more  copiously  —  but  it  is  joyous  to  see  it,  along 
with  the  Horace  by  Mitscherlich,  and  the  Propertius  by  Kinoeul, 
in  the  same  condition,  lining  the  visto-cabinet  of  MENALCAS  — 
from  whence,  at  a  distance  of  some  twenty-three  miles,  are  seen 


t  A  copy  of  it  was  sold  for  24  J.  13*.  6d.  at  the  sale  of  Lord  Spencer's  duplicate*, 
from  the  Cassano  Library. 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  633 

Of  MARTIAL,  the  bibliographical  account  must  be 
very  brief.  The  earlier  impressions  are  all  exceed- 
ingly rare  ;  and  whether  any  of  the  dateless  ones  were 
published  before  the  year  1471— when*  appeared  that 
at  Ferrara  —  must  be  left  to  future  decision.*  Aldus 
opens  the  sixteenth  century  with  his  pretty  duodecimo 
tome  of  1501 :  and  Scriverius  the  seventeenth,  with  his 
desiderated  volume  of  1619  ;  and  as  to  future  impres- 
sions, do  almost  as  you  will :  but  the  Variorium  edi- 
tion of  1670,  and  that  of  Smith  of  170  \,  each  in  8vo. 
will  not  be  easily  obtained,  in  fine  condition,  under 
the  sum  of  a  sovereign.-^ 

the  undulating  hills  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hurley  Bottom,  melting 
into  the  horizon.  Of  the  first  Aldine  edition  of  1501,  Lord  Spencer 
possesses  a  beautiful  copy  UPON  VELLUM  j  and  he  recently  had  the 
option  of  a  copy  of  it  upon  paper,  uncut !  That  paper  copy,  bound 
by  C.  Lewis,  yet  still  unshorn,  now  reposes  in  a  cabinet  within  five 
miles  easy  walk  of  that  of  Menalcas.  Why  will  not  Mr.  Bohn, 
in  the  possession  of  so  many  copies  of  the  best  Variorum  of  1684,  let 
us  have  one  of  these  copies  below  the  sum  of  18s.  ?  — And  see,  what 
a  thing  it  is  to  be  "  tall  /" — as  thus  :  ' e  very  fine  and  TALL  copy  in 

Vellum,  ONE  POUND   FIVE  SHILLINGS  !  !  " 

*  The  contest  for  chronological  priority  between  the  earlier  edi- 
tions of  MARTIAL,  lies  between  the  quarto  Feraraof  1471,  the  date- 
less Vindelin  de  Spira,  and  the  dateless  edition  of  which  Laver  is 
probably  the  printer.  See  these  arduous  points  attempted  in  the  Bibl. 
Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  169,  &c.  and  vol.  iv.  p.  529. 

f  Again,  be  it  permitted  me  to  chronicle  another  beautiful  VELLUM 
ALDUS  of  Lord  Spencer,  in  the  Martial  of  1501  :  and  before  I  make 
mention  of  the  popular  Scriverius  of  1619,  let  me  notice  the  very 
beautiful  copy  of  Raderus's  edition,  Mentz;  16O7,  4to.  (reprinted  in 
1627  at  the  same  place)  which  was  superintended  by  Laurent  Ra- 
mirez de  Prado,  and  of  which  the  sweetly  coated  copy  in  the  Talley- 
rand collection,  now  graces  the  shelves  of  the  splendid  library  of  Mr. 
Labouchere,  near  Chelmsford.  That  same  gentleman  hath  also  a 


634  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

Delightful  HORACE  !  —  how  shall  I  describe  thy 
varied  beauties,  thy  universal  popularity,  and  yet,  of 
far  more  difficult  execution,  the  countless  editions  of 
thy  Poems  !  I  will  not  hesitate  an  instant  in  urging 
even  the  "  oldest "  of  my  readers,  if  he  feel  any  glow 
of  bibliomaniacal  enthusiasm  lingering  in  the  usually 
torpid  current  of  his  veins,  to  let  slip  no  opportunity 
of  enriching  his  cabinet  with  a  choice  copy  of  the 
parent  text  of  this  Prince  of  lyrical  Roman  poets.  Tis 
of  small  dimensions,  and  will  slide  easily  into  an 
inner  coat  pocket  of  six  inches  aperture.*  And  yet, 

large  paper  Olivet's  Cicero,  in  red  morocco  —  but  .  .  .  not  uncut;  see 
p.  578,  ante.  A  fine  copy  of  the  little,  thick,  and  inelegantly  printed 
edition,  of  which  Scriverius  was  the  editor,  may  run  hard  upon  II.  16s. 
The  thick  paper  copies  of  this  edition  are  very  rare. 

*  It  is  singular  enough,  not  only  that  all  the  books  of  the  same 
printer  by  whom  the  FIRST  HORACE  was  executed,  should  be  exceed- 
ingly rare,  and  that  the  name  of  the  printer  has  never  been  correctly 
ascertained  (unless  it  be  Adam,  the  Benedictin)  but  that,  of  the  editio 
princeps  of  Horace,  there  should,  at  this  moment,  be  scarcely  fewer 
than  six  copies  in  our  own  country  ? — while  the  Royal  Library  of 
Paris  has  long  been  destitute  of  that  most  essential  acquisition. 
Let  Mr.  Van  Praet  only  send  over  a  commission  worthy  of  "  royalty," 
and  he  cannot  fail  to  become  the  purchaser  (for  his  royal  master)  of 
the  copy  speedily  to  be  sold  in  the  library  of  the  late  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes, 
Bart.  That  copy  was  once  the  property  of  Earl  Spencer,  and  ceded 
in  exchange.  The  Duke  di  Cassano's  copy  produced  the  sum  of 
491  7s. :  but  I  should  say  that  a  copy  of  first-rate  condition  was 
worth  sixty  guineas.  Nota  bene :  the  idea  of  the  pocket  of  ft  six 
inches  aperture,"  (above  mentioned)  was  taken  from  a  pocket  of  the 
same  dimensions,  which  usually  belonged  to  the  coats  of  the  late 
lamented  Mr.  James  Boswell.  That  worthy  Roxburgher,  and  Shaks- 
peare  enthusiast,  used  to  boast  of  the  Brobdignagian  dimensions  of  his 
inner  coat  pockets — and  I  have  seen  him  slide  quartos,  of  a  tolerably 
ample  breadth,  into  them,  with  a  facility,  as  if  the  book  had  been 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  635 

there  is  an  edition  of  the  bard,  although  published 
full  four  years  later,  which  is  of  infinitely  greater 
rarity  :  yea,  perfectly  UNFINDABLE  —  except  ....  in 
that  choicest  of  all  classical  cabinets,  which  will  not 
require  a  very  shrewd  guess  to  discover.  This  is  of 
the  date  of  1474,  and  was  printed  by  Arnoldus  de 
Bruxella  at  Naples.  * 

I  go  at  once  to  critical  editions  ;  not  without  tanta- 
lising the  book-enthusiast  with  the  hope  of  getting  a 
Jirst  Aldus  UPON  VELLUM.  Rest  satisfied,  in  regard 
to  subsequent  editions,  with  a  good  copy  of  the  la- 
bours of  Bentley,  Gesner,  or  Mitscherlich ;  although 
I  am  aware  that  many  desperate  efforts  will  be  made 
for  an  Elzevir  or  rariarum,  including  the  labours  of 
Bond.  But  methinks  I  hear  the  devoted  collector  of 
Horace  say,  "  may  I  not  feast  upon  Pine  ?  /t " 

printed  for  the  pocket !  Would  that  the  Owner  of  both  pocket  and 
book  were  "  amongst  us  again  "  ? !  .  . .  "  Multis  ille  bonis  "...  but 
peace  to  his  Spirit ! 

*  A  true  and  particular  account  of  this  UNIQUE  treasure  will  be 
found  at  page  55  of  the  Catalogue  of  the  Cassano  Library.  I  will 
here  only  add,  that,  singularly  enough,  Lord  Spencer  possesses  a 
unique  impression  of  both  Virgil  and  Horace:  namely,  the  Brescia  of 
1473  (see  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  472)  of  the  former,  and  this 
Naples  impression  of  1474  of  the  latter. 

•f  It  is  high  time  to  bring  to  a  more  intelligible  level  all  the  names, 
and  perhaps  mysterious  allusions,  above  introduced.  First,  for  Aldine 
impressions.  They  are  of  various  dates;  but  those  of  1501  and 
1509  should  be  held  in  chief  estimation.  Lord  Spencer  possesses  a 
lovely  copy  of  the  first  UPON  VELLUM.  The  King  and  the  Royal  Li- 
brary at  Munich  have  it  also  in  the  like  condition.  Enviable  feli- 
city !  The  Elzevir  of  1629  —  divided  into  three  parts,  each  with  a 
title,  and  two  titles  being  at  the  beginning  —  has  been  long  a  great 
favourite,  although  the  edition  of  1676  has  more  critical  merit.  I 
remember  being  asked  22.  2s.  for  a  dirty  copy  of  this  first  Elzevir,  at 


C36  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

I  have  now  dispatched  the  first  class  of  the  Roman 
Poets ;  and  yet,  in  commencing  the  second  class,  I 
know  not  whether  my  conscience  ought  not  to  re- 
proach me  for  opening  it  with  LUCAN,  who  may 
be  thought  worthy  of  a  more  exalted  collocation.  As 
to  the  editions  of  his  works,  I  am  bound  to  mention 

Caen,  in  the  shop  of  a  Bouquiniste.  The  typographical  arrangement  of 
it  is  unpleasant  to  many  eyes.  See  Essai  Bibliograph.  sur  les  Elzfairs, 
1822,  8vo.  p.  61.  Of  the  Variorums,  that  containing  the  Scholia  of 
Bond  in  1670,  8vo.  is  the  preferable.  Mr.  Bohn  marks  the  Lamoig- 
non  copy  of  it,  in  red  morocco,  at  1Z.  14s.  A  neat,  ordinary  copy,  is 
worth  about  18s.  Of  Bentley's  editions,  secure  that  printed  at  Am- 
sterdam in  1728,  4to. :  worth  about  2Z.  2s. :  and  yet  Mr.  Bohn  marks 
the  previous  Amst.  edit,  of  1713  at  the  same  price.  I  see  however 
that  it  is  a  <f  fine  copy  "  and  <(  new  "  —  and  moreover,  "  in  Dutch 
prize  calf."  There  is  no  resisting  these  "prize"  bindings!  The 
best  edition  of  Gesner's  Horace,  is  that  printed  at  Glasgow,  1 794, 
8vo.  —  again  and  again  committed  to  press.  Of  all  the  editors  of 
Horace,  few  were  more  judicious  and  happy  than  GESNER  ;  but  the 
help  of  Zeunius,  in  the  Leipsic  edition  of  1788 — incorporated  in  that 
of  Glasgow — proved  indeed  a  most  admirable  as  well  as  acceptable 
acquisition  to  the  readers  of  this  exquisite  poet.  Pine  must  be  dis- 
patched before  Mitscherlich.  How  many  lovely  copies  of  this  lovely 
book  —  (Lond.  1733,  8vo.  2  vols.)  studded  with  brilliant  vignettes, 
or  engravings  from  the  antique — and  of  which  both  text  and  ornament 
are  executed  upon  copper — have  I  handled !  .  .  and,  generally,  in  old 
morocco  bindings,  with  the  edges  of  the  leaves  as  resplendently 
gilded  as  the  rising  sun!  I  forbear  to  enumerate  them — but  I 
have  seen  a  very  towering  copy  of  this  description  sell  for  61.  6s. 
And  why  not  ?  Last,  and  infinitely  greatest,  in  the  modern  corps  of 
Horatian  critics,  is  MITSCHERLICH.*  Buy  his  edition,  published  at 
Leipsic  in  18OO,  8vo.  2  vols.,  and  worth  about  a  sovereign  a  volume 
in  handsome  binding.  'Twill  furnish  you  with  delectable  annotation. 
There  are  copies  (common  enough)  on  stout  vellum  paper :  worth 
31. 3s.  in  russia. 

*  His  edition  contains  the  Odes  only. 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  637 

theprinceps  of  1469  ;  not  however  so  rare  as  the  date- 
less folio,  printed  in  the  character  of  the  first  Horace.* 
If  you  have  Oudendorp's,  or  Eurman's  edition,  each 
in  quarto — the  former  of  the  date  of  1728,  and  the 
latter  of  1740 — it  may  suffice  for  a  knowledge  of  the 
critical  labours  bestowed  on  the  poet.  There  are 
those  however,  who  make  something  of  a  "  pet "  of  the 
Strawberry  Hill  quarto  of  1760  ;  and  so  let  it  pass  in 
the  muster-roll  of  the  editions  of  Lucan/t* 

STATJUS  is  a  more  varied,  but  not  perhaps  a  more 
popular  author.  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
earlier  editions  of  his  works,  in  detached  parts,  X  but 

*  The  last  of  the  works  printed  by  the  immortal  fraternity  of 
SWEYNHBYM  and  PANNARTZ,  in  the  year  1469,  was  the  Lucan  above 
mentioned.  A  fine  and  large  copy  of  it  will  be  always  worth  Sll.  10s. 
Why  this  book  should  have  been  sold  for  25Z.,  and  the  dateless  folio, 
in  the  types  of  the  Horace,  for  <2l.  2s.  (bad  as  might  have  been  the 
copy  !)  is  beyond  all  my  powers  of  divination.  Doubtless  that  folio, 
fully  described  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  139,  is  much  the  scarcer 
book. 

f  I  take  the  editions  by  Oudendorp  and  Burman  to  be  worth 
pretty  much  the  same:  from  ll.  16s.  to  9,1.  10s.  each,  according  to 
condition  and  binding.  We  have  again  the  "  prize  vellum  "  of  Mr. 
Bohn  attached  to  a  copy  of  Burman's  edition,  marked  at  2/.  And 
here  let  me  notice  the  best  Variorum  of  1658,  8vo.  of  which  ele- 
gantly printed  book  a  fine  copy  may  be  worth  15s. :  but  there  are 
those,  who  raise,  upon  the  shoulders  of  it,  the  reprint  of  1689  — and 
mark  it  at  a  more  advanced  price.  Why  (may  I  ask)  has  the  French 
Elzevirian  Bibliographer  omitted  both  editions?  The  Strawberry 
Hill  edition  of  1760,  4to.  is,  in  truth,  an  elegantly  printed,  and  in 
many  respects,  a  desirable  volume — exceedingly  alluring  to  perusal, 
and,  coated  in  morocco,  a  fit  innate  of  a  classical  drawing  room- 
such  as  MARCELLUS  loves  to  "  get  up.  "  In  this  condition  it  may 
be  worth  22.  12s.  6d. 

t  Not  fewer  than  twelve  pages  are  devoted  to  the  earlier  editions 
of  Statius,  in  the  Bibl.  Spenceriana,  vol.  ii.  p.  366,  &c.  I  will  not 


638  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

recommend  the  wonderfully  stuffed  quarto  volumes 
which  contain  the  critical  labours  of  Barthius  upon 
this  author,  and  which  were  published  in  1664,  4to. : 
and,  as  I  know  the  Variorum  of  1671  to  be  a  great 
favourite,  let  it  e'en  have  a  place  upon  the  shelf  of  the 
young  Man —  but  at  a  price,  not  exceeding  18s.  "  of 
good  and  lawful  money  of  Great  Britain. "  Before  I 
come  to  speak  of  SHius  Italicus,  or  Claudian,  I  am  most 

attempt  a  camera  lucida  view  of  the  knotty  points  involved  in  that 
discussion  :  but,  among  the  very  earliest,  with  a  date,  is  the  Achilleis 
of  1472,  without  indication  of  place,  but  in  all  probability  at  Venice 
— and  another  edition  of  the  same  date,  printed  at  Ferrara — both  in 
4  to.  The  Silvce  were  also  printed  in  the  same  year,  probably  by 
Vindelin  de  Spira,  in  folio— united  with  an  edition  of  Catullus,  Tibul- 
lus,  and  Propertius,  of  that  date,  and  of  most  especial  rarity.  The 
Thebais  and  Achille'is  were  both  printed  together,  without  date,  before 
this  year :  nor  was  it  till  the  year  1483  that  the  united  works  of 
Statius  firs^t  appeared,  by  Octavianus  Scotus  at  Venice.  I  cannot  put 
my  young  man  upon  a  te  quick  scent"  after  these  earlier  and  rarer 
pieces  of  the  detached  works  of  the  poet  j  tho'  I  may  promise  him 
"  to  kill,"  in  a  short  time,  if  he  be  anxious  to  secure  the  respectable 
folio  of  Octavianus  Scotus — probably  for  5Z.  5*. :  but,  in  that  case,  I 
must  bargain  for  a  morocco  coating  to  it. 

Of  critical  editions,  that  by  BASTHIUS  is  eminently,  and  in  all 
respects,  the  best :  and,  what  is  most  consoling,  it  may  be  obtained 
in  three  or  four  volumes,  4to.  for  about  three  guineas.  It  is  a  mine 
of  inexhaustible  erudition.  But  for  separate  portions  of  Statius, 
nothing  can  be  better  edited  than  the  SilvtE,  byMAKKLAND,  in  1728, 
4to.  A  good  copy  of  this  volume  may  be  obtained  for  1 1.  Is.  As  to 
the  Variorum  of  1671  >  such  are  the  mad  feelings  afloat  about  it,  that, 
in  spite  of  being  "wormed  in  the  margin,"  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
mark  a  copy  at  II.  Us.  6d. :  and  "  fine,  in  vellum,  "  at  II.  16s.  I 
have  a  distinct  remembrance  of  this  "  fine,  vellum  "  Statius,  lying 
upon  its  fore  edge — back  uppermost — in  the  splendid  and  well-nigh 
interminable  row  of ' e  Vellum  Variorums  "  which  hath  recently  dove- 
tailed the  floor  of  the  "  magasin"  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss. 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  639 

anxious  that  the  same  «  Young  Man  "  should  peruse, 
as  I  am  sure  he  will  do  with  pleasure  and  profit,  the 
pages  of  Dr.  Coplestone's  Praslectiones  Academicce, 
1813,  8vo.,  in  which  many  of  the  beauties  of  these 
poets  are  brought  forward  with  the  most  felicitous 
effect ;  and  now  and  then  (by  such  means)  we  alight 
upon  imagery,  and  upon  diction,  which  equally  charm 
by  its  splendour  and  its  harmony. 

Of  SILIUS  ITALIC  us,  lam  rather  anxious  that  the  first 
edition — whether  by  Sweynheym  and  Pannartzy  or  by 
Laver  —  each  in  1471  —  should  be  sedulously  sought 
after  and  resolutely  contended  for  —  especially  the 
latter ;  if  it  be  (which  is  of  most  uncommon  occur- 
rence) in  sound  and  spacious  condition.*  In  regard 
to  critical  editions,  seize  upon  that  of  Drakenborch, 
1717,  4to.  or  Ruperti,  1795,  8vo.  2  vols. ;  and  if  you 
desiderate  smaller  tomes,  look  sharply  out  for  the 

*  It'is  certainly  somewhat  deserving  of  remark,  that,  among  all  the 
books  of  ancient  Classics  printed  by  Sweynheym  and  Pannartz,  UPON 
VELLUM,  none  have  been  yet  found  of  the  Poets  of  Rome.  We  have 
Aulus  Gellius,  Apuleius,  Julius  Csesar,  Livy,  and  eke  the  venerable 
Jerom,  in  a  membranaceous  attire  3  but  a  single  Roman  poet,  in  that 
form,  has  never  yet  turned  up.  Would  it  were  the  Silius  Italicus,  by 
Sweynheym  and  Pannartz,  of  1471  !  —  since  it  is  a  noble  and  a  rare 
volume — of  which  the  Duke  de  la  Valliere's  own  copy  was  sold  for 
31 1.  10s.  as  a  duplicate  of  Earl  Spencer,  at  the  sale  of  the  Cassano 
Library.  I  learn  that  Mr.  Inglis  has  one  of  the  finest  copies  in  the 
world  of  this  very  estimable  volume  —  but  that,  in  the  Spencer  Li- 
brary, will  not  be  easily  overcome  for  size  and  condition.  The 
LAVER  impression,  without  date,  is  of  infinitely  greater  difficulty  to 
procure  in  a  fine  condition  —  and  the  Duke  di  Cassano's  copy  of  it, 
retained  by  Earl  Spencer,  happened  luckily  to  be  one  of  the  most 
desirable  books  in  his  Grace's  collection :  his  Lordship's  previous  copy 
was  in  very  indifferent  condition. 


640  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

duodecimo  of  1792,  2  vols.  published  by  the  late  Mr. 
Faulder  of  Bond-street.  * 

The  edltio  princeps  of  the  Works  of  CLAUDIAN 
appeared  in  1482,  at  Vicenza,  from  the  press  of  Jaco- 
bus Dusensis  —  a  scarce  printer.  A  fine  copy  of  this 
rare  and  estimable  volume  may  be  worth  from  12  to 
20/.  according  to  condition.  The  Rape  of  Proserpine 
was  published  probably  eight  or  ten  years  earlier,  from 
the  press  of  Ketelaer  and  De  Leempt.^  For  critical 
impressions,  possess  that  by  Gesner  (  \  759,  8vo.  2  vols.) 
or  by  Burman,  1760,  4to.  And  yet,  if  a  small  edition 
be  sought  after,  procure  the  Elzevir  of  1650,  12mo; 
and  especially  the  fine  and  larger-sized  copies.  With 
this,  may  be  joined  the  best  Variorum  of  1665,  8vo. 
containing  the  enlarged  notes  of  Heinsius  ;  and  of 
which  a  fine  copy  will  with  difficulty  be  procured 
under  the  sum  of  I/.  11s. 


*  The  edition  of  Silius  Italicus,  by  Drakenborch,  1717  >  4  to.  must 
doubtless  be  procured.  On  LARGE  PAPER  it  is  rare,  and  worth  41.  4s.: 
on  small  paper,  somewhere  about  half  that  sum.  The  edition  of 
1792  may  be  had  in  good  condition  for  about  8  or  9  shillings. 

f  Why  do  I  add  a  note  here  ?  Only  to  remark  that,  all  the  clas- 
sical books,  by  Ketelaer  and  De  Leempt,  are  of  great  rarity;  but  I 
suspect  them  to  be  generally  reprints  of  Roman  or  Venetian  editions. 
I  could  have  said  much,  while  upon  the  editions  of  Ovid,  of  an  im- 
pression of  the  De  Aria  Amatoria,  printed  by  these  gothic  -lettered 
artists  —  and  preserved  in  the  Public  Library  at  Cambridge  -}  but  that 
must  be  reserved  for  the  forthcoming  edition  of  the  "  Introduction 
to  the  Classics." 

+  First  of  Gesner'  s  edition.  It  is  reasonable  enough  ;  and  may  be 
obtained  in  good  condition  for  14  or  16*.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
mark  it  in  russia  at  ll.  7«.  Secondly,  for  Burman's-,  —  and  here 
comes  Mr.  Bohn,  with  his  tempting  "  prize  vellum,"  to  coax  us  into 
the  purchase  of  a  copy  in  this  condition  for  2J.  9,s.  Be  it  so.  But 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  641 

Proceed  we  to  the  notice  of  a  more  popular  volume 
than  either  of  the  preceding1 — namely,  that  which 
contains  the  united  labours  of  CATULLUS,  TIBULLUS 
and  PROPERTIUS  ;  sweet  and  fascinating-  poets — but 
not  to  be  indiscriminately  perused  or  recommended : 
their  tenderness  frequently  melting  into  warmth,  and 
their  warmth  as  frequently  bordering  upon  volup- 
tuousness. The  earlier  and  more  precious  editions 
are  noticed  below.  *  The  best  critical  ones  are  those 

this  admirable  edition  is  to  be  had  on  LARGE  PAPER,  for  about  double 
the  sum — in  a  morocco  coating.  For  the  Elzevir  of  1650,  consult 
the  Essai,  #c.  sur  les  editions  des  Elzevirs,  p.  88.  Mr.  Bohn  is  again 
tempting  in  his  display  of  Elzevir  Claudians.  He  has  a  fine  vellum 
copy  of  it  at  165.:  a  ff  maroon- coloured  morocco"  copy  (what  is 
maroon-coloured  ?)  at  the  same  price :  and  a  fine  tall  copy  in  olive- 
coloured  morocco  (which  every  body  understands)  at  \l.  Is.  Messrs. 
Payne  and  Foss  display  two  choice  copies  of  the  Variorum  of  1665  : 
of  which  the  finest,  in  morocco,  gilt  leaves,  is  marked  at  C2l.  5s. 

*  The  editio  princeps  of  the  united  works  of  Catullus,  Tibullus, 
and  Propertius,  including  the  SilvcB  of  Statius,  was  published  in 
]  472,  in  a  small  folio,  of  which  Vindelin  de  Spira  was  undoubtedly 
the  printer.  It  is  a  volume,  as  before  observed  <e  of  most  excessive 
rarity  "  —  especially  in  large  and  fine  condition  throughout.  Earl 
Spencer  was  glad  to  purchase  an  excellent  copy  of  it,  at  the  sale 
of  the  duplicates  of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire's  library,  for  401. :  his 
own  copy  of  it,  from  the  Reviczky  collection,  being  in  a  compara- 
tively inferior  condition.  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  the  finest  copy 
which  I  ever  saw  of  the  Catullus  and  Tibullus,  alone — from  the 
duplicates  of  the  Public  Library  at  Strasbourg.  In  the  Cracherode 
Collection  there  is  a  copy  of  it  (and  I  believe  the  only  one  known) 
UPON  VELLUM  j  but  it  is  far  indeed  from  being  a  very  covetable  vo- 
lume. A  full  and  particular  account  of  this  beautiful  and  rare  book 
will  be  found  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  i.  p.  294-7.  The  second  edi- 
tion of  the  works  of  these  Authors,  united,  is  that  of  Johnde  Colonia, 
1475  j  also  of  rare  occurrence,  and  probably  worth  10  or  12  sove- 
reigns. Of  the  Catullus  alone,  a  very  rare  edition  was  published  by 

T   T 


642  POETRY.  [LATIN. 

puplished  by  the  Volpi  at  Padua  in  1737-57,  4to.  in 
4  vols. :  books,  as  attractive  from  exterior  splendour, 
as  they  are  admirable  from  interior  worth.  For  sepa- 
rate editions  of  TIBULLUS,  that  of  Heyne,  1777,  Bvo. 
reprinted  in  1798,  is  infinitely  the  best.* 

Coraltus,  at  Parma,  in  1473,  folio  ;  and  of  the  same  date,  and  by  the 
same  printer,  appeared  the  Silva  of  Statins.  Fine  copies  of  these 
precious  books  are  in  the  Public  Library  at  Cambridge. 

*  For  critical  editions,  doubtless  those  by  the  Volpi.  are,  generally 
speaking,  the  best ;  and  whoever  reads  the  preface  to  the  Catullus, 
in  the  edition  above  specified,  will  see  how  ardently,  from  early  youth, 
the  elder  of  the  Volpi  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  these  his 
beloved  authors.  It  is  not  long  since  I  saw,  lying  upon  the  counter 
of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  a  glorious  set  of  these  four  quarto  tomes, 
on  LARGE  PAPER,  marked  at  the  respectable  price  of  12£.  12s.  But, 
for  hard  fagging  at  these  authors,  do  not  forget  the  sound  and  sen- 
sible stuff  to  be  found  in  the  Paris  folio  of  1604,  with  commentaries 
and  notes  out  of  number.  There  are  splendid  copies  of  this  book  on 
LARGE  PAPER  j  and  there  is  one  of  this  sort  at  Althorp,  delicately  ruled 
with  red  lines,  in  red  morocco  binding.  Ernesti  (Fabric.  Bill.  Lat. 
vol.i.  page  93)  is  minute  in  the  mention  of  the  Commentators  whose 
labours  are  to  be  found  here.  In  ordinary  condition,  this  volume  is 
worth  II.  Is.  Before  I  speak  of  Heyne's  edition  of  Tibullus,  let  me 
notice  a  very  rare  and  early  impression  of  that  poet,  separately  pub- 
lished, in  a  4to.  form,  having  twenty-seven  or  twenty-eight  lines  in 
the  fuller  pages  —  without  numerals,  signatures,  or  catchwords,  and 
containing  thirty-six  leaves  in  the  whole.  The  &  is  frequently  put  at 
the  end  of  a  verse,  as  tenfy,  habfy.  The  capitals  are  thin  and  tall.  A 
copy  of  this  rare,  and  probably  undescribed  edition,  is  in  the  collec- 
tion of  Mr.  Standish  —  formerly  belonging  to  Count  Melzi.  As  to 
critical  editions,  hug  with  unceasing  fondness  that  of  Heyne — above 
mentioned — and  obtainable  for  some  dozen  shillings.  But  if  you 
sigh  for  a  recherche  set  of  these  popular  writers,  strive  to  possess  a 
thick  paper  copy  of  them,  uniting  the  editorial  labours  of  Doering, 
Heyne,  and  Kuinoel,  published  in  1798-1805,  8vo.  4  vols  : — in  ordi- 
nary condition  for  3/.  13s.  6d.  —  in  the  condition  before  mentioned, 
for — perhaps  12  or  ]  4  sovereigns  ! 


LATIN.]  POETRY.  643 

And  here,  with  a  brief  notice  of  VALERIUS  FLACCUS,* 
I  bid  adieu  to  Latin  poetry :  hard-hearted  or  capricious 
as  it  may  seem,  to  pass  over  the  names  of  Manilius 
and  others.  But  these  pages  are  becoming  crowded 
and  extended  to  excess — and  what  is  to  become  of  our 
BELOVED  ENGLISH  POETRY  ? 

*  The  Editio  Princeps  of  this  Author  was  put  forth  by  Rugerius 
and  Bertochus  in  1474,  folio  -}  and  in  fine  condition  is  a  rare  book. 
A  copy  of  this  kind,  from  the  Cassano  Collection,  produced  the  sum 
of  252.  10*.  The  best  critical  editions  are  those  by  Burman  and 
Harles;  the  former,  in  1724,  4to.  is  worth  2Z. — if  it  be  in  Mr.  Bonn's 
"  prize  vellum :  "  the  latter,  in  1781,  8vo.  is  worth  16  or  18s.  in 
ordinary  binding.  But  may  I  gently  ask,  who  reads  Valerius  Flac- 
cus  ?  Of  MANILIUS,  I  would  however  willingly  say  a  little  word.  It 
so  happens  that  the  same  printers,  who  first  published  the  preceding 
authors,  were  also  the  publishers  of  Manilius,  and  in  the  same  year. 
See  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  ii.  p.  162-6:  but,  from  a  recent  consider- 
ation of  the  subject,  I  incline  to  the  belief  that  the  Nuremberg  date- 
less edition  in  4to.  is  the  EDIT.  PRIN.  of  this  author.  Either  impres- 
sion, in  fine  condition,  is  worth  181.  ISs.  For  a  critical  edition  of 
Manilius,  you  can  be  satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  that  of  Bentley, 
1739,  quarto  worth  about  ll.  Is.  in  good  condition  and  binding. 


[  644  ] 


ENGLISH  POETRY. 

"  BELOVED"  indeed  is  the  Poetry  of  our  OWN 
COUNTRY,  to  thorough-bred  and  thoroughly  patriotic 
Bibliomaniacs  : — and,  and  at  no  period,  perhaps,  has  a 
more  enthusiastic  attachment  been  shewn  towards  it 
than  AT  PRESENT.  I  will  not  presume  indeed  to  say, 
that  such  prices  have  been  recently  given,  as  were 
given  twelve  years  ago  for  the  poetical  rarities  from 
the  JJ0#6ltfS&C  Sflmttp-*  and,  what  is  bolder  to  ad- 

*  This  may  be  true  enough  ;  but  it  is  scarcely  four  years  since  the 
library  of  JAMES  BINDLEY,  Esq.  —  the  LEONTES  of  the  Bibliogra- 
phical Decameron — was  disposed  of;  and,  as  a  whetter  of  the  appetite, 
or,  at  any  rate,  as  a  piquante  bonne  bouche,  I  subjoin  a  few  poetical 
rarities  and  whimsicalities,  to  prove  that  the  SPIRIT  is  at  least  far 
from  being  EXTINCT  : 

Nos.  PART  I.  «£.    *.  d. 

98  S.  Austin's  Naps  upon  Parnassus,  Poems,  very  scarce, 

1658, 8vo.  .  .  .  .350 

743  Nicolas  Breton's  Floorish  upon  Fancie,  and    Plea- 

sant Toyes  of  an  Idle  Head,  in  Verse.    EXTREMELY 

BARE.     Imprinted  by  Johnes,  1577,  4to.  -      42     0     0 

744  Bancroft's  Two  Bookes  of  Epigrammes  and  Epitaphs, 

very  scarce,  1639,         .  .  .     4  17     0 

745  Bankes  Bay  Horse  in  a  Trance,  a  discourse  set  downe 

in  a  merry  dialogue,  between  Bankes  and  his  beast : 
anatomizing  some  abuses  and  bad  trickes  of  this 
age,  with  the  wood  cut,  EXTREMELY  RARE,  1595, 4to.  13  5  0 

752  Baldwin's  Funeralles  of  King  Edward  the  Sixt,  a 
Poem,  VERY  RARE,  with  head  of  Edward  VI.  Im- 
printed by  Mar  she,  156O,  4to.  .  .  18  18  0 

1192  Crompton's  Poems,  with  four  ounces  of  oyl  of  Epi- 

1657, 8vo.  .  .  .  11  11  0 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  645 

vance,  such  prices  ought  NOT  to  be  given — for  merely 
rare,  out  of  the  way,  and  uninteresting  productions. 

1193  Crompton's  Pierides  or  the  Muses  Mount,  portrait,    §g.  s.    d. 
1658,  8vo.         .  .  .  .  12  15     0 

1767  Davison's  Poetical  Rapsodie,   third  edition,    VERY 

RARE,  161  1,  8vo.  .  .  .  .     6  16     6 

1776  John  Davis  and  C.  Marlow's  Epigrams  and  Elegies, 

very  scarce,  printed  at  Middleborugh,  8vo.  .     8   18     6 

1838  Copley's  Fig  for  Fortune,   a  Poem,  VERY  RARE, 

1596,  4to.  .  .  .  7  17     6 

2198  Roger  Cotton's  Armor  of  Proofe,  brought  from  the 
Tower  of  David  to  fight  against  the  Spannyardes, 
a  poem,  RARE,  1596,,4to.  .  .  .  .  10  1O  O 

2199 Spirituall  Song,  or  Historicall  Dis- 
course from  the  commencement  of  the  world  until 
this  time,  a  very  scarce  poem,  1596,  4to.  .  .850 

2203  Chute's  Beawtie  Dishonoured,  written  under  the 

title  of  Shore's  Wife,  a  poem,  1593,  4to.     ;          .  34  13     0 

PART  II. 

450  J.  Heath's  Two   Centuries  of  Epigrammes,  RARE, 

1610, 8vo.  .  .  .  .  990 

478  Herbert's  Dick  and  Robin,  with   Songs,  1641,  and 

other  old  tracts,  8vo.  .  .  .         .  10     5     O 

485  Harmony  of  the  Muses,  a  collection  of  Poems,  very 

scarce,  1654, 8vo.  .  .  .      .  10     0     0 

535  Patrick  Hannay's  Nightingale,  Sheretine's  Happy 
Husband,  and  other  Poems,  frontispiece,  including 
the  rare  portrait  of  the  Author,  and  a  portrait  of 
Anne  of  Denmark,  by  Crispin  de  Pass,  inserted, 

EXTREMELY  RARE,  1622,  8VO.  .         .         .  35  14  O 

561  DOLARNY'S  PRIMEROSE,  or  the  Passionate  Hermit, 
wherein  is  expressed  the  lively  Passions  of  Zeal 
and  Love,  a  Poem,  EXTREMELY  RARE,  1606,  4to.  .  26  10  0 

969  Jordan's  Jewels  of  Ingenuity  set  in  a  Coronet   of 

Poetry,  8vo.  .  .  .  .  .  10  15     O 

970  — — —  Claraphil  and  Clarinda  in  a  Forest  of  Fan- 

cies, Poems,  8vo.  .  .  .     4    7    O 


646  POETRY.  [ENGLISH* 

And  here — before  I  come  to  the  bibliographical  notice 
of  our  legitimate  standard  poets  —  from  CHAUCER  to 

971  Joseph's  Royal  Arbor   of  Loyal  Poesie,    3  leaves  <§£.    s.    d. 
Manuscript,  8vo.  .  .  .  .     2   17     O 

1088  Johnson!  Schediasmata  Poetica,  scarce.  This  volume 
contains  Epigrams  on  Gamaliel  Ratsey*  (men- 
tioned by  Ben  Jonson)  on  Jane  Shore,  &c.  Lond. 
1615,  8vo.  .  .  .  .  .  1O  0  O 

1105  Kendall's  Flowers  of  Epigrammes,  one  leaf  in  the 

middle  MS.  very  scarce,  1577,  8vo.         .  .  16     0     O 

1175  Pleasaunt  Historic  of  Lazarillo  de  Tormes,  RARE. 
Stevens's  copy,  who  has  written  in  it  that  he  never 
saw  another,  1586,  8vo  .  .  .  14  0  O 

1101  The  True  effigies  of  our  most  illustrious  Soveraigne 
King  Charles,  Queene  Mary,  and  the  rest  of  the 
Royall  Progenie,  with  their  genealogies  expressed 
in  prose  and  verse.  Portraits  by  Hollar,  Vaughan, 
8fC.  A  volume  of  extraordinary  RARITY,  1641,  4to.  30  9  0 

1287  Lovelace's  Lucasta,  with  the  scarce  portrait  of  the 

author  and  the  plate,  166O,  Svo.  .  .   11   11     0 

1305  Lewicke's  most  wonderful  and  pleasaunt  History  of 
Titus  and  Gisippus,  a  poem,  EXTREMELY  RARE, 
Imprinted  by  Hacket,  1562,  Svo.  .  .  .  24  13  6 

1648  Robert  Greene's   Menareon,    Camillas    alarum   to 

slumbering  Euphues,  1589, 4to.  .  .  18  18     O 

1798  Jervis  Markham's  most  honourable  Tragedie  of  Sir  - 

Richard  Grinvile,  1595,  Svo.       .  .  .  40  19     O 

1800  T.  M.  Micro-cynicon,  Sixe  Snarling  Satyres,  a  poem, 

VERY  RARE.     The  Author  is  unknown,  1599,  Svo.    24     0     O 

3  863  Heywood's  True  Discourse  of  the  two  Infamous  Up- 
start Prophets,  Richard  Farnham  and  John  Bull, 
frontispiece,  1636.  New  Year's  Gift  for  the  Welsh 
Itinerants,  or  hue  and  cry  after  Powell,  1654. 
Work  for  none  but  angells  and  men,  RAKE,  with 
very  curious  plates,  1650,  4to.  .  .  .  6  12  6 

*  Lord  Spencer  possesses  the  only  known  copy  of  the  achievements  of  Gamaliel 
Ratsey;  printed  in  1607, 4to.  Mr.Haslewoodhas  supplied  his  BUDGET  OF  RARITIES 
with  many  extracts  from  it. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  647 

COWPER — be  it  permitted  me  to  say,  that,  however 
some  of  my  best  friends,   (including  several  of  the 

1869  Hunnis's  Hyve  Full  of  Hunnye,  contayning  the  First  <§£.    s.    d. 
Booke  of  Moses  called  Genesis  turned  into  English 
Meetre.     EXCESSIVELY  RARE,  imprinted  by  Marsh, 
1578, 4to.  .  .  .  .  18  18     0 

1875  Hie  Mulier,  a  Medicine  to  cure  the  Masculine  Femi- 
nines,  frontispiece. — Muld  Sacke  or  Apology  of  Hie 
Mulier,  fron  tispiece,  1620.  H#c  Vir,  or  the  Wo- 
manish Man,  frontispiece,  4to.  .  .  .  21  0  O 
•2018  Newman's  Pleasures  Vision  with  Deserts  Complaint, 
with  a  dialogue  of  a  Woman's  Properties.  These 
poems  are  EXTREMELY  RARE,  1619,  8vo.  .  .  21  10  6 
2073  Stephen  Hawes  Historie  of  Graunde  Amoure  and  la 
belle  Pucelle  called  the  Pastime  of  Pleasure,  a 
poem,  the  first  five  leaves  supplied  by  Manuscript, 
EXCESSIVELY  RARE,  imprinted  byWaylande,  1554.  40  19  0 

2074 Boke  called  the  Temple  ofGlasse,  a 

poem,  EXTREMELY  RARE,  imprinted  by  Berthelet,4to.  4640 
2294  Jo.    Jonson's   Academy   of  Love,  frontispiece,   by 

Hollar,  1641, 4to.  .  .  .     15     0     0 

2337  Knave  of  Clubs,  a  poem  by  Rowland,  1611.  More 

Knaves  yet,  the  Knaves  of  Spades  and  Diamonds, 

a  poem  by  Rowlands.  Knave  of  Hearts,  1612, 4to. 

x*x  Each  of  these  tracts  is  very  scarce,  and  they 

are  very  rarely  indeed  found  together       .  35     3     6 

25 15  Lawrence's  Arnalte  and  Lucenda,  or  the  Melancholy 

Kn;ght,  a  poem,  very  scarce,  1639,  4 to.  16  16     0 

Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Bindley,  the  most  distinguished  library  dis- 
posed of  by  public  auction — (with  the  exception  of  that  of  Mr.  Perry) 
was  that  of  the  late  GEORGE  NASSAU,  Esq.  j  the  produce  amounting,  in 
the  whole,  to  the  sum  of  8500Z.  English  History,  Topography,  and 
Poetry,  were  the  more  conspicuous  features  of  this  Collection ;  and  it 
was  marvellous  to  behold,  how,  during  its  dispersion,  Mr.  Thorpe,  the 
renowned  book-purchasing  bibliopolist,  <{  flamed  in  the  van,  or  hung 
upon  the  rear — "  how  he  alarmed  the  timid,  goaded  on  the  resolute, 
trampled  to  dust  the  feeble,  and  scattered  far  and  wide  the  desultory 


648  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

blackest  lettered  Members  of  the  &0)rfwrglje  €lu6) 
may  rise  up  in  array  against  me — 

and,  fierce  with  grasped  arms, 

Clash  on  their  sounding  shields  the  din  of  war, 

at  the  temerity  of  the  assertion —yet  I  will  be  bold  to 
affirm,  that  there  is  a  class  of  old  English  Poetry 
entirely  worthless  in  itself  and  its  results. 

As  thus  : — who  shall  defend  the  Cast  ell  of  Labour  9 
the  Prophecy  of  Merlin  9  Apollyn  of  Tyre  9  Myrrour 
of  the  Church  9  Lover  and  a  Jay  9  Spectacle  of  a 

and  doubtful.  Scarcely  a  rare  or  choice  volume,  but  what  was  trans- 
fixed with  his  spear.  The  young  looked  on  with  amazement,  and  the 
old  contemplated  with  dread.  And  see  the  fruits,  the  spoil,  arising 
from  all  this  havoc  and  discomfiture  !  In  the  Second  part  of  his  Ca- 
talogue, 18*24,  atpp.  71,  72, 132,  wehave  elaborate  articles,  from  this 
very  Collection,  entitled  "  CURIOUS  AND  SCARCE  POEMS,"— being  42 
quarto  tracts,  "  all  fine  copies,  very  neatly  inlaid,  uniform  in  size,  form- 
ing  a  most  desirable  volume,  very  neatly  bound,  161. 16s. :  with  the  addi- 
tion, that  several  of  the  tracts  would  be  cheap  at  I/.  Is.  each.  Again, 
CURIOUS  AND  SCARCE  POETRY — 22  tracts  of  a  similar  size,  "forming 
a  most  interesting  and  curious  volume  of  scarce  poetical  tracts,  neatly 
inlaid,  &c.  russia  extra,  25Z.  Once  more  :  "  SONGS,  GARLANDS,  STO- 
RIES, &c.  51. 15s.  6d.  "  All  these  tracts  came  from  the  curious  collec- 
tion of  the  late  Hon.  G.  Nassau."  But  these  are  only  as  drops  in  the 
ocean.  And  what  follows  ?  Mr.  Thorpe  himself  imbibes  the  very  tone 
or  spirit  of  bibliomaniacal  inspiration  : — for  in  his  description  of  some 
copper-plate  portraits  of  King  Charles  II.,  and  Queen  Mary,  fc  with 
the  rest  of  the  royal  progeny  "  —  engraved  by  Hollar  and  others  — 
and  "  expressed  in  prose  and  verse,"  see  p.  646 — he  declares  it  to  be 
et  one  of  the  MOST  BEWITCHING  volumes  he  ever  beheld."  Ha,  Mr. 
Thorpe !  I  suspect  you  to  be  deeply  read  in  Reginald  Scot's  Disco- 
•eerie  of  WITCHCRAFT  1584  !  ?  for  what  are  your  words  in  cataloguing 
this  book  (No.  8957  ?)  You  call  it  "  the  most  curious  book  on  the 
subject" — and  mark  it  at  2£.  2s.  accordingly. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  649 

Lover  ?  Complaint  of  a  Lover's  Life  ?  The  Dolorous 
Lover  ?  Conaissance  tf  Amour  ?  —  yea,  even  the  Four 
Leaves  of  Trewe  Love  ? — with  their  precious  concomi- 
tants, Too  soon  Married  9  Too  late  Married  ?  and 
Evil  Married?\\*  What  is  there  of  tender  sentiment, 

*  A  little  patience,  and  we  will  encounter  and  master  the  above 
formidable  cohort  of  black-letter  troops.  Informing  the  reader  that 
I  gather  my  weapons  from  the  armoury  afforded  in  the  second  volume 
of  the  recent  edition  of  our  Typographical  Antiquities,  I  proceed  to  the 
attack  of  the  Castell  of  Labour,  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in 
1506,  4to.  and  of  which  only  one  copy  (I  believe)  is  known  5  and  that 
is  in  the  public  library  at  Cambridge.  The  beginning  is  appallingly 
dull: 

Ye  mortall  People  that  desyre  to  obtayne 
Eternall  Blysse  by  your  Labour  dylygent 
With  Mortall  Ryches  subdue  you  to  payne 
To  rede  this  Treatise  to  the  ryght  Entent. 
&c.     &c.     &c. 

And  yet,  were  another  copy  to  turn  up,  I  know  that  CLEARCHUS 
would  give  a  commission  of  35  guineas  to  possess  it.  "  Man  never 
is,  but  always  TO  BE  blest."  The  Prophecye  of  Merlin,  printed  by 
the  same  printer  in  1510,  4  to.  is  of  a  more  redeeming  cast  of  cha- 
racter j  and  I  cheerfully  refer  my  ' '  young  man"  to  the  pages  of  the 
Censura  Litteraria,  (vol.  v.  p.  248)  for  an  interesting  account  of  it 
by  Mr.  Parke.  For  Kynge  Apollyn  of  Thy  re,  1510,  4to.  I  must  con- 
tent myself  with  a  reference  to  Warton,  vol.  ii.  p.  31.  If  any  man 
could  extract  light  from  darkness  (ee  ex  fuino  dare  lucem")  it  was 
Warton.  The  copy  of  it  in  the  Roxburghe  Collection  was  sold  for 
105Z.  For  the  Myrrour  of  the  Churche,  1521,  4to.  fain  would  I 
speak  something  in  commendation ;  but  peruse  what  is  said  hereon, 
in  vol.  ii.  p.  248,  of  the  work  above  referred  to,  and  declare  if  it  be 
possible  to  say  any  thing  in  commendation.  It  is  doubtless,  however, 
a  most  rare  volume  :  so  much  so,  that  at  this  moment  I  am  not  able 
to  mention  the  possessor  of  a  copy. 

A  word  now  for  the  AMATORY  morceaux  above  specified.     The 
Contravene  betwene  a  Lover  and  a  Jaye,  is,  like  all  the  other  amatory 


650  POETRY  [ENGLISH. 

delicate  passion,  honorable  principle,  bold  adventure, 
and  heroic  achievement,  in  either,  or  the  whole  of 

effusions  about  to  be  mentioned,  (unless  otherwise  expressed)  without 
date;  and  I  ought  to  be  the  last  to  disparage  it,  since  it  was  reprinted 
by  me  for  the  Roxburghe  Club.  The  opening  of  it  is  pretty  : 

In  an  arbere  Syngynge  in  fere 

Late  as  I  were  With  notes  clere 

The  foules  to  here  They  made  good  chere 
Was  myn  entente  On  bowes  bente  • 

The  copy  of  it  in  the  Roxburghe  library,  now  in  that  of  the  Duke 
of  Devonshire,  produced  the  sum  of  39 1.  Mr.  Heber  has  another 
copy.  The  Spectacle  of  Lovers,  4to.  (like  all  the  preceding,  printed 
by  Wynkyn  de  Worde)  produced  431.  at  the  same  sale.  The  extracts 
from  it,  at  vol.  ii.  p.  337*  from  the  authority  before  quoted,  were 
taken  from  another  copy,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Heber.  The  flame 
of  Lone,  if  estimated  by  the  increase  of  price,  seemed  to  burn  with  a 
brighter  lustre  among  the  competitors  for  these  amatory  bijoux  : 
since  the  Complaynte  of  a  Lover's  Lyfe  (also  reprinted  by  me  for  the 
Roxburghe  Club)  produced  the  astounding  sum  of  58Z.  at  the  Rox- 
burghe sale,  and  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  was  the  pur- 
chaser. 

The  Chance  of  the  Dolorous  Louer,  by  Master  Cnjstofer  Goodwyn, 
1520,  4to.  was  unknown,  like  most  of  the  foregoing  pieces.  toRitson; 
who  contents  himself  with  a  reference  to  Warton,  and  who,  in  turn, 
pronounces  it  to  be  "  a  lamentable  story  without  pathos."  Mr. 
Heber's  richly  furnished  library  may  boast  of  a  copy  of  it.  A  brief 
specimen  or  two  will  be  found  in  the  forementioned  authority.  The 
following  impassioned,  or  high-flown,  description  of  the  object  of  the 
Lover's  attachment,  will  produce  a  smile. 

O  rubycunde  ruby  and  perle  most  argent, 
O  gyloffer  gentyll  and  swete  flowre  delyce 
O  daynty  dyamounde  and  moost  resplendent 
O  doulset  blossome  of  a  full  grete  pryce, 

From  Wynkyn  de  Worde  let  us  go  one  moment  to  Pynson ;  whose 
Conusaunce  d"  Amours,  4to.  without  date,  produced  the  stiff  sum  of 
54 1.  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  Library.  I  have  before  said 
(Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  566)  that  "  1  have  read  a  great  part  of  this 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  G51 

these  performances,  collectively?  Will  Mr.  Joseph 
Haslewood,  backed  by  his  ten  regiments  of  heavy 

poem  with  pleasure."  Why  then  is  it  here  capriciously  chronicled 
among  the  duller  effusions  of  our  early  Muse  ?  It  was  from  the  Rox- 
burghe  copy  (and  I  know  of  no  other)  that  my  acquaintance  with 
this  poem  was  derived,  upwards  of  twelve  years  ago. 

The  Four  leaves  of  the  True  Love  was  printed  by  W.  de  Worde 
without  date  j  and,  till  very  lately,  Mr.  Heber's  copy  was  the  only 
one  known.  Some  pleasaunt  allusions  are  made  to  this  copy  in  the 
Bibliog.  Decameron,  vol.  ii.  p.  439.  About  two  years  ago,  another 
copy  of  this  very  rare  book  turned  up,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rice,  whose 
heroic  achievements  in  the  Bibliomania  are  recorded  in  the  work  just 
referred  to,  (vol.  iii.  pp.  56,  59)  became  its  purchaser.  There  are 
yet  other  performances  of  a  similar  complexion — of  which  the  Heart 
thorughe  perced  with  lokynge  of  the  eye,  4to.  no  date,  may  be 
considered  as  one  of  the  rarest.  A  copy  of  it  was  sold  at  the  Rox- 
burghe  Sale  for  37 1.  16s.  To  chase  this  amatory  theme  all  through 
the  sixteenth  century,  would  be  alike  unprofitable  and  impracticable  ; 
but,  towards  the  conclusion  of  it,  appeared  a  work  under  the  com- 
forting title  of  "  Ouldfacioned  Loue,  or  Loue  of  the  ouldfacion  :  by 
T.  G.  Gent.  London,  1599,  Svo. "  a  copy  of  which  is  in  the  CAPEL 
CLOSET  in  the  library  of  Trinity  College  Cambridge.  In  the  follow- 
ing year,  (of  which  a  copy  is  in  the  same  cabinet)  appeared  The 
Remedie  of  Loue,  1600.  Who  was  that  gentleman  T.  G.  ?  Ritson 
knew  him  not.  MARRIAGE  follows  Love ;  and  hereafter  follows, 
A  Complaynt  of  them  that  be  too  soone  maryed,  by  W.  de  Worde,  4to. 
no  date.  In  Mr.  Heber's  very  wonderful  collection.  To  balance 
this  matrimonial  complaint,  is  another  "  Of  them  that  ben  too  late 
marry ed,  4to."  printed  by  the  same,  and  in  the  same  marvellous  col- 
lection. Old  Herbert  scarcely  knew  one  single  metrical  tract  here 
mentioned :  of  such  extraordinary  rarity  may  they  be  considered. 
But  this  is  not  all  the  misery  of  wedlock  recorded  in  our  early 
poetical  strains.  Listen  to  "  The  Payne  and  Sorowe  of  Evill  Ma- 
ryage"  4to.  printed  by  the  same,  without  date.  I  have  before  said 
that  I  endeavoured,  but  without  success,  to  be  amused  or  gratified 
by  this  poem  ;  "  the  shortness  of  which  is  not  compensated  by  its 
sweetness."  Tijp.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p,  387.  From  whose  copy  was  that 


POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

dragoons,  or  by  his  four  regiments  of  light  cavalry, 
pretend  to  tell  me,  or  the  public,  that  he  ever  caught 
one  inspiring  glow,  or  emotion,  from  the  perusal  of 
half  a  dozen  lines  (I  had  well  nigh  said  half  a  dozen 
pages)  of  these  exquisitely  rare  volumes  of  sooty  com- 
plexion ? 

On  the  other  hand,  far  be  it  from  me  to  raise  a 
rebellious  voice  against  other  volumes,  of  similar 
rarity  and  complexion,  of  which  the  titles  of  a  few  only 
need  be  mentioned :  — As  thus  —  The  Nigromansir 
by  Skelton,  Parliament  of  Divels,  Temple  of  Glass, 
Castle  of  Pleasure,  Treatise  of  a  Gallant,  Titus  and 
Gesyppus.*  Against  these,  neither  my  voice  nor  hands 

notice  taken  ?  But,  let  us  remember,  to  balance  ALL  these  matrimo- 
nial miseries,  there  are  The  Fyftene  Joyes  of  Mary  age  printed  by  the 
same  popular  typographical  artist  in  1509,  4to.  of  which,  again,  Mr. 
Heber  is  the  enviable  possessor  of  a  copy — and  from  which  the 
pleasing  extract  (especially  the  first  stanza)  was  given  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  151.  I  know  of^  no  other  copy,  and  Herbert  was 
altogether  ignorant  of  it.  May  its  enviable  possessor  not  only  long 
retain  this  poetical  treasure,  but  quickly  experience  the  "  fifteen  joys'* 
recorded  in  it !  And  thus  much  for  Love  and  Matrimony  j  although 
I  could  say  somewhat  of  an  inestimable  volume  of  black  letter  po- 
etry, printed  by  our  early  typographical  wights,  (the  Coplands  in  the 
number)  "  FOR  and  AGAINST  "  the  fair  sex,  in  the  collection  of  the 
same  distinguished  Collector.  And  what  "  a  bold  stroke"  was 
achieved  in  the  acquisition  of  it  !  Inconceivable  are  the  comforts 
and  conveniences  of  packet  boats  and  mail  coaches. 

*  I  now  come  to  the  specification  of  the  per  contra  creditor,  in 
the  notice  of  the  volumes  whose  titles  are  above  mentioned  -,  and  yet, 
I  ain  not  sure  whether  a  few  of  the  following  may  not  be  considered 
as  sombre  and  as  dull  as  several  which  have  preceded  them.  The 
"  pictures"  may  be  more  like  to  each  other  than  those  shewn  by 
Hamlet  to  his  mother.  As  to  Skelton's  Nigromansir,  1504,  4to.— - 
its  existence  (of  this  date)  may  be  reasonably  doubted.  Not  so  the 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  653 

shall  ever  be  raised  :  and  much  less  against  A  Mery 
Gest  of  Robin  Hood,  Hycke  Scorner,  Cross  me  Spede, 

very  rare  and  early  edition  of  his  Replication  agaynst  certayne  yong 
Scolers,  printed  by  Pynson,  without  date,  4to.  which  I  take  to  be  of 
nearly  as  early  a  date.  Mr.  Heber  possesses  the  only  copy  of  this 
latter  which  I  ever  saw  —  see  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  119  j 
p.  539,  &c.  Skelton's  works,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  have  been 
always  considered  as  scarce  and  dear.  Sir  M.  Sykes  bled  profusely 
in  his  purchases  of  this  kind  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  library ; 
but  I  know  of  few  more  genuine  and  desirable  copies  of  some  of 
Skelton's  pieces,  than  those  tiny  duodecimos  in  the  extraordinary 
library  of  Ham  House,  on  the  banks  of  the  Thames  -,  of  which,  more 
anon.  And  yet,  where  is  the  happiest  of  mortals,  who  possesses 
Skelton's  Garland  or  Chapelet  of  Laurel^  printed  by  R.  Fakes  in 
1523,  4to.  now  in  the  Royal  Library  ?*  The  opening  of  the  Parlia- 
ment of  Deny  lies,  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Wprde  in  1509,  4to.  is 
shuddering : 

As  Mary  was  grette  with  Gabryell 

And  had  conceyued  and  borne  a  Chylde 

All  the  Deuylles  of  the  Erthe,  of  the  Ayre  and  of  He  . 

Held  theyr  Parlyament  of  that  Mayde  mylde. 

See  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  143  3  which  account  is  taken  from 
the  only  known  copy  of  the  work  in  the  public  library  at  Cambridge, 
A  copy  of  this  work,  without  date,  and  printed  by  Richard  Fakes, 
(wholly  undescribed)  is  in  the  extraordinary  library  at  Ham  House 
It  is  in  4to.,  printed  on  eight  leaves,  on  signatures  A.  B.  C.  There  is 
a  tremendous  group  of  devils,  behind  a  portcullis,  or  some  iron  bars 
above  the  commencement  of  the  first  page  of  the  text:  and  this 
marvellous  treasure  is  bound  up  with  a  book  of  scarcely  less  rarity 
and  price,  entitled  The  boke  of  Hawkynge,  Huntynge  and  Fysshynge, 
printed  without  date  by  W.  de  Worde.  What  will  Mr.  Haslewood  say 
to  all  this  ?  Do  I  hear  him  giving  orders  to  <f  saddle  white  Surrey 
for  the  road  to-morrow  ?  ! 


*  See  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  357,  and  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  iv. 
p.  389.  I  believe  no  other  copy  is  known  ;  and  yet  I  heard  it  once  asserted  that 
it  existed  UPON  VELLUM  in  Tom  Martin's  (of  Palgrave)  Library  If  so,  it  never 
came  to  the  hammer. 


654  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

Life  of  St.  IFerburg,  Cock  Lorels  Bote,  Syr  Degore, 
or  John  Splinters  Testament  !  !  !   And,  as  for  auncient 

The  Temple  of  Glass  was  first  printed  by  Caxton  in  4to.  containing 
33  leaves.  It  is  among  Bishop  More's  books  in  the  public  library  at 
Cambridge.  It  was  reprinted  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  and  afterwards 
by  Thomas  Kerthelet.  A  copy  of  the  original  was  never,  to  my 
knowledge,  submitted  for  sale  :  and  no  other  copy  than  that  just 
mentioned  is  known.*  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  reprint  was  sold  for 
28J.  7s.  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  Library.  Of  Berthelet's,  the 
only  copy  I  know  is  that  in  the  Bodleian  Library.  LYDGATE  was 
the  author  of  this  piece  of  poetry.  Does  that  say  much  for  its  live- 
liness^ See  Warton,  vol.  ii.  p.  211.  The  Castle  of  Pleasure  is 
among  the  tip-top  rarities  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  press.  The  account 
of  it  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  371,  was  taken  from  the  copy  in 
the  Roxburghe  collection,  which  copy  was  purchased  by  Sir  M.  M. 
Sykes  for  65Z.  The  title  of  this  rare  piece  of  poetry  exhibits  a  wood 
cut  of  a  man,  a  woman,  and  a  castle  : — with  a  label  on  which  we 
read  DESIRE,  BEAUTE,  PLEASURE.  The  argument  is  this.  "  The 
conveyance  of  a  Dream,  how  Desire  went  to  the  Castle  of  Pleasure, 
wherein  was  the  garden  of  Affection,  inhabited  by  Beauty,  to  whom 
he  amorously  expressed  his  love j  upon  the  which  supplication  rose 
great  strife,  disputation,  and  argument  between  Pity  and  Disdain." 
The  specimen  selected,  in  the  work  just  referred  to,  is  doubtless 
"  very  pleasing."  The  two  last  verses  of  the  first  Eclogue  of  Virgil 
are  thus  prettily  converted  into  our  mother  tongue. 

*  This  poem  must  not  be  confounded  with  another  (supposed)  poem  called  the 
Temple  of  Bras :  which,  in  fact,  has  no  existence  under  such  title.  On  the  17th. 
leaf  of  Caxton's  impression  of  the  Parliament  of  Birds,  we  read  thus  : 

Explicit  the  temple  of  bras 

but,  on  the  reverse  of  the  first  leaf  of  the  same  poem,  it  runs  as  follows ; 
This  boke  the  whiche  I  make  of  mencion 
Entitled  was  right  thus  as  I  shal  telle 
Tullius  of  the  dreme  of  scipyon 
Chapitres  seuen  it  had  of  heuen  and  helle. 
From  Bp.  More's  copy  in  the  Public  Library  of  the  University  of  Cambridge. 

f  Mr.  Campbell  in  the  preface  to  his  Specimens  of  our  Poetry,  vol.  1.  p.  95,  con- 
siders HAWES  to  be  the  author ;  but  see  the  note  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p. 
308. — whence  it  seems  decidedly  to  be  LYDGATE'S. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  655 

Xmas  Carols — from  the  earliest  productions  of  the 
press  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  down  to  the  latest  of 

Seynge  the  shadowes  fall  from  the  hylles  in  the  west 
Eche  byrdd  vnder  boughe  drewe  nye  to  theyr  nest 
The  chymneys  from  ferre  began  to  smoke. 

But  the  sequel  may  as  well  be  introduced  -,  for  the  images  are  at  once 
natural  and  happy. 

Eche  housholder  went  about  to  lodge  his  gest 

The  storke  ferynge  stormes  toke  the  chymney  for  a  cloke 

Eche  chambre  and  chyst  were  soon  put  vnder  locke 

Curfew  was  ronge  lyghtes  were  set  vp  in  haste 

They  that  were  without  for  lodgynge  soone  dyd  knocke. 

Stanza  v. 
&c.         &c.         &c. 

Such  a  performance   is  worthy  of  the  critical  investigation  of  the 
poetical  antiquary. 

As  for  the  Treatyse  made  of  a  Galaunt,  Mr.  Haslewood  (with  his 
usual  gallantry  of  research)  was  the  fortunate  finder  of  this  amatory 
morceau.  It  is  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde ;  and  "  was  found 
pasted  within  the  fly  leaf,  on  the  oak  board  binding,  of  an  imperfect 
volume  of  Pynson's  Statutes,  and  purchased  from  the  Nash-Court 
Collection."  Another  proof  this —  if  another  were  wanting  —  of 
the  importance  of  looking  narrowly  into  the  fly  leaves,  and  old  paper 
wadding,  of  ancient  books  in  board  bindings.  A  pretty  copious  extract 
from  this  UNIQUE  poetical  treasure  is  given  in  the  Censura  Literaria, 
vol.  v.  p.  37-41  ;  from  which  I  select  two  stanzas,  descriptive  of  the 
dresses  of  the  English,  upwards  of  three  centuries  ago — which  are 
sufficient  to  bear  out  master  Andrew  Borde's  account  of  the  variable- 
ness of  our  fashions  about  that  period.* 

Beholde  the  rolled  hodes  stuffed  with  flockes, 

The  newe  broched  doublettes  open  at  the  brestes, 
Stuffed  with  pectoll  of  theyr  loves  smockes, 

Theyr  gownes  and  theyr  cotes  shredde  all  in  lystes, 
So  many  capes  as  now  be,  and  so  few  good  prestes. 
I  can  not  reken  halfe  the  route  of  theyr  marde  gere ; 
Englond  may  wayle  that  euer  it  came  here. 


*  The  often-quoted  stanza  from  Borde  will  be  found  in  the  Typ.  Antiq*  vol.  iii. 
page  159. 


656  POETRY  [ENGLISH. 

those  of  Richard  Kele — may  they  be  for  ever  embalmed 
in  ebony  or  beef-wood  cabinets  .  May  they  ever  afford 
innocent  recreation  to  the  young,  and  substantial 
solace  to  the  old.  I  war  not  with  such  delectable  bi- 
zarrerie  from  our  earlier  presses.* 

These  GALAUNTES  use  also  full  abhomynable, 

Theyr  typpettes  be  wry  then  lyke  to  a  chayne, 
And  they  go  haltred  in  them  as  hors  in  the  stable  : 

It  is  a  peryllous  pronostycacyon  certayne ; 

For  synfull  soules  shall  be  bounde  in  payne, 
Hande  and  fote  in  perpetuall  fyre  : 
They  shall  curse  the  tyme  that  euer  it  came  here. 

But  one  more  rarity  to  be  incorporated  into  this  note — already  dis- 
tended to  a  most  unwieldy  size  —  and  that  is,  The  Hystory  of  Tytus 
and  Gesyppus,  translated  out  of  latyn  into  englyshe,  by  WYLLYAM 
WALTER,  &c. :  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  without  date,  4to. 
See  some  curious  extracts,  from  the  Roxburghe  copy  of  it,  in  the 
Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  338.  This  copy  was  purchased  by  the  Duke  of 
Devonshire,  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  Library,  for  361.  And  so 
little  has  the  lapse  of  time  deteriorated  its  pecuniary  value,  that  the 
reprint  of  it,  by  Hacket,  in  1560,  8vo.  produced  the  sum  of  24  Z.  13s.  6d. 
at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Bindley's  library.  Thus  have  I  travelled  through 
a  varied  tract  of  country  of  the  EARLY  BRITISH  MUSE  :  with  briars, 
thistles,  and  dock  weed,  on  the  one  side  of  me — and  hawthorn  bushes, 
the  dog-rose,  and  wild  convolvulus,  on  the  other.  Statelier  trees, 
more  fragrant  blossoms,  and  fruit  of  luscious  flavour,  are  to  be  met 
with  as  we  pursue  a  different  route. 

*  What  a  black-letter  muster-roll  have  I  again  to  encounter ! 
And,  first  of  all,  in  regard  to  that  idol  of  our  boyish  days— -that  cham- 
pion of  the  forest  —  that  Hero  of  quarter  staff,  long  bow,  and  cloth- 
yard  arrow — ROBIN  HOOD  !  .  .  .  the  very  notice  of  the  Mery  Geste,  as 
the  first  in  the  list  of  pieces  above  named,  recals  to  my  memory  the 
delectable  day  which  I  spent  in  the  public  library  of  the  University 
of  Cambridge,  in  company  with  Mr.  Lodge,  of  whose  kindness  and 
ability  I  have  before  had  occasion  to  make  honourable  mention. 
Doubly  <(  delectable"  was  that  day —(towards  the  end  of  the  month 
of  October)  not  so  much  for  having  well  nigh  settled  a  most  impor- 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  657 

It  wili  be  obvious  to  the  reader,  that  I  have  thus 
concentrated  a  few  of  the  non-descripts  of  the  earlier 

tant  point  about  the  number  of  books  in  that  same  public  library,*  as 
from  a  sight,  and  temporary  possession,  of  TWO  TOMES  of  black  letter 
poetry,  one  printed  by  Caxton,  (and  seen  by  me  fifteen  years  ago)  the 
other  chiefly  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde.  In  this  latter  volume  is  the 
MERY  GESTE  of  ROBYN  HODE,  bright,  fresh,  and  unsullied.  See 
what  is  said  about  it  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  360 ;  and  doubt  not, 
gentle  reader,  one  moment,  but  that  it  is  the  first  printed  book  con- 
nected with  the  exploits  of  that  sylvan  hero.  Whatever  Farmer  or 
Ritson  might  have  said,  (see  ibid.)  I  will  fearlessly  place  it  foremost 
in  the  front  row  of  Robin  Hood  publications.  Rastell's  supposed 
impression  must  not  be  named  in  the  same  breath.  If  such  a  book 
be  in  being,  I  should  put  it  twenty  years  later. 

And  while  we  are  upon  the  subject  of  MERRY  JESTS,  let  me  say  a 
merry  word  in  behalf  of  that  of  the  Friar  and  the  Boy  (Frere  and  the 
Boye)  which  is,  also  with  the  preceding,  UNIQUE,  executed  by  the  same 
printer,  and  in  the  same  public  collection.  It  contains  only  seven 
leaves — worth  .  .  .  how  many  guineas  per  leaf?  Ritson  reprinted  it 
in  his  pieces  of  Ancient  Popular  Poetry,  1*91,  8vo.  For  Hycke 
Scorner,  printed  by  the  same,  without  date,  (reprinted  by  Hawkins, 
and  analysed  by  Percy)  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Beloe  for  a  particular 
account;  Anec.  of  Lit.  vol.  i.  p.  387-394.  This  account  is  taken  from 
the  only  known  copy  of  it,  in  the  Garrick  Collection  in  the  British 
Museum.  Of  Cryste  crosse  me  Spede,  A.  B.  C, — the  work  of  the 
same  printer,  without  date — I  know  not  of  the  present  existence  of 


*  There  is  no  one  point  upon  which  greater  mistakes  are  made,  or  more  absurd, 
random,  conclusions  drawn,  than  that  connected  with  the  number  of  volumes  in  any 
large  library,  public  or  private.  The  only  thing  like  it,  are  the  mistakes  drawn 
about  the  amount  of  church  preferment  and  legacies.  With  these  I  have  here 
nothing  to  do ;  but  with  the  number  of  volumes  in  the  public  library  at  Cambridge 
I  have  thus  much  to  do  —  that  I  am  armed  with  documents,  carefully  and  liberally 
put  together,  which  prove  that  the  library  in  question  does  NOT  contain  65 ,000  vo- 
lumes :  and  yet,  I  thought  I  should  have  received  one  of  the  folios  of  Mentelin's 
Speculum  Historiale  (printed  in  1473)  discharged  at  my  head  (not  by  the  above 
mentioned  able  and  amiable  friend)  when  I  doubted  the  number  of  books  being 
90,000  !— as  they  were  declared  to  be  20  years  ago ! !  !  On  facts  like  these,  there 
should  be  something  like  mathematical  proof— and  that  proof  I  possess. 

U    U 


658  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

IVfuses  of  this  country,  from  a  supposition  that  there 
will  be  no  place  exactly  Jitted  for  them  in  the  metho- 

the  copy  (and  the  only  one,  as  I  conceive)  described  in  the  Typog. 
Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  367.  It  is  a  singularly  curious  morceau  of  old  poe. 
try;  beginning  thus : 

Here  begynneth  a  lytell  propre  jeste 
Called  cryste  crosse  me  spede,  a.  b.  c. 
How  ye  gosyps  made  a  royal  feest 
In  the  goodlyest  maner  wl.  game  and  glee 
To  the  ale  they  went  wt.  hey  troly  loly. 

Will  no  "  indagator  invictissimus  "  of  auncient  poetical  lore  tell  us 
where  the  copy,  here  described,  now  reposes  t 

Of  the  Life  of  St.  Werburge,  printed  byPynson  in  1521,  4to.  a 
very  copious  account  appears  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  page  491- 
499:  from  a  perfect  copy  of  it  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Heber.  A 
copy  of  this  book  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Woodhouse's  library,  in 
1803,  for  3  ll.  10s.  At  the  sale  of  Major  Pearson's  library,  in  1788, 
it  produced  but  1Z.  105. :  and  at  that  of  Isaac  Reed,  in  1807,  it  pro- 
duced 18Z.  185. :  but  at  a  more  recent  sale  at  Mr.  Saunders's,  it  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Hibbert  for  42/.  So  seems  to  say  the  Repertor. 
Bibliographicum :  vide  Indicem.  Cock  Lord's  Bote  was  reprinted  by 
the  Rev.  H.  Drury  for  the  Roxburghe  Club.  The  original,  among 
Garrick's  books  in  the  British  Museum,  is  supposed  to  be  unique. 
See  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  352. :  and  Beloe's  Anecd.  vol.  i.  p.  393. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  amusing,  as  well  as  rarest,  of  the  earlier  pieces 
of  our  poetry.  Syr  Degore  is  indeed  a  rare  and  "  precious  old  gen. 
tleman."  All  that  we  know  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  curious  edition 
of  it,  (containing  eighteen  leaves,  of  a  small  4to.  size)  appears  in  the 
Censura  Literaria,  vol.  v.  p.  255.  I  once  saw,  however,  a  fragment  of 
two  leaves  of  it,  belonging  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Repton,  the  reputed  author 
of  that  small  and  curious  little  black-letter  romance  entitled  Prince 
•Rhadapanthus.  These  leaves  were  shewn  me  by  Mr.  Churchill  in  the 
often  lauded  library  of  Blickling  in  Norfolk. 

More  <e  MERRY  JESTS  !"  Here  is  (e  a  merry  gest  and  a  true  Howe 
lohn  Splynter  made  his  Testament."  Julian  Notary  is  the  printer  of 
this  inestimably  precious  volume  j  and  Mr.  Heber  is  the  "  thrice 
blesse-d  "  owner  of  the  copy  described  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  page 
5B0, — pronounced  by  him  to  be  unique.  The  book  is  full  of  drollery. 
The  Loue  and  Complayntes  bytwene  Mars  and  Venus,  without  date. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  659 

dical  arrangement  of  those  Bards,  whose  claims  to 
popularity,  during  the  sixteenth  century,  are  of  a  more 

4to.  is  another  precious  gem  by  the  same  typographical  artist.  The 
copy  of  it,  from  the  Roxburghe  Collection,  described  in  the  Typ.  An- 
tiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  585,  produced  the  gigantic  sum  of  601.  It  was  purchased 
by  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes,  Bart.  Jack  Splinter  is  at  least  as  high-prized 
as  this.  They  are  both  "  pretty  creatures  "  —  worthy  of  competing 
with  any  tract,  however  highly  prized  as  well  as  priced,  in  that  most 
extraordinary  volume  of  early  black-letter  poetry,  chiefly  by  Wynkyn 
de  Worde,  in  the  public  library  at  Cambridge,  of  which  the  trans- 
mission to  my  head  quarters,  in  London,  was  so  inflexibly  (and  per- 
haps, on  the  whole,  very  wisely)  denied  me. 

As  to  our  early  CHRISTMAS  CAROLS,  if  the  theme  be  joyous,  the 
enquiries  relating  to  it  are  not  exempted  from  some  little  difficulties : 
but  I  will  here  only  attend  to  "  joy,"  and  not  to  discrepancies  of  opi- 
nion. The  reader  will  therefore  receive  en  gr^the  FIRST  CAROL  on 
printed  Record — about  300  years  old :  as  it  is  sung  in  the  hall  of 
Queen's  College  Oxford,  at  Christmas :  premising  that,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  old  Anthony  a  Wood,*  "  when  the  first  course  is  served  up 
in  the  refectory  on  Christmas  day,  in  the  said  College,  the  Manciple 
brings  a  BOAR'S  HEAD  from  the  kitchen,  up  to  the  high  table,  accom- 
panied with  one  of  Taberders,  who  lays  his  hand  on  the  charger. 


*  I  am  indebted  for  the  above  information  to  my  friend  Dr.  Bliss  of  St.  John's 
College,  Oxford :  but  the  reader  is  referred  to  a  full  and  particular  account  of  the 
old  ballad,  as  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  1521,  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  page 
250 :  together  with  various  authorities  bearing  on  the  subject.  It  is  there  printed 
in  the  blacfe  letter.  Receive  it  here  in  the  white  letter — and  note,  with  scholastic 
minuteness,  the  VARIOUS  READINGS  : 

A  Caroll  bringing  in  the  bores  head. 

Caput  apri  differo  a 
Reddens  laudensb  domino. 

The  bores  head  in  hande  bring  1 
With  garlans  gay  and  rosemary 
I  pray  you  all  synge  merely 
Qui  estis  in  conuiuio. 


a  So  in  the  original  for  defero, 
b  So  for  iandes. 


660  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

decided  and  lasting  character.  And  yet  —  even  in 
such  a  poetical  farrago — I  have  absolutely  forgotten  to 

The  Taberder  sings  the  following  song,  and  when  they  come  to  the 
chorus,  all  the  Members  that  are  in  the  refectory  join  together  and 

sing  it :  '* 

The  Boares  head  in  hand  bear  I, 
Bedeck'd  with  bays  and  rose-raary, 
And  I  pray  you,  masters,  be  merry 
Quotquot  estis  in  convivio  j 

€HORUS. 
Caput  Apri  defero 
Reddens  laudes  Domino. 

The  Boares  head  as  I  vndersta  nd 
Is  the  brauest  dish  in  all  the  land, 
Being  thus  bedeck'd  with  a  gay  garland ; 
Let  vs  servire  cantico  ; 

CHORUS. 
Caput  Apri  defero,  Sfc. 

Our  Steward  hath  provided  this 
In  honour  of  the  King  of  Bliss, 
Which  on  this  day  to  be  served  is 
In  Reginensi  atrio ; 

CHORUS. 
Caput  Apri  defero,  fyc. 

Most  vehemently  do  I  desiderate  the  knowledge  of  the  locus  in  quo 
of  this  inestimably  precious  relic — once  fondled  by  Hearne,  and  in- 
spected by  Warton. 

The  bores  heed  I  vnderstande 
Is  the  thefec  seruyce  in  this  lande 
Loke  where  euer  it  be  fande 
Seruite  cum  cantico. 

Be  gladde  lordes  both  more  and  lasse 
For  this  hath  ordeyned  our  stewarde 
To  chere  you  all  this  Christmasse 
The  bores  heed  with  mustarde. 


e  So  for  chefe. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  661 

notice   two  poetical  tracts,   printed  by  CAXTON,   of 
which  one  is  a  mere  fragment,  and  the  other  an  entire 

Nearly  approaching  the  preceding  in  rarity,  and  of  considerable 
greater  interest  from  its  contents,  both  in  quantity  and  character,  is 
the  UNIQUE  copy  of  Christmas  Carols,  possessed  by  Francis  Freeling, 
Esq.  from  the  press  of  that "  cunning  "  typographical  wight,  Richard 
Kele.  The  title  and  colophon  run  thus:  Christmas  Carolles;  newely 
Imprynted  at  London  in  the  Powltry  by  Rychard  Kde,  dwellyng  at  the 
longe  shop  vnder  saynt  Myldredes  churche.  It  is  a  very  small  duo- 
decimo volume,  containing,  in  the  whole,  twenty-four  leaves  j  and 
has  been  pretty  fully  described  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iv.  page  304  : 
that  description  being  taken  from  the  identical  copy  here  noticed. 
See  also  the  Bibliographical  Miscellanies,  Oxon.  1813,  4to.  page  48, 
where  copious  extracts  from  it  appear.  Ah,  that  "  longe  shop"'  of 
Master  Richard  Kele  ! — there  be  many  of  my  acquaintance  who 
would  make  "  short  work  "  with  its  contents,  could  they  now  be  col- 
lected  into  one  tangible  form  !  Think,  amongst  other  things,  of  those 
pretty  little  Skeltonic  "  bits, "  printed  in  three  parts  (mentioned,  as 
in  the  library  at  Ham  House,  p.  653,  ante)  which  produced,  at  the 
sale  of  Mr.  Bindley's  library,  the  sum  of  3ll.  10s. 

But  what  are  ALL  the  united  Carols,  or  Ballad  publications,  of  our 
old  friends  Wynkyn  and  Kele,  compared  with  those  issued  from  the 
fertile  press  of  the  WIDOW  TOYE — the  wife  of  Robert  Toye  the  printer, 
who  appears  to  have  died  about  the  year  1555  ?  Well  might  my 
predecessor  Herbert  call  her  "  a  courteous  dame."  She  contributed, 
in  fact,  to  the  collections  of  the  Company  of  Stationers,  and  especially 
towards  the  fund  for  their  "  public  dinners"  - —  against  which,  I  sus- 
pect, a  few  of  the  barbed  arrows  of  Master  D  rant's  Sermons,  (see 
p.  77,  ante)  were  slyly  shot.  But  Mrs.  Toye  shewed  her  "  curtesy" 
by  a  more  substantial  mark  of  her  good  disposition  towards  the  said 
company  ;  for  she  not  only  presented  them  with  a  new  table  cloth, 
and  a  dozen  of  napkins,  but  paid  for  "  one  of  the  windows  in  the 
hall."  Can  we  be  therefore  surprised  if  one  of  the  ballads,  pub- 
lished by  her,  have  such  a  title  as  the  following : 

I  will  haue  a  Widow  yf  euer  I  marye  ? 

But  why  should  I  hold  back  that  list  of  BALLAD  POETRY,  put  forth 
by  the  widow  Toye,  to  obtain  the  originals  of  which,  even  Sir  Walter 


662  POETRY.  [ENGLISH 

work  —  but  of  small  extent,  and  of  a  dull  and  dreary 

Scott  would  wade, { '  booted  to  the  groin, "(as  Robert  Burton  expresses 
it)  through  the  snows  upon  Ben  Lomond's  height — or  stand,  tip  toe 
on  one  leg,  upon  the  sharpest  pinnacle  of  Melrose  Abbey  !  !  Yet  .  .  . 
yet  . .  .  methinks  I  have  a  sort  of  faint  remembrance  of  one  or  two 
of  the  entire  ballads,  of  which  the  titles  are  as  follow,  being  in  those 
five  mysterious  tomes  of  old  vernacular  poetry  in  the  Pepysian  Collec- 
tion.* But  for  the  titles  of  the  widow  Toye's  Ballads.  As  before 
given,  (Typ.  Aiitiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  577)  they  are  as  follow  : 

Women  beste  whan  they  be  at  reste. 

I  will  haue  a  Widow  yf  euer  I  marye. 

The  Day  of  the  lorde  ys  at  hande. 

A  ballet  of  thomalyn. 

Betwene  a  Ryche  farmer  and  his  daughter 

Of  the  talke  betwene  ij  maydes. 

The  murnynge  of  Edwarde  Duke  of  Buckyngham. 

A  mayde  that  wolde  mary  with  a  serving  man. 

Who  lyue  so  mery  and  make  such  sporte, 
as  they  that  be  of  the  poorer  sorte. 

An  Epytaph  upon  the  deathe  of  Kynge  Edward  ye  sixte. 

To  mo  row  shal  be  my  father's  wake- 

The  Rose  is  from  my  garden  gone. 

The  a.  b.  c.  of  a  preste  called  heugh  stourmy. 

&c.        &c.        &c. 

("  Cum  multis  aliis,  quae  nunc  perscribere  longum  est ")  And  shall 
the  widow  Toye  absorb  all  notice  of  the  curious  and  rare  ballads 
sometimes  put  forth  by  Master  RICHARD  LANT— a  contemporary  of 
the  said  Dame  Toye  ?  Forbid  it,  poetical  Antiquary  —  and  shew  me, 
either  in  the  printed  pages  of  the  Censura  Litter  aria  and  British  Bib" 
liographer,  or  in  the  wedge-like  phalanxes  of  black  letter  poetry  be- 

*  It  was  approaching  winter,  late  in  the  autumnal  months,  when  the  evenings 
are  chill  and  dark,  that,  under  the  vigilant  eye  of  Mr.  Lodge,  I  sat  me  down,  by  the 
side  of  a  blazing  fire,  and  enfiladed  by  fragrant  cups  of  Souchong  tea,  (in  the 
PEPYSIAN  DEPARTMENT)  to  an  examination  of  these  mysterious  tomes.  The  ballads 
are  chiefly  of  the  time  of  the  two  Charleses,  and  none  (as  I  thought)  so  old  as  the 
reign  of  Edward  VI.     They  are  arranged  according  to  the  subject,  thus  :  Heroic, 
Romantic,  Hunting,  Love,  &c.  I  observed,  in  the  subdivision  of  the  latter, 
Love  pleasant 
Love  unfortunate*. 

The  Collection  is  entitled,  in  the  stiff  hand  of  Pepys,  "  My  Collection  of  old 
Ballads." 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  66S 

complexion.  They  are  chronicled  in  the  subjoined 
note.* 

longing  to  Richard  Heber,  Esq.  M.  P.  any  thing  more  curious  than, 
the  "  Steuen  Steple  to  Mast  Camel  "  of  Richard  Lant  ?  —  "a  small 
doggerel  (says  Herbert)  of  twenty-four  lines,  in  a  rude  country  sort 
of  English — of  which  (continues  he)  these  are  the  four  last." 

Now  yeh  ha  myn  arnde  a  do  And  be  good  maister  Churchard  to, 

Chud  ha  ye  yor  head  to  heede  a          And  zo  God  be  yor  sprede  a. 

But  see  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  583.  Such  are  these  BALLAD  HINTS 
or  SKETCHES  .  .  but  the  Theme  is  interminable.  Let  Mr.  Hasle- 
wood  exhaust  it  ...  if  he  can. 

*  Thejirst  of  these  Caxtonian  treasures  is  a  mere  fragment,  chro- 
nicled in  the  Typ.  Antiquities,  vol.  i.  p.  360,  so  as  to  make  one 
wish  the  author  were  known.  The  second  UNIQUE  Caxtonian  gem, 
undescribed,  and,  till  hitherto,  unknown,  is  in  the  library  at  Ham 
House,  by  the  banks  of  the  Thames :  and,  on  more  accounts  than. 
one,  I  have  reason  to  remember  the  discovery  of  this  typographical 
treasure.  It  was  late  in  the  month  of  November,  when,  in  company 
with  my  excellent  friend  the  Rev.  Mr.  D.  Lewis,  we  crossed  the  ferry 
from  the  Twickenham  side  of  the  water.  The  wind  was  in  the  east — 
blowing  up  all  the  fog  and  filthy  haze  of  the  Metropolis :  and,  al- 
though mid-day,  the  opposite  banks  of  the  river  could  with  difficulty 
be  discerned.  The  very  Genius  of  malignity  and  mischief  seemed  to 
brood  on  the  face  of  the  water :  but  our  ferryman  was  no  "  brownie," 
and  we  reached  the  opposite  shore  in  safety.  In  five  minutes,  we 
were  within  the  library — and  WHAT  a  library  to  enter  !  But  this  is 
not  the  place  to  tell  the  whole  of  this  bibliographical  tale :  only  be  it 
known  that  here  are  not  fewer  than  ELEVEN  CAXTONS,  and  the  Life 
of  St.  Wenefrid  in  the  number.  The  non-descript  in  question  may  be 
called  the  Governayle  of  Helthe."  ("  In  this  tretyse  that  is  cleped 
Gouernayle  of  helthe,  &c.)  It  is  chiefly  in  prose,  containing  A  and 
B.  in  eights^  having  however  two  leaves  of  poetry,  beginning  thus  : 

For  helth  of  body,  couere  for  colde  thy  hede 
ete  no  rawe  meate,  take  good  hede  hereto 
Drynke  holsom  wyne,  fede  the  on  lyht  brede 
Wyth  an  appetyte,  ryse  from  thy  mete  also 
Wyth  wymtnen  flesshely  haue  not  adoo 
Vpon  thy  slepe  drynke  not  of  the  cuppe 


664  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

But  if  there  were  leisure  and  space  for  the  expansion 
of  the  theme  of  UNCHRONICLED  RELICS  of  old  English 
Poetry,  I  could  greatly  enlarge  the  notes  of  this  Work, 
by  the  introduction  of  certain  pieces,  and  especially  a 
few  from  the  press  of  Caxton's  pupil,  or  apprentice, 
Wynkyn  de  Worde,  which  would  convince  the  biblio- 
graphical Antiquary  how  much  is  yet  to  be  done  in 
the  department  of  our  earlier  Poetry  ;  and  how  impe- 
ratively a  new  and  greatly  enlarged  edition  of  Ritson's 
truly  valuable  Bibliographia  Poetica  is  wanted — for 
hopeless,  I  fear,  is  the  wish,  that  Warton's  immortal 
work  will  be  dressed  in  a  similar  garb  !* 

Gladde  towarde  bed  at  morowe  bothe  two 
And  vse  neuer  late  for  to  suppere 
And  yf  so  be  that  leches  don  the  fayle 
Then  take  goode  hede  to  vse  thynges  thre 
Temporat  dyete,  temporat  trauayle, 
Not  malyncolyouse  for  none  aduersite. 

All  this  is,  it  must  be  owned,  dismally  dull  and  repulsive — but  the 
printer  was  CAXTON.  On  the  reverse  of  the  second  leaf  of  this 
poetry,  we  read  at  bottom  : 

Explicit  medicina  Stomachi. 

This  unique  treasure  had  belonged  to  a  Collector,  whose  initials, 
monogramised,  appear  to  have  been  J.M.C.,  and  are  in  the  centre  of 
piles  of  books.  I  have  seen  and  possessed  several  tomes  which  once 
claimed  the  same  owner:  and  a  curious  "Owner"  he  was.  This 
copy,  like  several  in  the  DYSART  COLLECTION,  has  the  pencil  price 
(7s.  6d.)  of  Tom  Osborne  the  bookseller,  in  the  fly-leaf ;  and  is  bound 
in  dark  calf,  with  Dutch  marble  paper  lining  within^  It  is,  in  all  res- 
pocts,  an  UNRECORDED  Caxton.  My  friend  Mr.  H.  Ellis,  of  the 
British  Museum,  disputes  with  me  the  palm  of  the  discovery.  Do  I 
hear  the  saucy  Critic  exclaim, 

Et  VITULA  tu  dignus,  et  hie  <  ? 

*  First,  for  certain  UNCHRONICLED  RELICS  of  our  early  poetry  from 
the  press  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde.  And  here,  the  enthusiasm  and 
energy  of  my  young  friend  Mr.  Charles  Hartshorne,  of  St.  John's 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  665 

And  now— without  any  further  preliminary  remark 
— I   enter   "  in   medias   res."     Let   me   begin   with 

College,  Cambridge,  have  supplied  with  a  few  most  curious  particu- 
lars, from  that  (apparently)  inexhaustible  mine  in  the  Pepysian  Li- 
brary, (see  p.  663)  of  Magdalen  College,  Cambridge.  The  fact  is—- 
and why  should  it  be  concealed  from  the  public  ? — that  this  young 
thorough-bred  bibliomaniacal  Racer  (who,  I  predict,  will  win  all  the 
cups  and  sweepstakes  that  he  starts  for)  is  just  now  occupied  in  the 
weaving  of  a  ( '  Golden  Garland  of  Early  English  Poetry,"  composed 
of  pieces  little  known,  or,  for  the  greater  part,  wholly  unknown. 
Take  a  specimen — muse-wooing  Reader.  The  Justs  of  the  Months 
of  May,  (I  modernise  the  orthography,)  furnished  and  done  by  Charles 
Brandon,  Thomas  Knyvet,  Giles  Capell  and  William  Hussey,  the  xxii 
year  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  in  4to. 
contains  46  chapters.  Again  :  "  The  Justs  and  Tournay  of  the 
Month  of  June,  parfurnished  and  done  by  Richard  Graye,  Earl  of 
Kent,  by  Charles  Brandon  with  their  two  Aids  against  all  comers.  The 
xxii  year  of  the  reign  of  Hen.  VII.  "  Printed  by  the  same,  and  con- 
taining 62  stanzas.  The  few  short  specimens  supplied  by  Mr.  H.  are 
delicious  earnests  of  what  are  to  follow  . . .  but,  as  in  duty  bound,  I 
refrain  from  inserting  them.  Once  more.  ff  The  Epitaph  of  the  most 
noble  and  valiant  Jasper,  late  Duke  of  Bedford:  Printed  by  the  same, 
4to.  Eight  pages.  All  three  previously  UNKNOWN.  How  beat  the 
pulses  of  my  friends  Messrs.  Heber,  Freeling,  and  Rice  ?  And  how 
feels  the  heart  of  Mr.  Jolly  ?  And  where  rests  the  pen  of  Mr.  Hasle- 
wood  ? — in  his  bronze,  punchinello-inkstand,  or  between  his  thumb 
and  two  forefingers,  ready  to  record  these  FACTS  in  the  annals  of  the 
olden  poetry  ? 

For  the  last  time,  as  to  Wynkyn  de  Worde  : — and  I  skip  at  once 
from  the  banks  of  the  Cam  to  those  of  the  Thames.  Of  course,  the 
reader  is  with  me,  in  a  trice,  within  the  precincts  of  Ham  House 
Library.  What  says  he  to  a  work  by  STEPHEN  HAWES,  (wholly 
unknown — and  which  might  perhaps  have  been  more  appropriately 
recorded  among  the  early  Amatory  Poems  at  page  651,  ante)  entitled 
the  COMFORT  OF  LOVERS  ?  printed  by  this  same  typographical  wight, 
and  ending  on  the  reverse  of  C  vj,  in  sixes,  The  colophon  is  thus 
picturesquely  disposed. 


666  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

Chaucer*or  Gower.  I  take  the  first— usually  consi- 
dered as  THE  FATHER  of  English  Poetry.  With  CHAU- 

Enprynted 
by  me  Wynkyn  de 
Worde.  - 

having  the  large  common  tripartite  device  on  the  back.  Ha  !  there 
be  GEMS,  in  this  very  wonderful  book-paradise,  worth  the  setting ! 
What  if  I  prove,  not  only  that  this  poem  was  a  production  subsequent 
to  the  Passtime  of  Pleasure,  by  the  same  poet,  but  that,  being  so,  it 
might  have  been  printed  even  in  the  year  1510  ?  Read  the  SUB-NOTE; 
and  consider  if  there  be  any  thing  new,  but  in  books,  beneath  the 
sun.* 


*  The  first  question  will  be,  how  could  this  work  have  been  printed  in  1510, 
when  the  parent  text  of  the  Pastime,  &c.  was  put  forth  by  the  same  printer  in 
1517?  Answer:  for  "  the  parent  text,"  read  "the  supposed  parent  text"—  for, 
within  this  very  same  library,  and  bound  in  the  same  binding  which  contains  the 
preceding  tract,  there  happens  to  be  the  REAL  parent  text  of  Hawes's  Pastimey  fyc. 
printed  by  De  Worde,  of  the  date  of  1509  !  !  !  Inestimable  and  unanticipated  trea- 
sure !  O,  that  it  had  been  known  to  my  late  excellent,  and  amiable  friend,  Sir  M 
Sykes  !  He  would  not,  in  consequence,  hare  given  fourscore  pounds  for  the 
second  impression  of  1517.  And  who  shall  say,  in  consequence,  what  is  or  is  not 
"  the  parent  text  ?"  See  post,  for  a  few  particulars  about  this  unique  volume  of 
1509. 

The  proof  of  "  The  Comfort  of  Lovers"  being  published  after  the  "  Pastime  of 
Pleasure,"  is  decisive.  Thus,  on  the  reverse  of  C  iii,  we  read  as  follows  : 

PUCELL. 

Of  late  I  saw  a  boke  of  your  makynge 

Called  THE  PASTYME  OF  PLEASURE,  whiche  is  woder, 

For  I  thynge  and  you  had  been  in  louinge 

Ye  coude  neuer  haue  made  it  so  sentencyous 

I  redde  there  all  your  passage  daungerous 

Wherfore  I  wene  for  the  fayre  ladyes  sake 

That  ye  dyd  loue,  ye  dyde  that  boke  so  make. 

AMOUR. 

Forsothe  Madame,  I  dyde  compyle  that  boke 
As  the  holygoost  I  call  rnto  wytnes 
But  ygnorauntly,  whoso  lyst  to  loke 
Many  meruelous  thynges  in  it,  I  do  expresse 
My  lyue  and  loue,  to  enserche  well  doublesse 
Many  a  one  doth  wryte,  I  knowe  not  what  in  dede 
Yet  the  effecte  dooth  folowe,  the  trouthe  for  to  speke* 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  667 

CER,  as  with  all  our  legitimate  and  usually  read  CLAS- 
SICAL POETS,  I  shall  content  myself  with  the  mention 
of  a  few  only  of  the  rarer  earlier  impressions,  and  with 
the  generally  received  best  editions,  and  then  leave 
both  reader  and  collector  to  cater  for  themselves. 

The  first  English  printer  has  the  honour  of  being 
also  the  first  publisher  of  the  text,  but  not  of  the  entire 
works,  of  Chaucer.  CAXTON  twice  printed  the  Can- 
terbury Tales,  and  once  the  Book  of  Fame,  Troilus 
and  Cressida,  and  some  doubtful  minor  pieces — all 
mentioned  in  the  subjoined  note.*  PVNSON  published 
one  edition  of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  alone  ;  probably 

As  to  the  Bibliographia  Poetica  of  Ritson,  I  can  only  say  that  if 
the  great  and  judicious  preparations  which  Mr.  Haslewood  has  made, 
towacds  a  new  edition  of  that  work,  find  not  patronage  among  the 
booksellers,  the  age  of  archaeological  literature  is  GONE  !  There  is  a 
new  edition  of  Warton's  Hist,  of  English  Poetry  in  the  press.  .  but  at 
present,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  "  clouds  and  darkness  rest  upon  it." 

*  Before  I  come  to  the  notice  of  these  editions,  I  must  be  permitted 
to  borrow  a  few  lines  from  the  UNKNOWN  poem  described  in  the  last 
note — commendatory  of  the  above  venerable  poetic  Wights.  They 
are  thoroughly  BIBLIOMANICAL. 


Let  me  only  subjoin  a  specimen  of  the  "  comforting"  love  strains  to  be  found  in 
the  body  of  the  work. 

O  loue  most  dere,  o  loue  nere  to  my  harte, 

O  gentyll  flowe,  I  wolde  you  knew  my  wo 

How  that  your  beaute,  perst  me  with  the  darte 

With  your  vertue,  and  your  mekenes  also 

Sythens  ye  so  dyde,  it  is  ryght  longe  ago 

My  herte  doth  se  you,  it  is  for  you  be  bledde 

Myne  eyeu  with  teares,  ben  often  made  full  redde. 

What  would  Ritson,  or  his  biographer  and  intoxicated  admirer  Mr.  Haslewood, 
have  given  to  have  discovered  this  unknown  poem  of  Stephen  Hawes  ?  But  surely 
it  was  more  natural  that  the  Wynkyn  tribe  of  little^A  should  come  to  my  own 
net ! 


668  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

soon  after  the  death  of  Caxton  ;  in  a  handsome  folio 
volume  ;  and  of  almost  equal  difficulty  to  obtain,  in  a 

Two  thynges  me  comforte,  euer  in  pryncypall 
The  first  be  BOKES,  made  in  ANTYQUTE 
By  Gower  and  Chaucer  poetes  rethorycall 
And  Lydegate  eke,  by  good  auctoryte. 

HAWES'S  Comfort  of  Lovers  j 
Sign.  A.  vj.  rev. 

Premising  that  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  LYDGATE,  except 
the  referring  of  the  reader  to  Ritson's  interminable  list  of  his  pieces,* 
I  proceed  to  the  notice  of  Caxton's  first  edition  of  the  Canterbury 
Tales.  The  only  perfect  copy,  throughout,  is  that  in  his  Majesty's 
Library,  which  had  been  Mr.  West's.  It  is  also  in  most  sound  and 
desirable  condition.  The  copy  in  Merton  College  Library,  at  Oxford, 
wants  three  leaves.  Earl  Spencer's  (as  notified  in  the  Bibl.  Spence- 
riana,  vol.  iv.  p.  288)  wants  five  leaves  ;  which  are  however  admi- 
rably supplied  by  the  fac-simile  skill  of  Mr.  Whittaker.  An  imperfect 
copy  is  at  Wentworth  House,  in  Yorkshire.  In  the  Dysart  or 
Ham  House  Library,  there  is  a  portion  (and  a  very  fine  one,  as  far  as 
it  goes)  of  a  copy,  defective  at  the  beginning,  and  ending  about  the 
middle  of  the  ' '  Shipman's  tale."  This  book  is  murderously  half- 
bound  in  calf,  with  marble-paper  sides.  It  had  belonged  to  one 
Joseph  Brereton  of  Queen's  College,  Cambridge,  and  has  the  date  in 


*  This  list  comprises  the  brief  titles  of  251  pieces  :  and  the  author  is  dismissed 
with  being  called  "  a  voluminous,  prosaick  and  drivelling  monk." — His  pieces  are 
designated  as  "  not  worth  collecting,  unless  it  be  as  typographical  curiosities,  or 
on  account  of  the  beautiful  illuminations  in  some  of  his  [MS.]  presentation  copies 
—nor  even  worthy  of  preservation  :  being  only  suitably  adapted  adficum  et  pipe- 
remt  and  other  more  base  and  servile  uses."  Bibl.  Poet.  p.  87-8,  &c.  There  is 
much  truth,  but  also  a  little  falsehood  or  heresy,  in  this  account.  Here  however, 
I  will  only  say,  that  Lydgate's  Siege  and  Destruction  of  Troy.,  seems  to  have  been 
the  most  popular  of  his  pieces ;  and  that,  of  the  first  edition  of  it,  by  W.  de  Worde 
in  1503,  folio,  there  is  a  copy  UPON  VELLUM  in  the  magnificent  library  of  Stowe. 
Of  the  second  edition  by  Pynson  in  1513,  folio,  there  is  a  copy  UPON  VELLUM  in 
the  Pepysian  library,  and  another  SIMILAR  copy  in  the  library  of  Bamborough 
Castle  in  Northumberland.  These  membranaceous  pieces  were  all  unknown  to 
Herbert,  and  have  indeed  but  recently  come  to  my  own  knowledge.  What  enter- 
prising Roxburgher  will  undertake  and  publish  a  "  Bibliographical,  Antiquarian 
and  Picturesque  Tour"  in  his  OWN  Country  ? 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  669 

fine  and  perfect  state,  as  either  of  the  editions  by 
Caxton.  In  1526,  Pynson  reprinted  these  Canter- 
ink  of  1739.f  There  is  no  saying  what  a  PERFECT  copy  of  this  first 
edition — intrinsically  inferior,  in  all  respects,  to  the  second  edition — 
would  bring  j  but  it  is  scarcely  twelve  months  ago  when  such  a 
treasure  would  have  produced  500  guineas. 

Rare  as  may  be  the  first  edition  of  the  Canterbury  Tales  by  Caxton, 
the  SECOND  is  to  the  full  as  rare.  Indeed  it  is  a  little  singular,  that, 
of  both  the  editions,  only  ONE  PERFECT  copy  of  each  is  known.  That 
of  the  second  is  in  the  library  of  my  beloved  College  St.  John's,  at 
Oxford.  If  I  remember  rightly,  this  inestimable  treasure  is  bound 
along  with  two  or  three  other  Caxtonic  pieces  (and  which,  for  ob- 
vious reasons,  ought  to  be  SEPARATED— each  having  a  distinct  coat 
in  Charles  Lewis's  blue,  green,  or  venetian-colour,  morocco)  and  is, 
in  all  respects,  most  sweet  and  comforting  to  behold,  handle,  and 


t  This  Mr.  Brereton, — Clergyman  or  not,  I  cannot  tell — was  the  Proprietor  of 
many  of  the  more  curious  black-letter  books  in  the  library  at  Ham  House.  I  find 
the  date  of  1744,  in  one  of  them,  attached  to  his  name  as  then  "Bachelor  of  Laws/» 
He  was  probably  Chaplain  in  the  Dysart  Family ;  and  seems  to  have  bought 
lustily  out  of  Osborne's  Catalogues.  Among  other  books,  from  these  never-to- 
be  again-witnessed  Catalogues,  are  the  following  with  the  subjoined  prices  in 
pencil — and  purchased,  as  there  is  every  reason  to  think,  by  Mr.  Brereton. 

Divers  Fruitful  and  Ghostly  Matters :  Pr.  by  Caxton ,  4to.  10.s.  6d.  On  sign.  A.  i  • 
in  a  neat  hand- writing,  on  the  bottom  margin,  is  the  following  memoran- 
dum. "  This  Book  belongs  to  the  English  Benedictin  Nuns  of  our  Blessed 
Lady  of  Good  Hope  at  Paris."  At  the  end  "  Approved" — but  the  subscrip- 
tion of  the  names  of  the  "  Approvers, "  are  to  me  unintelligible.  Note 
well.  For  an  inferior  copy  of  this  work  I  gave  1941.  5*.  (for  Lord  Spencer) 
at  the  sale  of  the  Merly  Library  in  1813. 
Life  of  St.  Wenefrid,  Pr.  by  Caxton.  Fine,  perfect  copy.  I/.  Is.  \ !  !  Wanting 

in  the  Spencer  Collection. 

Virgil's  JEneid,  Pr.  by  Caxton  :  bound  in  red  morocco,  with  a  copy  of  Pynson's 
edition  of  the  Jugurthine  War ;  both  copies  perfect,  and  in  the  cleanest 
possible  condition— but  cruelly  cut  to  a  quarto  form.    Price  31. 3s. !  !  ! 
Virgil's  JEneid.    By  Caxton.     Alone  :  and  the  finest  copy  I  ever  saw  of  this 
usually  handsome  book.  I  suspect  it  to  have  been  Lord  Oxford's.  The  price 
is  cut  out.  Did  it  equal  the  preceding  price  ?  I  should  say,  "  no" — and  yet 
I  have  known  100  guineas  given  for  this  book. 
But  I  am  "  travelling  out  of  the  Record." 


670  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

bury  Tales,  along  with  the  Troilus  and  Creseida,  the 

peruse.  My  friend  Dr.  Bliss,  of  the  same  college,  and  one  of  the 
Librarians  of  Bodley,  pays  it  a  regular  quarterly  visit — his  enthu- 
siasm increasing  at  every  repeated  act  of  adoration  !  In  the  Pepysian 
Library,  there  is  a  copy  perfect — with  the  exception  of  the  prosaic, 
introductory  part  j  which  I  allow  to  be  a  most  important  and  fatal 
exception,  since  it  is  in  itself  exceedingly  curious.  The  text  -of  the 
poet  is  entire,  beginning  on  sign,  a  iii.  Mr.  Heber  has  a  copy, 
wanting  this  introduction,  and  about  two  leaves  of  the  text.  Earl 
Spencer's  copy  is  greatly  defective.  But  I  will  not  pursue  this  chase 
after  imperfections.  And  yet — let  me  say  another  word ...  as  to  the 
supposed  price  of  a  PERFECT  copy  . . .  were  it  now  to  be  submitted  to 
sale.  It  would  at  least  be  equal  to  the  price  just  attached  to  a  per- 
fect copy  of  the  previous  edition. 

Of  the  Book  of  Fame,  the  next  in  the  order  of  the  text,  see  the 
account  of  copies  noticed  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  313.  Since 
writing  that  account,  fifteen  years  ago — ("  fugaceslabunturanni!") 
I  have  taken  a  second  peep  at  the  copy  in  the  public  library  at  Cam- 
bridge :  and  find  this  beautiful  and  perfect  book  bound  up  with 
FOUR  more  pieces  from  CAXTON'S  PRESS  : — and  further  (but  is  not 
this  rather  matter  for  a  "  Bibliographical  Tour  ?")  that  all  these  fine 
Caxtonic  pieces  belonged  to  one  <f  R.  Johnson,"  who  has  inscribed 
the  prices  which  he  gave  for  each  book,*  and  who,  from  the  charac- 
ter of  the  scription,  appears  to  have  possessed  them  towards  the  end 
of  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.  For  the  "  Book  of  Fame"  he  gave  FOUR 
PENCE  !  The  Troilus  and  Cressida  is  a  more  popular  performance, 
and  copies  of  it  will  be  found  in  several  distinguished  private  and 
public  libraries.  The  last  copy  sold,  belonging  to  Mr.  Watson  Tay- 
lor, was  purchased  by  Mr.  Grenville  for  63  guineas.  This  identical 
copy  (wanting  one  leaf  in  signature  p.)  was  purchased  by  the  late 
Mr.  Manson,  bookseller,  for  the  late  Mr.  Towneley,  for  10/.  10*. ;  and 


*  The  names  and  prices  of  the  other  books  are  as  follow : 
Godfrey  of  Boulogne  (imperfect)      .        «ts. 
Virgil's  &neid,  (perfect)  .  xijA 

Fait  of  Arms  and  Chivalry,  (perfect)   ij*.  viijA 
Chastising  of  God's  Children          .  viij\ 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  671 

Book  of  Fame,  and  the  Assembly  of  Fowls, 8$  c*  WYN- 
KYN  DE  WORDE    appears  to  hckve  only  printed  the 

was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Towneley's  library  for  2522.     Such  are 
the  mutations  in  all  mundane  things  ! 

The  te  doubtful  minor  pieces/'  printed  by  Caxton,  are  rather 
attributable  to  Lydgate,  Scoggan,  and  Hawes.  They  are  mentioned, 
and  in  part  described,  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p. 306.  .311  :  but 
I  own,  since  a  recent  revision  of  that  incalculably  precious  volume 
which  contains  them — in  the  public  library  at  Cambridge — that  these 
pieces  (alluded  to  at  page  657,  ante)  require  a  more  distinct  and 
satisfactory  specification.  I  will  here  only  further  remark,  that,  from 
recent  results  which  need  not  be  specified,  I  am  most  sensibly  alive 
to  the  <f  Complaint  of  Chaucer  unto  his  empty  Pwrse"— which  follows 
the  "  Complaynt  of  Anelida."  The  words  are  these. 

To  you  my  purs,  and  to  none  other  wight 

Complayne  I,  for  ye  be  my  LADY  DERE  ; 

I  am  sory  now  that  ye  be  light 

For  certes  ye  now  make  me  heuy  chere ; 

Me  were  as  lief  be  leyd  vpon  a  here  : 

For  whiche,  vnto  your  mercy  thus  I  crye, 

BE  HEUY  AGAYN,  or  ellis  mote  I  dye. 

*  I  believe  I  may  say  with  perfect  truth  and  propriety,  that  the 
finest  known  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  the  Canterbury  Tales  by 
Pynson  (probably  executed  not  later  than  1493)  is  in  the  possession 
of  Earl  Spencer.  It  was  purchased  for  the  moderate  sum  of  20Z.  at 
the  sale  of  the  library  of  Dr.  Chauncey  in  1790  : — just  as  the  present 
noble  possessor  was  beginning  to  form  a  Collection  of  books.  What 
a  FOUNDATION  STONE  did  such  a  volume  supply  !  Fragments  of  this 
edition  are  not  uncommon.  The  second  edition  of  1526,  by  Pynson, 
contains,  besides  the  works  above  specified,  La  belle  dame  sauns 
Mercy  :  of  the  whole  of  which  pieces  a  particular  account  appears  in 
the  Typog.  Antiq  vol.  ii.  p.  515-520.  This  latter  piece,  and  the 
Assembly  of  Fowls,  f  are  here  printed  for  the  FIRST  TIME.  A  copy  of 


f  The  Assembly  of  Fowls  was  reprinted  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  in  1530,  4to.  of 
which  rare  book  a  full  description  appears  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  278.  The 
copy,  there  described,  came  into  the  possession  of  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  who, 
in  their  Bibl,  Angl.  Poet.  p.  39-40,  have  valued  it  at  50/.  A  vigorous  valuation  for 
a  REPRINT. 


672  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

Troilus  and  Cressida,  (in  1517,  4to.)  a  book  of  exceed- 
ingly rare  occurrence ;  but  I  cannot  help  indulging,  no 
very  romantic  supposition — I  should  hope — that  there 
will  one  day  "  turn  up  "  a  copy  of  the  Canterbury 
Tales,  if  not  with  other  pieces  of  Chaucer  in  conjunc- 
tion, from  the  press  of  this  very  diligent,  very  skilful, 
and  poetry-loving  printer.*  The  spirit  of  research, 
now  abroad,  will  cause  the  bibliographical  enthusiast 
to  penetrate  the  recesses  of  the  lonely  mansion,  the 
moat-girt  castle,  the  gothic-pinnacled  cathedral,  and 
peradventure  the  parochial  libraries  contained  in  the 
vestry  rooms  of  certain  large  churches,  attached  to 
certain  large  parishes  throughout  the  kingdom.  At 
length  came  out  ihejirst  edition  of  the  ENTIRE  WORKS 
of  Chaucer,  from  the  press  of  Thomas  God/ray,  in 
1532,  folio :  under  the  patronage,  as  it  is  supposed,  of 

this  edition  (very  difficult  to  find  in  a  perfect  and  beautiful  state)  was 
sold  for  301.  9s.  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  Library.  It  seems  clear 
that  Tyrwhitt  never  saw  it,  and  that  West's  copy  concluded  with  the 
"  Book  of  Fame."  As  to  the  edition  of  1520  and  1522,  by  Pynson, 
they  are  purely  ideal ;  and  Ames  has  only  propagated  error  by  no- 
ticing them  after  Bagford. 

*  The  sober  critic  will,  I  apprehend,  conclude,  that  the  notion  of  an 
early-printed  edition  of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde, 
is  purely  romantic.  Certain  it  is,  that  the  supposed  edition  of  1495 
has  no  foundation  in  truth  >  and  probable  it  is,  that  the  early  impres- 
sion of  the  Canterbury  Tales  by  Pynson,  deterred  Wynkyn  de  Worde 
from  the  attempt  of  republication  j  although  he  was  the  earliest, 
after  Caxton,  with  the  Troilus  and  Cressida — which  appeared  by  him 
in  1517;  4to.  and  which  is  a  volume  of  exceedingly  great  rarity.  My 
friend  Mr.  Roger  Wilbraham  possesses  a  copy — (from  which  the  ac- 
count in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  ii.  p.  212  was  taken) — and  a  copy  was 
sold  at  the  Roxburghe  sale  for  the  tremendous  sum  of  431.  Herbert 
had  never  seen  it. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  673 

Mr.  William  Thynne :  and  "  the  great  number  (says 
Tyrwhitt)  of  Chaucer's  works  never  before  published, 
which  appear  in  it,  fully  entitles  it  to  the  commenda- 
tions which  have  been  always  given  to  Mr.  Thynne's 
edition,  on  that  account."1*  It  was  reprinted  by 

*  A  word,  in  limine,  about  a  supposed  edition  by  Berthelet.  .men- 
tioned by  Leland.  On  the  authorities  of  Tyrwhitt  and  Mr.  Douce, 
there  is  good  reason  to  think  that  NO  such  edition  ever  had  existence 
— and  that  the  above,  by  Godfray,  must  be  considered  as  the  supposed 
impression  by  Berthelet.  This  edition,  of  1532,  was  several  times  re- 
printed, as  has  been  noticed  in  the  text  j  but  if  we  are  to  judge  of  its 
intrinsic  worth,  from  the  most  essential  portion  of  its  contents — the 
Canterbury  Tales — I  should  pronounce  it  to  be  of  comparatively  little 
value  :  for  Tyrhitt  observes,  that  these,  upon  the  whole,  "  have  re- 
ceived no  advantage"  from  the  edition  under  discussion.  "  The 
material  variations  from  Caxton's  second  edition  are  all  for  the  worse." 
Vol.  i.  p.  xxi.  Pickering's  edition.  In  the  ixth  volume  of  the  Re- 
trospective Review,  p.  172,  &c.  there  is  an  ample  and  instructive 
article  relating  to  the  "  Works  of  Chaucer  j"  of  which  the  editions 
of  1532,  1542,  1598,  f  and  Tyrwhitt's  edit,  of  1798,  form  the  chief 
argument  j  and  at  page  176  there  is  an  extract  from  the  first  and  third, 
placed  besides  each  other,  to  shew  the  occasional  discrepancies  of  the 
text.  See  also  p.  200,  note.  A  copy  of  Godfray's  edition,  in  a  fine 
state,  is  of  rare  occurrence.  My  friends  Messrs.  Douce,  Heber,  and 
Utterson  possess  it.  I  purchased  a  copy  at  the  sale  of  the  Towneley 
library  (imperfect  in  the  first  leaf)  for  5Z.  5s. :  but  I  find  it  not  in 
the  collections  of  Reed,  Steevens,  Bindley,  Nassau,  and  the  Duke  of 
burghe. 

f  From  the  observations  in  a  note  at  p.  198  of  the  Retrospective  Review 1 1  take  the 
editions  of  1597  and  1598  to  be  one  and  the  same ;  and  indeed,  as  Herbert  has  ob- 
served, (Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  p.  64)  if  there  be  any  edition  of  1532,  with  the  name 
of  Berthelet,  it  must  be  considered  as  one  and  the  same  with  that  of  Godfray — those 
printers  having  embarked  in  the  same  concern,  and  affixed  their  names,  mutatis 
mutandis,  to  the  respective  copies  of  their  works  which  were  apportioned  to  them. 
Consult  also  Todd's  Lives  and  Writings  of  Gower  and  Chaucer,  1810,  p.  ii.  note.* 
and  more  especially  the  very  interesting  account  of  the  THYNNES,  and  of  their 
labours  upon  these  poets — passim. 

X    X 


(574  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

Bonham  in  1542,  with  the  addition  of"  the  Plowman's 
Tale  " — which  appeared  for  the  first  time.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  reimpressions  of  1561,  1597,  and  1602 ; 
under  the  editorial  care  of  Howe  and  Speght.  And, 
last  of  all,  came  forth  the  edition  of  Urry,  in  1721, 
folio.* 

From  the  date  of  the  latter  publication  to  the  pre- 
sent time,  no  edition  of  the  entire  works  of  Chaucer 
has  appeared  ;  but  the  Canterbury  Tales  (and  who 
reads  any  other  portion  of  the  poet  ?)  have  come  forth, 

*  The  edition  of  Bonham,  of  1542,  was  reprinted  by  Kele,  Toy, 
and  Petit.  <f  All  these  editions  (says  Herbert)  I  have  compared, 
and  find  them  t©  be  the  very  same  edition,  only  the  name  of  each 
proprietor  severally  changed  in  the  colophon."  Ibid.  The  edition  of 
1542  is  distinguishable  for  having,  for  the  first  time,  the  Plowman's 
Tale,  inserted  after  the  Person's  Tale ;  but  Tyrwhitt  has  "  no  scruple 
in  declaring  his  own  opinion,  that  it  has  not  the  least  resemblance  to 
Chaucer's  manner,  either  of  writing  or  thinking,  in  his  other  works." 
Cant .  Tales,  vol.  i.  p.  1 58  :  edit.  Pickering.  A  copy  of^Bonham's  edi- 
tion may  be  worth  31.  3s.  Of  the  edition  of  1561,  a  copy  was  sold 
at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Nassau's  library  (1824)  for  2/.  2s. :  and  of  that  of 
1602,  for  165.  In  old  libraries,  copies  of  the  editions  of  1563  and 
1598,  are  found,  too  frequently  mildewed ;  and  I  once  met  with  a  noble 
one  of  that  of  1561,  in  stamped  gilt  calf,  (having  the  arms  of  Queen 
Elizabeth)  in  a  granary  in  Worcestershire.  But  the  rats  had  played 
sadder  havoc  than  the  worms.  It  was  a  magnificent  BOOK-RUIN  ! 
Urry's  edition  of  1721,  even  on  large  paper,  is  not  uncommon.  The 
preface  of  Thomas  (the  Editor  being  dead)  strove  to  disarm  the  anti- 
cipated severity  of  the  public  against  the  obvious  impurity  of  the 
text;  and  that  preface  is  truly, as  Mr.  Tyrwhitt  designates  it,  "  modest 
and  sensible."  It  may  be  also  deserving  of  incorporation  in  a  future 
edition  of  the  poet's  entire  works :  but  the  labours  of  Urry  have  been 
blasted  for  ever  even  by  the  MITIGATED  indignation  of  Tyrwhitt — 
who  calls  the  edition  "  by  far  the  worst  that  was  ever  published." 
Shall  I  fix  a  price  to  it,  therefore  ?  I  lack  the  heart  so  to  do. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  6J5 

from  the  masterly  hand  of  the  late  Mr.  Tyrwhitt, 
in  a  manner  so  complete,  correct,  and  satisfactory, 
that  it  were  difficult  perhaps  to  mention  any  other 
CLASSIC,  ancient  or  modern,  which  has  received 
more  copious  and  curious  illustration.  It  is  a 
model  of  editorship ;  *  and  may  fully  rank  on  a 

*  What  exquisite  learning  and  taste  (to  say  nothing  of  manners 
and  principles)  had  the  Editor  of  this  incomparable  work !  —  and  it 
redounds  to  his  eternal  honour,  that,  neither  spoilt  by  an  ample 
patrimony,  nor  corrupted  by  the  intercourse  of  the  gay,  the  great, 
and  the  flattering,  he  maintained  throughout  life,  and  even  in  death, 
(if  I  may  so  speak)  "  the  even  tenor  of  his  way!"  After  mastering 
one  of  the  most  difficult,  but  elegant  and  instructive  pieces,  of  the 
first  philosophers  of  Greece,  f  he  turned  his  mind  to  the  antiquity  of 
his  vernacular  tongue  j  and  in  selecting  the  ancient  text  of  one  of 
our  first  GREAT  and  POPULAR  POETS,  he  chose  a  subject  on  which  all 
the  patience  of  his  research,  the  acuteness  of  his  discernment,  and 
the  purity  of  his  taste,  could  be  equally  exercised.  These  are  in. 
deed  abundantly  evinced  in  the  work  under  consideration.  Yet  it 
has  been  objected,  and  objected  with  considerable  pretension  at 
least,  that  the  text  of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  published  by  Tyrwhitt, 
is  not  the  text  of  any  one  MS.,  J  or  edition,  but  the  result  of  a  coZZa. 
tion  of  texts ;  and  that,  in  keeping  back  what  has  been  rejected,  the 


1 1  of  course  allude  to  his  edition  of  the  Poetics  of  ARISTOTLE,  published  at  Ox- 
ford in  the  Gr.  &  Lat.  languages,  in  1794,  4to.  and  8vo.  The  Bibliomaniac  will 
necessarily  RAVE  on  the  possession  of  a  large  paper  copy  of  this  work ;  destined 
originally  for  the  libraries  of  Emperors,  Kings,  Princes,  and  Noblemen.  More 
than  one  copy  has  been  sold  in  this  country :  the  last,  belonging  to  the  late  Bishop 
of  London,  is  now  in  the  library  at  Chatsworth  . .  but  was  not  deposited  there 
under  the  sum  of  60/.  I  believe  they  are  all  (at  least  those  I  have  seen)  bound  in 
blue  morocco,  with  the  arms  of  the  University  of  Oxford  stamped  on  the  exterior. 
This  book  is  a  sort  of  Garter-Star  in  the  collections  of  the  curious.  When  will  it 
glitter  in  the  oblong  cabinet  of  Meualcas  ? 

J  Mr.  Todd,  in  the  work  cited  at  page  673,  has  given  us  some  tempting  descrip- 
tions of  the  MSS.  of  Chaucer;  and  especially  of  that  LONGE  PULCHERRIMUM  of 
these  MSS.  in  the  library  of  the  Marquis  of  Stafford.  The  next  in  beauty  and 
worth,  is  doubtless  that  in  the  collection  of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire-— obtained 
from  the  Roxburghe  library  for  357/.  Seek  far  and  near,  geatle  reader,  for  MSS. 


676  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

par  with  the  Lucian  of  Hemsterhusius,  the  Athenaeus 
of  Schweighseuser,  and  the  Virgil  and  Homer  and 
Pindar  of  Heyne.  The  authors  here  compared  together 
are,  I  admit,  dissimilar  in  themselves;  but  I  would  be 
desired  to  speak  only  of  the  manner  in  which  these 

reader  is  not  put  into  possession  of  the  means  of  judging  fairly  of 
what  has  been  adopted.  There  is  hardly  fairness  in  this  objection  j 
but  a  prompt  answer  is  at  hand.  First,  it  supposes  the  Critic  to  have 
a  nicer  tact  than  the  Editor  criticised — and  who  shall  say  that  he 
could  judge  better  than  Tyrwhitt?  Secondly,  the  collation,  here 
made,  has  been  evidently  the  result  of  great  care  and  consideration  : 
and  thirdly,  the  text,  here  submitted,  is  beyond  all  compare  purer 
than  any  preceding  text.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  presume  even  to  sup- 
pose, that  such  a  man  as  Tyrwhitt,  or  such  a  performance  as  THIS, 
stands  in  need  of  any  thing  like  a  defence  or  apology.  Tyrwhitt's 
fame  will  gather  strength  as  it  descends  to  posterity  : 

"  As  streams  roll  down,  enlarging  as  they  flow." 

Here,  therefore,  I  will  only  further  remark,  that  his  edition  of  the 
Canterbury  Tales  appeared  in  1775-8,  in  five  crown  8vo.  volumes  -, 
and  was  reprinted  by  his  executors  at  Oxford,  in  two  quarto  volumes 
in  1798,  from  Tyrwhitt's  own  corrected  copy.    The  first  edition,  in  a 
morocco  coat — such  as  my  tasteful  friend  Mr.  James  Heywood  Mark- 
land  loves  to  view  it  in — used  to  sell  for  1Z.  Is.  per  volume :  because 
it  was  the  edition  superintended  by  the  editor  himself.     The  quarto, 
which  is  the  best  edition,  and  handsome  book,  is  worth  about  3Z.  3s. 
in  goodly  binding :   but  there  hath  recently  appeared  a  sweet  reim- 
pression  of  the  crown  8vo.  in  the  same  number  of  volumes,  under  the 
care  of  Mr.  Pickering — the  great  champion  and  patron  of  Lilliputian 
tomes,  in  all  languages  — and  I  do  confidently  recommend  this  accu- 
rate, as  well  as  beautiful  publication,  to  the  cabinets  of  all  such  as  are 
not  provided  with  either  of  the  previous  impressions.  It  sells  for  2/. 
12*.  6d.  small  —  and  5Z.  5*.  large  paper :  and  in  calf,  or  morocco 
binding,  the  aspect  at  once  solaces  and  cheers. 


of  this  venerable  Bard.  Even  fragments  may  be  inestimable :  or  why  does  Ber- 
nardo leap  with  ecstacy  at  the  exhibition  of  his  very  small  portion  .  .  of  a  compa- 
ratively modern  date  ?  ! 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  677 

illustrious  Classics  have  been  brought  before  the  criti- 
cal public. 

From  Chaucer,  we  naturally  go  to  GOWER  ;  of  whose 
complete  works  no  edition  is  extant ;  but  of  whose 
Confess-to  Amantls,  the  edition  by  Caxton,  and  by  Ber- 
thelet,  are  the  only  ones  extant.  They  are  noticed 
below.* 

LYDGATE  is  rather  food  for  the  Antiquary  than  the 
general  reader  ;  and  without  wishing  him  a  place  on 
the  principal  shelf  of  the  "  Old  Man's"  library,  I  must 
rather  insist  upon  his  introduction  into  some  obscurer 
corner  of  his  Collection.  The  subjoined  note  will 
shew  what  are  the  chief  objects  of  the  antiquary's 
research.f  Coarse  and  capricious  as  is  SKELTON, 

*  A  very  full  and  particular  account  of  the  Caxtonian  edition  of  the 
Confessio  Amantis  of  Gower,  1483,  folio,  will  be  found  in  the  Typ. 
Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  177-185.  The  Roxburghe  copy  of  this  book  produced 
the  enormous  sum  of  3361. — purchased  by  the  Duke  of  Devonshire. 
The  Merly  copy  was  purchased  for  31 5/.  by  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  j 
and  at  the  sale  of  the  Duke's  books,  brought  the  sum  of  2O5J.  1 6s. 
The  purchaser  was  Mr.  George  Watson  Taylor:  at  the  sale  of 
whose  library,  again,  in  1823,  it  was  found  to  be  imperfect,  and  sold 
for  571.  15*.  So  gradually  did  the  mercury  fall  in  the  bibliomaniacal 
glass.  The  edition  of  1532  is  the  scarcer  and  handsomer  one  of  those 
of  Berthelet ;  and  I  know  not  what  infatuation  possessed  me  to  give 
81.  18s.  6d.  for  the  second  of  1554,  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe 
library.  The  beautiful  copy  of  the  edition  of  1532,  in  red  morocco 
binding,  which  once  tempted  the  classical  purchaser  upon  the  shelves 
of  Mr.  Triphook  (recorded  in  the  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iii.  page  278)  has 
long  since  put  on  wings  and  flown  away.  Such  book -gems  are  the 
very  Birds  of  Paradise  of  their  species.  Catch  them,  enthusiastic  and 
liberally  minded  "  Young  Man  "  —  catch  them,  whenever  they 
come  across  your  path.  "  Gather  the  rose-buds  while  ye  may  !  " 

f  Of  LYDGATE'S  rarer  pieces,  the  following  (from  the  press  of 
Caxtori)  may  be  briefly  stated.  The  Work  of  Sapience ;  without 


678  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

there  is  yet  an  abundance  of  genuine  English  humour 
in  his  metrical  (rather  than  poetical)  effusions.  He  is 
the  "  dear  darling'*  of  the  thorough -bred  black  letter 
Collector ;  who  never  rests  satisfied  without  the  ear- 
lier impressions  of  his  versification  by  Pynson,  Faques, 
or  Kele :  but  the  sober  reader  and  general  collector 
will  have  reason  to  be  contented  with  the  correct  and 
elegant  impression  of  his  works  put  forth  (by  an  un- 
known editor)  in  1736,  8vo.* 

date,  folio.  See  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  i.  p.  325,  330.  Lyf  of  our  Lady, 
ditto,  folio.  Id.  page  336.  Pilgrimage  of  the  Sowle,  1483,  folio.  Id. 
p.  152.  Chorle  and  the  Byrde  :  The  hors  the  shepe  and  the  ghoos  ; 
the  Temple  of  Glas ;  Parvus  Catho :  see  id.  p.  307,  &c.  The 
Siege  and  Destruction  of  Troy  was  printed  by  Pynson  in  1513,  folio, 
(see  p.  668,  ante)  and  afterwards  by  Marshe  in  1555,  folio.  The  Boke 
of  John  Bochas,  by  Pynson  in  1494,  folio,  is  very  scarce,  in  a  com- 
plete state:  it  was  reprinted  by  Tottel,  in  1554,  folio,  with  the 
Daunce  of  Machaubree  added.  This  book  is  usually  found  in  alarg 
and  fine  condition  j  when  it  may  be  valued  at  61.  6s.  But  where 
exists  an  ancient  edition  of  Lydgate's  London  Lickpenny,  pronounced 
by  Mr.  Campbell  to  be  "  curious,  for  the  minute  picture  of  the  metro- 
polis which  it  exhibits,  in  the  fifteenth  century.  A  specimen  (conti- 
nues Mr.  C.)  of  Lydgate's  humour  may  be  seen  in  his  tale  of  "  The 
Prioress  and  her  Three  Lovers"  which  Mr.  Jamieson  has  given  in  his 
"  Collection  of  Ballads."  Specimens  of  the  British  Poets,  vol.  i.  p. 
90,  note.  But  consult  Ritson,  as  alluded  to  at  p.  668,  ante. 

*  How  shall  I  describe  the  multifarious  and  "  strange- con ceited  " 
Works  of  SKELTON  ! — a  satirist,  a  lampooner,  and  a  writer  in  almost 
every  species  of  verse.  Warton,  in  his  Spenser,  calls  him  "  little 
better  qualified  for  picturesque  than  satyrical  poetry.  In  the  one 
(continues  he)  he  wants  invention  :  in  the  other,  wit  and  good 
manners."  Vol.  ii.  p.  107-  "  There  is  certainly  (says  Mr.  Camp- 
bell) a  vehemence  and  vivacity  in  Skelton,  which  was  worthy  of 
being  guided  by  a  better  taste  5  and  the  objects  of  his  satire  bespeak 
some  degree  of  public  spirit.  But  his  eccentricity  in  attempts  at 
humour  is  at  once  vulgar  and  flippant,  and  his  style  is  almost 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  679 

STEPHEN  HAWES  must  be  noticed,  were  it  only  for 
the  sake  of  making  my  peace  with  a  few  of  the  Bre- 
thren of  the  iio,tfiur0f)C  Cftlfi.  He  is  chiefly  known 

a  texture  of  slang  phrases,  patched  with  shreds  of  French  and 
Latin,"  &c. — Specimens,  #c.  vol.  i.  page.  1O1-3.  Perhaps  both 
Warton  and  Mr.  Campbell  are  a  little  too  severe.  Had  Skelton 
written  nothing  more  than  his  famous  attack  upon  Cardinal  Wol- 
sey,  (of  whose  downfall  he  seems  to  have  had  something  like  a 
poetical  foresight)  he  would  have  stood  high  as  a  bold  and  intrepid 
opponent  of  ambition  and  hypocrisy,  in  its  most  elevated  course. 
The  lines,  here  alluded  to,  are  in  the  mouth,  or  at  the  fingers'  ends,  of 
every  poetical  antiquary.  I  refer  to  page  653  for  a  brief  notice  of 
the  scarcer  pieces  of  Skelton  ;  being  persuaded  that  many  a  fugitive 
piece  is  yet  to  be  discovered — from  the  very  nature  of  the  composi- 
tion and  form  of  publication.  See  also  Ritson's  Bibliographia  Poe- 
tica,  p.  102.  Mr.  Haslewood's  interleaved  copy  of  this  latter  work 
furnishes  me  with  a  notice  of  an  impression  of  the  far-famed  TUN- 
NING OF  ELYNOURE  RUMMYNG,  printed  by  Kytson,  but  imperfect  at 
the  end.  I  find  it  superficially  noticed  in  the  Typog.  Antiq.  vol.  iv. 
p.  541.  But  had  it  any  portrait  of  ELEANOR?  I  am  necessarily 
pretty  well  versed  in  the  history  of  the  reprint  of  this  tract  in  1624, 
containing  the  well-known  PORTRAIT  of  this  noted  Ale-wife,  from 
the  account  given  of  it  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  585.  Since  that  account 
was  written,  I  have  paid  my  respects  to  the  Lady  herself,  in  the 
library  mentioned  in  the  Bibliog.  Decam.  vol.  iii.  p.  264  j  and  hence 
sprung  up  one  of  the  flowers  for  the  Lincolne  Nosegay.  But  the  copy 
of  "  the  Tunning,"  there  described,  is  not  only  NOT  unique,  but  is 
imperfect :  for,  once  on  a  day  it  chanced  that,  sauntering  in  that  most 
delicious  and  bibliomania-inspiring  book-visto,  ycleped  the  Bodleian 
Library  —  in  company  with  my  excellent  friend  Dr.  Bliss  —  he,  the 
said  Doctor,  drew  me  gently  apart  towards  one  of  the  lock-up  re- 
cesses, and  taking  down  a  punchy  quarto,  of  a  somewhat  dingy  aspect, 
from  among  the  SELDEN  BOOKS — "  here,"  quoth  he,  "here  isaper- 
fect  Eleanour ;  the  Lady  at  Lincoln  wants  at  least  a  pair  of  arms."  I 
was  astounded :  "Obstupui,  steteruntque  comae,  et  vox  faucibus  haesit." 
But  it  was  even  so.  The  truth  is,  that,  in  the  reprint  of  1624,  the  por- 
trait of  Eleanour  is  repeated,  at  the  end  of  the  tract — and  accompanied 
by  the  following  verses  : — wanting  in  the  copy  first  mentioned. 


680  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

by  a  poem  called  the  Passtime  of  Pleasure,  of  which 
the  first  edition  appeared  in  1509.  Good  fortune  hath 

Skelton's  Ghost  to  the  Reader. 

Thus  Countrymen  kinde  My  Laurell  and  I, 

I  pray  let  me  finde  Are  both  wither'd  dry, 

For  this  merry  glee,  And  you  flourish  greene, 

No  hard  censure  to  be.  In  your  workes  daily  scene, 

King  Henry  the  Eight  That  come  from  the  Presse, 

Had  a  good  conceit  Well  writ  I  confesse, 

Of  my  merry  vaine,  But  time  will  deuouer 

Though  duncicall  plaine  :  Your  Poets  as  our, 

It  now  nothing  fits  And  make  them  as  dull 

The  Times  nimble  wits ;  As  my  empty  scull. 

FINIS. 

A  sequel  is  attached  to  the  foregoing  story.  It  happened  that, 
walking  near  a  grove  of  poplars,  within  a  bow-shot  of  Westminster 
Abbey, 

I  shroppe  me  in  the  shrouds  as  I  a  Shepherd  were ; 

and  after  reposing  within  this  genial  verdure,  I  approached  and 
entered  a  sort  of  book-cave,  where,  "  mirabile  dictu  !,"  I  saw  the 
identical  Eleanor,  with  her  bearded  nose  and  chin,  and  extended  ale- 
pot,  staring  me  in  the  face,  in  like  manner  in  which  she  gazed 
upon  me  at  Lincoln  !  Our  meeting,  I  need  scarcely  add,  was  cordial 
and  enthusiastic. 

But ...  open  what  book-cabinet  you  will,  distinguished  for  any 
thing  like  !RorJbur($e  rarities,  and  there  SKELTON,  in  some  gear  or 
other,  will  greet  you  with  his  quaint  rhymes.  Justly  proud  therefore, 
unquestionably,  may  be  my  friend  Mr.  Francis  Freeling,  of  his  Toby 
Cooke's  impression  of  the  "  Salutation/'  of  our  poet-laureat  Skelton. 
His  copy  of  it  beginneth  thus : 

A  SKELTONICALL  SALUTATION, 

Or  condyne  gratulation 

And  just  vexation 

Of  the  Spanish  Nation 

That  in  a  bravado, 

Spent  many  a  Crusado 

In  setting  forth  an  Armado, 

England  to  invado. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  681 

recently  enabled  me  to  discover  another  (and  pre- 
viously unknown)  production  of  the  same  author, 
called  the  Comfort  of  Lovers ;  of  which  some  account 
will  be  found,  perhaps  a  little  out  of  order,  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages.*  But  the  popularity  of  Hawes,  what- 

But  this  could  not  be  the  production  of  Skelton,  who  died  in  1529. 
I  do  not  dispute  the  ancient  possession  of  the  copy  by  Toby  Philpot. 
Several  of  the  pieces  of  Skelton  were  collected  and  reprinted  by 
Marshe  in  1568,  8vo.  under  the  title  of  Pithy,  Pleasant,  and  Profitable 
Workes  of  Maister  Skelton.  See  Typ.  Antiq.  vol.  iv.  page  508. f  Sir 
M.  M.  Sykes  and  Mr.  Heber  possess  copies  of  this  rare  and  esti- 
mable book,  in  which  ELEANOR  HUMMING  is,  I  presume,  to  be  found 
in  all  imaginable  purity.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Rice  could  not  possess  the 
Roxburghe  copy  of  it  under  the  sum  of  32Z.  11s.  But  he  neither  frets 
nor  fumes  thereat.  He  possesses  his  Eleanor ;  and  in  the  language  of 
George  Steevens,  "  SIGHS  NO  MORE."  The  reprint  of  Marshe's  text 
in  1736,  8vo.  is  becoming  rare  :  and  is  worth  2/.  2s.  in  good  condi- 
tion and  coating. 

*  Page  665-6,  ante.  Of  the  first  edition  of  the  Passtime  of  Pleasure, 
in  1 509,  4to.  —  found  in  the  library  there  noticed  —  the  text  begins 
thus :  after  the  destruction  of  the  title,  and  of  the  greater  part  of 
eight  leaves,  which  have  been  dreadfully  devoured  or  mutilated  by 
(apparently)  some  hungry  quadrupedical  animal, 

The  lady  Gramar  in  all  humble  wyse 
Dyde  me  receuye  in  to  her  goodly  scoole. 

On  the  reverse  of  sign.  T  iiii,  in  fours,  is  the  following  colophon : 
Enprynted  at  London  in  Fl.etestrete,  at  the  sygne  of  the  Sonne,  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde,  the  yere  of  our e  lorde  M.  vC.  fy  ix  ended  xi  daye  oj 


•f*  Consult  also  the  Centura  Liter  aria,  vol.  ii.  p.  190,  which  makes  us  half  crazy 
for  the  Balletys  and  Dyties  salacyous  advised  by  Master  Skelton,  Lour  eat :  printed  by 
Pynson,  in  the  black  letter,  in  eight  pages  only.  It  begins  in  this  soothing,  hush-a- 
by,  manner : 

Lullay,  lullay,  lyke  a  chylde. 

With  what  a  via  lactea  of  black-letter  stars  is  this  gem  incorporated  !  Who,  among 
the  Sons  of  Liverpool  Book -Wights  (for  the  communication  comes  from  that 
quarter)  possesses  the  treasures  therein  described  ? 


682  POETRY,  [ENGLISH. 

ever  it  might  have  been  during  his  own  time,  must 
now  depend  on  a  perusal  of  the  analysis  of  his  Passtime 
of  Pleasure  by  Warton.  The  whole  of  this  piece  of 
criticism  is  the  masterly  effort  of  an  ingenious  and 
eloquent  advocate.  The  sentence  of  Mr.  Campbell, 
less  favourable  to  the  reputation  of  the  poet,  appears 
to  be  more  consistent  with  the  canons  of  just  cri- 
ticism. 

At  length  we  reach  the  illustrious  names  of  SURREY 
and  WYATT  ;  whose  productions,  during  a  period 
devoted  to  dull  allegory,  duller  romance,  and  the 
dullest  of  all  possible  didactic  and  moral  poetry,  strike 
us  as  a  green  and  refreshing  oasis  in  a  dreary  desert. 
At  the  mention  of  their  names — the  heart  of  HORTEN- 
sius  feels  an  increased  glow  of  inspiration :  and  the 
last  and  most  learned  Editor  of  their  works  finds 
himself  naturally,  as  it  were,  discoursing  with  many  of 
the  most  illustrious  characters  of  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII.  But  the  bibliomaniac  secretly  rejoices  in  the 
possession  of  the  earlier,  rarer,  and  more  precious  edi- 
tions of  the  Songes  and  Sonnettes,  as  among  the  kei- 
melia  of  his  Collection.* 

The  name  of  LORD  SACKVILLE  is  consecrated  in  a 

lanuarye.  A  copy  of  the  second  edition  of  1517,  4to.  was  sold  for 
841.  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  library ;  and  of  the  third,  by  Way- 
lande,  in  1554,  4to.  for  401.  19s.  at  the  sale  of  Bindley' s  library:  see 
p.  647,  ante.  Respecting  Hawes,  consult  Campbell's  Specimens,  &c. 
vol.  i.  p.  94. 

*  The  "  Songes  and  Sonettes  "  of  the  Earl  of  Surrey  were  first  pub- 
lished by  Tottel,  in  a  very  small  4to.  volume,  in  1557,  in  the  black 
letter.  This  edition  is  ALMOST  UNFINDABLE.  A  perfect  copy  of  it 
would  be  worth  fifty  guineas  at  the  least.  It  does  not  appear  in  the 
collections  of  Pearson,  Farmer,  Steevens,  and  Reed.  Nor  do  I  in*- 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  683 

great  measure  by  the  publication  of  that  copious  col- 
lection of  poetry  called  The  Mirrourfor  Magistrates, 
of  which  the  earliest  edition  appeared  in  1559,  4to.: 
but  a  minute  account  of  all  the  earlier  impressions  ap- 
pears in  the  last  and  best  edition  of  that  work,  put 
forth  by  Mr.  Joseph  Haslewood,  in  1815,  3  vols.  4to. 
a  performance,  as  perfect  in  its  kind  as  the  archaeolo- 
gical annals  of  the  nineteenth  century  have  witnessed. 

deed,  at  this  moment,  call  to  mind  any  existing  copy.*     But  surely 
Mr.  Heber  must  have  it  ?     And  what   is  that  edition  by  Tottel,  in 
12mo.  in  the  CAPEL  CLOSET,  in  the  library  of  Trinity  College  Cam- 
bridge— of  which  another  copy  is  in  the  University  library  —  noticed 
to  me  in  a  long  letter,  by  my  ardent  young  bibliomaniacal  friend  Mr. 
Hartshorne  ?      Singularly  enough,   Surrey's  translation   of  Certain 
bokes  of  Virgiles  JEnceis  was  published  the  same  year,  in  4to. :  which 
is  so  SCARCE,  that  no  other  copy  of  it  is  known  but  that  in  the  library 
of  Dulwich  College  j  from  which  Mr.  Bolland  reprinted  it  for  the 
Roxburghe  Club.     The  Songs  and  Sonets  were  reprinted  in  1565, 
1567,  1569,  1574,  1585,  1587,  12mo.  and  perhaps  again  in  the  six- 
teenth century.     These  editions  are  all  very  rare,  and  indeed  require 
something  like  a  bibliographical  review.   Lord  Spencer  possesses  the 
third  of  1567,  considered  the  most  correct  of  the  earlier  ones,  and 
which  was  made  subservient  to  Dr.  Nott's  researches.     Sir  M.  M. 
Sykes  has  the  edition  of  15S5 ;  and  an  imperfect  copy  of  that  of 
1587  was  sold  for  81.  10s.  at  the  sale  of  Home  Tooke's  library.  Con- 
sult the  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  i.  p.  244  :  Warton's  Engl.  Poet.  vol.  iii.  p.  11, 
12,60,69.     Curll  published  the  Poems  of  Surrey  and  Wyatt  •  in 
1737,  8vo.  which  is  usually  sold  for  ll.  Is. :  and  I  find  a  copy  of  it, 
on  LARGE  PAPER,  "  collated  with  the  first  edition  of  1557  "  marked 
at  3J.  35.  in  the  Bill.  Angl.  Poet.  p.  329.     Dr.  Nott's  edition  is,  for 
plan,  copiousness,  and  erudition,  like  a  Dutch  quarto  Variorum  of  an 


*  On  further  investigation,  I  find  that  a  copy  of  it,  with  four  leaves  reprinted, 
was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's  library  for  171.  No  early  edition  of  the  work» 
of  the  most  accomplished  English  nobleman  of  his  day,  appears  to  be  in  the  BRITISH 
MUSEUM.  See  Cat.  vol.  iii.  sign.  3  L.  Nor  was  any  similar  copy  in  Lord  Oxford's 
library. 


684  TOETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

There  are  those  who  may  accuse  me  of  false  praise  in 
this  declaration,,  and  observe  that  truth  has  been  some- 
ancient  Classic.  Those  who  love  much  digging  for  healthful  exercise, 
will  be  delighted  with  such  toil  as  these  handsome  4to.  volumes  hold 
out.  But  I  should  submit  how  far  the  texts  of  the  several  poets,  ac- 
companied by  the  notes  alone,  might  not  be  received  as  a  most  accept- 
able republication  ?  The  LIVES  of  Surrey  and  Wyatt  should  on  no 
account  be  omitted  :  for  they  are  equally  interesting  from  matter  and 
manner.  Dr.Nott's  reflections  on  the  death  of  Lord  Surrey,  are  those 
of  a  Christian  Philosopher,  who  leads  us  to  consider  such  shuddering 
events  in  the  precise  light  in  which  they  ought  to  be  considered.  I 
subjoin  them*  with  heart-felt  gratification.  This  splendid  work  was 
published  in  1815,  in  2  vols.  4to.  and  may  be  had  in  handsome  calf 
binding  for  about  41.  14s.  6d.  There  are  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER. 
Great  however  as  may  be  my  reverence  for  the  general  splendour  of 
Lord  Surrey's  character,  and  for  his  intellectual  attainments  in  parti- 
cular, I  cannot  withhold  my  assent  to  the  animated,  and,  as  it  seems 
to  me,  just  criticism  of  Mr.  Campbell  on  this  subject.  (i  I  am  not 
indeed  (says  Mr.  C.)  disposed  to  consider  the  influence  of  Lord  Sur- 
rey's works  upon  our  language  in  the  very  extensive  and  important 
light  in  which  it  is  viewed  by  Dr.  Nott.  1  am  doubtful  if  that  learned 
Editor  has  converted  many  readers  to  his  opinion,  that  Lord  Surrey 
was  the  first  who  gave  us  metrical  instead  of  rhythmical  versification. 
.- .  .  Surrey  was  not  the  inventor  of  our  metrical  versification  5  nor  had 
his  genius  the  potent  voice  and  the  magic  spell  which  rouse  all  the 


*  "  Such  was  the  EARL  OF  SURBEY.  Perhaps  an  unavailing  speculation  may 
mingle  with  our  regrets,  and  tempt  us  to  ask  why  so  much  excellence  was  suffered 
to  perish  so  untimely.  The  question  is  a  vain  one.  It  is  not  applicable  to  Surrey's 
fate  alone.  It  may  be  asked  by  every  parent  who  has  lost  a  child  of  virtuous  pro- 
mise. The  answer,  as  far  as  we  are  concerned,  is  an  easy  one.  We  know  not  now 
the  scope  of  God's  providence.  That  knowledge  is  reserved  for  a  better  and  a  more 
perfect  state;  when  all  that  at  present  perplexes  human  reason  being  explained,  it 
will  be  found  that  the  general  interests  of  virtue  have  been  promoted  by  the  suffer- 
ings, no  less  than  by  the  exaltation,  of  the  innocent When  the  good  and  the 

great  are  taken  early  hence,  we  may  conclude  them  to  have  attained  early  to  that 
perfection  which  was  required  of  them  ;  and  console  ourselves  with  believing,  that, 
had  they  been  continued  longer  here,  they  might  have  lost  somewhat  of  their  excel- 
lence." Vol.  i.  p.  cvii. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  685 

what  sacrificed  to  friendship  ;  but  I  respect  my  friend 
and  the  public  too  much  to  be  guilty  of  such  an  act 
of  indiscretion.  * 

dormant  energies  of  a  language.  In  certain  walks  of  composition, 
though  not  in  the  highest,  viz.  in  the  ode,  elegy,  and  epitaph,  he  set 
a  chaste  and  delicate  example ;  but  he  was  cut  off  too  early  in  life, 
and  cultivated  poetry  too  slightly,  to  carry  the  pure  stream  of  his 
style  into  the  broad  and  bold  channels  of  inventive  fiction,"  &c. 
There  is  no  room  for  more.  See  his  Specimens  of  the  British  Poets, 
vol.  i.  p.  113. 

*  For  the  editions  of  the  Mir  r  our  for  Magistrates,  the  curious  will 
necessarily  consult  Mr.  Haslewood's  ample  and  beautiful  edition  of 
the  work,  above  lauded.     The  original  first  appeared  in  1559,  4to. 
ninety- two  leaves :  then,  in  1563,  4to.  178  leaves:  (vires  acquirit 
eundo")  next,  in  1571*  174  leaves  :    again,  in  1574,  first  and  second 
parts,  240  leaves.     But  let  us  go  at  once  to  what  Mr.  Haslewood 
calls  the  STANDARD  EDITION,  .of  1587,  4 to.  283  leaves:  edited  by 
Newton,  Higgins,  and  Baldwin  :  again  enlarged  in  1610,  4to.  1619  : 
448  leaves.     Last,  and  far  from  being  least,  the  edition  of  1815,  in 
three  4to.  volumes,  by  Mr.  Haslewood,  of  which  only  150  copies  were 
printed.     The  pages  of  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet.  (pp.  201-9)  are  rich  in 
early  editions  of  this  work ;  from  the  first  of  1559,  valued  at  25Z.  to 
that  of  1610,   ("  a  most  beautiful  copy  in  three  vols.)  at  15J.     See 
also  Mr.  Thorpe's  Catalogue,  no.  8686,  8720.     As  to  the  "  primary" 
share,  which  Sackville,  the  first  Lord  Buckhurst  and  Earl  of  Dorset 
had  in  this  work,  consult  the  Introduction  of  Mr.  HL    But  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's sentiments  are  worth  transcribing. .  .     "  Lord  Sackville  wit- 
nessed the  horrors  of  Queen  Mary's  reign,  and  I  conceive  that  it  is 
not  fanciful  to  trace  in  his  poetry  the  tone  of  an  unhappy  age.     His 
plan  for  the  Mirror  for  Magistrates  is  a  mass  of  darkness  and  des- 
pondency.    He  proposed  to  make  the  figure  of  Sorrow  introduce  us 
in  Hell  to  every  unfortunate  great  character  of  English  history.    The 
poet,  like  Dante,  takes  us  to  the  gates  of  Hell  3  but  he  does  not,  like 
the  Italian  poet,  bring  us  back  again  .  .  .     Dismal  as  his  allegories 
may  be,  his  genius  certainly  displays  in  them  considerable  power." 
Specimens,  &c.  vol.  i.  p.  119. 


686  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

Fain  would  I  avoid  scrambling  through  the  briars 
and  thorns  of  English  Poetry — in  which  even  few  dog- 
roses  blossom  —  till  we  reach  the  period  of  SPENSER  ; 
when  a  more  magnificent  cast  of  character  marked 
both  the  diction  and  the  imagery  of  our  Bards.  But 
it  must  not  be.  A  host  of  Roxburghers  will  transfix 
me  with  their  "  long-shadow-casting"  spears,  if  I  omit 
the  names  of  CHURCHYARD,  TURBERVILE,  BARNABE 
GOOGE,  and  TOTTEL. 

What  is  to  be  said  of  the  strange  and  oft-times  in* 
comprehensible  fecundity  of  ihejirst  of  these  poets, 
CHURCHYARD  ?  The  very  titles  of  his  works,  (all  of 

*  Notwithstanding  the  kindly-furnished  'aid  of  Mr.  Haslewood's 
interleaved  copy  of  Ritson's  Bibliographia  Poetica  —  plentifully 
sprinkled  with  ms.  notes,  —  in  which  THOMAS  CHURCHYARD  is  not 
forgotten  :  —  notwithstanding  also  the  notices  in  the  Censura  Lite- 
raria,  vol.  ii.  p.  975  305-9  j  vol.  iii.  page  337*  343  ;  vol.  iv,  page  45, 
157,  265,  365  ;  and  in  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  iv.  345 — I  feel 
neither  disposed  nor  justified  in  making  a  formal  display  of  the 
xvii  pieces  in  print  of  Churchyard's  Muse.  The  earliest  production 
of  his  pen  (for  the  Mirrour  for  a  Man,  &c.  is  unknown)  was  the 
Sparke  of  Friendship,  &c.  in  1558.  At  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe 
Library,  two  small  4to.  volumes  —  containing  the  Challenge,  1593  ; 
Chippes,  1578,  (3d  edition);  Worthiness  of  Wales,  1587  5  A  Light 
Bondell  of  lively  Discourses  called  Churchyard's  Charge,  1580;  Con- 
tention betwixte  Churchy arde  and  Camell,  1560;  the  Queen  Majesties 
Entertainment  in  Suffolk  and  Norfolk,  no  date  ;  the  Wofull  Warres  in 
Flounders,  do. —these  volumes  produced  the  sum  of  96J.f  The 


•f*  They  were  purchased  by  the  Duke  of  Maryborough,  and  at  the  sale  of  his  li- 
brary in  1819,  produced  the  sum  of  85/.  The  Challenge  alone,  in  the  Bibl.  Angl. 
Poetica,  is  marked  at  45/. :  even  with  "  a  manuscript  title."  See  an  account  of 
the  contents  of  this  very  rare  book,  in  the  Ctns.  Lit.  vol.  ii.  p.  307.  Mr.  Clarke  in 
his  Repert.  Bibliog.  has  noticed  an  edition  of  1580,  on  the  authority  of.  Reed's  Cat. 
no.  6717 :  but  no  such  edition  exists.  Reed's  copy  was  sold  for  17/.  10*. :  a  great 
price,  at  that  period.  The  Musical  Consort  of  Heavenly  Harmonic,  1595,4to. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  687 

which  I  will  not  venture  to  enumerate)  are  perfect 
reflexes  of  the  motley  imagery  of  his  mind.  We  have 

RAREST  of  all  Churchyard's  pieces  is  the  three  first  Bookes  of  Ovid  de 
Tristibus,  1 578  :  of  which  only  one  copy  (in  the  collection  of  Earl 
Spencer,,  and  reprinted  by  his  Lordship  for  the  Roxburghe  Club)  is 
known.  It  came  from  the  library  of  Dr.  Farmer.  The  Bibliotheca 
Anglo-Poetica,  published  by  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  in  1815,  and 
full  of  rarities  of  almost  every  description,  is  rich  in  early  Church- 
yards. The  second  edition  of  the  Chippes  of  1575  (the  first,  of 
1565,  is  only  found  in  Mr.  Heber's  Collection)  is  valued  there  at  lL2l. 
At  the  sale  of  Dr.  Wright's  library  in  1787,  it  brought  31.  13s.  6d. : 
and  the  Choice,  1579,  4to.  2J.  145.  The  "  Charge"  of  Churchyard, 
or  his  ft  Light  Bundle  of  Lively  Discourses,"  was  sold  for  111.  5s.  at 
Reed's  sale.  Of  his  Choice,  1579,  4to.  my  friend  Mr.  Freeling  pos- 
sesses a  clean  and  most  beautiful  copy.  It  is  among  the  rarest  pieces 
of  the  author.  The  Charities  is  a  synonyme  with  the  "  Musical  Con- 
sort of  Heavenlie  Harmony,"  mentioned  in  the  preceding  sub-note. 
Of  the  tf  Chance,"  containing  fancies,  verses,  epitaphs,  &c.  1580,  4to. 
1  know  nothing :  and  of  the  Contention  betwixt,  Churchyard  and 
Camell,  upon  David  Dycer's  Dreame,  1560-4 — I  was  going  to  say,  I 
desire  to  know  nothing  :  but  Ritson's  note,  at  p.  160  is  somewhat  in- 
viting to  a  knowledge  of  it.  Of  the  Worthiness  of  Wales,  1587.,  4to. 
I  once  possessed  a  copy,  in  the  purest  state,  and  UNCUT  :  obtained  of 

my  worthy  and  most  curious  peripatetic  acquaintance,  Mr.  K * 

for  the  sum  of  10s.  6d.  It  has  since  shifted  hands  -,  for  the  late  Mr. 
Sancho,  the  black  bookseller,  raved  so  exceedingly  about  it,  for  his 

which  produced  8/.  15*.  at  Reed's  sale,  is  marked  at  401.  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Pott. 
p.  43.  See  the  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  iii.  p.  337  :  but  two  small  poems  in  the  "  Consort" 
are  omitted  to  be  noticed.  What  a  note  ("  BANK,"  or  otherwise)  is  40/. ! 

*  An  amiable,  sensible,  and  obliging  old  gentleman — regularly  seen,  every  fine 
day,  (health  permitting)  between  Hammersmith  and  London.  His  costume  be- 
cometh  a  Collector  of  black-letter  Churchyards.  It  consists  of  a  brown  suit  of 
clothes,  surmounted  by  a  brown,  unpowdered,  and  highly  polished,  curled  wig : 
topped  by  a  shovel  hat.  A  hooked  crab-stick,  of  stately  dimensions,  is  usually 
brandished  in  his  right  hand.  Mr.  K  *  *  loves  his  apricots  and  peaches  next  to  his 
books ;  and  of  these  latter,  he  descants  largely  and  loudly  upon  Camden,  Sidney, 
Locke,  and  Milton.  He  has  turned  his  septuagenarian  corner ;  and  is  one  of  the 
happiest  and  most  communicative  old  gentlemen  between  Kensington  and  Kew 
Bridge. 


688  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

his  Chips,  his  Choice,  his  Charge,  Chance,  Charity, 
Challenge,  and  I  know  not  what!  An  historian,  a  con- 
troversialist, a  translator,  and  an  original  poet — we 
are  alternately  bewildered  by  the  variety  of  his  per- 
formances, and  astounded  at  the  enormous  prices 
which  the  greater  part  of  them  produce.  It  is  in  vain 
you  depreciate,  ridicule,  and  run  down,  the  black  letter 
slim  quartos  —  in  which  the  poetry  of  Churchyard  is 
usually  cased — to  collectors  of  the  olden  school  of 
poetry.  Speak  till  you  are  hoarse,  and  declaim  till 
language  fails  you — with  LICIUS_ — he  will  be  only 
"  subridens"  all  the  time  ;  and,  pointing  to  his  yew- 
ornamented  Churchyards,  will  exclaim, "  I  am  eclipsed 
only  by  ATTIC  us."  Let  us  therefore  leave  Atticus 
and  Licius  at  rest;  smiling,  in  their  slumbers,  at  all 
the  Chips  by  which  they  are  surrounded. 

There  are  names,  about  this  period,  (and  distin- 
guished, before  the  splendid  genius  of  Spenser  eclipsed 
their  reputation,)  which  merit  a  slender  record  in  these 
pages.  There  is  TURBERVILE  and  GOOGE  ;  *  and 

principal  customer  the  late  Right  Hon.  W.  Elliot,  that  I  was  forced 
to  forego  its  possession.  But  enough  of  Churchyard  .  .  and  yet  I 
question  if  ANY  one  possesses  a  perfect  set  of  his  works —  and,  if  so, 
whether  they  would  not  produce  2OO  sovereigns  —  supposing  them 
(as  ALL  libraries  are  so  destined)  to  come  to  the  hammer  ? 

*  TURBERVILE  and  GOOGE  find  no  place  in  the  elegant  pages  of 
Mr.  Campbell :  but  they  are  tolerable  lads  of  metal  in  their  way :  and 
Mr.  Haslewood  means  to  christen  his  tenth  child  "  Barnabe"  out  of 
compliment  to  the  latter — who  bore  that  same  Christian  name.  Tur- 
bervile's  Epitaphes,  Epigrams,  Songs  and  Sonetts,  were  published  in 
1567,  and  again  in  1575,  small  8vo.  A  copy  of  an  edition  of  the  date 
of  157O  is  in  the  Capel-  Closet  in  the  library  of  Trinity  College,  Cam- 
bridge 3  and  another  similar  one  is  marked  at  2 1 1.  in  the  Bill.  Angl. 
Poet.  p.  358.  His  Heroicall  Epistles  of  Ovid,  1567,  1569,  1600,  &c. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  G89 

there  are  sundry  others,  embalmed  in  certain  miscel- 
laneous Collections  of  Poetry,  which  are  well  known 

are  well  spoken  of  by  Warton,  Hist.  Engl.  Poetry,  vol.  iii.p.  420.  A 
copy  of  the  first  edition  is  in  the  Capel  library  just  mentioned.  A 
copy  of  one,  without  date,  is  marked  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet.,  page 
359  at  VZl.  :  and  of  that  of  1600,  at  Si.  8s.  Warton  was  ignorant  of 
an  edition  of  the  Eglogs  of  the  Poet  B.  Mantuan.,  Carmelitan,  by 
Turbervile,  of  the  same  date  of  1567 ;  supposing  that  of  1594  to  be 
the  first.  Again  I  may  notice  Turbervile's  Tragical  Tales,  (a  transla- 
tion) 1576-1587, 12mo. :  to  the  latter  of  which  editions  his  Epitaphs 
and  Sonnetts  are  attached.  See  the  Cens.  Literaria,  vol.  iii.  p.  71-5. 
Whatever  may  be  Mr.  Haslewood's  attachment  to  BARNABE 
GOOGE —  and  I  can  well  conceive  his  attachment  to  the  Christian 
name* — I  am  not  in  the  least  surprised  at  the  omission  of  this  poet  by 
Mr.  Campbell.  Warton  has  vouchsafed  to  bestow  a  little  attention 
upon  his  translation  of  the  Zodiac  of  Palingenius,  first  printed  in 
1561,  12mo.  and  a  volume  of  sufficient  rarity,  since  Messrs.  Long- 
man and  Co.  mark  a  copy  of  it  at  51.  5s.  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet,  page 
129.  See  also  Hist.  Engl.  Poet.  vol.  iii.  p.  449 :  and  Cens.  Lit.  vol. 
ii.  p.  206. f  A  copy  of  the  second  edition  in  1565,  which  has  some 
additions,  is  marked  in  the  same  richly  furnished  catalogue  of  old 
poetry  at  91  9s.  Googe's  "  Eglogs,  Epytaphes,  and  Sonnettes,"  pub- 
lished by  Colwell,  without  date,  (but,  as  it  should  seem  from  Warton, 
vol.  iii.  p.  450,  in  1563)  is  among  the  very  scarcest  books  in  the  lan- 
guage. Steevens  knew  of  no  scarcer  book.  It  was  sold  at  his  sale 
for  101. 15s.,  and  is  now  the  property  of  Mr.  Heber.  A  third  produc- 
tion of  Googe  is  his  translation  of  Naogeorgus  Popish  Kingdom,  or 


*  From  his  publication  of  Drunken  BARNABE'S  Journal,  1 820,  very  small  4to.  two 
vols. ;  a  publication,  which  is  as  beautiful  and  winning  in  appearance,  as  it  is  cu- 
rious and  convincing  in  reality.  Mr.  H.  has  beyond  all  doubt  satisfactorily  proved 
that  BRAITHWAIT  was  the  author  of  this  most  singular  and  humourous  perform 
ance.  The  edition  is  in  part  a  fac-simile  of  1hz  first  edition;  a  book,  scarcely 
larger  than  a  professed  snuff-taker's  snuff  box,  but  of  such  rarity,  in  a  perfect  state 
— with  the  frontispiece,  by  Marshal — as  to  have  been  sold  for  16/.  I "  have 
started  "  two  copies  of  this  first  edition,  within  the  sound  of  the  chimes  of  All 
Saints  church  at  Northampton. 

f  Copious  extracts  from  this  wretchedly  dull  work  are  given  in  vol.  is.  p.  133- 
279.    But  why  were  they  given  ? 

Y    Y 


690  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

to  the  curious  under  the  fascinating  titles  of  "  The 
Paradise  of  Dainty  Devices,  1576,  quarto  ;  Bretons 
Small  Handful  of  Fragrant  Flowers,  1575,  12mo. ; 
KendaTs  Flowers  of  Epigrams,  1577,  12mo. ;  Robin- 
son's Handful  of  Pleasant  Delights,  1584,  12mo.  and 
the  Phoenix  Nest,  1593,  4to.  Of  all  these  poetic  trea- 
sures, some  brief  account  is  given  below.  When  in 
fine  condition,  they  are  greedily  caught  at  by  the 
curious  Bibliomaniac ;  who  hastens  to  protect  them 
by  choice  morocco  coatings.  I  have  heard  it  affirmed 
that  these  rarities  exist,  in  an  almost  untouched  state, 
with  lapping-over-vellum  bindings  ;  but  I  lack  faith  to 
credit  the  report.* 

the  reign  of  Antichrist,  written  in  Latin  verse ;  1570,  4to.  See  War- 
ton,  vol.  iii.  page  322,  note  m  :  but  particularly  the  Cens.  Lit,  vol.  v. 
p.  376,  381.  In  the  Bill.  Angl.  Poet.  p.  131,  a  copy  of  it  is  marked 
at  41.  4s.  In  the  British  Bibliographer)  volume  ii.  page  618,  there  is 
a  long  account  of  another  (supposed)  work  of  this  poet,  called  The 
Ship  of  Safegarde,  1569,  12mo.  :  from  the  only  known  copy  of  the 
work  in  the  library  of  Earl  Spencer  at  Althorp  :  but  why  the  author 
of  that  elaborate  article  (Mr.  Haslewood)  should  conceive  the  initials 
G.  B.  inserted  in  the  title  page  to  be  placed  erroneously  for  B.  G. — 
and  hence  assign  the  book  to  Barnabe  Googe — is  beyond  my  powers, 
or  habits  of  reasoning,  to  account : — "  et  adhuc  sub  judice  lis  est." 

*  I  hardly  know  any  bliss  more  thoroughly  satisfactory  and  com- 
plete, than  would  be  the  possession  of  copies  of  these  works  in  the 
manner  here  alluded  to.  But  "  the  young"  Bibliomaniac's  sensibi- 
lity must  be  neither  tortured  nor  trifled  with.  The  supposed  fact 
must  not  take  possession  of  his  imagination  or  judgment  an  instant. 
To  begin  with  the  Pfiradise  of  Dainty  Devices,  which  contained  poe. 
tical  specimens  of  some  of  the  most  illustrious  Noblemen  and  Gen- 
tlemen of  the  day.  It  was  first  printed  in  1576  :  again,  in  1577, 
1578,  1580,  1585,  1596,  and  1600.  A  perfect  copy  of  the  first  edi- 
tion is  of  extreme  rarity ;  but  those  of  1580  (of  which  a  copy  was 
sold  for  53Z.  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  Library)  and  1600,  have 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  691 

We  are  now  to  enter,  as  it  were,  "  in  medias  res — " 
when  the  poet  and  the  dramatist  appeared  in  their 

the  more  copious  contents:  and  from  these,  Sir  Egerton  Brydges 
published  his  edition,  in  1810,   Svo.j   which,  for  intrinsic  value,  is 
doubtless  the  most  desirable.     It  appeared  in  the  third  volume  of  the 
British  Bibliographer.  "Breton's  Small  Handful  of  Fragrant  Flowers" 
are  only  (it  should  seem)  "for  Women  to  smell  to."    Ritson  gives  us 
the  full  title ;  *  and  a  copy  of  it  was  sold  at  Mr.  Bindley's  sale,  part 
iii.  no.  1135,  for  14/.     Kendalls  FLowres  of  Epigrammes  out  of  sundry 
the  most  singular  authors  (from  which,  by  the  by,  Martial  furnishes 
the  greater  number — see  Warton,  vol.  iii.  p.  432)  is  an  exceedingly 
rare  book,  and  was  published  in  1577.,  12mo.     A  particular  account 
of  it  appeared  in  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  iv.  p.  1 50-7  j   from 
which  it  seems  that  only  two  copies  were  known  to  the  contributor 
of  the  article.     I  will  not  pretend  to  affix  the  pecuniary  value  5  but  if 
ever  I  am  at  the  left  elbow  of  Mr.  Evans,  when  such  an  article  should 
be  put  up  by  him,  I  would  say,  "  Let  us  begin  gently,  Mr.  Evans, 
with  ten  guineas.''     Do  1  hear  Mr.  Thorpe  reply —  "  And  three?" 
"  Fifteen  for  me  "  —  responds  Mr.  Jolly.     But  what  is  all  this  ?     It 
has  been  sold  by  Mr.  Evans,  at  Bindley's  sale,  for  l6l.  though  one 
leaf  in  the  middle  was  ms.     Robinson's  Handefull  of  pleasant  De- 
lites,  1584, 12mo.  is  a  UNIQUE.   Father  Brand  purchased  it  at  a  book- 
stall for  three  pence :  and  at  the  sale  of  his  library  in  1807  (when 
black-letter  books  first  received  that  sort  of  impetus  which  excited 
purchasers  to  the  commission  of  all  the  horrors  witnessed  at  the  sale 
of  the  ROXBURGHE  LIBRARY)  this  "  hand-full  "  was  disposed  of  for 
a  "  pocket  full"  of  25  guineas.     It  was  purchased  by  the  Duke  of 
Marlborough,  and  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  his  library,  in  1819,  for 
26Z.  15s.:  see  no.  3533.     It  wants  one  leaf.     Consult  the  Cens.  Lit. 
vol.  vi.    p.  258  j     vii.    p.    329.       The    Phoenix  Nest—"  built   up 
with  the  most  rare  and  refined  works  of  Noblemen,  worthy  Knights, 
gallant  Gentlemen,  Masters  of  Arts,  and  brave  Schollers,"  &c.  1593, 
4to.  is  almost  of  equal  rarity  5  and  is  described  by  Mr.  Park  in  the 
Cens.  Lit.  vol.  iii.  p.  35.     Who  is  now  in  possession  of  the  copy  here 


*  Thus  :  A  small  handfull  of  fragrant  flowers  gathered  out  of  the  lovely  garden  of 
sacred  scripture,  fit  for  any  worshipfull  gentlewoman  to  smell  unto. 


692  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

full  vigour;  when  the  genius  of  SPENSER  and  of 
SHAKSPEARE  threw  a  lustre  upon  the  reign  of  Eliza- 
beth, scarcely  eclipsed  by  the  success  of  her  arms  by 
land  and  by  sea.  The  very  heroes  of  her  reign  were 
embued  with  the  soul  of  poetry  ;  for  where  shall  we 
find  "  high  thoughts  seated  in  a  heart  of  courtesy,"  if 
they  be  not  found  in  the  thoughts  and  actions  of 
Sydney  and  Raleigh?*  With  Shakspeare  and  his 

described  ?  —  and  how  shall  I  record  the  "  biddings  "  for  this  truly 
bright  and  beautiful  object  ?  To  these  NOSEGAYS  of  auncient  flowers 
— tf  ever  fair  and  ever  young"  —  add  the  Collections  known  by  the 
titles  of  England's  Parnassus,  England's  Helicon,  and  the  Garden  of  the 
Muses;  each  printed  in  a  small  octavo  in  1600  :  but  of  which  the  last 
is  by  very  much  the  .  . .  rarest  volume.  It  is  called  "  Belvedere,  or  the 
Garden  of  the  Muses."  See  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  iii.  p.  29.  The  first  two 
have  been  reprinted  ;  and  the  Helicon  is  a  truly  elegant  and  interest- 
ing production.  A  more  choice  critical  selection  of  the  poetry  of 
the  period  could  hardly  have  been  made.  In  the  mad  times  of  the 
Roxburghe  sale,  a  copy  of  the  Parnassus  brought  21Z. ;  and  of  the 
Helicon,  24J.  13s.  6d.  But  the  reprints  have  pulled  down  these 
prices,  more  than  one  peg. 

*  I  find  that  I  am,  unintentionally,  borrowing  the  ideas,  if  not  the 
language,  of  Mr.  Campbell.  "  In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  (says  this 
felegant  and  nervous  critic)  the  English  mind  put  forth  its  energies  in 
every  direction,  exalted  by  a  purer  religion,  and  enlarged  by  new 
views  of  truth.  This  was  an  age  of  loyalty,  adventure,  and  generous 
emulation.  The  chivalrous  character  was  softened  by  intellectual 
pursuits,  while  the  genius  of  chivalry  itself  still  lingered,  as  if  unwil- 
ling to  depart,  and  paid  his  last  homage  to  a  warlike  and  female 
reign !  A  degree  of  romantic  fancy  remained  in  the  manners  and 
superstitions  of  the  people  -,  and  allegory  might  be  said  to  parade  the 
streets  in  their  public  pageants  and  festivities.  Quaint  and  pedantic 
as  those  allegorical  exhibitions  might  often  be,  they  were  neverthe- 
less more  expressive  of  erudition,  ingenuity,  and  moral  meaning, 
than  they  had  been  in  former  times.  The  philosophy  of  the  highest 
minds  still  partook  of  a  visionary  character.  A  poetical  spirit  infused 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  693 

dramatic  successors,  I  have  here  nothing  to  do ;  as 
they  are  reserved  for  the  ensuing  and  last  department 
of  this  work. 

The  order  in  which  the  poems  of  SPENSER  appeared, 
is  as  follows.  The  Shephearde's  Calender,  1579,  4to. 
reprinted  in  1581,  1586,  1591,  1597  ;  translated  into 
Latin,  and  published  in  1653,  1732.*  The  Faerie 
Queen,  First  Part,  1590,  4to. :  Second  Part,  1596,  4to. 
two  vols. :  1609,  folio;  1758,  4to.  3  vols. :  1758,  by 
Church,  8vo.  4  vols. :  1758,  by  Upton,  4to.  2  vols. 
1758,  8vo.  2  vols. :  anonymous  editor.^  A  miscella- 
neous volume,  Complaints,  Ruines  of  Time,  &c.  was 
published  in  1590-1 :  which  was  followed  up  by  some 
pastoral  pieces,  beginning  with  Colin  Clouts  come 
home  again,  in  1595,  4to.  These,  and  other  similar 

itself  into  the  practical  heroism  of  the  age:  and  some  of  the  Worthies 
of  that  period  seem  less  like  ordinary  men,  than  like  beings  called 
forth  out  of  fiction,  and  arrayed  in  the  brightness  of  her  dreams. 
They  had  "  high  thoughts  seated  in  a  heart  of  courtesy."  J  The 
Life  of  Sir  Philip  Sydney  was  poetry  put  into  action.  "  Specimens, 
&c.  vol.  i.  p.  120. 

*  Copies  of  the  first  edition  of  the  SHEPHERDS'  CALENDER,  of 
1579,  are  rare.  I  find  it  not  in  the  libraries  of  Steevens,  Reed, 
Bindley,  and  Perry.  A  copy  of  the  third  edition  of  1586  was  pur- 
chased by  me  for  Sir.  M.  M.  Sykes,  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  li- 
brary, for  2U. :  a  sum  infinitely  beyond  its  marketable  value. 

f  In  the  very  surprising  catalogue  of  Mr.  Thorpe,  1824,  part  ii. 
no.  9018-2024,  I  find,  amidst  several  early  and  scarce  pieces  of 
Spenser,  two  perfect  copies  of  both  parts  of  the  first  edition  of  the 
FAIRY  QUEEN  ;  one  marked  at  31. 13s,  6d.  and  the  other  at  41. 14s.  6d. 
The  latter,  in  russia  binding. 


}  An  expression  used  by  Sir  P.  Sydney. 


694  POETRY.  [ENGLISH, 

minor  performances,  are  specified  in   the  subjoined 
note.* 

It  were  idle  to  enter  into  a  minute  catalogue  of  the 
various  editions  of  the  Collected  Works  of  Spenser, 
after  the  bibliographical  and  critical  labours  of  the  last 
Editor  of  the  poet ;  whose  "  Variorum"  edition  of  him, 
(if  it  may  be  permitted  me  to  use  that  term)  is,  in  all 
respects,  so  superior  to  every  preceding  edition,  that  I 
will  not  allow  my  "  Young  Man  " — and  much  less  my 
"  elderly  Gentleman  "  —  to  take  any  rest,  till  a  well- 
coated  copy  of  TODD'S  SPENSER  glitter  upon  his 
shelves  .^ 

*  At  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  library,  I  purchased  for  the  late 
Sir  M.  M.  Sykes,  all  the  small  pieces  of  Spenser,  1591,  5,  6,  in  two 
4to.  volumes  for  301.  9s.  The  Colin  Clout's  come  again,  1595,  is 
marked  at  41.  14s.  6d.  by  Mr.  Thorpe  j  and  has  been  sold  for  as  high 
as  10Z.  See  the  Bibl.  Angl  Poet.  p.  452.  The  Teares  of  the  Muses, 
Virgil's  Gnat,  Prosopopoia,  or  Mother  Hubbard's  Tale,  Ruines  of  Rome, 
Muiopotmos,  or  the  Fate  of  the  Butterflies,  Visions  of  the  World's 
Vanitie,  and  Petrarch,  1590-1,  ALL  FIRST  EDITIONS,  are  marked,  in 
russia,  at  31.  3s.  by  Mr.  Thorpe :  who  also  marks  a  separate  copy  of 
the  Muiopotmos  for  18s.  This  piece  of  intelligence  will,  I  dare  ven- 
ture a  trifle,  lead  more  than  two  competitors  to  post  away  to  secure 
it.  "  Fly,  Fleance  fly  :  "  —  and  already,  in  imagination,  I  see  it  in 
the  cherry-wood  fineered  book  case  of  Malvolio. 

t  It  may  be  yet  worth  while  to  take  some  transient  notice  of  an 
edition  or  two  of  the  collected  Works  of  Spenser  before  that  of  Mr. 
Todd.  In  1611,  appeared  the  second  folio  of  the  Faery  Queen,  and 
the  first  of  the  Minor  Poems — their  author  being  called  ' (  England's 
Arch  Poet."  The  very  same  edition,  having  also  a  fresh  title-page, 
appeared  in  1617  :  with  the  dates  of  1612-13  to  the  latter  part  of  the 
volume.  Beautiful  copies  of  this  neatly  printed  folio  are  frequently 
found.  The  reign  of  James  I.  was  the  period  of  beautiful  binding; 
and  in  the  libraries  of  old  family  mansions  you  see  copies  of  this 
favourite  edition,  of  the  then  favourite  poet,  in  dark  or  grey  calf, 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  695 

Referring  the  works  of  Shakspeare  and  Ben  Jonson 
to  the  ensuing  department,  I  proceed  at  once  to  ... 
the  notice  of  MILTON.  But  no:  — it  must  not  be  ... 
Hundreds  of  black-letter  sharp-shooters  spring  up 
from  their  ambuscades,  and  level  their  deeply-loaded 
carbines  at  me,  threatening  destruction  if  I  allow  such 
names  as  Gascoigne,  Hall,  Breton,  Lodge,  Marlow, 
Munday,  Chester,  Herbert,  Herrick,  Rowland,  and 
Southwell,  to  pass  unrecorded!!  As  I  am  a  great 
enemy  to  premature  dissolution,  of  every  description, 
I  am  most  anxious  to  escape  this  meditated  slaughter  ; 
and  shall  incorporate  a  few  of  the  more  popular  pieces 
of  these  poets  in  the  subjoined  note.* 

richly  studded  and  stamped  with  glittering  gold.  I  may  men- 
tion the  first  portable,  or  Elzevir  like  edition,  in  that  of  Mr.  Hughes  j 
published  by  Tonson  in  1715,  8vo.  6  vols. :  but  its  intrinsic  merit 
elicits  no  praise.  There  be  those  who  make  much  of  it,  when  bound 
in  the  red  morocco  of  the  period :  but  copies  in  this  state  are  of 
exceedingly  great  rarity.  I  shall  only  farther  notice  the  exquisitely 
printed  edition,  superintended  by  Dr.  Aikin,  in  1806,  8vo.  6  vols :  of 
which  copies  in  any  state,  but  especially  on  LARGE  PAPER,  have  a 
most  inviting  aspect.  I  now  come  to  the  above  justly-lauded  edition 
of  the  Rev.  HENRY  JOHN  TODD,  1805,  8vo.7  vols.  The  prolegomena 
are  replete  with  interest  and  information.  The  notes,  at  the  foot  of 
the  text,  are  apposite  and  erudite ;  and  the  Glossary,  at  the  close  of 
the  work,  is  at  once  full  and  complete.  There  are  copies  of  this 
Editio  Optima  on  LARGE  PAPER,t  which  usually  adorn  our  more 
splendid  private  libraries. 

*  Shakspeare  is  however  entitled  to  a  distinct  notice  as  a  publisher 


f  Why  do  Messrs.  Rivingtons  (the  publishers  of  the  Spenser  of  Mr.  Todd)  put 
forth  so  many  sound  ENGLISH  CLASSICS  iu  so  sorry  a  typographical— or  rather 
chartaceous— a  garb  ?  For  the  sake  of  both  poet  and  editor,  the  small  paper  of  the 
Spenser  should  have  had  a  more  inviting  appearance. 


696  POETRY,  [EGNLISH. 

Let  us  now  free  ourselves  from  the  thraldom  of  con- 
ceits and  "  strange  musings/'  to  be  found  in  the  greater 

of  poems.  His  Rape  of  Lucrece  first  appeared  in  1 594*  and  again  in 
1598,  each  in  4to.  A  copy  may  be  worth  21Z.  The  reprint  of  1624 
was  sold  for  91.  9s.  at  Bindley's  sale.  His  Venus  and  Adonis  first 
appeared  in  1 593,  of  which  the  only  known  copy  is  in  the  collection 
of  Mr.  Malone  at  Oxford,  and  for  which  Mr.  M.  gave  25Z.  A  copy 
of  the  second  edition  of  1596  is  also  in  the  same  wonderful  collection. 
A  copy  of  the  third  of  16O2,  which  had  been  Steevens's,  was  sold  for 
43,1.  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's  library.  What  then  would  the  FIRST 
edition  now  sell  for  ?  The  Sonnets  of  our  Bard  were  first  published 
in  1609.  A  copy  is  valued  at  30Z.  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet.  A  beau- 
tiful copy  of  it  is  noticed  in  the  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  i.  page  194.  All 
these  were  republished  in  a  collection  of  his  poems  in  1640,  12mo., 
having  a  head  of  our  immortal  Bard,  by  Marshall ;  and  of  which  a  fine 
copy  may  be  worth  7/.  17*.  6d.  A  little  breathing  may  be  required 
before  such  a  formidable  host  of  the  remaining  poetic  Wights,  above 
enumerated,  are  encountered  .  .  .  but  .  .  to  the  onset.  GASCOIGNE  is 
the  first  object  of  my  attack.  In  the  Cens.  Liter,  vol.  i.  p.  109-118, 
there  appears  a  tolerably  full  account  of  the  author,  attached  to  the 
best  edition  of  his  collected  (or  the  Pleasauntest}  works,  in  1587, 
4to.f  That  account  was  supplied  by  the  late  Mr.  Octavius  Gilchrist, 


*  A  copy  of  this  first  edition  is  in  the  library  of  Lincoln  Cathedral :  see  Bibliog. 
Decam.  vol.  iii.  p.  264. 

f  Granger  has  well  observed  that  Gascoigne  put  forth  his  pieces  under  "  fantas- 
tic titles."  Thus,  in  1572  (as  supposed)  appeared  his  Hundreth  sundrie  flowers 
bounde  vp  in  one  small  poesie,  gathered partely  (by  translation)  in  thefyne  outlandish 
gardins  of  Euripides,  Quid,  Petrarke,  Ariosto,  and  others  :  "  and  partly  by  invention 
out  of  our  own  fruitefull  orchardes  in  Englande,  &c.  &c  pleasaunt  and  profitable  to 
the  well  smelling  noses  of  learned  readers"  4to.  See  Herbert,  p.  990.  If  I  remem- 
ber rightly,  Oldys,  in  his  Life  of  Raleigh,  notices  this  rare  little  volume,  which 
brought  but  II.  19*.  at  the  sale  of  Steevens's  library.  Next  appeared  his  Poesies, 
&c.  in  1575, 4to.  But  ALL  his  pieces,  including  his  plays  of  Supposes  and  Jocasta, 
(first  printed  in  1565-75)  Delicate  Diet  for  Daintie  mouthde  Drunkards  (first 
printed  in  1576)  Princely  Pleasures  of  Kenilworth  Castle,  (first  printed  the  same 
year)  &c.  are  incorporated  in  the  edition  of  1587.  The  Bibl.  Angl.Poet.  p.  116- 
119  is  rich  in  early  pieces  of  Gascoigne.  The  *'  Sundrie  flowers"  are  marked  at 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  697 

number  of  the  poets  just  enumerated  ;  and  let  us  fly 
with  equal  rapidity  and  rapture  to  the  GREAT  BARD — 

from  a  copy  which  was  given  to  Tom  Warton  by  Warburton ;  and 
which  copy,  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Gilchrist's  library  in  1823,  produced 
the  sum  of  41.  At  the  sale  of  Reed's  library  in  1807,  a  fine  copy 
in  russia  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Hill  for  15Z.  15s.  It  is  erroneously 
dated  1567.  The  various  copies  of  various  pieces  of  Gascoigne, 
including  the  edition  of  1587,  scarcely  produced  12Z.  at  the  sale  of 
Steevens's  library  5  at  that  time  they  were  stated  to  be  "  the  completest 
collection  of  Gascoigne's  works  extant.''  How  was  this?  The 
Roxburghe  copy  of  the  edition  of  1575,  to  which  the  <e  Steel  Glass  " 
and  the  Complaint  of  Philomene  were  added,  was  sold  for  10Z.  10s. : 
and  the  edition  of  1587j  for  9,11.  Look  sharply  after  the  PORTRAIT 
of  Gascoigne,  prefixed  to  his  "  Steele  Glass,  "  1576,  4to.  with  com- 
mendatory verses  by  Raleigh  and  others.  Mr.  Stace  published  an 
admirable  fac-simile  of  it.  The  original  is  described  by  Granger, 
vol.  iv.  page  262,  who  says  Gascoigne  "  was  esteemed  the  best  love 
poet  of  his  age.  "  See  page  595,  for  the  rare  piece  of  biography  of 
Gascoigne  bv  George  Whetstone.  Mr.  Haslewood's  interleaved  copy 
of  Ritson's  Bibliog.  Poet,  is  abundantly  supplied  with  ms.  addenda 
relating  to  this  gallant  soldier  and  poet. 

Just  about  this  time,  appeared  the  Flower  of  Fame,  by  ULPIAN 
FULWELL,  1575,  4to.  It  is  fully  described  in  the  Cens.  Literaria, 
vol.  v.  p.  164,  by  the  late  Mr.  Gilchrist,  perhaps  from  the  identical 
copy  which  I  have  often  inspected,  at  Stamford,  in  the  library  of  my 
late  lamented  friend  G.  V.  Neunburg,  Esq.  Lamented  and  beloved 
was  that  friend.  His  respect  for  the  name  of  CECIL  (to  whom  the 
volume  is  dedicated  by  tf  Master  Edmunde  Harman,  ")  induced  him 
to  become  the  purchaser  of  it ;  and  it  was  always  deposited  in  one  of 
the  small,  lock-up  drawers,  in  which  his  choicest  black  letter  volumes 
were  lodged.  I  often  attempted  to  peruse  it,  but  in  vain.  It  was 
deadly  dull.  Yet  this  copy  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  my  friend's  library 
in  1823,  for  30Z.  9s. ;  while,  at  Reed's  sale,  it  produced  only  15s.  in 


25/. :  the  Pow/CA',1575,  at  20/. :  the  Kendworth  Castle,  1575,  at  251. :  and  the  Whole 
Works,  1587, 4to.  at 351.  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  a  NEW  EDITION  of  Gascoigne, 
with  a  biographical  and  critical  introduction,  in  three  octavo  volumes,  would  do 
very  well.  Look  to  it,  Messrs.  Park,  Haslewood,  and 


698  POETRY.  [ENGLISH- 

who  has  so  nobly  and  so  successfully  vindicated  "  the 
ways  of  God  to  Man."  Much  as  Antiquaries  may  love 

conjunction  with  "  black-letter  "  treasures  of  a  similar  complexion. 
At  Farmer's  sale  it  was  sold  for  ll.  Us.  6d.  It  is  half  poetry  and 
half  prose  :  but  a  portion  of  the  historical  part,  relating  to  the  History 
of  the  Winning  of  Hadington  in  Scotland,  in  the  second  year  of  Ed- 
ward VI.,  is  really  valuable. 

Of  the  Satires  of  BISHOP  HALL,  published  under  the  title  of  Firgi- 
demiarum  :*  1599, 12mo. :  both  parts — there  is  a  masterly  analysis  in 
the  fourth  volume  of  Warton's  Hist,  of  Engl.  Poetry,  occupying  the 
first  fifty  pages  of  the  volume.  Warton  observes  that  "  these  satires 
are  marked  with  a  classical  precision,  to  which  English  poetry  had  not 
yet  attained.  They  are  replete  with  animation  of  style  and  senti- 
ment." The  whole  analysis  and  criticism  is  perhaps  the  chef  d'  ceuvre 
of  Tom  Warton.  Nor  is  Mr.  Campbell  deficient  in  a  just  and  vigour- 
ously  executed  estimation  of  the  talents  of  this  eminent  Divine  and 
Satirist.  These  satires  were  written  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-three : 
' '  In  many  instances  (says  Mr.  C.)  Hall  redeems  the  antiquity  of  his 
allusions,  by  their  ingenious  adaptation  to  modern  manners  5  and 
this  is  but  a  small  part  of  his  praise  •,  for  in  the  point,  and  volubility, 
and  vigour  of  Hall's  numbers,  we  might  frequently  imagine  ourselves 
perusing  Dryden."  Specimens,  &c.  vol.  ii.  256-261.  Of  NICHOLAS 
BRETON,  the  list  of  his  works,  by  Ritson,  in  his  Bibl.  Poet. — fur- 


*  "  By  Virgidemia,  an  uncootli  and  uncommon  word,  we  are  to  understand  a 
Gathering  or  Harvest  of  Rods,  in  reference  to  the  nature  of  the  subject."  WARTON. 
The  same  authority  j  ustly  designates  the  title  as  * '  incomprehensive  and  inaccu- 
rate." It  involves  three  books  of  Toothless,  and  three  of  Siting  Satyr es :  to  which 
are  added,  "  Certain  worthy  ms.  poems  Sfc.  reserved  in  the  study  of  a  Norfolk  Gen- 
tleman.'* The  stately  tragedy  of  Guistard  and  Sismond.  The  Northern  Mother's 
Blessing,  and  the  Way  to  Thrifte.  The  whole  forms  a  very  small  volume,  and  may 
be  worth  15Z.  in  fine  and  large  condition.  A  copy  is  marked  at  251.  in  the  Bibl. 
Angl.  Poet.  It  is  usually  a  dirty  and  cropt  volume.  But  the  Oxford  reprint  of 
1753,  in  a  neat  duodecimo  volume,  and  obtainable  for  10*.  6d.,  should  be  sedu- 
lously sought  after  and  secured.  It  was  edited  by  a  Mr.  Thompson,  Fellow  of 
Queen's  College.  Just  as  Hall's  Satires  appeared,  there  came  out  a  work,  entitled 
"  T.  M.  Micro- Cynicon,  sixe  Snarling  Satyres,  1599,  8vo.  A  copy  of  it  was  sold  for 
241.  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's  library.  I  learn  with  pleasure  that  a  new  edition  of 
Hall  is  about  to  appear  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Singer. 


ENGLISH.]  !  POETRY.  Gi><j 

to  mark  out  the  tracks  of  Milton  in  Sylvester's  trans- 
lation of  Du  Bartas,  and  palpable  and  unquestionable 

nished  by  Steevens — is  at  once  copious  and  appalling  to  the  desperate 
collector  :  for  vain  must  be  the  hope  to  collect  them  all.  See  also  the 
Cens.  Lit.  vol.  ix.  page  159-165  :  Campbell,  vol.  ii.  page  321-4.  His 
poems  have  a  melancholy,  tender,  and  religious  air,  which  made 
them  popular  in  their  day :  but  his  Muse  was  sometimes  curvetting 
and  wanton  —  and  woe  betide  the  young  bibliomaniac  who  sets  his 
heart  upon  Breton's  "  Flourish  upon  Fancie,  and  Pleasant  Toyes  of  an 
idle  Head,  "  1577*  4to. : — or,  his  "  Workes  of  a  young  Wyt,  trust  up 
with  a  Fardell  of  prettie  Fancies,  "  4to.  !  !  Threescore  guineas  shall 
hardly  fetch  these  black-letter  rarities  from  the  pigeon  holes  of  Mr. 
Thorpe.  See  Bibl.  Steevens,  no.  997  ;  Bindleij,  no.  743.  Hack  courage 
to  add  the  prices  for  which  these  copies  sold.  Breton's  "  Ravish 't 
Soule,  and  the  Blessed  Weeper,  1601,  4to.  may  be  had  for  152.  (to- 
gether with  sundry  other  minor  rarities  of  the  poet)  in  the  Bibl.  Angl. 
Poet.  p.  17.  See  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  iv.  p.  356.  The  late 
Sir  Mark  Sykes  often  used  to  express  to  me  his  extreme  partiality  for 
this  singular  poet :  and  the  sub-note  in  the  Bibliog.  Decam.  vol.  iii. 
p.  405,  will  shew  that  he  possessed  a  few  of  his  choicer  works. 

Of  THOMAS  LODGE,  procure,  if  you  can,  his  Fig  for  Momus,  con- 
taining pleasant  Varietie,  included  in  satyres,  eclogues,  and  epistles,  &c. 
1595,  4to.  obtainable  for5Z.  15s.  6d.  His  Rosalynde,  Euphue's  Golden 
Legacie,  1590,  4to.  is  marked  at  20Z.  in  the  B.  A.  P.  and  his  Alarum 
against  Usurers,  and  delectable  history  of  Forbonius  and  Prisceria, 
1584,  4to.  produced  the  tremendous  sum  of  27Z.  at  the  sale  of  Bind- 
ley's  library.  This  work  has  escaped  Ritson  ;  although  the  Life  and 
Death  of  William  Longbeard  the  most  famous  and  witty  English  Traitor 
&c.  with  many  other  most  pleasaunt  and  prettie  histories,  1593,  4to.  is 
duly  chronicled  by  him.  A  copy  of  it  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Stee- 
vens's  library  for  41.  7s. :  which  copy  had  cost  its  owner  ONE  SHIL- 
LING and  NINE  PENCE!  The  odd  pence  are  diverting:  but  three 
penny  biddings  were  then  in  vogue.  CHRISTOPHER  MARLOW,  whose 
name  will  live  as  long  as  tender  sentiment,  clothed  in  language  the 
most  felicitous,  shall  be  understood  and  felt,*  is  known  rather  as 


allude  chiefly  to  his  exquisite  little  ballad  of  The  Passionate  Shepherd  to  hit 


700  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

as  may  be  some  of  the  imitations  of  the  "  Divine 
Weeks  "  in  the  "  Paradise  Lost/'  yet,  whatever  the 

a  dramatist  than  a  professed  poet.  His  play  of  Dido,  Queen  of 
Carthage,  1594,  4to.  is  perhaps  the  rarest  of  all  dramatical  or  poeti- 
cal pieces.  Malone's  copy  of  it  (now  at  Oxford)  and  purchased  from 
George  Steevens's  collection,  for  17 1.  has  been  long  considered  UNIQUE. 
As  a  poet,  Marlow  is  chiefly  known  by  his  imperfect  piece  of  Hero 
and  Leander,  first  printed  in  1598 — and  continued  by  Chapman  with 
unequal  talent,  and  first  published  in  160O — of  which  a  copy  is  in  the 
Malone  Collection.  A  copy  of  the  reprint  of  1606,  4to.  is  marked  at 
15Z.  in  the  Bibl.  4ngL  Poet. :  and  of  that  of  1637,  at  41.  4s.  Marlow 
was  also  a  translator  ft  of  all  Ovid's  Elegies  "  printed  without  date  at 
Middleburgh,  in  12mo.  of  which  a  copy  is  valued  at  71.  7$.  in  the  au- 
thority last  quoted.  Mr.  Campbell  observes,  that  (<  the  Bishops 
ordered  these  translations  to  be  burnt  in  public  for  their  licentious- 
ness.* If  (continues  he)  all  the  licentious  poems  of  that  period  had 
been  included  in  the  martyrdom,  Shakspeare's  Venus  and  Adonis 
would  have  hardly  escaped  the  flames."  Specimens,  &c.  vol.  ii.  page 
160.  A  good  account  of  this  rare  book  (probably  published  in  1598, 
and  containing  forty-eight  leaves)  together  with  specimens  of  the  text, 
is  given  in  the  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  viii.  119-127- 

Alas,  for  ANTHONY  MUNDAY  !  Little  is  known  of  this  once  fa- 
mous poet-laureat  of  the  City  of  London :  whose  Banquet  of  Daintie 
Conceits,^  (an  excellent  title  for  a  city  poet-laureat)  published  in 
1588,  4to.  provokes  the  appetite,  and  gratifies  the  palate,  of  the  most 
thorough-bred  bibliomaniacal  Epicure.  An  excellent  account  of 


Love ;  beginning  with  "  Come  live  with  me,  and  be  my  Love  "—a  gem,  which  Isaac 
Walton  has  contrived  to  set  so  beautifully  in  the  pearly  pages  of  his  "  Complete 
Angler." 

*  Were  these  translations  sent  to  Middleburgh  on  acconnt  of  the  qualms  or  the 
fears  of  our  own  printers  to  publish  them  ?  Religious  tracts  were  frequently  sent 
thither,  or  to  "  Marlborow  in  the  land  of  Hesse,"  from  such  motives  alone.  But 
that  Marlow's  Epigrams  and  Elegies,  with  those  of  John  Davis,  were  also  published 
at  Middleburgh,  in  8vo.  without  date  . . .  does  that  argue  pro,  or  con,  their  moral 
tendency  ?  A  copy  of  them  was  sold  at  Bindley's  sale  for  81.  18*.  6d. 

f  The  remainder  of  the  title  is  thus  :  Furnished  with  verie  delicate  and  choyse  in- 
ventions, to  delight  their  mindes,  who  take  pleasure  in  Musique,  and  therewithall  to 
sing  sweet  Ditties,  either  to  the  Lute,  Bandora,  Virginalles,  or  ante  other  instrument. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  701 

Authorof  the  latter  touched,  it  seemed  to  turn  to  gold. 
I  am  strenuous  in  the  recommendations  of  the  FIRST 


this  very  rare  book  appears  in  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  ii.  page 
33?  '  and  a  copy  of  it,  together  with  a  minute  description  of  its  con- 
tents, is  marked  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet,  page  212  at  FIFTY  POUNDS. 
But  for  a  City  Banquet — and  especially  such  an  one  as  is  furnished  at 
the  Albion,  in  Aldersgate-street, — this  is  a  moderate  charge.  Speak, 
ye  Roxburghers,  when  your  Vice-President  and  Secretary  was  tra- 
velling in  foreign  parts  !  Ye  know  this  ...  to  your  consolation,  shall 
I  add  ?  But  why  droops  Mr.  Hartshorne,  because  he  cannot  discover 
"  The  Fountayne  of  Fame  erected  in  an  Orchdrde  of  amorous  Adventures, 
published  by  the  same  prolific  poet,  in  1580,  4to.  ? !  Mr.  Hasle. 
wood,  I  learn,  is  gathering  a  bushel  of  golden  apples  from  this  poeti- 
cal Hesperides.  The  name  of  CHESTER  appears  only  to  one  work  -, 
but  THAT  work,  if  ever  it  come  into  the  possession  of  the  curious  col- 
lector— especially  in  a  vellum-lapping-over  covering  —  is  most  PRE- 
CIOUS indeed.  It  is  called  Loves  Martyr,  or  Rosalins  Complaint,  alle- 
gorically  shadowing  the  truth  of  Love,  in  the  constant  fate  of  the 
phoenix  and  turtle,  &c.  &c.  1601,  4to.  From  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet. 
p.  47,  this  appears  to  be  another  FIFTY  POUNDER  !  The  copy  was 
purchased  by  the  late  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes,  Bart. :  and  is  briefly  men- 
tioned in  a  sub-note  in  the  Bibliog.  Decani,  vol.  iii.  page  405  : — with 
sundry  other  similar  and  curious  poetical  rarities.  Several  of  the 
great  poets  of  the  day  contributed  to  the  Love's  Martyr  of  Chester — 
such  as  Shal?speare,  Marston,  Jonson,  and  Chapman :  and  observe 
how  anxiously  the  book  is  recorded  in  Malone's  Suppl.  to  ShaJcspeare, 
vol.  i.  p.  732  —  and  a  sight  of  it  yet  more  anxiously  solicited  by  Sir 
Egerton  Brydges  in  the  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  iv.  p.  128. ! 

Briefly  noticing  master  ANTHONY  CHESTER'S  only  poetical  work 
extant*  —  viz.  "  Beawtie  Dishonoured,  written  under  the  title  of 
Shores  Wife,  1593,  4to.,  of  which  Mr.  Bindley's  copy  produced  the 
enormous  sum  of  341. 13s. — I  proceed  to  Herbert  and  Herrick :  men, 
of  comparatively  slender  fame,  but  whose  works  merit  a  transient 
record.  The  muse  of  GEORGE  HERBERT  was  grave,  pensive,  and 


*  Who  possesses  his  Procris  and  Cephaltu,  1593, 4to.  ?     Is  it  ideal  ?     Or  is  it  in 
the  collection  of  Richard  Heber,  Esq.  ? 


702  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

EDITIONS  of  Lycidas,  Comus,  and  Paradise  Lost  and 
Regained ;  and  strange  as  it  may  appear,  these  first 

religious.  His  little  volume  of  poems  is  known  under  the  title  of 
the  Temple:  Sacred  Poems,  and  Private  Ejaculations-,  of  which  the 
second  and  best  edition  appeared  in  1633,  in  a  slender  duodecimo  vo- 
lume. I  have  seen  more  than  one  beautiful  copy  of  this  pious  volume 
—which  has  brought  as  much  as  4Z.  4s.  in  a  delicately  ruled,  and 
thickly-gilt  ornamented  condition :  and  in  some  such  condition  there 
is  good  reason  to  believe  that  King  Charles  I.  possessed  it.  Indeed 
his  own  copy  of  it,  in  blue  morocco,  with  rich  gold  tooling,  was 
once,  I  learn,  in  the  library  of  Tom  Martin  of  Palgrave.  My  friend 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Rennell,  Vicar  of  Kensington,  possesses  a  very  covetable 
copy  of  it,  in  contemporaneous  binding,  and  we  both  agree  that  the  TO 
xaXov  of  Herbert's  poetry,  is  that  soothing  and  solemn  ode,  begin- 
ning thus — 

Sweet  day,  so  cool,  so  calm,  so  bright  !* 

which  honest  Isaac  Walton,  with  his  usual  good  taste,  has  incorpo- 
rated into  his  "Complete  Angler"  .  .  .  And  here  I  call  to  mind, 
rather  with  an  aching  heart,  the  repetition  of  these  lines,  by  a  dear 
deceased  friend,  as  we  glided  in  our  skiff  beneath  the  willows  which 
scantly  flank  the  margins  of  the  river  Isis  .  .  between  Iffley  and  Ox- 
ford . .  .  We  had  been  jocund  with  our  sports  of  the  koitand  pitching 
bar.  A  bright  summer's  sun  had  just  set:  and  an  evening,  such  as 
Collins  has  described  with  the  most  exquisite  delicacy,  was  coming 
on.  It  has  been  with  MY  FRIEND,  as  it  was  with  THE%AY  .  .  . 
Sweet  dews  shall  weep  thy  fall  to  night, 

For  thou  must  DIE  !  ! ! 

But  I  tear  myself  from  these  thrilling  reminiscences  5  and  plunge 
amain  into  the  Garden  of  Golden  Fruit,  or  the  Hesperides  of  ROBERT 
HERRICK,  1648,  8vo.  a  little  out  of  chronological  order,  I  admit  .  . 
but  a  desirable  tome  on  many  accounts  :  especially  if  it  have  a  bright 
impression  of  the  portrait  of  Herrick,  by  Marshall:  and  in  such 
state  it  may  be  worth  some  five  or  six  sovereigns.  Mr.  Campbell 
has  judiciously  referred  his  reader  to  the  copious  account  of  Herrick 
furnished  by  Mr.  Nichols  in  his  History  ofLeicestershire,  where  many 
of  his  poems  are  reprinted.  Herrick  will  be  as  celebrated  for  his 


*  Consult  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  iii.  p.  215,  &c. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  703 

editions  are  procurable  for  about  one-fourth  part  of 
the  sum  of  any  one  of  the  rarer  early  plays  of  Shaks- 

beautiful  ballad  of  <e  Gather  the  rose-buds  while  ye  may" — as  Marlow 
is  for  that  which  has  been  noticed  at  page  700,  ante.  Mr.  William 
Combes  of  Henley,  a  gentleman  who  collects  with  considerable  taste, 
and  who  loves  what  he  collects  with  no  inconsiderable  ardour,  is  the 
fortunate  owner  of  Joseph  Warton's  OWN  COPY  of  Herrick's  Hesperides 
— and  he  carries  this  book  in  his  right  hand  coat  pocket,  and  the 
first  edition  of  Walton's  Complete  Angler  in  his  left,  when,  with 
tapering  rod  and  trembling  float,  he  enjoys  his  favourite  diversion  of 
angling  on  the  banks  of  the  Thames.  A  halt — on  a  hay-cock,  or  by 
the  side  of  a  cluster  of  wild  sweet-briars — with  such  volumes  to  re- 
create the  flagging  spirits,  or  to  compensate  for  luckless  sport ! — but  I 
am  ruralising. 

What  an  oddity,  and  non-descript  compound,  was  that  SAMUEL 
ROWLANDS! — and  why  do  I  notice  him  here?  Simply  because  I 
firmly  believe  that  a  complete  collection  of  his  pieces,  low,  queer, 
comical,  and  contradictory,  as  they  may  be,  could  not  be  procured 
under  the  sum  of  300  SOVEREIGNS.  Judge  for  yourself,  candid 
reader.  New  and  clean  Packs  of  Cards  are  usually  procurable  for 
4s.  6d.  :  but  if  you  only  want  the  Knave  of  Clubs — together  with  the 
Knaves  of  Spades  and  Diamonds  and  Knave  of  Hearts,  of  Master 
Rowland* — (poems,  published  by  him  in  1611-1612,  4to.)  you  must 
pay  35/.  3s.  6d. — according  to  the  text  of  the  priced  catalogue  of 
Bindley's  library  !  !  And  again  ;  for  his  Betrayal  of  Christ,  1 598, 
4to.  21Z. :  opposed  to  his  Doctor  Merrie-man,  1609,  4to.  151.  These 
two  prices  are  taken  from  the  BibL  Angl.  Poet,  where,  to  the  Night 
Raven,  1634,  4to.  the  ominous  sum  of  30Z.  is  attached.  The  pages  of 
this  work  are  rich  in  Ro WLANDI ANA  j  and  Mr.  Thorpe's  well-furnished 
catalogue,  p.  127*  presents  us  with  three  other  pieces  of  the  poet,  for 
14  J.  145.  collectively.  There  is  a  fashion  in  all  things.  ROBERT 

*  See  the  Brit.  Bibliographer,  vol.  ii.  p.  103-5  ;  and  p.  550.  Mr.  Campbell  takes 
occasion  to  question  the  propriety  of  the  conclusion,  in  the  Censura  Literaria,  of 
Rowland's  having  "  frequented  the  haunts  of  dissipation  "  from  his  Muse  being 
if  generally  found  in  low  company."  The  conclusion  (says  Mr.  C.)  is  unjust.  Field- 
ing was  not  a  blackguard,  though  he  wrote  the  adventures  of  Jonathan  Wild; 
Specimens,  Sfc.  vol.  Hi.  p.  68.  Consult  also  the  Eibl.  Harleiana,  vol.  iii.  p.  355.  But 
the  date  of  1512,  here  given,  is  palpably  erroneous. 


704  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

peare.  As  to  critical  and  useful  editions  of  our  Bard, 
what  has  been  said  of  Mr.  TodcTs  Spenser,  may  be 
said  of  his  Milton :  published  twice  in  8vo.  in  seven 
volumes — with  an  incomparable  index  of  words — 
applicable  to  any  edition.*  I  consider  the  LARGE 

SOUTHWELL  is  an  author  of  a  more  commanding  cast  of  genius  :  and 
whoever  reads  the  excellent  account  of  his  works  in  the  Retrospective 
Review,  vol.  iv.  p.  267-280  will  be  convinced  that  his  time  will  not 
be  mispent  in  procuring  a  few  of  his  more  popular  pieces — published 
at  the  end  of  the  sixteenth,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth, 
century.  The  Bibliotheca  Anglo- Poetica,  p.  320-3,  is  rich  in  the 
earlier  and  rarer  pieces  of  Southwell ;  of  which  the  St.  Peter's  Com- 
plaint (1596)  and  the  Mcenonwe,  1595,  &c.  4to.  appear  in  one  vo- 
lume for  15Z.  15s.  These  pieces  and  the  Triumphs  over  Death, 
1595,  were  sold  for  155.  at  the  sale  of  the  late  Mr.  Nassau's  library. 
An  ample  list  of  his  works  appears  in  the  67th  vol.  of  tke  Gent.  Mag. 
His  Mary  Magdalene's  Teares,  and  the  Triumph  over  Death,  are  said 
by  Mr.  Campbell  to  contain  "  some  eloquent  sentences.'*  Specimens, 
&c.  vol.  ii.  page  162.  And  see  Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  ii.  col.  261,  note. 

*  As  to  the  question  of  "  how  much,  "  or  "  how  little,  '*  Milton 
owed  to  the  version  of  the  "  Divine  Weeks "  of  Du  BARTAS,  by 
Sylvester,  I  will  here  have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  Mr.  Dunster  and 
Mr.  Todd  —  and  especially  the  latter  —  have  sifted  the  grain  of  the 
subject  as  finely  as  it  can  be  sifted  ;  and  Mr.  Campbell  has  judiciously 
observed  upon  the  quantum  of  obligation  attached  to  Miltori.  "  If 
(says  he)  Sylvester  ever  stood  high  in  Milton's  favour,  it  must  have 
been  when  he  was  very  young.  The  beauties  which  occur,  so  strangely 
intermixed  with  bathos  and  flatness,  in  Sylvester's  poem,  might  have 
caught  the  youthful  discernment,  and  long  dwelt  in  the  memory,  of 
the  great  poet.  But  he  must  have  perused  it  with  disgust  at  Sylves- 
ter's general  manner.  Many  of  his  epithets  and  happy  phrases  were 
really  worthy  of  Milton  $  but  by  far  the  greater  proportion  of  his 
thoughts  and  expressions  have  a  quaintness  and  flatness  more  worthy 
of  Quarles  and  of  Withers,  f"  Vol.'  i.  page  186.  I  now  come  to  the 


f  Mr.  Todd,  in  his  Account  of  the  Life  and  Writings  of  Milton,  (Works,  vol.  i. 
p.  91,)  has  given  a  specimen  of  Sylvester's  version  of  Du  Bartas  --  from  which  he 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  705 

PAPER  copies  of  this  performance  as  an  indispensable 
ornament  of  a  noble  library. 

FIRST  EDITIONS  of  Milton's  more  popular  pieces.  The  Mask  of 
Comus  led  the  way,  in  1634,  4to, : — a  very  thin  volume,  and  rare.  It 
has  been  my  happiness  to  see  the  ORIGINAL  Ms.  in  the  library  of  Tri- 
nity College,  Cambridge :  written  in  a  delicate  hand,  and  bound  in  a 


infers  "  a  remarkable  familiarity  "  (in  Milton)  with  the  Work  ;  It  relates  to 
"  Lavinia  walking  in  a  frosty  Morning."  Well  might  Mr.  Todd  put  the  follow- 
ing lines  in  ITALICS  ! 

Every  hoary-headed  twigge 

Dropped  his  snowy  perriwigge. 

And  each  bough  his  icy  beard. 

I  happen  to  possess  the  collected  works  of  Joshua  Sylvester,  published  in  1633, 
folio  :  and  from  hence  shall  intrude  one  short  minute  on  the  reader's  patience,  by 
a  quotation  from  "  the  first  day  of  the  first  Week'  '—from  which  that  same  reader 
will  judge  how  far*  a  poet  like  Milton,  could  be  indebted  to  a  poet  like  Du  Bartas 
or  Sylvester.  The  marginal  note  says : 

A  lively  description  of  the  end  of  the  world. 
One  day,  the  rocks  from  top  to  toe  shall  quiver, 
The  mountains  melt  and  all  in  sunder  shiver. 
The  heav'ns  shall  rent  for  fear ;  the  lowly  fields, 
Puft  up,  shall  swell  to  huge  and  mighty  hills. 
Rivers  shall  dry  :  or,  if  in  any  flood 
Rest  any  liquor,  it  shall  all  be  blood. 
The  sea  shall  all  be  fire,  and  on  the  shore 
The  thirsty  Whales  with  horrid  noise  shall  roar : 
The  sun  shall  cease  the  black  coach  of  the  Moon, 
And  make  it  midnight  when  it  should  be  noon  : 
With  rusty  Mask  the  Heavens  shall  hide  their  face, 
The  stars  shall  fall ,  and  all  away  shall  pass : 
Disorder,  dread,  horror,  and  death  shall  come, 
Noise,  storms,  and  darkness  shall  usurp  the  room. 
And  then  the  Chief-Chief-Justice,  venging  wrath, 
(Which  here  already  often  threatened  hath) 
Shall  make  a  BON-FIRE  of  this  mighty  Ball, 
As  once  he  made  it  a  vast  Ocean  all.  Page  4. 

"  Sylvester  (says  Mr.  Campbell — who  accounts,  I  think,  very  naturally  for  the 
origin  of  Milton's  acquaintance  with  his  poem)  was  a  puritan,  and  so  was  the  pub- 
lisher of  his  work,  Humphrey  Lownes,  who  lived  in  the  same  street  with  Milton's 
father ;  and,  from  the  congeniality  of  their  opinions,  it  is  not  improbable  that  they 
might  have  been  acquainted.  It  is  easily  to  be  conceived  that  Milton  often  repaired 

Z    Z 


70f>  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

There  be  yet  authors — overlooked  in  the  preceding 
list  of  minor  poets  —  upon  whose  works,  unknown  to 

small  folio,  in  red  morocco.  No  man,  alive  to  poetical  feeling, 
could  see  it  with  indifference.  I  embraced  it  with  ardour. 

Oscula  nee  desunt  qui  tibi  jure  ferant. 

Propertius  here  comes  happily  to  my  remembrance :  nor  is  it  the  first 
time  that  oscular  benediction  has  been  bestowed  upon  a  BOOK.  Lyci- 
das  followed,  in  1638,  4to. :  very  rare.  I  have  a  recollection  of  see- 
ing it  sold  beneath  the  hammer  of  Mr  Evans  for  about  41.  14s.  6d. 
Next,  Poems,  bothe  English  and  Latin,  composed  at  several  times,  1645, 
12mo.  with  the  first  portrait  of  the  author,  by  Marshall.  A  copy  of 
this  book  (I  presume  with  a  fine  impression  of  the  portrait),  is 
marked  at  51.  in  the  Blbl.  Angl.  Poet,  page  211.  This  portrait  how- 
ever is  very  faithless,  and  was  abused  by  Milton  himself. 

To  pass  over  minor  bibliographical  matters,  I  come  at  once  to  the 
PARADISE  LOST,  which  was  first  published,  in  ten  books,  in  1667,  4to. : 
the  poem  immediately  following  the  title-page,  without  argument, 
or  list  of  errata.  According  to  the  minute  and  accurate  account  of 
Mr.  Todd,  not  fewer  than  FIVE  title-pages  (including  the  first)  were 
requisite  to  make  the  work  <(  go  down  (as  the  phrase  now  is)  with 
the  public."  Two  different  title-pages  appeared  with  the  date  of 
1668;  and  two  more  with  that  of  1669  :  Mr.  Todd  thinks  that,  of 
this  edition,  with  the  dates  of  1668-9,  some  errata  were  corrected 
while  the  work  was  going  through  the  press.  A  copy,  with  the  first 
date  of  1667,  is  marked  at  5Z.  5*.  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet. :  with  the 
second  date  of  1668,  at  3Z.  35.;  and  with  the  third  date  of  1669  at 
2Z.  6s. — in  the  same  Catalogue.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  have  a 
copy  of  the  edit,  of  1668,  with  three  portraits  of  Milton,  at  31.  3s. 
Mr.  Thorpe  marks  a  copy  of  the  third  date,  including  the  Paradise 
Regainedand  Samson  Agonistes  of  1671,  —  FIRST  EDITION  of  each  — 


to  the  shop  of  Lownes,  and  there  first  met  with  the  pious  didactic  poem."  Among 
Sylvester's  epithets,  Mr.  Campbell  meets  with  "  the  opal-coloured  morn,"  which 
he  considers  as  a  beautiful  expression,  and  as  not  used  by  any  other  poet.  But  what 
is  this  to  the  "  rosy-fingered  "  morn  of  Homer  ?  and  what  an  hexametrical  con- 
clusion is  the  Greek  expression—"  po^o^ajtTtAo?  Hw?."  Milton  makes  the  morn 
with  "  rosy  steps "  sowing  "  the  earth  with  orient  pearl."  It  is  a  beautifully 
lengthened  image. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  707 

posterity,  Milton  might  have  silently  fed,  and  nou- 
rished and  inflamed  his  darling  passion  for  the  Muses. 

in  one  volume— at  12.  11  s.  6d.  A  fine  copy  of  the  date  of  1669  was 
sold  at  Reed's  sale  for  ll.  6s.  Mr.  Payne  marks  a  copy  at  18s.  A 
fine  copy  of  the  edition  of  1674,  8vo.  when  the  Paradise  Lost  first 
appeared  in  twelve  books  —  was  sold  for  ll.  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's 
library.  Consult  page  57  of  Bindley's  catalogue.  The  first  edition 
of  the  Paradise  Regained,  1671  (just  mentioned)  may  be  had  for  a 
few  shillings.  At  least.,  I  have  possessed  it  for  two.  I  go  at  once  to 
the  pretty  little  edition  of  the  entire  works  of  our  poet,  published  by 
Tonson  in  1711  and  1713,  12mo.  Its  chief  praise  is  accuracy,  with 
a  sufficient  degree  of  Elzevirian  neatness  :  and  I  make  no  doubt  that 
Addison,  Pope,  Swift,  and  Arbuthnot,  always  travelled  with  a  copy  of 
it.  I  have  seen  more  than  one  Roger  Payne  bound  copy  -,  but  what 
would  Charles  Lewis  make  of  it,  "  out  of  sheets  ?  "  The  Vicar  of 
Hendon  would,  I  venture  to  guess,  best  answer  this  question.  How- 
ever, I  find  that  at  Reed's  sale  a  copy  of  these  two  volumes  brought 
15s.  :  at  Bindley's,  ll.  Us.  6d. :  and  at  the  Duke  of  Marlborough's, 
31.: — ADDISON'S  OWN  COPY  !  It  had  been  Colonel  Stanley's.  Messrs. 
Arch  mark  the  Paradise  Lost  (1711)  at  12s. :  and  the  Paradise  Re- 
gained, and  other  poems,  (1713)  at  9s.  The  edition  of  1713  did  not 
however  fc  go  off "  so  briskly  j  for  it  required  a  new  title-page  of 
1721  to  make  it  more  palateable  with  the  public.  See  Todd,  vol.  i. 
p.  192. 

In  1720  appeared  TickelVs  handsome  edition,  in  two  quarto  vo- 
lumes, incorporating  Addison's  criticism  on  the  Paradise  Lost,  from 
the  Spectator.  A  list  of  300  Subscribers  is  prefixed.  Milton  was 
now  therefore  becoming  fashionable.  I  pass  by  the  subsequent  edi- 
tions of  1746-7  by  Tonson,  which  says  Mr.  Todd  "  are  printed  with 
great  correctness,"  to  notice  with  becoming  commendation  the  hand- 
some edition  of  Hawkey,  1747^  large  octavo — now  somewhat  un- 
common :  but  since  the  times  of  splendid  printing,  the  volumes  of 
Hawkey  lose  much  of  their  magnificence.  Let  them  however  receive 
a  quiet  russia  binding.  The  Glasgow  press  has  distinguished  itself  in 
the  editions  of  1750,  4to.  and  1770,  folio.  But  of  all  the  editors  of 
Milton,  with  the  exception  of  Warton  and  Todd.,  none  have  ren- 
dered our  immortal  Bard  greater  justice  than  the  celebrated  BISHOP 


?08  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

The  quaint  DAVIES,  the  fertile  WITHER  the  tender 
LOVELACE,  the  gentle  CRASHAW,  the  classical  CART- 
NEWTON  j  a  scholar  and  a  Divine.  I  speak  of  the  best  edition,  which 
I  believe  appeared  in  1753,  8vo.  4  vols.  and  1754,  4to.  3  vols.  The 
pencil  of  HAYMAN,  (the  STOTHARD  of  his  day)  was  called  in  for  the 
embellishment  of  these  volumes  j  and  worse  things  have  appeared 
from  that  quarter.  The  engravings  are  ordinary  enough  j  but  Van- 
der  Gucht  was  no  conjuror.  Bishop  Newton's  edition  of  Milton  is  the 
best  edited  ENGLISH  CLASSIC  up  to  the  period  of  its  publication. 
Hard  upon  this,  appeared  the  lovely  impressions  of  Baskerville:  twice 
in  octavo,  J75S  and  1760 — and  once  in  4to.  1759.  But.  the  octavos 
have  a  quarto  aspect.  My  friend  Palmerin  revels  in  his  delicious 
copy  of  1760,  bound  in  the  morocco  of  the  day ;  and  I  find  that  a 
similar  copy  is  marked  at  31.  10s.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne 
and  Foss :  while  a  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  1758  is  to  be  found 
in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Arch  for  3/.  13s.  6d.  I  know  of  no  par  lour" 
reading  like  that  of  Milton  in  one  of  the  editions  of  Baskerville. 

The  reprints  of  Bishop  Newton's  edition  are  scarcely  to  be  num- 
bered. At  length  appeared  the  first  critical  edition  of  the  minor 
poems  from  the  classical  and  elegant  pen  of  TOM  WARTON,  in  1785, 
8vo  —  a  performance,  nearly  as  perfect  of  its  kind  as  it  could  well 
be.  It  was  reprinted  in  1791  with  many  alterations  and  additions : 
and  I  will  allow  my  "  Young  Man"  no  quarter  unless  he  procure  a 
copy.  In  1795  appeared  the  labours  of  the  third  critical  editor  of 
Milton.  I  mean,  the  late  Mr.  DUNSTKR — in  a  quarto  volume,  contain- 
ing the  Paradise  Regained.  In  1797,  this  was  followed  by  the  Minor 
Poems.  Meanwhile,  the  press  of  Bensley  had  produced  the  most 
beautiful  impression  of  our  Bard  then  seen  —  and  since,  of  its  kind, 
never  eclipsed.  I  speak  of  that  of  1796,  8vo.  2  vols.*  Messrs.  Arch 
mark  a  copy  of  these  lovely  volumes  at  2Z.  8*.  in  morocco  binding. 
In  1794-7  appeared  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  magnificent  printing  and 
embellishment.  I  speak  of  the  edition  from  the  press  of  Bulmer, 
or  as  it  is  called  the  Shakspeare  Press,  in  three  folio  volumes,  the  text 
of  which  owes  its  correctness  to  the  revision  of  Mr.  George  Nicol. 
The  reader  may  see  what  is  said  of  this  matchless  work  in  the  Bibliogr. 


*  A  copy  on  LARGE  PAPER  was  sold  for  6/.  12*.  6d.  at  the  Stanley  sale. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  709 

WRIGHT,  the  refined  and  impassioned  CAREW  . . .  with 
herds  of  JORDANS,  DANIELS,  DRAYTONS,  RANDOLPHS, 

Decam.  vol.  ii.  385.  The  engravings,  in  stippling,  by  various  artists, 
are  from  the  designs  of  Westall :  and  I  well  remember  the  impres- 
sion made  upon  the  public  by  the  exhibition  of  these  highly  wrought 
drawings.  The  4to.  edition  of  1799,  beautifully  printed  by  Bensley, 
with  plates  by  Richter,  can  never  lack  a  purchaser.  DR.  AIKIN  pub- 
lished three  elegant  editions,  with  a  critical  essay  :  Lond,  1801.  12mo. 
4  vols.  :  1805,  3  vols. :  and  1808,  8vo.  4  vols.  At  last  came  forward 
the  VERY  BEST  edition  of  the  poet  by  the  REV.  MR.  TODD  j  first  in 
1800,  8vo.  6  vols.:  and,  secondly,  in  1809,  8vo.  seven  volumes.  The 
Life  of  the  Author,  and  an  incomparable  Verbal  Index,  applicable  to 
any  edition,  form  the  seventh  volume :  which  cannot  fail  to  be  in  a 
constant  state  of  requisition.  This  volume  is  obtainable  for  9  or  105. 
Mr.  Todd  has  secured  for  himself  a  rich  harvest  of  renown  in  his  edi- 
tions of  Spenser  and  Milton,  to  say  nothing  of  his  great  and  success- 
ful labours  on  the  Dictionary  of  Dr.  Johnson  :  —  of  which  a  second 
edition  is  absolutely  in  contemplation.  I  wish  he  would  give  us  the 
entire  works  of  CHAUCER — and  then,  he  may  "  depart  in  peace."  But 
a  peaceful  departure,  with  HIM,  need  not  depend  upon  the  completion 
of  such  an  undertaking.  He  will  long  live  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
appreciate  his  talents  and  know  his  worth. 

Sis  licet  felix  ubicumque  mavis, 
Et  memor  nostri  ....  vivas  ! 

I  hasten  to  the  conclusion  of  this  piece  of  Miltonic  bibliography. 
In  1802  appeared  Duroveray's  beautiful  edition  of  the  Paradise  Lost, 
printed  by  Bensley,  and  embellished  with  engravings.  This  is  a 
'•  companion  meet  "  for  the  Virgil  of  1SOO,  published  by  Didot.  In 
1808  came  forth  the  Latin  and  Italian  Poems  of  Milton,  &c.  with  a 
fragment  of  a  Commentary  on  Paradise  Lost,  by  the  late  WILLIAM 
COWPER,  1808,  4to.  Every  thing  with  the  name  of  Cowper  is  ne- 
cessarily deserving  of  notice,  if  not  of  praise  j  but  this  publication  did 
not  add  much  to  the  reputation  of  that  sweet  poet.  Who  would  be 
interested  in  the  English  version  of  the  Latin  and  Italian  poetry  of 
an  Englishman  ?  To  this  edition  however,  there  are  plates  from  the 
designs  of  Flaxman,  in  the  usual  style  of  classical  purity  of  that  great 
sculptor.  Indeed,  I  hardly  know  of  any  monument,  to  the  memory 


710  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

and  one  knows  not  whom  .  .  .  these,  as  they  were  cer- 
tainly more  or  less  perused  by  Pope,  so  is  there  no 
very  great  improbability  in  the  supposition,  that  they 
might  have  occasionally  found  their  way  into  the 
pockets  or  to  the  shelves  of  John  Milton.  That  the 
"  Old  Man"  may  not  be  disappointed  in  meeting 
again  with  the  companions  of  his  youth,  and  that  the 
"  Young  Man  "  may  be  stimulated  towards  the  acqui- 
sition of  "  rich  and  rare  "  pieces  of  these  comparatively 
neglected  Bards,  for  the  solace  of  his  latter  years,  I 
concentrate,  below,  a  few  bibliographical  notices  rela- 
ting to  them.* 

of  the  pious  and  illustrious  dead,  more  intensely  touching,  as  well  as 
more  obviously  appropriate,  than  that  of  Flaxman  to  the  memory  of 
Cowper.  But  this  is  wandering. 

*  What  a  task  have  I  again  undertaken  ?  Almost  as  intricate  and 
wearisome  as  any  in  the  preceding  pages  of  ENGLISH  POETRY.  First, 
for  the  e •  quaint  DAVIES."  Wood  has  given  a  tolerably  copious  list 
of  his  pieces — intermixed,  however,  with  errata  which  have  been 
properly  corrected  by  his  editor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  (now  Dr.)  Bliss.  A then. 
Oxon.  vol.  ii.  col.  260-4.  His  earliest  piece  appears  to  have  been 
Mirum  in  Modum.  A  Glimpse  of  God's  Glory  and  the  Souls  Shape, 
1602,  4to.  A  copy  was  sold  for  41.  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Nassau's  li- 
brary. In  1603  appeared  his  Microcosmus,  The  Discovery  of  the  Little 
World,  &c.  4to. :  for  which  consult  the  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  ii.  p.  208. 
Among  his  rarest  pieces,  is  his  Holy  Rood  or  Christs  Crosse,  &c.  1 609, 
4to.  A  copy  was  sold  for  31.  at  the  last  mentioned  sale.  But  his 
Summa  Totalis,  or  all  in  all,  and  the  same  for  ever,  preceded  it  two 
years  j  namely,  in  1607-  It  is  a  rare,  and  I  make  no  doubt  a  dull, 
piece.  His  Muse's  Sacrifice,  1612,  brought  20Z.  at  the  sale  of 
Bindley's  Library.  The  Scourge  for  Paper  Persecutors,  1625,  4to. 
(second  edition)  is  pronounced  by  Mr.  Park  to  be  "  a  lively 
pasquinade  on  the  literature  of  the  times f ' — It  was  first  printed  in  the 
Scourge  of  Folly,  1611,  which  was  a  collection  of  Epigrams,  by  John 
Davis.  See  the  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  vi.  p.  275,  which  gives  a  few  "  good 
points"  from  this  Scourge  for  Paper  Persecutors.  The  Select  Hus- 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  7li 

The  road  is  now  clear,  open,  and  obvious.  Having 
led  the  tractable  reader  through  the  brambles  and 

bandefor  Sir  Thomas  Overburies  Wife,  now  a  matchlesse  Widow,  1616. 
4to.  In  noticing  this  work  Mr.  Park  calls  Davis  a  "  verbose  rhy- 
mer and  writing  master."  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  v.  367-  And  yet  Davies 
(NOT  Sir  John  Davies — to  whom  Mr.  Campbell  confines  himself,  vol. 
ii.  p.  377)  is,  somehow  or  other,  the  present  fashion  among  some  Col- 
lectors :  and  Mr.  Freeling  gives  him  a  conspicuous  place  on  his  shelves 
of  poetical  rarities.  Those  who  have  set  their  hearts  on  a  few  of  the 
rarer  effusions  of  his  Muse,  will  find  them  at  costly  prices  in  the  Bibl. 
Angl.  Poet. :  not  more  than  eight  articles  averaging  I4l.  an  article. 
Among  these,  Humours  Heaun  on  Earthy  1603,  4to.  and  Wittes  Pil- 
grimage, being  marked  at  25Z.  each.  As  to  the  ff  fertile  WITHER,"  I  will 
positively  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  him  than  to  refer  the  abso- 
lute and  determined  Collector  of  his  pieces,  such  as  is  my  worthy 
friend  Mr.  Haslewood,  to  the  fecund  notice  of  his  performances  given 
by  Mr.  Park  in  the  first,  second,  fifth  and  sixth  volumes  of  the  Cen- 
sura  Literaria ;  and  in  the  first,  second,  and  third  volumes  of  the 
British  Bibliographer.  In  the  Bibl.  AngL  Poetica,  not  fewer  than 
twenty-seven  pages  are  occupied  by  a  list  of  upwards  of  forty  of  his 
pieces,  elaborately  set  out ;  see  p.  37 1>  &c. 

Of  the  "  tender  LOVELACE,"  we  have  his  Lucasta,  &c.  1649,  I2mo. 
and  Posthume  Poems,  1659,  12mo.  with  Elegies  sacred  to  his  Memory, 
1660,  12mo.:  all  of  them  somewhat  uncommon  books— and  well 
described  in  the  Cens.  Literaria,  vol.  ix.  p.  337,  &c.  vol.  x.  page  <29O. 
But  the  "  great  catch  "  is,  to  have  the  portrait  of  Lovelace,  by  Hollar 
— among  the  graphic  rarities  of  the  day.  My  friend  Mr.  Utterson, 
who  enhances  his  love  of  art  by  a  very  considerable  practical  profi- 
ciency therein,  and  whose  collection  of  English  poetry  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  entitles  him  to  a  conspicuous  entry  in  the  muster- 
roll  of  modern  Collectors,  has  adorned  his  copy  of  the  Lucasta,  by  a 
coloured  drawing  after  the  original  painting  of  Lovelace  in  Dulwich 
College,  which  discovers  much  more  of  "the  most  amiable  and  beauti- 
ful person  that  eye  ever  beheld"  — as  Wood  describes  Lovelace.  *  There 


*  "  In  Dulwich  College  also  is  a  portrait  of  ALTHEA,  but  without  any  clue  to 
lead  to  the  discovery  of  the  lady  who  has  been  so  fortunately  immortalised.  Mr. 
Lysons,  in  his  Environs  of  London,  speaks  of  her  as  the  same  with  Lucasta." 


712  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

briars  which  beset  the  earlier  paths  or  haunts  of  the 
more  ancient  British  Muse,  and  having  placed  him  in 

is  no  person,  of  whose  history  so  little  seems  to  be  known  with  accu- 
racy, and  of  which  so  much  might  probably  be  known  with  advan- 
tage. Mr.  Campbell,  after  the  example  of  Mr.  Ellis,  has  given  some 
pretty  specimens  of  his  poetry ;  and  an  account  of  the  gallant,  accom. 
plished,  and  unfortunate  author  may  be  seen  in  the  Gent.  Mag.  vol. 
Ixi.  and  Ixii. 

RICHARD  CBASHAW  has  received  an  admirable  bibliographico-cri- 
tical  memorial  in  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  i.  p.  225-250.  His 
Steps  to  the  Temple  were  first  published  in  1646  :  afterwards  in  167O : 
his  Carmen  Deo  Nostro  and  Sacred  Poems,  &c.  in  1652.  A  copy  of 
this  latter  work,  which  has  some  curious  embellishments,  is  marked 
at  61.  6s.  in  the  BibL  Anglo.  Poet.  It  is  no  wonder  that  Pope,  in  his 
Eloisa,  borrowed  the  well-known  verse  of 

Obedient  slumbers  that  can  wake  and  weep 

from  Crashaw  j  who  "  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  a  warm  and 
enthusiastic  temperament,  which  he  carried  into  every  thing,  and 
most  especially  into  his  religion."  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  i.  page 
227.  The  specimens  here  selected  are  very  curious  of  their  kind. 
The  "  Steps  to  the  Temple"  are  obtainable  for  a  few  shillings,  in 
ordinary  binding.* 

As  to  the  "  herds  of  JORDANS  "  what  is  to  be  done  with  these  wild 
and  hard-catching  animals  ?  Not  fewer  than  seven  of  them  are  at 


Cens.  Lit.  vol.  x.  p.  293.    The  "  Akhea  "  here  noticed,  is  thus  introduced  in  a  Song 
— addressed  to  her,  by  Lovelace,  when  he  was  in  prison  : 

When  Love,  with  unconfined  wings, 

Hovers  within  my  gates ; 
And  my  divine  ALTHEA  brings 

To  whisper  at  the  grates ; 
When  I  lie  tangled  in  her  hair, 

And  fettered  to  her  eye — 
The  birds,  that  wanton  in  the  air, 

Know  no  such  liberty.  Campbell,  vol.  iii.  p.  400. 

*  "  The  title  of  this  work  (says  Mr.  Campbell,  vol.  iii. p. 358)  was  in  allusion  to 
the  church  at  Cambridge,  near  his  residence,  where  he  almost  constantly  spent  his 
time.  When  the  Covenant  in  1644,  was  offered  to  the  Universities,  he  preferred 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  713 

full  front  of  the  divine  Milton,  there  remains  little 
more  than  to  notice  the  subsequent  poets  in  the  chro- 

this  moment  before  me  — from  the  fertile  meadows  of  my  neighbour 
and  friend  Francis  Freeling,  Esq.  Their  titles  are  as  follow  :  A  Nur- 
sery of  Novelties :  Characters :  Claraphil  and  Clarinda  :  Divinity  and 
Morality :  The  Muse's  Melody  :  Piety  and  Poesy  :  Wit  in  a  Wilderness  .- 
all  tiny,  thin,  dingy-looking,  and  scurvily  printed  duodecimos  —  but 
sound,  and  "  fit  for  market."  From  the  Cens.  Litter,  vol.  i.  page  37, 
I  find  that  Tom  Jordan  was  a  player  in  the  company  of  the  Red  Bull : 
and,  after  the  Restoration,  City  Poet,  and  Describer  of  Lord  Mayors 
Shows.  O  rare  Tom  Jordan  !  Mr.  Bindley  had  several  of  his  pieces  : 
the  Jewels  of  Ingenuity  set  in  a  coronet  of  Poetry,  which  produced 
10£.  15*. :  Claraphil  and  Clarinda,  4/.  7$.  j  and  Royal  Arbor  of  Loyal 
Poesie,  21.  17$.  See  again,  part  ii.  p.  85  of  his  Catalogue.  We  want 
to  know  more  about  the  author. 

te  De  gustibus  non  est  disputandum."  "  On  ne  peutpas  disputer 
pour  les  gouts."  "  There's  no  accounting  for  tastes."  What  are 
these  stale  (but  not  "  flat")  aphorisms  a  prelude  to?  Simply  this  : 
that,  in  the  whole  circle  of  poets  of  the  earlier  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  my  attachment  is  not  more  warmly  fastened  upon 
ANY,  than  it  is  upon  THOMAS  CAREW.  The  very  soul  of  refined  and 
exquisite  passion  breathes  through  some  of  the  happier  efforts  of  his 
Muse.  Conceits  he  had  —  for  conceits  were  the  then  fashion  of  the 
age,  as  inflation  and  obscurity  are  now — but  these  conceits  were  more 
than  counterbalanced  by  innumerable  beauties,  which  command 


ejection  and  poverty  to  subscribing  it.  Already  he  had  been  distinguished  as  a 
popular  and  powerful  preacher.  He  soon  after  embraced  the  Catholic  religion 
and  repaired  to  France.  In  austerity  of  devotion  he  had  no  great  transition  to 
make  to  Catholicism  ;  and  his  abhorrence  at  the  religious  innovations  he  had  wit- 
nessed, together  with  his  admiration  of  the  works  of  the  canonised  St.  Theresa  of 
Spain,  still  more  easily  account  for  his  conversion."  Specimens,  vol.  ii.  p.  358.  Mr. 
Campbell  thinks  that "  there  is  some  similarity  between  the  speech  of  Satan  in  the 
Sospetto  di  Herode  of  Marino  (which  Crashaw  has  translated)  and  Satan's  address 
to  the  Sun  of  Milton."  There  can  be  no  doubt,  not  only  of  this,  but  of  very  con- 
siderable obligation,  on  the  part  of  Milton,  to  the  Adamo  of  Marino,  published  at 
Milan  in  1609,  4to.  and  to  other  "  Adams  "  so  copiously  noticed  by  Mr.  Todd,  in 
his  Milton,  vol.  ii.  p.  249-255.  Mr.  Wilbraham  possesses  a  copy  of  Marino's  work, 
which  is  well  worth  five  or  six  guineas.  The  plates  are  pretty  and  pleasing.  See 
also  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol.  i.p.  241. 


714  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

nological  order  in  which  they  flourished  .  .  and  with 
which  the  department  of  ENGLISH  POETRY  may  be 

our  closest  attention,  and  extort  our  warmest  applause.  I  am  not 
sure  whether,  after  all,  his  ballad  of 

Ask  me  no  more  where  Jove  bestows, 
When  June  is  past,  the  fading  rose 
&c.  &c.  &c.» 

be  not  to  the  full  as  beautiful  and  perfect  as  the  "  Come  live  with 
me  and  be  my  Love"  of  Marlow — and  its  answer  by  Raleigh— 
or  the  <(  Drink  to  me  only  with  thine  eyes  "  of  Jonson.  Carew 
has  been  fortunate  in  his  biographers  and  critics.  The  powerful 
pen  of  Lord  Clarendon  has  rendered  him  ample  justice  —  in  his 
own  life,  volume  i.  page  36.  "  He  was  a  person  (says  his  Lord- 
ship) of  a  pleasant  and  facetious  wit,  and  made  many  poems 
(especially  in  the  amourous  way)  which,  for  the  sharpness  of  the 
fancy,  and  the  elegancy  of  the  language,  in  which  that  language  is 
spiced,  were  at  least  equal  if  not  superior  to  any  of  that  time."  An- 
thony Wood  says  he  was  ' f  famed  for  the  charming  sweetness  of  his 
lyric  odes  and  amorous  sonnets."  After  the  admission  of  occasional 
indelicacy,  and  frequent  affectation,  Mr.  Campbell  remarks,  that, 
(f  among  the  poets  who  have  walked  in  the  same  limited  path,  Carew 
is  pre-eminently  beautiful,  and  deservedly  ranks  among  the  earliest 
of  those  who  gave  a  cultivated  grace  to  our  lyrical  poetry.  His  slow- 
ness in  composition  was  evidently  that  sort  of  care  in  the  poet,  which 
saves  trouble  to  his  reader  ....  and  he  unites  the  point  and  polish  of 
later  times,  with  many  of  the  genial  and  warm  tints  of  the  elder 
muse."  Specimens,  vol.  iii.  p.  187-  The  fourteen  following  pages 
are  devoted  to  specimens  of  his  composition.  But  Mr.  Ellis  has  done 


*  I  cannot  resist  the  whole  of  the  first,  third,  and  fifth  and  last  stanza  :  the  second 
and  fourth  being  spoilt  by  what  may  be  considered  as  conceits. 

Ask  me  no  more  where  Jove  bestows,  For  in  your  sweet  dividing  throat 

When  June  is  past,  the  fading  rose ;  She  winters,  and  keeps  warm  her  note. 
For  in  your  beauties  orient  deep 

These  flowers  as  in  their  causes  sleep.  Ask  me  no  more  if  east  or  west 

The  phoenix  builds  her  spicy  nest ; 

Ask  me  no  more  whither  doth  haste  For  unto  YOU  at  last  she  flies, 

The  nightingale,  when  May  is  past ;  And  in  your  fragrant  bosom  dies. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  7 1 5 

appropriately  concluded.   Yet  I  check  myself.     COW- 
LEY  is  a  name  that  merits  distinct  notice,  and  decided 


him  ample  justice  :  vol.  iii.  p.  168.  Headley,  a  very  surprising  young 
man,  and  competent  in  all  respects  to  appreciate  the  talents  of  Carew, 
has  also  rendered  him  justice — (f  Many  of  his  productions,  says  he, 
have  a  certain  happy  finish,  and  betray  a  dexterity,  both  of  thought 
and  expression,  much  superior  to  any  thing  of  his  contemporaries, 
and,  on  similar  subjects,  rarely  surpassed  by  his  successors."  Select 
Beauties  of  Ancient  English  Poetry  :  p.  xxxiv.  Keifs  Edition.  The 
works  of  Carew  lie  within  a  small  compass.  They  were  published  the 
year  after  his  death,  in  1640,  in  a  small  8vo.  volume  :  again  in  1642  : 
and  a  third  time  revised  and  enlarged  in  1651 .  Old  Anthony  a  Wood 
tells  us  that  "  the  songs  in  the  said  poems  were  set  to  music,  or,  if  you 
please,  were  wedded  to  the  charming  notes  of  Henry  Lawes,  at  that 
time  the  prince  of  musical  composers,  &c."  Athen.  Oxon.  Edit.  Bliss. 
vol.  ii.  p.  658.  These  editions  are  at  a  low  price  ;  but  I  marvel  not 
that  my  friend  SORANZO  should  have  given  ll.  Is.  for  his  choicely 
bound  copy  of  the  third  of  1 651,  or  that  he  should  read  choice  extracts 
therefrom  every  alternate  Wednesday  evening.  The  last  and  best 
editor  of  Wood  tells  us  to  shun  the  incorrect  reprint  by  Tom  Davies, 
the  bookseller,  in  1772,  8vo.  The  expert  reader  will  not  of  course 
confound  Richard,  with  Thomas  Carew— the  translator  of  Tasso's 
Jerusalem,  printed  in  4to.  (about  1592)  and  again  in  1594  : — ascarce 
book,  and  pushed  to  the  price  of  12£.  12s.  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet. 
p.  63.  But  concerning  this  work,  see  an  excellent  article  in  the 
Retrospective  Review,  vol.  iii.  p.  32. 

In  regard  to  DANIEL  and  DBAYTON,  I  must  commence  this  para- 
graph with  a  reference  to  the  same  authority  respecting  the  FIRST  of 
these  poets,  as  I  concluded  the  last ;  namely,  to  the  Retrosp.  Review, 
vol.  viii.  p.  227-246,  where  copious  extracts  from  Daniel  will  be 
found.  The  Cens.  Lit.  vol.  x.  p.  26,  which  strings  Daniel  and  Dray- 
ton  together  on  the  same  pearl-roll,  is  minute  and  particular  respect- 
ing the  list  of  the  works  of  these  poets :  and  not  less  minute  and 
particular  is  the  last  editor  of  Wood's  Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  ii.  col.  268- 
274.  In  regard  to  Daniel,  the  last  edition  of  his  collected  works  was 
in  1718,  12mo.  2  vol.  obtainable  for  some  8  or  1O shillings:  but 
both  authors  are  incorporated  in  Anderson's  and  Chalmers's  Body  of 


716  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

commendation,  in  the  text  of  this  work.  While  a  lad 
at  Westminster,  he  had  the  courage  to  become  an 

our  English  Poets.  If  I  mistake  not,  the  earliest  printed  text  of 
Daniel  is  his  Complaint  of  Rosamond,  in  1592,  4to.  but  a  copy  of  his 
Certaine  Small  Woorkes,  or  Poems,  161 1,*  12mo.  brought  the  sum  of 
%l.  Is.  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's  Library.  Wood  calls  Daniel  the  most 
tf  noted  poet  and  historian  of  his  time."  For  his  History  of  England, 
consult  p.  199,  ante.  A  word  now  for  my  very  old  favourite  MICHAEL 
DRAYTON.  "  Drayton  and  Daniel,  (says  Mr.  Campbell)  though  the 
most  opposite  in  the  cast  of  their  genius,  are  pre-eminent  in  the 
SECOND  poetical  class  of  their  age,  for  their  common  merit  of  clear 
and  harmonious  diction.  Drayton  is  prone  to  Ovidian  conceits,  but 
he  plays  with  them  so  gaily,  that  they  almost  seem  to  become  him 
as  if  natural.  His  feeling  is  neither  deep,  nor  is  the  happiness  of  his 
fancy  of  long  continuance,  but  its  short  April  gleams  are  very  beau- 
tiful. His  legend  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  opens  with  a  fine 
description.  Unfortunately,  his  descriptions  in  long  poems  are,  like 
many  fine  mornings,  succeeded  by  a  cloudy  day."  Specimens,  vol.  i. 
p.  166. f  But  Drayton  exhibits  an  ampler  field  for  the  Bibliomaniac 
to  exercise  his  taste,  and  devote  his  wealth,  than  does  Daniel  j  and 
the  pages  of  the  Bill.  Angl.  Poet.  (p.  68-73)  will  supply  the  best 
recipe  for  the  cure  of  plethora  in  the  latter  case.  The  earliest  pub- 
lished piece  of  Drayton  seems  to  have  been  the  Owle,  1604,  4to. 
(reprinted  in  the  appendix  to  the  edition  of  1748,  folio),  of  which 


*  I  find  a  copy  of  Certaine  small  Poems,  Sfc.  1603,  8vo.  marked  at  41. 4s.  in  the 
first  part  of  the  Catalogue  of  1822,  of  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co  — inasmuch  as  the 
Defence  of  Rhyme,  is  here  the  first  edition — no  date — which  had  escaped  Wood 
and  other  biographers,  who  had  supposed  it  to  have  first  appeared  in  1611.  Mr. 
Thorpe  in  his  recent  catalogue,  No.  8257,  marks  a  copy  of  Daniel's  Whole  Workes 
in  Poetries;  1623, 4to.  very  neat,  at  21.  2s. 

t  In  the  third  volume  of  his  Specimens,  which  C9ntains  not  fewer  than  53  pages 
of  extracts  from  Drayton,  we  meet  with  this  farther  vigorous  delineation  of  the 
poet's  merits.  "  The  language  of  DRAYTON  is  free  and  perspicuous.  With  less 
depth  of  feeling  than  that  which  occasionally  bursts  from  Cowley,  he  is  a  less  ex- 
cruciating hunter  of  conceits,  and  in  harmony  of  expression  is  quite  a  contrast  to 
Donne.  A  tinge  of  grace  and  romance  pervades  much  of  bis  poetry :  and  even 
his  pastorals  which  exhibit  the  most  fantastic  views  of  nature,  sparkle  with  elegant 
imagery.  The  Nymphidia  is  in  his  happiest  characteristic  manner  of  airy  and. 
sportive  pageantry."  p.  2. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  717 

author  ;  and  published  his  Poetical  Blossoms,  in  1633, 
4to.  a  book,  of  great  price  to  the  keen-scented  Col- 

a  copy  is  marked  at  51.  5s.  in  the  work  just  referred  to.  The  Muses 
Elizium,  which  brought  only  Ss.  6d.  at  Reed's  Sale,  produced  51.  at 
that  of  Bindley.  The  Polyolbion,  enriched  with  notes  by  Selden, 
is  the  great  work  of  Drayton  ;  and  the  best  edition  of  it,  containing 
both  parts,  is  that  of  1622,  folio  :  of  which  a  remarkably  fine  copy, 
with  the  frontispiece,  and  portrait  of  Prince  Henry  by  Hole,  and  all 
the  other  plates,  produced  the  amazing  sum  of  91.  19s.  6d.  at  the 
sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library.  I  remember  seeing  a  very  fine  copy 
of  this  estimable  volume,  in  the  original  binding,  at  Mr.  Triphook's 
some  half  dozen  years  ago,  which  was  marked  at  7/.  175.  6d.  The 
first  (but  necessarily  imperfect)  collection  of  Drayton's  Poems  was 
in  1619,  folio  5  of  which ,  a  copy  in  morocco  binding  is  marked  at 
51.  5s.  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet,  A  later  and  more  complete  edition 
was  given  in  1748,  folio,  worth  about  ll.  Us.  6d.  A  third,  and 
now  scarce  impression,  is  that  of  1753,  8vo.  4  vols.  worth  probably 
9,1.  12s.  6d.  These  editions  contain  the  notes  upon  the  Polyolbion: 
notes,  full  of  curious  and  erudite  matter  relating  to  the  history  and 
topography  of  our  own  country. 

Of  the  "  brilliant  RANDOLPH,"  see  what  is  said  in  the  Retrosp. 
Review,  vol.  vi.  p.  61-87.  "  A  band,  which,  with  Ben  Jonson  at 
their  head,  was  never  more  brilliant,  active,  joyous,  and  important, 
than  when  our  YOUNG  POET,  sparkled  away  his  nights  with  them  "in 
those  lyric  feasts"  at  the  Sun,  the  Dog,  the  Triple  Tun, 

Where  they  such  clusters  had, 
As  made  them  nobly  wild  not  mad. 

He  was  soon  joined  with  CABTWRIGHT,*   as  the  adopted  son  in  the 


*  During  the  NOCTES  ATTICJE  which  I  spent  at  Althorp  in  the  autumn  of  1819, 
— while  preparing  materials  (or  the  JEdes  Althorpianae  —I  chanced  to  alight  upon 
the  "Comedies,  Tragi- Comedies,  with  other  Poems,  &c.  by  CARTWRIGHT,  1651, 
8vo.  with  an  engraved  portrait  of  the  author,  by  Lombard,  greatly  inferior  to  the 
well-known  portrait,  in  a  similar  attitude,  of  Sir  H.  Wotton.  This  volume  is 
absolutely  crammed  with  commendatory  verses  :  and  Bishop  Fell,  (then  a  layman, 
but  A.  M.)  and  Izaac  Walton  are  in  the  number  of  encomiasts.  Fell  writes  thus  : 

But  I  forbear  this  theme,  denied  to  men 
Of  common  souls,  of  lay  and  secular  pen. 


7)8  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

lector,  if  it  have  the  portrait  of  the  author  ;  but  other- 
wise of  comparatively  little  value.  His  poetry  was 

Muses  of  Jonson  himself;  a  distinction  which  all  who  know  the 
character  of  that  great  writer,  will  allow  to  be  no  ordinary  proof  of 
the  qualifications  of  Randolph.  In  such  company,  and  with  such 
pursuits  as  his  "Poems,  with  the  Muses  Looking  Glasse,"  &c.  164O, 
8vo.  disclose,  he  blazed  out  his  life,  and  died  at  Blatherwyke,  in  Nor- 
thamptonshire, in  the  year  1635,  and  the  30th  of  his  age.  Owen 
Feltham,  the  author  of  the  Resolves,  wrote  these  lines  upon  his 

memory. 

Such  was  his  genius  like  the  quick  eyes'  wink, 
He  could  write  sooner  than  another  think. 
His  play  was  fancy's  flame,  a  lyghtning  wit, 
So  shot,  that  it  could  sooner  pierce  than  hit. 

Sir  Christopher,  afterwards  Lord  Hatton,  erected  a  monument  to 
his  memory :  but  I  think  Mr.  Campbell  makes  him  a  little  too  much 
of  a  toper  with  Ben  Jonson,  and  draws  too  dark  a  conclusion  about 
the  poverty  and  wretchedness  of  his  circumstances  and  death.  Ran- 

A  little  before,  he  prettily  says — 

When  that  his  voice  did  charm  th 'attentive  throng, 
And  every  ear  was  linked  unto  his  tongue 

&c.         &c.        &c. 
Jasper  Mayne  thus  out-herods  Herod  : 

For  thou  to  Nature  hadst  joined  Art  and  Skill, 
In  thee  BEN  JONSON  still  held  SHAKSPEARE'S  quill  : 

Master  Mayne  is  however  almost  out-heroded  in  turn  by  James  Howell,  the 
celebrated  author  of  Londinopolis,  1657,  folio.    I  quote  from  his  verses  addressed 
"  to  his  dear  Mother  the  University  of  Oxford  upon  Mr.  Cartwright's  Poems" 
Many  do  suck  thy  Breasts,  but  now  in  som 
Thy  milk  turns  into  froth  and  spungy  scum ; 
In  others  it  converts  to  rheum  andjleam 
Or  some  poor  wheyish  stuff  instead  of  cream. 

But,  enough.  There  are  however  some  really  well  executed  lines  by  "  Jo. 
Leigh,  Esq."  in  which  the  author  takes  a  view  of  the  poets  previous  to  Cartwright, 
and  which  might  be  worthy  of  transcription,  Dr.  Bliss  has  enriched  Lord  Spen- 
cer's copy  by  transcripts  from  a  copy  of  these  poems,  which  appears  to  contain  a 
few  more  stanzas  than  the  present.  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  is  the  only  one,  of  which 
1  am  aware, that  contains  the  verses  on  the  Queen's  return  from  the  Low  Countries, 
and  on  the  death  of  Sir  Bevil  Grenvill.  A  nice  and  neat  copy,  portrait  included, 
may  be  worth  I/.  5s. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY. 

first  collected  in  1668,  but  the  more  recent  editions 
of  1707,  1721,  and  1772,  8vo.  (the  latter  edited 

dolph's  poems,  reprinted  in  1664,  and  1668,  are  cheap  and  acces- 
sible, and  should  be  read  :  "  his  wit  and  humour  are  very  conspi- 
cuous in  the  puritan  characters,  whom  he  supposes  the  spectators  of 
his  scenes  in  the  Muses  Looking-Glass." — Specimens,  vol.  iii.  p.  101- 
112. 

And  shall  this  cluster  of  English  Poets,  the  very  stars  and  constel- 
lations of  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  be  dispatched 
without  the  notice  of  two  Wights  of  almost  equal  distinction — al- 
though with  very  different  degrees  of  celebrity  !  !  Come  forward  iny 
DRUMMOND  of  Hawthornden,  and  eke  my  poet  of  the  Thames,  JOHN 
TAYLOR  !  Of  Drummond,  those  who  will  consult  the  Retrosp.  Re- 
view, vol.  ix.  p.  351,  and  Mr.  Campbell's  Specimens,  vol.  iii.  p.  341, 
&c.  will  be  satisfied  of  his  just  claims  to  a  lasting  celebrity  :  and  those 
who  happen  to  have  the  edition  of  his  works  of  1659,  Svo.  with  his 
portrait  by  Gay  wood,  will  not  be  displeased  to  learn  that  such  a  book, 
if  in  sound  condition,  was  sold  for  7'.  17$-  6d.*at  the  sale  of  Mr. 
Bindley's  Library.  The  folio  edition  of  171 1*  with  a  tine  mezzotint 
of  the  poet  by  Faber,  is  worth  about  II.  Us.  6d.  A  most  interesting 
account  of  the  meeting  of  Drummond  and  Ben  Jonson  is  given  by 
Mr.  Gifford  in  his  new  edition  of  Ben  Jonson  s  Works,  vol.  i.  p.  cxxxiv.* 
But  of  all  the  oddities  of  his  day — and  of  all  the  men  from  whom  an 
account  of  himself,  and  of  his  contemporaries,  would  have  been  among 
the  most  gratifying  bequests  to  posterity,  ' '  JOHN  TAYLOR,  THE 
WATER-POET,"  was  the  man  !  He  was  a  slang  fellow,  and  a  sort 
of  SKELTON  in  his  way.  His  pieces,  which  are  well  nigh  innumera- 
ble, were  collected  and  published  in  1630,  in  a  folio  volume,  replete 
with  bizarre  and  barbarous  wood-cuts.  Nevertheless,  a  copy  of  this 
volume,  perfect  in  all  respects,  was  pushed  to  the  enormous  sum  of 
15Z.  15*.  at  the  sale  of  Gol.  Stanley's  Library  in  1814.  The  finest 
copy,  in  point  of  genuineness  of  condition,  which  I  ever  saw,  is  that 
in  the  library  of  the  late  Mr.  Sparrow  of  Worlingham  in  Suffolk. 

And  here,  as  the  closer  to  this  list  of  ODDITIES  and  RARITIES — or 
as  an  illustration  of  the  et  one  knows  not  whom"  of  the  text— let  me 


*  From  Drummond's  Own  Works,  1711,  folio,  page  224. 


720  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

by  the  celebrated  Kurd,  Bishop  of  Worcester)  are 
those  which  a  judicious  Collector  will  desire  to  pus- 
make  only  brief  mention  of  Dolarney's  Primrose,  1606,  4to.  Chutes 
Beautie  dishonored,  or  Shore's  Wife,  1593,  4 to.,  Delia,  conteyning 
certain  Sonnets,  &c.  1592,  4to.  Patrick  Hannay's  Nightingale,  &c. 
(see  p.  645,  ante.)  1622,  8vo.  Davison's  Poetical  Rhapsodies,  1608, 

8vo.   Heath's    Clarastella,  1650,   &c.  and   here THE  CURTAIN 

FALLS.* 

*  Through  a  sly  aperture,  however,  the  reader  may  take  a  peep  at  the  Harleian 
Catalogue,  vol.  iii.  p.  355,  which  will  supply  him  with  the  second  and  third  piece, 
together  with  that  very  rare  article,  beginning,  "A  Feast  full  of  sad  cheere"  1592. 
4to.  Mr.  Heber  bought  "  Delia,"  some  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  at  a  very  great 
price  :  that  Lady  bestowing  even  her  smiles  on  costly  terms.  Dolarney's  Prim- 
rose, (which  produced  261. 10s.  at  Bindley 's  Sale)  was  reprinted  by  Mr.  F.  Freeling 
for  the  Roxburghe  Club.  Davison's  Poetical  Rhapsodies,  worth  eight  or  ten 
guineas  in  fine  condition,  was  reprinted  by  Sir  Egerton  Brydges.  The  edition  of 
1611,  produced  71.  17*.  6d.  at  Bindley's  Sale.  Mr.  N.  H.  Nicolay,  a  maternal 
descendant  of  the  great  Toup,  is  meditating  a  new  edition  of  it.  For  Heath's 
Clarastella,  consult  the  Retrosp.  Review,  vol.  ii.  p.  227,  A  fine  copy  may  be  worth 
21.  2s.  To  these,  what  a  host  of  similar  ODDITIES  and  RARITIES  might  be  added  ! 
The  neighbouring  collection  of  my  friend  Mr.  Freeling  supplies  me  with  the  fol- 
lowing —  merely  accidental  —  prizes,  drawn  out  of  the  richest  Lottery  wheel  of 
Old  English  Poetry  in  the  parish  of  Marylebone.  The  Massacre  of  Money,  1602, 
4to.  The  following  is  an  almost  hap-hazard  extract : 

Goe  bid  the  Clarke  ring  day-bell  earlier, 

Bid  the  CHURCH  WARDEN  mind  the  broken  grave, 

Then  goe  consult  with  Parish  Minister, 

And  see  the  poore  mans  box  his  due  to  have. 
&c.        &c.         &c. 

This  is  marked  as  a  "  rarissimus"  article.  The  Scourge  of  Venus,  1613,  18mo. 
Mr.  Freeling  knows  of  no  other  copy.  It  is  a  translation  of  Ovid's  horrible,  but 
highly  wrought,  story  of  Myrrha  and  Cinyras.  On  the  completion  of  the  guilt  of 
the  father  and  daughter,  it  runs  thus  • 

Their  bed  doth  shake  and  quaver  as  they  lie, 

As  if  it  groan'd  to  beare  the  weight  of  sinnc, 
The  fatall  night-crowes  at  their  windowes  flie, 

And  cry  out  at  the  shame  they  do  live  in : 
And  that  they  may  perceiue  the  heauens  frown, 
The  Poukes  and  Goblins  pul  the  couerings  downe. 

Again :  Wit  a  sporting  in  a  pleasant  Grove  of  New  Fancies,  by  H.  B.  with  a  por- 
trait prefixed.  "  jEt.  32."  very  rare ;  especially  with  the  portrait.  These,  out  of 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  721 

sess.*  DENHAM  must  be  noticed,  if  it  be  only  to 
mention  that  bis  Cooper's  Hill  (and  wbo  reads  even 
this  ?)  first  appeared  in  1 642,  4to.  The  neatest  edi- 
tion of  his  works,  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  is  that 

*  The  library  of  my  neighbour,  just  mentioned,  furnishes  me  with 
a  copy  of  the  Blossoms  of  1633,  4to.  as  above  noticed.  The  gem  of 
this  book  is  the  portrait  of  Cowley,  in  his  13th  year,  engraved  by 
Robert  Vaughan.  Beneath  the  portrait,  are  these  verses,  by  B. 
Masters. 

Reader,  when  first  thou  slialt  behold  this  boyes 

Picture,  perhaps  thoult  thinke  his  writings,  toyes. 

Wrong  not  our  COWLEY  so  :  will  nothing  passe 

But  gravity  with  thee  ?     Apollo  was 

Beardless  himselfe,  and  for  aught  I  can  see 

Cowley  may  yongest  sonne  of  Phoebus  bee. 

Mr.  Freeling's  copy  is  bound  in  blue  morocco.  In  the  Bibl.  Angl. 
Poet,  a  copy  with  the  portrait  is  marked  at  161.  and  without  the  por- 
trait at  41.  The  Mistresse,  or  Severall  copies  of  Love  Verses,  were 
first  printed  in  1647,  Svo. — a  neat  copy  may  be  worth  1Z.  Is.  The 
edition  of  1707*  2  vols.  Svo.  contains  20  portraits,  and  other  miscel- 
laneous prints  :  and  may  be  worth  1Z.  Is.  in  goodly  binding;  but  to 
possess  it  on  LARGE  PAPER,  with  the  third  or  Supplementary  volume 
inlaid,  by  way  of  uniformity,  you  must  betake  yourself  to  Mr. 
Thorpe,  and  pay  down  cheerfully  41.  14s.  6d.  Mr.  Nassau's  copy 
stands  so  priced  in  his  Cat.  n°.  9590,  just  published.  The  editions  of 
1721,  and  1772,  are  each  obtainable  for  a  few  shillings.  Mr. 
Campbell  says  of  Cowley,  that  "  he  wrote  verses  while  yet  a  child  j 
and  amidst  his  best  poetry  as  well  as  his  worst,  in  his  touching  and 
tender,  as  well  as  extravagant  passages,  there  is  always  something 
which  reminds  us  of  childhood  in  Cowley."  Specimens,  &c.  vol.  iii.  p. 
74.  This  I  think  is  most  true  :  yet,  cries  my  poetry-loving  friend, 
my  "  Blossoms'  shall  never  be  blighted  or  blasted  ! 


333  slim-waisted  quartos  and  octavos.  Think,  however,  of  Malone's  most  marvel- 
lous collection  at  Oxford  !  —  which  contains  five  goodly  quartos  of  Greene's  pieces 
alone  :  four,  of  Lodge's  :  Nash  in  two  ;  and  Spenser  in  four  ;  and  many  of  these 
volumes  enclosing  ten  or  more  pieces  of  the  greatest  rarity  in  each.  But  Atticus 
hears  this  unappalled.  "  He  is  YET  a"  Collector. 

3    A 


722  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

of  Tonson,  of  1719;  and  there  be  those  who  love  to 
possess  the  edition  of  DONNE'S  poems,  of  the  same  date, 
and  by  the  same  printer.  But  are  these  authors  ever 
read,  even  in  fine  copies  of  the  best  editions  of  them  ?* 
BUTLER'S  HCJDIBRAS  "  cuts  up  famously"  for  a 
Collector  of  old  poetry.  There  are  the  first  editions 
in  1662-74,  which  are  extremely  difficult  to  procure : 
then  follow  the  statelier  impressions  of  Grey  and 
Nash ;  and  recently  the  very  splendid  and  matchless 
one  published  by  Messrs.  Baldwins,  of  Newgate-street. 
But  the  French,  and  a  most  marvellous,  version  of 
Towneley,  in  1757,  in  3  vols.  12mo.  was  of  a  rare  and 
costly  description  ;  till  its  recent  reprint,  at  Paris. 
Below  let  my  "  Young  Man'*  puzzle  and  distract 
himself  "  how  to  choose  a  Hudibras.'^f- 

*  There  is  beginning  to  be  a  rage  about  early  TON  SONS.  The  Den- 
hain  of  1709  brought  the  stiff  sum  of  II.  Is.  at  the  sale  of  Colonel 
Stanley's  Library;  but  the  Donne,  a  remarkably  fine  copy,  beauti- 
fully bound  in  green  morocco,  by  R.  Payne,  produced,  at  the  same 
sale,  the  far  stiffer  price  of  41.  4s.  The  impression  of  the  plate  or  por- 
trait of  Donne,  in  this  edition,  is  sometimes  found  of  a  dazzling 
brightness  -}  and  is  indeed  always  a  rich-looking  portrait. 

f  It  is  now  several  years  ago,  since  I  met  with  a  gentleman  of  the 
profession  of  the  law,  but  of  whose  name  all  recollection  is  vanished, 
who  conversed  long,  learnedly,  and  agreeably,  about  the  bibliogra- 
phical history  of  HUDIBRAS.  He  told  me,  however,  I  think,  that  the 
second  edition  was  rarer  than  the  fast.  I  do  not  speak  with  confidence 
of  the  dates  of  the  early  editions  5  but  a  full  and  instructive  article 
upon  Hudibras,  and  Imitations  of  him,  appears  in  the  Retrospective 
Review,  vol.  iii.  p.  317.  The  second  part  was  first  printed  in  1663. 
The  best  critical  edition,  not  only  of  this  author,  but  doubtless  of  every 
other  of  the  period,  was  by  of  Dr.  Zachary  Grey,  1744,  8vo.  2.  vols. 
a  performance,  of  which  the  notes  (that  moved  the  bile  of  Warburton*) 


See  d'Israeli's,  Quarrels  of  Authors,  vol.  i.    p.  79. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  723 

I  am  not  sure  whether  any  critical  edition  of  WAL- 
LER appeared  before  that  of  Fenton,  in   1729,  4to. : 

are  replete  with  curious,  interesting,  and  accurate,  historical  and  bib- 
liographical intelligence.  I  rarely  open  this  book  without  rising  grati- 
fied by  its  perusal.  In  ordinary  condition  it  is  worth  about  2Z.  2s. — 
but  this  includes  marble  leaves  and  ' '  nice  old  gilt  tooling."  On  LARGE 
PAPER,  it  is  said  only  12  copies  were  struck  off;  but  I  have  my  doubts 
on  this  head,  as  it  is  not  an  uncommon  book,  and  100  copies  were  sub- 
scribed for.  Do  I  deceive  myself  in  the  supposition  that  I  have  seen 
more  than  a  dozen  of  copies  ?  Be  this  as  it  may,  I  find  such  a  copy, 
bound  by  Roger  Payne  in  red  morocco,  selling  for  14Z.  14*.  at  the 
sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library  5  and  a  similar  one — "  very  fine 
copy,  old  red  morocco,  borders  of  gold,"  (inviting  description  !) 
marked  at  12  J.  12*.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss.  It 
may  be  necessary  to  state,  that  the  plates  in  this  edition  are  from  the 
very  humourous  pencil  of  Hogarth;  and  some  ORIGINAL  PAINTINGS  of 
the  same  subject  grace  the  breakfast  parlour  of  Henry  Sawbridge,  Esq. 
of  E.  Haddon,  in  Northamptonshire.  With  this  edition,  the  Remains 
of  Butler,  edited  by  Thyer,  in  1759,  8vo.  two  vols.  are  usually  united  j 
and  a  copy  of  these  four  volumes  (of  course  on  small  paper)  is 
marked  at  31.  13s.  6d.  in  the  last  mentioned  catalogue.  Let  me  only 
add,  that  this  edition  has  been,  of  all  those  of  Hudibras,  the  most 
frequently,  and  the  most  justly  reprinted,  with  the  omission  of  the 
copper  plates,  and  the  substitution  of  those  of  wood.  Bensley  re- 
printed  it  handsomely  in  1799  :  of  which  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
again  possess  a  copy,  on  large  paper,  in  red  morocco  binding,  marked 
at  31.  3s.  :  but  it  may  be  had,  on  small  paper,  in  subsequent  impres- 
sions, from  18s.  to  ll.  10s. 

The  French  version  of  Towneley,  the  most  surprising,  and  perhaps 
the  happiest  effort  of  its  kind  known,  has  been  known  to  sell  as  high 
as  7/.  17s.  6d.  in  red  morocco  binding.  Such  was  the  price  of  the 
beautiful  copy  (lauded  in  the  Bibliog.  Decameron,  vol.iii.  p.  94,)  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Triphook  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Dutens's  library.  I  find 
however,  a  copy  of  it,  in  the  catalogue  of  Mr.  Cuthell,  marked  at 
41  4s.  They  have  reprinted  it  recently  at  Paris.  In  1?93  came 
forth  the  pompous  edition  (as  Tom  Osborne  would  have  called  it)  of 
Dr.  Nash,  the  topographer  of  Worcestershire  j  in  three  quarto  volumes. 


724  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

but  I  am  quite  certain,  that  of  all  the  works  of  a  pp- 
pular  poet,  none  appear  adorned  with  greater  brilli- 
ance, and  propriety  of  decoration,  than  do  the  poems 
of  Waller,  in  the  octavo  edition  of  1711,  from  the 
warehouse  of  Tonson.  This  book  is  ornamented  with 
some  sweet  portraits,  and  is  moreover  very  reasonable. 
The  large  paper  copy  of  it,  in  the  Stanley  Collection, 
brought  the  stiff  price  of  41.  8s.* 

The  plates  are  almost  below  criticism  :  but,  as  poor  Manson  the 
bookseller  used  to  observe,  "  always  get  them  struck  off  in  black, 
and  not  in  red" — as  they  usually  are.  A  copy  of  this  kind,  with  the 
addition  of  Hogarth's  plates  inserted,  is  marked  at  121.  12s.  in  the 
catalogue  of  Messrs.  Arch.  A  similar  copy  was  sold  for  14 1.  14s. 
at  the  sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library.  The  edition  put  forth  by  Mr. 
Baldwin  of  Newgate  St.,  in  1809,  8vo.  and  above  justly  eulogised,  is  in 
truth  a  most  singularly  splendid  and  successful  performance.  The 
notes  are  those  of  Dr.  Grey :  the  cuts  are  in  wood,  by  different  artists, 
from  the  designs  of  Thurston:  and  I  consider  the  frontispiece  as 
among  the  miracles  of  modern  art.  Of  this  brilliant,  and  indeed  cap- 
tivating work,  there  were  25  copies  ONLY  struck  off  in  an  imperial 
quarto  form,  with  proofs  of  the  cuts  on  India  paper  :  and  a  copy  of 
it,  in  6  parts,  is  marked  at  91.  9s.  in  the  last  mentioned  catalogue. 
Butler's  Remains,  by  Thyer,  are  published  in  the  same  form,  as  an 
appropriate  companion. 

*  The  FIRST  genuine  edition  of  the  Poems  of  Waller  appeared  in 
1645,  Svo.  and  a  clean  and  well-sized  copy  of  the  book  is  not  com- 
mon. I  should  value  it  at  about  Il.ls.  in  suitable  binding.  The  edition 
of  1711*  above  justly  praised,  contains  two  portraits  of  the  Poet:  one 
of  him  in  his  23d.  and  the  other  in  his  76th  year  :  also  portraits  of  Lord 
Falkland,  the  Countesses  of  Carlisle  and  Sunderland,  (from  Lombard's 
large  prints)  Ben  Jonson,  Fletcher,  Lady  Morton,  and  the  Earl  of  Sand- 
w  ich — by  Vertue  and  Vander  Gucht.  A  copy  of  this  attractive  book, 
on  LARGE  PAPER,  (of  whichl  never  saw  a  second)  with  fine  impressions 
of  the  plates,  and  bound  in  red  morocco,  was  sold  for  41.  Ss.  at  the 
sale  of  Colonel  Stanley's  library.  In  ordinary  condition  it  is  worth 
12s.  Tonson  published  a  very  pretty  little  edition,  with  a  portrait  of 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  725 

Let  us  go  at  once  to  the  illustrious  DRYDEN.  Let 
us  break  free  from  the  fetters  (and  by  which  we  should 
be  inevitably  fast  bound)  which  hang  about  all  those 
enquiries  respecting  the  exact  state  of  FUGITIVE  and 
MISCELLANEOUS  POETRY,  that  preceded  and  accom- 
panied the  productions  of  Dryden,  as  they  successively 
appeared.  It  is  well  for  posterity — and  it  has  been 
well  for  recent  editors — that  such  pieces  were  col- 
lected by  the  industry  of  Narcissus  Luttrell* —  a 

the  author,  ff  ^Etat.  76,"  in  the  following  year :  obtainable  for  a 
few  shillings ;  and  I  observe  a  fine  copy  of  the  splendid  edition  of 
Fenton,  1729,  4to.  marked  at  2Z.  2s.  in  the  Bibl.  Angl.  Poet.  p.  411. 
This  book  has  Vertue's  best  portrait  of  Waller ;  together  with  other 
appropriate  decorations.  The  subsequent  editions  need  not  be  enu- 
merated ;  except  it  be  that  of  Percival  Stockdale  of  1772,  Svo.  worth 
about  half  a  sovereign. 

f  The  name  of  this  BOOK  HERO  has  received  due  notice  and  com- 
mendation in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  426-8  :  and  the  obligations  of  the 
last  editor  of  Dryden,  to  Messrs.  Bindley  and  Heber,  for  lending  him 
the  treasures  which  they  had  collected  from  the  dispersion  of  the  LUT- 
TRELL COLLECTION — (chiefly  by  the  sale  of  Wynne's  library  in  1786, 
— noticed  in  the  foregoing  work)  are  distinctly  made  known.  In 
the  year  1820,  when  the  fourth  and  last  part  of  Mr.  Bindley 's  library 
was  sold,  those  tracts,  pamphlets,  single  sheets,  and  collections,  once 
belonging  to  Narcissus  Luttrell,  which  their  late  venerable  owner 
posssessed,  were  catalogued  in  the  subjoined  manner,  and  sold  at  the 
prices  attachedf — under  the  triumphant  hammer  of  Mr.  Evans.  I 
will  only  further  remark  that,  for  want  of  space,  I  have  omitted  the 


•f*  1125  A  SINGULARLY  CURIOUS,  INTERESTING,  AND  MATCHLESS  COLLECTION 
OF  POETICAL  BALLADS,  Satires,  Squibs,  Elegies,  and  Historical  and  Humourous 
Poems,  upon  the  most  remarkable  National  Occurrences  and  Events  in  high  and 
low  life,  between  the  yeares  1640  and  1670,  printed  upon  single  broad  sheets,  col- 
lected with  indefatigable  industry,  by  NARCISSUS  LUTTRELL,  who  has  marked  the 
price  of  each  sheet,  .  ......  192/ 

1126  A  SIMILAR  COLLECTION  OF  POETICAL  SHEETS,  collected  by  Narcissus 
Luttrell,  and  representing  tbe  principal  National  and  Domestic  Occurrences  be- 
tween 1670  and  1680,  &c.  .  18W.  15.v. 


726  POETRY.  [ENGLISH- 

name,  at  the  mention  of  which  Atticus  starts,  and  Sir 
Tristrem  makes  a  low  obeisance.  As  to  Dryden,  he 
has  received  only  three  critical  editors  ;  Joseph  War- 
ton,  Malone,  and  Sir  Walter  Scott.  As  the  labours  of 
Malone  have  been  confined  only  to  his  prose,  and  as 
those  of  Warton  (connected  with  his  poetry)  disap- 
pointed all  reasonable  expectations,  there  remains  but 
one — and  luckily  a  most  delightful  alternative,  which 
is,  to  purchase  either  of  the  two  editions,  in  eighteen 
goodly  octavo  volumes,  of  which  Sir  Walter  Scott  is 
the  editor — and  then  you  may  brandish  your  mother 
of  pearl  paper-cutter,  and  open  the  instructive  pages 
of  Dryden,  to  your  heart's  content !  My  more  taste- 
ful friends  bind  these  tomes  in  green  morocco :  but 
I  do  not  insist  upon  this  colour.* 

specification  (to  be  found  in  the  catalogue)  of  the  several  portraits 
and  curious  cuts  by  which  this  wonderful  Collection  was  enriched.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the/owr  articles,  or  eight/olio  volumes,  brought  the 
prodigious  sum  of  SEVEN  HUNDRED  and  EIGHTY  ONE  POUNDS  !  Mr. 
Heber  was  the  purchaser  of  the  fourth  article. 

*  The  reader  will  be  first  pleased  to  consult  page  603  ante,  respect- 
ing the  prose  works  of  Dryden,  edited  by  Malone.  The  poetry  of 
Dryden,  edited  by  the  late  Joseph  Warton,  or  rather  the  posthumous 
labours  of  that  editor,  first  published  by  his  nephew,  Mr.  John  War- 
ton,  appeared  in  four  octavo  volumes,  in  1811  ;  and  I  find  a  copy  of 
the  labours  of  both  Malone  and  Warton,  in  eight  volumes,  marked  at 
6Z.  6s.  in  calf  binding,  by  Messrs.  Arch.  As  to  the  two  editions  of 
Dryden,  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  as  no  notice  is  taken  by  the  editor  of 


1127  A  SIMILAR  COLLECTION  OF  POETICAL  SHEETS,  collected  by  Narcissus 
Luttrell,  and  representing  the  principal  National  and  Domestic  Occurrences  be- 
tween 1675  and  1681,  in  5  vol.  .....          741.  6s. 

1128  A  CURIOUS  AND  VERY  EXTENSIVE  COLLECTION  OF  SINGLE  SHEETS  OF 
POETRY  AND  POETICAL  TRACTS,  published  between  1678  and  1688,  collected  by 
Narcissus  Luttrell,  who  has  marked  the  original  prices,  and  filled  up,  in  manuscript, 
the  names  of  the  persons  alluded  to  in  the  poems,  5  vols.  .  .         23 1/. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  727 

A  word  for  PRIOR.  On  the  tables  of  old  halls,  or  on 
the  lowest  shelves  of  old  libraries,  you  generally  see 
the  stately  folio  edition  of  1718,  of  this  poet's  works ; 
with  a  portrait  of  the  author  in  his  velvet  studying 
cap  (as  you  now-a-days  see  Cowper)  prefixed  :  exe- 
cuted, I  believe,  by  Vertue  :  and  of  this  towering  tome 
there  are  even  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER! — now,  not 
worth  the  expense  of  porterage.  However,  there  is 
one,  and  one  only  critical  or  complete  edition  of  his 
works,  worth  possessing ;  and  that  is  of  the  date  of 
1779,  8vo.  in  two  vols.*  With  the  exception  of  his 
Edwin  and  Emma,  founded  on  the  old  ballad  of  the 
"  Nut  Brown  Maid :"  of  which  it  were  difficult  to  say, 

any  superiority  in  the  last  of  1821,  it  matters  not,  I  presume,  which 
is  chosen.  The  first  glitters  on  LARGE  PAPER,  (and  in  green  morocco, 
if  I  mistake  not)  on  the  interminable  shelves  of  Book  Wonders,  at 
Althorp.  The  small  paper  is  sold  at  about  ft.  17$.  6d.  in  ordinary 
calf-binding  :  but  my  friends  Messrs.  Utterson  and  Markland  are 
satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  morocco — while,  in  the  strait-laced  but 
richly  furnished  poetical  cabinet  of  Mr.  Haslewood,  it  is  attired  in 
the  semi-fawn  and  orange- colour  calf  of  Charles  Lewis :  a  colour, 
to  be  most  sparingly  and  considerately  introduced  into  a  small  collec- 
tion of  books  : — especially  where  there  are  so  many  Braithwaits  and 
Turberviles  clad  in  a  dark  grass-green  morocco  ! 

*  Whether,  like  the  first  folios  of  Shakspeare  (so  picturesquely 
described  by  George  Steevens)  copies  of  the  folio  Prior  of  1718  are 
found  with  flakes  of  pie-crust  between  the  leaves,*  I  cannot  take  upon 
me  to  pronounce  ;  although  Hans  Carvel,  Paulo  Purganti,  and  above 
all  the  Ladle,  were  somewhat  likely  to  afford  "  fun  and  fancy"  to  the 
usual  tenants  of  a  hall.  It  will  be  here  only  necessary  to  observe,  that 
the  edition  of  1779,  8vo.  two  vols.  contains  the  works  of  Prior  "  now 
first  collected,  with  explanatory  notes,  and  memoirs  of  the  author." 
A  well  bound  copy  of  this  edition  may  be  worth  ll.  8s.  In  the  Bill. 


Consult  Reed's  Shakspeare,  vol.  ii.  page  147.     Edit.  1813. 


728  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

whether  the  original  or  the  copy  be  the  more  remark- 
able for  its  insipidity,*  Prior  seems  to  be  well  nigh 
forgotten  ;  but  he  was  a  scholar,  and  a  man  of  taste, 
and  an  "  influential  personage"  in  his  day. 

At  length  we  reach  POPE  ;  whose  fame  was  begin- 
ning to  be  firmly  established  as  Prior  quitted  the 
stage.  I  will  say  nothing  of  the  numerous  editions  of 
his  shorter  performances,  and  especially  of  the  Essay 
on  Criticsm  and  the  Dimciad.  Like  those  of  his  great 
predecessor,  Dryden,  they  first  usually  appeared  in  a 
folio  of  few  pages,  f  The  history  of  the  publication  of 
his  Translation  of  Homer  is  curious  in  a  bibliographi- 
cal point  of  view.  That  work  was  splendid  beyond 

Ang.  Poet,  page  27  6,  a  copy  occurs  in  morocco,  with  some  tempting 
ornaments,  for  41.  4s. 

*  "  The  greatest  (says  Dr.  Johnson)  of  all  Prior's  amorous  Essays 
is  his  Henry  and  Emma;  a  dull  and  tedious  dialogue,  which  excites 
neither  esteem  for  the  man,  nor  tenderness  for  the  woman."  A  par- 
ticular account,  or  rather  an  entire  transcription,  of  the  ORIGINAL 
BALLAD,  now  upwards  of  300  years  old,  appears  in  the  Censura  Lit- 
teraria,  vol.  vi.  p.  113,  &c. — copied  from  Arnold's  Chronicle,  pub- 
lished at  the  commencement  of  the  sixteenth  century.  I  subjoin  the 
first  stanza,  which  is  really  not  divested  of  merit. 

Be  it  right  or  wrong  these  men  among  on  women  do  complaine 

Affermyng  this,  how  that  it  is  a  labour  spent  in  vaine 

To  love  them  wele,  for  never  a  dele  they  love  a  man  agayne ; 

For  let  a  man  do  what  he  can  ther  favour  to  attayne, 

Yet  yf  a  new  to  them  pursue,  ther  furst  lover  than 

Laboureth  for  nought,  and  from  ther  thought  he  is  a  banished  mail. 

•f  The  Lives  of  Pope,  by  Dr.  Johnson  and  Mr.  Chalmers, 
founded  upon  that  of  Ruff  head,  together  with  Spence's  Anecdotes, 
will  easily  furnish  the  dates  of  these  respective  editions.  I  once  pos- 
sessed them  all,  including  the  first  impression  of  Dryden's  Alexander's 
Feast,  for  ll.  6s.  Mr.  Heber,  I  believe,  possesses  the  first  editions  of 
all  the  works  of  both  Dryden  and  Pope.  Some  of  the  first  Dunciad, 
having  an  ass  laden  with  books  as  a  frontispiece,  are  curious  enough. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  729 

precedent ;  but  the  patronage  bestowed  upon  it  was 
not  less  so.  Pope  loved  art,  although  he  knew  little 
critically  about  it,  and  therefore  did  not  "  starve  the 
concern  ;" — and  even  now,  in  this  refined  and  volup- 
tuous age  of  typography,  I  cannot  resist  the  recom- 
mendation of  a  fine  copy  of  the  Subscription  Homer — 
the  splendid  ornament,  in  former  times,  of  our  most 
distinguished  libraries,  and  an  inmate,  at  all  times, 
which  we  need  not  be  ashamed  to  introduce  to  our 
best  friends* 

The  works  of  Pope  are  chiefly  known  by  the  edi- 
tions of  them  which  have  appeared  from  fFarburton, 
Warton,  and  Bowles.  A  new  edition  is  now  in  the 
press,  and  in  a  very  forward  state,  under  the  care  of 

*  The  first  edition  of  the  translation  of  the  Iliad  of  Homer, 
by  Pope,  appeared  in  1715-20,  in  six  quarto  volumes.  It  was  re- 
printed in  1717-38,  in  six  folio  volumes.  The  Odyssey  appeared 
in  1725,  in  the  same  number  of  volumes.  Lintot  was  the  bookseller 
and  publisher.  <f  Pope's"  contract  with  Lintot  was,  that  he  should 
receive  2OOZ.  for  each  volume  of  the  Iliad,  besides  all  the  copies  for 
his  subscribers,  and  for  presents.  The  subscribers  were  575,  and 
many  subscribed  for  more  than  one  copy  5  so  that  he  must  have  re« 
ceived  upwards  of  60001.  He  was  at  first  apprehensive  that  the 
contract  might  ruin  Lintot,  and  endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from 
thinking  any  more  of  it.  The  event,  bowever,  proved  quite  the  re- 
verse. The  success  of  the  work  was  so  unparalelled,  as  at  once  to 
enrich  the  bookseller,  and  to  prove  a  productive  estate  to  his  family." 
Singer's  Edition  of  Spences  Anecdotes-,  p.  295,  note.  That  there 
exist  copies  of  the  first  folio,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  I  very  much  doubt. 
To  enumerate  subsequent  editions  of  Pope's  Homer,  would  be 
fruitless.  They  are  innumerable,  adorned  and  unadorned :  but 
the  most  beautiful  one,  to  my  recollection,  is  that  of  Bensley,  in 
octavo,  published  by  Duroveray.  The  best  edition  of  this  translation 
is  that  by  the  late  Gilbert  Wakefidd,  1806,  8vo.  nine  vols.  of  which  a 
well  bound  copy,  in  calf-binding,  is  worth  about  51.  5s. 


730  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

Mr.  Roscoe :  and  I  make  no  doubt  that  the  public 
will  hail  it  with  that  "  acclaim/'  which,  from  the  re- 
putation of  the  editor,  may  be  reasonably  expected. 
I  have  below  given,  I  trust,  every  requisite  information 
respecting  the  choice  of  editions.*  But  who  can  be 

*  But  who,  on  second  thoughts,  can  give  "  every  requisite  infor- 
mation" on  such  a  subject  ? — and  especially  to  the  enthusiastic  Popite 
—of  which  denomination  the  class  is  by  no  means  limited  ?  The  first 
critical  edition  of  Pope's  works,  after  the  death  of  the  author,  was  from 
the  powerful  pen  of  Warburton,  and  it  appeared  in  1751,  in  9  octavo 
volumes.  It  has  cuts  from  the  designs  of  Blakie,  Wale*  and  Hayman; 
but  there  is  not  one  cut,  throughout  the  volume,  which  is  entitled  to 
particular  commendation.  They  are  all  full  of  affectation  or  obscure 
allegory  :  yet  such  was  the  run  of  this  long-expected,  and  highly 
elaborated  edition,  that  reprints,  with  a  repetition  of  the  cuts,  in  all 
forms,  and  with  varying  degrees  of  merit,  successively  appeared  for  a 
series  of  years.  There  are  those  who  yet  love  and  highly  value  the 
first  Warburton  s  Pope,  bound  in  calf,  with  a  broad  border  of  gold  on 
the  sides,  and  marble  edges  to  the  leaves.  My  friend  Mr.  Utterson 
has  Colonel  Stanley's  fine  copy  of  the  second  edition,  of  1757*  bound 
in  russia.  An  edition  of  it  appeared  at  Edinburgh  in  1764,  in  six 
volumes,  of  which  there  are  copies  on  fine  paper.  Gilbert  Wake- 
field  published  in  1794  one  volume  of  notes,  chiefly  on  the  minor 
poems,  as  a  specimen  of  an  entire  edition :  and  it  is  to  be  regretted 
that  he  felt  himself  deterred  from  its  completion  by  the  promised  edi- 
tion of  Joseph Warton ;  since,  as  far  as  it  goes,Wakefield's  volume  is  one 
of  the  most  satisfactory  performances  of  its  kind.  The  edition  of  Joseph 
Warton\  appeared  in  1797^  8vo.  in  nine  vols.  The  expectations  of 


*  By  what  act  of  inspiration  did  Wale  conceive  and  execute  those  beautiful  de- 
signs, which  appeared  in  the  first  edition  of  Sir  John  Hawkins's  Complete  Angler 
of  Walton,  1760,  8vo  ?  Nothing  can  be  more  appropriate  and  spirited  than  these  : 
and  no  re-execution  of  them  more  brilliant  than  those  which  have  recently  appear- 
ed in  Mr.  Major's  edition  of  that  enchanting  performance. 

f  The  very  ingenious  performance  of  Warton,  called  "  An  Essay  on  the  Writ- 
ings and  Genius  of  Pope"  first  appeared  in  1762,  8vo.  two  vols.  This  work  had 
great  influence  on  the  mind  of  Dr.  Johnson.  Its  object  appeared  to  be,  to  depre- 
ciate the  poet  in  the  estimation  of  posterity  :  and  yet  this  depreciation  was  so  quali- 
fied, guarded,  and  frittered  down,  as  if  the  author  had  been  either  afraid  or 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  731 

"  at  fault"  with  any  edition,  where  the  text  is  pure,  and 
the  annotations  are  brief  and  apposite  ?  There  is 
only  one  feeling1,  while  discoursing  of  this  incompar- 
able poet,  which  I  trust  it  may  be  permitted  me  to 
avow  ;  that  is,  that,  in  the  present  age  of  prying  re- 
search into  the  documents  left  of  the  illustrious  dead, 
no  officious  zeal,  misguided  vanity,  or  base  love  of 
lucre,  will  lead  to  the  publicity  of  every  thing  yet  exist- 
ing, unrecorded,  of  the  muse  of  Pope  :  a  name,  which 
should  be  ever  connected  with  all  our  better  feelings 
of  admiration  and  gratitude.* 

GRAY,  THOMSON,  COLLINS,  CHURCHILL,  YOUNG, 
AKENSIDE,  GOLDSMITH,  WARTON,  BEATTIE,  and  Cow- 

the  learned  world  were,  it  must  be  admitted,  generally  disappointed. 
Yet  Warton's  edition  was  becoming  scarcer  every  day,  as  there  must 
be  a  Pope  "  in  the  market :"  when,  in  1806,  appeared  the  edition  of  the 
Rev.  W.  L.  Bowles.  Still,  that  of  War  ton  by  no  means  kicked  the 
beam,  and  the  labours  of  Mr.  Bowles  by  no  means  lacked  patronage. 
I  must,  however,  be  free  to  confess,  that  Pope,  up  to  this  period,  has 
not  been  satisfactorily  edited.  What  Mr.  Roscoe's  edition  may  con- 
tain, can  be  matter  of  speculation  only.  My  hopes  are  ardent, 
and  my  conclusions  strong.  That  there  is  ample  room  for  the  circu- 
lation of  many  copies  of  a  well-edited  Pope,  can  be  no  matter  of  spe- 
culation, but  is  one  of  certainty.  A  good  copy  of  Pope,  by  Warton 
Or  by  Bowles,  is  worth  5/.  55,  with  the  tenth  volume — which  is  suit- 
able to  either  edition. 

*  This  is  not  the  language  of  vague  declamation.  In  both  the 
editions  of  Pope,  just  noticed,  there  are  things  which,  considering 
the  respectable  characters  of  their  editors,  ought  NOT  to  have  been 
introduced  :  and  I  have  seen  original  matter  in  MS.  which  I  trust 
will  NEVER  be  seen  in  print. 


ashamed  to  avow  his  professed  object.  The  essay  is,  doubtless,  in  its  way,  a 
master  piece  of  curious  and  elegant  erudition.  It  should  accompany,  if  not  be 
incorporated  into,  every  edition  of  Pope ;  and  was  scarce,  till  its  reprint  some  dozen 
years  ago.  It  is  attainable  for  the  same  number  of  shillings. 


732  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

PER,  are  names  equally  as  familiar,  if  not  as  illustrious, 
as  those  of  Milton,  Dryden  and  Pope.  They  bring  us  to 
the  very  verge  of  living  Writers :  to  an  sera  of  poetry, 
scarcely  less  inferior  to  that  of  the  last  century.  And 
while,  in  the  subjoined  note,*  "  the  Young  Man  "  and 

*  It  may  be  considered  almost  folly,  but  at  any  rate  unproductive 
of  much  use,  to  dwell  upon  the  editions  of  the  above  authors.    Of  late 
years,  one  impression  takes  very  little  precedency  of  another,  on  the 
score  of  merit:  but  concerning  GRAY'S  poems,  I  must  be  allowed  to 
recommend  the   correct  and  commodious  edition  of  Mr.  Mitford,  in 
two  elegantly  printed  octavo  volumes.      The  more  recent  edition 
of  the  works  of  Gray,  by  Mr.  Mathias,  in  two  widely- spread  quartos, 
(concerning  which  read  the  Quarterly  Revieic,  vol.  xi.  p.  304.)  sunk 
with  the  weight  of  lead  upon  the  market.    Huge  as  is  the  ordinary 
size  of  these  tomes — and  little  calculated  as  were  the  works  of  Gray  for 
such  a  ponderous  superstructure — there  are  yet  LARGE  PAPER  copies  ! ! 
at  a  price,  which  at  first  appalled  the  timid,  and  startled  the  rich. 
The  prices,  however,  both  of  the  small  and  large  paper,  are  materially 
abated  . .  and  I  prophesy  . .  But  "hence,"  Mam  y.axwv ! — "  methinksl 
hear  one  of  the  Syndics  of  the  Cambridge  University  press  exclaim. 
Yet,  note  well.     An  edition  of  the  Pursuits  of  Literature  was  struck 
off,  on  paper  of  the  same  size,  in  both  forms  -}   as  if  Thomas  James 
Mathias  had  been  the  principal  author  of  this  latter  work !   What  will 
be  the  verdict  of  posterity  ? 

*  Of  THOMSON,  I  much  regret  that  a  sort  of  Variorum  edition  has  not 
been  published  in  spite  of  the  elegant,  ample,  and  correct  one  of 
Patrick  Murdoch,  in  1762,  4to.  2  vols. — worth  about  2Z.  12s. 6d. — and 
5/.  5s.  on  LARGE  PAPER.     I  once  collected  several  of  the  earlier  im- 
pressions (about  which.,  by  the  by,  the  reader  may  consult  the  Cens. 
Lit.  vol.  ii.  pp.  65,  91,  243,  349)  with  a  view  of  satisfying  myself 
about  the  best  readings,  but  have  long  since  abandoned  the  pursuit.  I 
learn  that  Mr.  Mitford,  the  editor  of  Gray,  has  some  thought  of 
maturing  a  similar  plan,  and  of  giving  the  fruits  of  it  to  the  public. 
May  this  intelligence  turn  out  to  be  correct.     Numerous  are  the 
beautiful  editions  of  this  beautiful  poet  5  who  has  been  chiefly  in- 
debted to  Theocritus,  Virgil,  and  Milton,  for  the  picturesque  and  phi. 
losophical  parts  of  his  poetry.     There  is  one  edition  in  particular, 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  733 

"  the  Old  Man"  search  sedulously  respecting  the  pre- 
ferable editions  of  the  ten  Poets  just  recorded,  I  cannot 

from  the  press  of  Bensley,  in  large  octavo,  with  prints  from  the 
designs  of  Hamilton,  which  is  exquisitely  perfect  in  all  respects : 
and  which  should  be  taken  to  the  "  cool  grot  or  mossy  cell "... 

Where  the  dun  umbrage  o'er  the  falling  stream 
Romantic  hangs  ! 

in  order  to  be  perused  with  entire  satisfaction.  There  have  been 
those,  with  whom,  in  former  times,  this  delightful  task  was  wont  to 
be  shared,  who  are  now  ...  far  removed  from  all  earthly  solicitudes 
and  enjoyments  :  who  had  hearts,  tender  as  "  Damon  "  and  generous 
as  "  Palemon."  It  is  in  truth  consoling,  in  moments  of  anguish  and 
melancholy,  to  think  of  such  past  enjoyments,  though  they  be  never 
to  return :  and  the  reminiscences  of  them,  participated  by  me  nearly 
twenty-five  years  ago,  in  the  park  of  Osterley  and  the  meadows  of 
Twickenham,  renew,  as  it  were,  the  youthful  impulses  of  former 
days  ;  and  give  a  romantic  tone  of  colouring  to  the  pictures  conjured 
up  by  the  imagination.  These  are  among  the  most  perfect,  but  in 
the  end  painful,  LUXURIES  of  intellect.  To  return  to  Thomson.  The 
pencil  of  Hamilton  was  most  successfully  exercised  in  the  sumptuous 
edition  put  forth  by  Bowyer,  from  the  press  of  Bensley,  in  1797*  folio. 
This  book,  on  its  appearance,  was  rapturously  received ;  and  no  price 
was  refused  to  be  given  ;  but  even  at  Colonel  Stanley's  sale,  and  in 
spite  of  every  collateral  advantage  of  binding  in  blue  morocco,  by 
Walther,  with  proof  impressions  of  the  plates,  it  produced  but  81.  Ss. 
The  Musidora  was  the  most  perfect  figure  ever  executed  by  the 
artist :  and  is  one  of  the  most  delicate  and  beautiful  of  embellish* 
ments. 

Of  COLLINS,  consult  some  account  of  his  Odes  and  Eclogues  of 
the  dates  of  1746  and  1757*  as  they  appear  in  the  Cens.  Litter,  vol.  i. 
p.  353 }  vi.  p.  389.  I  am  not  acquainted  with  any  particularly  cri- 
tical or  splendid  edition.  If  Collins  live  by  the  reputation  of  one, 
more  than  of  another,  performance,  it  strikes  me  that  his  Ode  to 
Evening  will  be  THAT  on  which  the  voice  of  posterity  will  be  more 
uniform  in  praise.  It  is  a  PEARL  of  the  most  perfect  tint  and  shape. 
CHURCHILL  first  appeared  in  a  collected  and  pompous  form  in  the 
quarto  of  1?G3.  The  best  edition  of  his  works  is  that  of  1S04,  Svo. 


734  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

allow  this  department  to  close,  without  dwelling,  with 
more  than  ordinary  feelings  of  satisfaction,  upon  the 


2  vols.  It  has  explanatory  notes,  and  an  account  of  his  life  :  but  the 
works  of  Churchill,  being  chiefly  personal  and  local,  will  gradually 
cease  to  be  enquired  after,  or  perused  with  avidity.  We  now  reach 
YOUNG:  an  original  and  a  great  poet,  after  his  fashion — and  a 
fashion  not  likely  to  wear  away  among  Englishmen  :  for,  after  all, 
his  Night  Thoughts  are  a  sublime  production.  Wherefore  is  it,  that  I 
love  to  read  that  portion  of  the  poem,  published  in  a  folio  form,  with 
bizarre  but  original  and  impressive  ornaments  by  BLAKE?  At  times, 
the  pencil  of  the  artist  *  attains  the  sublimity  of  the  poet :  and  it  is 
amidst  the  wild  uproar  of  the  wintry  elements  — when  piping  winds 
are  howling  for  entrance  round  every  corner  of  the  turretted  chamber, 
and  the  drifted  snow  works  its  way  into  the  window  casement,  how- 
ever closely  fastened  —  it  is  in  moments  LIKE  THESE  that  I  love  to 
open  that  portion  of  the  text  of  Young  which  has  been  embellished 
by  the  pencil  of  Blake.  My  friends  will  laugh  .  .  peradventure  deride 
.  .  but  let  us  all  be  endured  in  these  venial  moments  of  hallucination. 
The  soul  of  poetry  itself  (we  are  told)  is  fiction  :  and  I  would  feign 
happiness  at  such  moments.  The  poetical  works  of  Young  were  first 
collected  in!741,8vo.  2  vols.  They  have  been  since  frequently 
reprinted :  and  a  very  good  edition  appeared  in  1777,  12mo.  with  an 


*  A  magnificent  portrait  of  Mr.  Blake,  admirably  painted  by  Phillips,  and  as 
admirably  engraved  by  Schiavonetti,  is  prefixed  to  the  edition  of  Blair's  Grave. 
My  friend  Mr.  D'Israeli  possesses  the  largest  collection  of  any  individual  of  the 
very  extraordinary  drawings  of  Mr.  Blake ;  and  he  loves  his  classical  friends  to 
disport  with  them,  beneath  the  lighted  Argand  lamp  of  his  drawing  room,  while 
soft  music  is  heard  upon  the  several  corridores  and  recesses  of  his  enchanted  stair- 
case. Meanwhile  the  visitor  turns  over  the  contents  of  the  Blakean  portefeuille . 
Angels,  Devils,  Giants,  Dwarfs,  Saints,  Sinners,  Senators,  and  Chimney  Sweeps, 
cut  equally  conspicuous  figures :  and  the  Concettos  at  times  border  upon  the  bur- 
lesque, or  the  pathetic,  or  the  mysterious.  Inconceivably  blest  is  the  artist,  in  his 
visions  of  intellectual  bliss.  A  sort  of  golden  halo  envelopes  every  object  im- 
pressed upon  the  retina  of  his  imagination ;  and  (as  I  learn)  he  is  at  times  shak- 
ing hands  with  Homer,  or  playing  the  pastoral  pipe  with  Virgil.  Meanwhile, 
shadowy  beings  of  an  unearthly  form  hang  over  his  couch,  and  disclose  to  him 
scenes  . . .  such  as  no  other  Mortal  hath  yet  conceived !  Mr.  Blake  is  himself  no 
ordinary  poet. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  735 

living  authors  here  alluded  to  : — without  pointing  out 
the  energy  and  variety  of  SOUTHEY,  the  pathos  and  ele- 

index  and  glossary.  The  Satires  of  Young  deserve  to  be  more  gene- 
rally read  j  and  admiration  will  be  nearly  as  general  as  the  perusal. 
Dr.  Johnson  has  given  Young  his  full  meed  of  praise,  on  all  the  sub- 
jects of  his  poetry. 

Of  AKENSIDK  (the  most  perfect  builder  of  ourblank  verse)  I  know 
of  no  edition  entitled  to  particular  commendation.  Why  are  hii 
Pleasures  of  the  Imagination  so  little  perused  ?  There  are  a  hundred 
(I  had  well  nigh  said  a  thousand)  electrical  passages  in  this  charming 
poem.  The  best  edition  of  TOM  WARTON'S  Poems,  is  that  of  18O2, 
Svo.  2  vols.  by  Dr.  Mant — now  Bishop  of  Killaloe.  It  is  obtainable 
at  a  moderate  price.  There  are  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER.  "  Lives 
there  the  man,  '*  who  has  a  heart  to  feel,  and  an  understanding  to 
appreciate,  who  does  not  even  hug  the  Minstrel  of  BEATTIE  ? !  Most 
sweet  and  soothing  and  instructive  is  that  thoroughly  picturesque  and 
sentimental  poem,  throughout :  while  the  stanza  exhibits  one  of  the 
happiest  of  modern  attempts  at  that  of  the  Spencerian  structure.  Of 
GOLDSMITH,  all  praise  were  idle,  and  censure  vain.  For  simplicity, 
sweetness,  and  tenderness,  he  has  YET  no  rival :  and  he  is  always 
perspicuous  and  correct. 

Of  COWPER,  how  shall  I  express  myself  in  adequate  terms  of  admi- 
ration !  ?  The  purity  of  his  principles,  the  tenderness  of  his  heart,  his 
unaffected  and  zealous  piety,  his  warmth  of  devotion,  (however 
tinctured  at  times  with  gloom  and  despondency)  the  delicacy  and 
playfulness  of  his  wit,  and  the  singular  felicity  of  his  diction,  all  con- 
spire by  turns 

To  win  the  wisest,  warm  the  coldest  heart. 

Cowper  is  the  poet  of  a  well-educated  and  well-principled  English- 
man. f<  Home,  sweet  home  "  is  the  scene  —  limited  as  it  may  be 
imagined — in  which  he  contrives  to  concentrate  a  thousand  beauties, 
which  others  have  scattered  far  and  wide  upon  objects  of  less  inte- 
rest and  attraction.  His  pictures  are,  if  I  may  so  speak,  conceived 
with  all  the  tenderness  of  Raffaelle,  and  executed  with  all  the  finish 
and  sharpness  of  Teniers.  No  man,  in  such  few  words,  tells  his  tale, 


736  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

vation  of  CAMPBELL,  the  tenderness  of  WORDSWORTH, 
the  delicacy  of  ROGERS,  the  vigour  and  picturesque 

or  describes  his  scene,  so  forcibly  and  so  justly.  His  views  of  Nature 
are  less  grand  and  less  generalised  than  those  of  Thomson  :  and  here, 
to  carry  on  the  previous  mode  of  comparison,  I  should  say  that  Thom- 
son was  the  Gaspar  Poussin,  and  Cowper  the  Hobbima,  of  rural 
poetry.  But  a  truce  to  all  this.  A  thousand  young  readers  can  reason 
nearly  in  the  like  manner ;  and  will  turn  round  and  tell  me  that  this 
is  as  tedious  "  as  a  tale  thrice  told."  Be  it  however  remembered, 
that  the  popularity  of  Cowper  gains  strength  as  it  gains  age:  and, 
after  all,  he  is  the  poet  of  our  study,  our  cabinet,  and  our  alcove. 

Some  twelve  years  ago,  there  appeared  a  periodical  work  under  the 
title  (I  believe)  of  the  Poetical  Register  •  and  in  it  there  was  an  arti- 
cle, said  to  have  been  written  by  the  late  Mr.  Octavius  Gilchrist,  res- 
pecting the  comparative  merits  of  Thomson  and  Cowper.  It  struck 
me  as  a  performance  of  considerable  ability.  Since  then,  the  merits 
of  Cowper  have  been  frequently  and  ably  described.  I  have  before 
(p.  532,  &c.)  made  honourable  mention  of  a  delightful  article  or  two 
upon  Cowper  in  the  Edinburgh  Review — and  there  has  very  recently 
appeared  (in  the  59th  number)  an  excellent  article  upon  the  same 
subject  in  the  Quarterly  Review.  But  I  am  unwilling  to  overlook  the 
notices  of  Cowper  from  the  pens  of  Messrs.CampbellandHazlitt.  They 
are  both  admirable  of  their  kind  5  and  to  that  of  Mr.  Campbell  *  I 


*  In  the  viith  volume  of  his  Specimens  of  the  British  Poets,  p.  337-396.  This  is 
the  last  time  on  which  I  may  have  occasion  to  refer  to  this  work.  My  obligations  to 
it,  as  the  preceding  pages  attest,  have  been  great;  and  I  consider  the  Essay,  which 
occupies  the  first  volume,  as  among  the  happiest  specimens  of  didactic  criticism. 
It  is  a  sketch  only,  but  the  sketch  of  an  experienced  master.  It  has  been  said  that 
"  none  but  a  poet  should  criticise  a  poet."  Here  is  at  least  proof  that  a  poet  can 
criticise  with  discernment,  taste,  and  vigour.  The  fling,  at  the  close  of  it,  against 
us  poor  "  Bibliographers,"  might  have  been  spared ;  for  had  it  not  been  for  the 
black-letter  enthusiasm  of  old  Price,  of  the  Bodleian  Library,  we  had  never  seen 
Tom  Warton's  magnificent  History  of  our  Poetry.  "  Old  Price  "  used  to  tell  me, 
that  he  groped  about  in  all  directions  for  Wynkyns  and  Pynsons — and  threw  them  in 
the  way  of  Warton — who,  at  starting,  was  utterly  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the 
country  before  him.  Mr.  Campbell  has,  I  believe,  received  abundant  aid  from 
treasures  of  a  similar  description  —  without  which  his  criticisms  would  have  been 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  737 

powers  of  SCOTT,  the  warmth  and  brilliancy  of  MOORE, 
the  nervous  brevity  and  point  of  CRABBE,  the  sweet-* 
ness  and  purity  of  MILMAN,  and  the  strength   and 
sublimity  of  BYRON.*    In  a  future  "  Corpus  Poetarum 

am  indebted  for  more  than  one  perusal,  which  has  placed  the  cha- 
racter and  merits  of  the  poet  most  vividly  and  powerfully  before  me. 

A  word  now  for  editions.  But  no  :  the  TASK  is  endless  and  pro- 
fitless. Obtain  any  one ;  inasmuch  as  they  are  obtainable  at  all  prices 
and  in  all  forms— and  let  engravings  from  the  pencils  of  Stothard 
and  Westall  be  seen  in  those  of  a  choicer  and  costlier  description. 
Illustrations  of  Cowper,  by  means  of  copper  plates  of  the  principal 
scenes  described  by  him,  have  been  favourably  received  by  the 
public.  But  no  instrument  has  executed  such  pictures  like  the  pen  of 
the  Poet  himself. 

*  The  poetry  of  Mr.  SOUTHEY  occupies  not  fewer  than  14  volumes 
in  crown  octavo  j  and  it  embraces  subjects  of  almost  every  descrip- 
tion. Thalaba  has  long  been,  and  will  long  continue  to  be,  very 
generally  known  and  admired.  It  was  abundantly  popular  at  the 
period  of  its  publication.  The  Curse  of  Kehama  is  perhaps  the 
greatest  effort  of  the  author's  genius  j  but  his  Roderic,  or  the  Last  of 
the  Goths,  is  that  which  seems  to  have  received  his  most  careful  ela- 
boration and  finishing.  It  is  a  grand  poem.  Madoc,  though  full  of 
wild  imagery,  and  with  verse  of  occasionally  uncouth  structure,  is 
not  destitute  of  some  of  the  most  brilliant  touches  of  the  poet.  I  am 
not  sure  if  Mr.  CAMPBELL'S  Pleasures  of  Hope  be  not  the  most  poetical 
production  of  the  age.  From  the  moment  of  its  appearance  to  thepre- 


scanty  and  shallow.  Of  this  beautiful  Essay,  TH  REE  copies  only  were  printed  on 
paper  of  an  imperial  octavo  size.  One  copy  is  in  the  possession  of  the  publisher, 
Mr.  Murray ;  another  in  that  of  Mr.  Freeling ;  and  the  third  in  that  of  Mr.  Hatfield, 
near  Manchester.  But  the  short  biographies  and  criticisms,  prefixed  to  each  of 
the  Specimens  in  the  six  subsequent  volumes,  have  much  interest  and  cleverness. 
The  difficulty  of  compression,  in  many  cases,  is  at  times  greater  than  can  be  well 
conceived.  The  account  of  Cowper,  in  particular,  exhibits  a  more  amplified  spe- 
cimen of  biography  and  criticism.  It  is  true  that  Mr.  George  Ellis,  after  Warton, 
led  the  way :  but  he  is  generally  concise  in  the  extreme,  on  comparison.  The  speci- 
mens of  our  earlier  Poets,  by  Ellis  (in  three  vols,)  and  Campbell,  and  of  our  later 
ones  by  Mr.  Southey,  (three  vols.  8vo.)  should  be  "  the  Young  Man's"  constant 
LIBRARY  COMPANIONS.  They  will  awaken  a  keen  zeal,  and  tend  to  the  cultivation 
of  a  pure  taste,  in  those  Writers,  whose  names  can  only  perish  with  our  language. 

3    B 


738  POETRY,  [ENGLISH. 

Anglicanorum?  these  successful  Bards  will  be  regis- 
tered with  all  due  pomp  and  ceremony  .  .  sufficient  to 

sent  moment,  the  reading  of  it  has  always  filled  me  with  equal  admi- 
ration of  its  plan,  its  melody,  and  powers  of  execution.  It  is  full  of 
genius  and  of  noble  conceptions— expressed  in  numbers  at  once  po- 
lished and  perfect.  From  the  nature  of  the  subject  and  of  the  stanza, 
his  Gertrude  of  Wyoming  could  not  be  received  with  the  same  general 
acclamation  :  but  it  teems  with  passages  which  evince  all  the  powers 
of  the  poet,  and  are  worthy  of  the  highest  reputation  of  its  author. 
In  brief  compositions,  such  as  the  Ode  or  Ballad  —  there  is  nothing, 
in  the  whole  compass  of  our  language,  which  has  ecliped  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's  Hohenlinden ,  Lochiel,  and  Mariners  of  England.  But  here 
again,  I  am  only  telling  a  tale,  told  .  .  usque  ad  nauseam!  It  shall 
be  repeated,  however.  These  brief  productions  are  among  the  the  hap- 
piest efforts  of  the  BRITISH  MUSE. 

The  fame  of  Mr.  WORDSWORTH  was  first  established  by  his  Lyrical 
Ballads,  1798,  1802,  12mo.  2  vols. :  with  additions  and  improve- 
ments in  1815,  8vo.  two  vols.  The  most  important  work  was  his 
larger  poem  of  The  Excursion,  1820,  4to.  The  third,  the  Whiie  Doe 
of  Rylstone,  &c.  1819,  4to.  These,  with  Peter  Bell,  the  Waggoner, 
&c.  appear  in  the  collected  works  of  Mr.  Wordsworth,  published  in 
1820,  12mo.  4  vols.  The  Muse  of  this  poet  is  of  a  singular  cast  and 
temperament.  Objects  the  most  simple,  and  themes  the  most  fami- 
liar, are  treated  by  her  in  a  style  peculiarly  her  own :  but  if  these 
objects  and  these  themes  have  been  such,  as,  with  a  great  number  of 
readers,  to  excite  surprise  and  provoke  ridicule,  this  must  have  arisen 
rather  in  compliance  with  the  tone  of  what  is  called  fashionable  criti- 
cism, than  from  an  impartial  perusal  of  the  poems  themselves.  The 
purest  moral  strain,  and  the  loftiest  feelings  of  humanity,  pervade 
the  productions  of  Mr.  Wordsworth  :  and  these,  at  times,  are  united 
with  so  much  sweetness  of  diction,  and  with  such  just  and  powerful 
views  of  religion,  that  that  bosom  must  be  taxed  with  insensibility 
which  is  impervious  to  their  impression.  The  name  of  Mr.  ROGERS 
will  naturally  awaken  the  recollection  of  the  delight  experienced  from 
the  perusal  of  his  Pleasures  of  Memory :  thus  making  this  very  remi- 
niscence illustrative  of  the  propriety  of  the  title  of  the  poem. 
That  poem,  conceived  with  so  much  delicacy  and  truth,  and  executed 
with  so  much  care  and  polish,  will  MAINTAIN  the  reputation  which  it 
has  ACQUIRED.  It  is  a  happy  union  of  the  sweetness  of  Goldsmith 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  739 

convince  the  latest  posterity  that  the  BRITISH  MUSE 
neither  slumbers  nor  sleeps  ;  that  the  age  of  improved 

with  the  finish  of  Pope.  It  has  gone  through  countless  editions,  * 
and  equally  charms  the  young  on  the  coming,  and  the  aged  on  the 
parting,  year.  Tis  a  sort  of  staple  commodity  in  the  market  of  book- 
sellers. Of  the  remaining  works  of  Mr.  Rogers,  his  Epistle  to  a  Friend 
(from  Italy)  is  perhaps  the  preferable  one.  The  last  poem  is  entitled 
Human  Life.  Lord  Spencer  possesses  a  copy  of  it,  with  a  drawing 
of  the  author's  portrait,  copied  from  that  of  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence, 
and  with  additional  verses  in  the  author's  own  hand  which  have 
never  been  published. 

The  name  of  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT  calls  forth  a  thousand  sensations 
of  admiration  and  delight :  and  happy  the  man,  who,  in  the  full 
vigour  of  life,  and  plenitude  of  reputation,  can  call  SUCH  sensations 
forth  !  The  broad  and  "  high  way"  to  fame,  which  he  has  hewn  out 
for  himself,  is  strewn  with  no  thorns,  and  surrounded  by  no  unseemly 
sights,  to  wound  the  feet,  or  injure  the  eyes,  of  such  who  choose 
to  walk  in  it.  No  Upas  tree  sheds  its  poison  here.  Criticism 
has  wearied  herself  to  exhaustion,  in  the  exercise  of  her  powers 
upon  his  multifarious  productions.  The  founder  of  an  original 


*  It  was  first  published  in  1792,  4to.  and  was  preceded  by  an  Ode  to  Superstition, 
in  1786, 4to.  Of  the  editions  of  the  Pleasures  of  Memory ,  I  prefer  that,  published 
in  a  crown  8vo.  some  twenty  years  ago,  with  beautiful  engravings  by  Heath  and 
others,  from  the  pencil  of  Stothard.  Nor  was  the  pencil  unworthy  of  the  burin.  A 
sweeter  embellished  book,  altogether,  cannot  be  seen:  and  if  ever  a  morocco  coated 
copy  turns  up,  with  brilliant  impressions  of  the  plates,  I  charge  my  "  Young  Man  " 
to  draw  his  sword,  and  fight  gallantly  for  its  possession.  It  is  true  that,  of  late,  the 
pencil  of  the  same  artist  has  been  employed  on  another  edition —  and  not  only  his 
pencil  but  his  burin.  I  allude  to  the  recent  impression,  with  wood-cut  head 
and  tail  pieces  by  Mr.  Stothard.  These  are  doubtless  creditable  efforts  of  art — but 
are  not  the  heads  of  the  several  figures  almost  uniformly  too  large?  At  any  rate  the 
paper  and  printing  should  have  been  worthier  of  the  art.  At  the  close  of  this  sub 
note,  let  me  be  allowed  to  remark,  that  no  name  is  dearer  to  an  Englishman,  in 
the  annals  of  BRITISH  ART,  than  that  of  STOTHARD.  I  say  nothing  of  the  "  incom- 
parable felicity  of  temper,"  and  of  the  unsullied  purity  of  conduct,  of  the  Man. 
My  business  here  is  with  his  pencil :  and  let  me  advise  the  tasteful  in  these  mat- 
ters to  secure  all  those  editions  of  our  Poets,  Novelists,  and  Dramatists,  in  which 
appear  beautiful  engravings  (in  the  good  old  times,  when  the  names  of  engravers 
implied  that  the  works  before  us  were  the  works  of  their  hands]  from  the  designs 
of  this  gentleman,  who,  without  flattery  ^  is  a  very  domestic  Raffaelle  in  his  way. 
A  friend  of  mine  possesses  scarcely  fewer  than  a  THOUSAND  specimens  of  this  kind. 


740  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

knowledge,  of  almost  every  description,  is  as  favour- 
able to  the  flights  of  fancy  as  to  the  deductions  of 

School  of  Novelists,  and  by  much  and  far  the  greatest  among  all 
those  who  have  even  happily  imitated  him* — the  Editor  of  Somers's 
Tracts,  of  Sir  R.  Sadler  s  State  Papers,  of  the  works  of  Swift  and 

Dryden\ but  all  this  is  extraneous.     Sir  Walter  is  now  before 

us  as  a  POET.  The  first  printed  production  of  his  muse,  was,  I 
believe,  the  ballad  of  Glenfinlas ;  which  appeared  in  that  very  extraor- 
dinary but  highly  poetical  miscellany,  (of  which  the  late  G.  M. 
Lewis, |  was  the  Editor  and  partly  author)  called  Tales  of  Wonder. 
Johnson  says,  that  Comus  was  the  dawn  of  Paradise  Lost.  Do  I 
trace,  in  THIS  BALLAD,  much  of  the  wild  imagery  and  glowing  dic- 
tion which  mark  so  emphatically  the  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel  ? 
That  "Lay,"  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  see,  and  to  hear  read,  in  MS. 
two  years  before  its  appearance  in  print.  It  is  the  most  perfect  and 
highly  elaborated  of  all  the  author's  pieces.  The  Introductions  are 
things  apart — of  themselves — and,  as  bibliographers  say,  UNIQUE. 
In  other  words,  they  are  exquisite.  Marmion  is,  of  all  the  Author's 
pieces,  the  most  poetical — strictly  so  considered,  throughout.  It  is 
full  of  PICTURES.  Sunny  lakes,  snow-capt  hills,  moated  castles, 
fields  of  battle,  dungeon-scenes,  halls,  banquetting  rooms,  and  ca- 
verns,— alternately  filled  with  appropriate  occupants — and  these 
occupants  or  characters,  such  as  Rosa,  or  Reubens,  or  even  Titian, 
might  not  have  disdained  to  embody  in  their  unrivalled  colours. 

But  the  most  popular  of  all  his  pieces  was  the  Lady  of  the  Lake ; 
and  perhaps  justly  so.  The  images  are  more  pleasing  and  more 
familiar.  The  characters  are  less  romantic.  The  plot  is  simple  and 


*  The  Novels,  of  which  Sir  Walter  Scott  is  the  REPUTED  AUTHOR,  extend  to  33 
crown  octavo  volumes  ;  and  these,  exclusively  of  the  two  last, — St.  Ronan's  Well, 
and  Red  Gauntlet.  There  is  another  edition,  in  demy  octavo,  which  is  also  very 
beaufully  printed. 

f  Of  this  edition,  noticed  at  page  726  ante,  the  IXth  and  Xth  volumes,  con- 
taining annotations  of  a  biographical  character,  are  singularly  instructive  and 
entertaining.  But  of  all  successful  pieces  of  editorship,  on  a  smaller  scale,  that  of 
Sir  Walter's  Minstrelsy  of  the  Scottish  Border,  8vo.  3  vols.  is  to  my  feelings  the 
most  so. 

£  HIMSELF  a  poet  of  no  mean  calibre.  The  ballads  and  little  pieces,  scattered 
throughout  his  novel  of  the  MONK,  were,  in  their  day,  the  most  popular  things 
known.  They  were  chanted  in  the  street,  and  in  the  Drawing  Room  ;  while  the 
subject  of  the  most  terrific,  ("  Alonzo  and  Jmogene  ")  and  many  episodes  in  the 
novel,  were  represented  on  the  Stage. 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  741 

truth  ;  and  that  poetry,  literature,  and  science,  now 
seem  to  walk  hand  in  hand  with  each  other,  on  terras 
of  the  most  familiar  footing. 

perspicuous.  The  conclusion  is  brilliant  and  happy.  All  the  travel- 
ling world,  the  summer  ensuing  the  publication  of  the  poem,  set  off 
in  carriages  and  four  to  visit  Loch  Katrine . , .  which  was  here  so 
exquisitely  delineated  .  . .  and  which  impressed  itself  upon  our  imagi- 
nations, like  a  picture  composed  with  all  the  grandeur,  and  exe- 
cuted with  all  the  glittering  splendour,  of  BOTH.  "  Off"  went  the 
travellers,  expecting,  at  every  beat  of  bush  and  brake,  to  see  a  lady 
dart  across  the  lake  in  her  skiff  of  slender  frame  . . .  But  here,  let  me 
speak  as  I  ought  to  speak,  of  the  paintings  of  Mr.  COOK,  for  the  illus- 
tration of  this  exquisite  poem.  Greater  praise  need  not  be  bestowed 
than  to  say  they  are  WORTHY  of  the  subject  :  and  those  who  possess 
copies  of  the  poem,  with  beautiful  impressions  of  the  plates  from 
these  paintings,  possess  what  they  should  not  hastily  part  with. 
There  is  no  space  to  criticise  Rokeby,  the  Lord  of  the  Isles,  the  Vision 
of  Don  Roderic,  the  Bridal  of  Triermain,  and  other  minor  poetical 
productions.  But,  may  I  gently  ask,  whether  the  harp,  which  has 
sent  forth  SUCH  sounds,  is  "  hung  up  on  the  trees"  (by  the  waters  of 
the  Tweed)  never  to  be  taken  down  arid  restrung  ?  Or,  are  other 
pursuits,  of  a  supposed  more  kindred  character,  to  keep  the  "  master's 
hand "  occupied  in  them  for  life  ?  Is  his  "  sweetly  smiling  and 
sweetly  speaking  Lalage"  discarded  for  ever  ? 

The  Odes,  Epistles,  Translations,  and  Ballads,  of  Mr.  MOORE,  are 
beyond  all  doubt  of  a  first  rate  cast  of  character.  The  ease  and  feli- 
city of  the  verse,  exercised  on  palpably  congenial  subjects,  have 
scarcely  any  thing  to  eclipse  them  in  the  tender  pages  of  Tibullus  or 
Catullus.  These  subjects  are  usually  bacchanalian  and  amatory,  but 
more  frequently  the  latter.  They  are  at  times  too  impassioned  and 
highly  wrought  :  but  an  author  at  twenty  is  not  as  an  author  at  forty  : 
and  although  the  "  albescens  senectus"  of  Horace  has  not  yet 
begun  to  whiten  the  hairs  of  Mr.  Moore,  yet  he  has  shewn,  in  the 
poetry  selected  for  the  Irish  Melodies,  and  more  so  in  his  celebrated 
Lalla  Rookh,  how  beautifully  the  feelings  of  a  delicate  passion  can 
be  conveyed  in  language  of  the  most  brilliant  and  powerful  descrip- 
tion. I  might  refer  to  half  a  score  of  able  reviews  of  this  Poet's  work, 
and  especially  to  that  of  Lalla  Rookh  in  the  Edinburgh  of  1818;. but 


742  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

Yet,  "  a  parting  word."  Here  is  my  "  Young  Man" 
about  to  embark  for  foreign  climes — about  to  under- 

there  is  no  need  of  it.  The  "  Paradise  and  Peri"  (in  this  last  men- 
tioned poem)  is,  for  subject,  sentiment,  and  melody  of  versification, 
of  a  most  delightful  description.  There  is  a  sort  of  full  flowing  tide 
of  spirits,  and  a  classical  gaiety  of  heart,  about  all  the  lighter  produc- 
tions of  Mr.  Moore's  Muse  j  and  there  is  hardly  any  one  species  of 
our  verse  but  what  he  has  successfully  cultivated.  But  his  muse, 
even  in  these  shorter  productions,  is  capable  of  uncoiling  and  rousing 
herself,  as  it  were,  for  attacks  of  tremendous  severity.  I  speak  of 
one  production,  attributed  to  his  pen,  which,  as  I  saw  it  in  a  morning 
paper,  and  in  common  with  a  thousand  other  readers,  fully  justifies 
this  remark. 

How  shall  I  describe  the  poetry  of  Mr.  CRABBE  ? — original,  terse, 
vigorous,  and  popular.  He  is  the  Hogarth  of  modern  bards :  or 
rather,  I  should  say,  if  he  display  Hogarth's  power  of  conception,  his 
pictures  are  finished  with  the  point  and  brilliancy  of  Teniers.  Every 
body  reads,  because  every  body  understands,  his  poems :  but  the 
subjects  are  too  frequently  painful,  by  being  too  true  to  nature.  Still 
life,  and  active  life,  in  nature,  are  palpably  different  objects  to  execute. 
You  cannot  copy  too  closely  the  mountains,  lakes,  trees,  meadows, 
glens,  and  waterfalls,  of  one  of  her  grandest  pieces  of  scenery.  Hence 
Claude  Lorraine,  Gaspar  Poussin,  and  Salvator  Rosa,  became  what 
they  were :  but  if  crowded  allies  of  squalid  wretchedness  be  entered, 
and  the  tattered  garment,  drunken  riot,  and  desperate  gambling,  of 
its  occupants  described,  you  become  a  Hemskirk  and  Brauwer  in 
poetry.  I  do  not  say  that  Mr.  Crabbe  always  describes  such  scenes, 
or  the  first  comparison  above  instituted  would  be  incorrect.  On  the 
contrary,  we  have  now  and  then,  and  even  frequently,  bright  and 
beautiful  bits  of  composition — on  which  the  eye  loves  to  rest,  and 
the  mind  to  meditate :  while,  in  the  tale  of  Sir  Eustace  Grey,  there 
are  reaches  of  thought,  and  touches  of  execution,  which  go  thril- 
lingly  to  the  heart.  Mr.  Crabbe,  like  indeed  every  living  poet  just 
mentioned,  is  a  legitimate  ENGLISH  CLASSIC  . . .  and  I  must  have  the 
recent  edition  of  his  Works,  in  three  or  five  octavo,  or  eight  duode- 
cimo, volumes,on  the  shelves  of  both  the  "  Young"  and  the  "Old." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  MILMAN  has  with  great  judgment^  selected  that  walk 
in  poetry  which  reflects  credit  and  honour  upon  his  profession.  His 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  743 

take  a  long  sea  voyage — and  to  dwell  under  a  torrid, 
or  a  frigid  zone.  His  passage  is  taken  :  and  the 

muse  has  been  nine  years  only  before  us  j  but,  during  that  period, 
her  step  has  been  progressive,  and  her  achievements  have  been 
crowned  with  applause.  She  made  her  debut  in  Fazio,  a  tragedy  j  a 
composition  full  of  brilliancy  and  force — although  not  calculated  for 
the  stage,  In  Samor,  Lord  of  the  Bright  City,  there  was,  perhaps, 
less  energy,  but  a  more  equal  and  stately  flow  of  verse  and  of  ima- 
gery. Parts  of  this  poem  are  prodigally  rich  and  effective.  Next 
came  The  Fall  of  Jerusalem -,  which  quickly  caught  the  public 
attention,  and  was  crowned  with  the  most  general  applause.  The 
subject  had  strong  hold  upon  our  sympathies.  Interwoven  with 
Sacred  Writ,  and  predicted  in  the  most  minute  and  touching  Ian. 
guage  by  the  Saviour  of  the  World,  where  is  the  Christian  who 
is  callous  to  the  mention  of  it  ?  Mr.  Milman  has  treated  it  with 
complete  success.  Belshazzar,  if  it  be  less  popular,  is  to  the 
full  as  poetical.  The  opening  is,  to  my  mind,  sublime.  Indeed, 
what  subject  could  possibly  excite  stronger  emotions  in  the  soul  of  a 
poet,  and  in  one  versed  in  scriptural  lore,  than  that  of  the  Downfall 
of  Babylon.  ?*  As  a  whole,  I  consider  this  to  be  a  masterly  and  suc- 
cessful performance.  But  THE  BIBLE  is  full  of  subjects  appropriated 
to  the  exercise  of  the  Muse's  lyre— and  can  that  of  Mr.  Milman  conti- 
nue LONG  silent  ?  How  comes  it  to  pass  that,  in  the  text,  I  have 
omitted  the  name  of  the  hapless,  but  incomparable  BURNS? — the 
great  Master  of  LYRICAL  composition,  in  its  purest  and  most  intelli- 
gible sense.  His  ballads,  on  the  simplest,  sweetest,  and  most  power- 
ful subjects,  are  beyond  all  competition ;  and  the  strains  of  love, 
friendship,  and  patriotism,  by  turn  take  possession  of  the  heart.  No 
Library  can,  in  any  sense,  be  said  to  be  complete  without  Dr.  Currie's 
edition  of  his  works,  in  four  vols.  8vo.  :  obtainable  for  about  11.  18*. 
There  is  another  edition,  with  the  Reliques,  in  5  vols. 

And  now,  in  the  last  place,  for  the  "  strength  and  sublimity  of 
BYRON."     The  ink,  which  was  shed  in  the  composi lion  of  these  few 


*  As  painting  and  poetry  are  SISTER  ARTS,  one  naturally  calls  to  mind  Mr. 
Martyn's  wonderful  picture  of  the  feast  of  Belshazzar.  It  set  all  criticism  at  de- 
fiance ...  by  overwhelming  it  with  its  extraordinary  combination  of  grouping  and 
colouring.  Some  time  after,  the  same  artist  represented  the  assault  of  the  city  by 
the  army  of  Cyrus ;  in  which  the  hanging  gardens,  and  fountains,  and  terrace  of 
Babylon,  were  surprisingly  conceived  and  executed. 


744  POETRY  [ENGLISH 

"  Good  Intent''  must  leave  Gravesend  by  the  end  of 
the  week.  He  has  no  time  to  search  the  catalogues 
of  booksellers,  or  to  attend  the  book-sales  of  Messrs. 
Sotheby,  Evans,  Stewart,  and  Saunders :  —while  his 

last  sentences,  is  scarcely  dry,  when  intelligence  has  reached  us  of 
THE  DEATH  of  this  nobleman — cut  off  in  his  37th  year.  "  He  should 
have  died  HEREAFTER."  On  his  own  account,  and  on  that  of  the 
public,  such  an  event  had  been  desirable.  His  memory  would  have 
been  embalmed  in  fonder  regrets,  and  posterity  might  have  seen  how 
the  efforts  of  a  later  muse  had  atoned  for  the  indiscretions  of  earlier 
days.  But  he  has  expired  in  foreign  parts,  self-expatriated,  and 
without  any  such  REDEEMING  effort  of  his  pen.  The  history  of  Lord 
Byron's  poetry  is  not  a  little  curious  and  interesting  j  and  even  his 
best  friends  must  allow  that  NO  MUSE  ever  took  such  pains  to  tarnish 
and  blast  the  laurels  which  had  so  thickly  encircled  her  brow.  Lord 
Byron  was  the  assassin  of  his  own  fame,  and  seemed  to  glory  in 
the  deliberate  act  of  assassination.  After  having  delighted  and  asto- 
nished the  world  by  the  variety,  beauty,  strength,  and  sublimity  of 
his  productions — after  having  broke  in  upon  us  by  his  Child  Harold, 
with  a  lustre  and  power,  such  as,  since  the  days  of  Milton  and 
Dryden,  we  had  not  witnessed  .  .  .  while  the  brilliancy  of  his  Giaour, 
the  tenderness  of  his  Bride  of  Abydos,  the  pathos  and  finish  of  his 
Corsair,  the  genius  of  Manfred,  and  the  strength  of  Lara,  alternately 
rivetted  our  attentions  and  won  our  hearts  .  .  .  after  having  accom- 
plished these  splendid  and  enviable  efforts — and  with  a  facility  (wit- 
ness, the  gaiety  of  his  Beppo  I)  which  left  all  competition  far  behind 
—the  Author,  in  the  FULL  BLOOM  and  pride  of  his  reputation,  chose, 
in  an  evil  hour,  and  most  unwittingly  even  for  the  maintenance  of 
his  fame,  to  exercise  his  talents  upon  a  subject — which,  in  our  boyish 
days,  was  known  only  as  the  vehicle  of  dramatic  horror  and  wonder. 
Those  who  had  seen  the  late  John  Palmer  play  Don  Juan,  and  march, 
after  his  stately  fashion,  across  the  stage,  in  a  shower  of  fire . . . 
haunted  by  black  demons  with  blazing  torches— little  thought  that, 
on  such  a  subject,  the  genius  of  Lord  Byron  would  have  issued  peri- 
odical cantos,  replete,  it  is  true,  with  passages  of  extraordinary 
splendour  and  power,  but  debased  with  a  far  greater  proportion  of 
what  was  vulgar,  common  place,  and  indecent.  Latterly,  indeed, 
these  cantos  became  intolerably  dull,  and  found  few  readers.  It  is 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  745 

heart  beats,  and  his  imagination  fires,  with  the  hope  of 
possessing  good  texts  of  all  the  poets  just  enumerated, 

impossible  to  contemplate  such  a  mixed  and  melancholy  picture  of 
the  human  intellect,  without  calling  to  mind  the  powerful  language 
of  Young — in  his  Complaint. 

When  I  behold  a  genius  bright  and  bate, 
Of  tow'ring  talents  and  terrestrial  aims  ; 
Metlrinks  I  see,  as  thrown  from  her  high  sphere, 
The  glorious  fragments  of  a  soul  immortal, 
With  rubbish  mix'd,  and  glittering  in  the  dust. 

In  a  less  elevated,  but  equally  just  point  of  view,  are  the  sentiments 
of  Dr.  Nott,  the  last  editor  of  the  Poems  of  Lord  Surrey  and  Sir 
Thomas  Wyatt;  which  I  subjoin  below.*  Of  the  TALENTS  of  the  au- 
thor who  has  drawn  forth  these  remarks,  there  can  be  but  one  opi- 
nion. They  were  of  the  very  highest  order  of  a  poet.  The  fastidi- 
ousnes  of  criticism  may  object  to  the  frequent  repetition  of  the  same 
misanthropic  sentiments,  and  the  frequent  introduction  of  the  same 
gloomy  unsocial  personages,  but  this  is  only  to  admit  that  ALL  great 
geniuses,  whether  poets  or  painters,  are  necessarily  mannerists — and 
Lord  Byron  is  now  the  Michel  Angelo  Caravaggio,  and  now  the 
Spagnoletto,  of  modern  Bards.  The  spleen  and  sophistry  that 
marked  the  notes  of  the  earlier  Cantos  of  Child  Harold,  broke  out 
with  uncontrolled  bitterness  in  the  text  of  the  Third  Canto  of  the  same 
poem ;  where  the  HERO  of  Waterloof  is  not  mentioned  by  name. 


*  "  He,  who  placed  in  an  exalted  rank,  stoops  to  palliate  vice,  in  his  writings, 
and  is  base  enough  to  give,  by  the  seductive  charms  of  poetry,  a  fatal  currency  to 
immoral  sentiments,  and  irreligious  opinions,  must  not  expect,  like  SURREY,  to 
be  hailed  with  the  applause  of  after  ages.  He,  when  the  short  triumph  of  a  delu- 
sive popularity  is  closed,  shall  be  deservedly  condemned  in  the  just  judgments  of 
mankind,  as  one  who  has  been  guilty  of  a  double  breach  of  duty :  as  one  who  has 
wilfully  degraded  himself  as  a  rational  being,  and  has  abused  the  confidence,  at 
the  same  time  that  he  disappointed  the  hopes,  of  society."  Vol.  i.  p.  cxxxv. 

f  Very  different  from  the  capricious  conduct  of  this  Bard,  was  that  of  many  of 
the  most  respectable  and  active  Members  of  Opposition  in  the  House  of  Commons. 
I  remember  being  in  the  House,  on  the  second  reading  of  the  grant  of  200,000/.  to 
the  Duke  of  Wellington,  for  his  incomparable  military  talents  and  individual  bra- 
very, on  the  tremendous  day  of  Waterloo-when  Mr.  Whitbread  got  up,  and  gave 
a  loose  to  those  feelings  which  did  him  infinite  honour.  He  declared,  that,  m  all 
the  pages  of  antiquity,  he  knew  nothing  like  the  heroic  conduct  and  self-devotion 


746  POETRY.  [ENGLISH. 

and  of  others,  of  whom  there  was  no  room  for  the 
notice.  These  are  to  cheer  him  on  his  passage,  and 

Admiration  of  the  conquerors,  in  that  mighty  battle,  seems  to  have 
been  absolutely  exchanged  for  a  whining  sympathy  for  the  van- 
quished ;  and  Ney,  who  was  a  bluff,  brave  soldier,  an  indifferent 
General,  and  a  flagrant  traitor,  is  honoured  with  a  parainetical  Ode  ! 
By  what  infatuated  and  inverted  order  of  reasoning  (it  may  be  asked) 
is  that — THE  LOVE  OF  OUR  COUNTRY — to  be  praised,  as  applicable  to 
the  Greeks  and  Romans  of  old,  which,  with  Englishmen,  is  to  be 
despised  and  set  at  nought  ?  \  One  has  scarcely  patience  to  give  such 
a  subject  a  thought :  but  vanity,  an  insane,  devouring  vanity,  was 
the  fundamental,  stirring  principle  of  the  poet's  conduct.  Of  OTHER 
aberrations  of  the  same  perverted  mind,  it  is  not  my  province  to  speak: 
but  the  darker  the  veil  that  is  drawn  over  them,  the  wiser  and  more 
humane  will  be  the  plan  pursued. 

I  return  to  Bibliography.  All  the  poems  of  Lord  Byron  before 
enumerated,  with  his  Prisoner  of  Chillon,  Parisina,  &c.  have  been 
variously  and  beautifully  published  by  Mr.  Murray,  the  proprietor  of 
these  works.  Among  these  publications,  an  edition  in  five  crownoctavo 
volumes  is  accompanied  by  delightful  illustrations,  from  the  pen- 
cils of  Westall  and  Stothard.  Indeed,  of  all  modern  and  embellished 
works  of  a  similar  description,  there  is  none  to  my  knowledge  which 
surpasses  it.  The  engraving  in  the  Corsair,  by  W.  Finden,  and  that 
in  the  Bryde  of  Abydos,  by  C.  Heath,  seem  to  contend  with  each 
other  for  the  mastery.  I  have  seen  several  beautiful  sets  of  this  edi- 
tion, of  which  the  plates  were  worked  off  on  India  paper,  sparkling 
in  the  white  calf,  or  curiously  chosen  morocco,  and  glittering  gilt 
tooling,  of  Charles  Lewis.  And  well  do  they  deserve  such  an  attire. 


of  the  Commander  in  Chief— throwing  himself  into  his  squares,  and  resolving  to 
perish  or  to  conquer  with  his  men.  There  was  but  one  voice,  one  heart,  one  soul, 
throughout  the  debate.  And  so,  in  the  CHAMPION,  a  Sunday  Newspaper,  edited 
I  believe  by  the  late  unfortunate  Mr.  Scott.  In  the  leading  paragraph  of  his  paper, 
(and  Scott  was  a  Whig)  he  described,  and  expatiated  upon,  this  victory,  in  a  style, 
which,  as  a  writer  and  an  Englishman,  redounded  to  his  lasting  praise.  It  was  re- 
served for  the  muse  of  BYRON  to  breathe  poison  upon  that  altar,  which  others  had 
encircled  with  the  garlands  of  victory.  But  these  garlands  have  not  lost  one  par- 
ticle of  their  freshness,  nor  one  tint  of  their  colour  ! 


ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  747 

to  delight  and  instruct  him  when  domiciled  in  Lap- 
land, in  Demarara,  or  Delhi.  What  shall  he  do  ?  The 
answer  is  obvious  ;  the  line  of  duty  is  plain  and 
practicable.  Fortifying  himself  with  the  single  vo- 
lume of  Dr.  Aikin's  Select  Works  of  the  British  Poets, 
he  must  lay  in  a  stock  "  of  Chalmers's  Edition  of  their 
Entire  IForks  ;"  beginning  with  Chaucer  and  ending 
with  Cowper.*  Or^  if  he  prefer  smaller  volumes,  em- 

If  the  names  of  SOTHEBY  and  LISLE  BOWLES  have  been  omitted 
in  the  above  text-roll  of  living  authors,  it  has  not  been  from  any  want 
of  respect  for  their  character,  or  from  want  of  clue  admiration  of  their 
talents  :  but  the  former  is  known  chiefly  as  the  translator — and  the 
happiest  translator  we  possess — of  the  Georgics  of  Virgil  and  the 
Oberon  of  Wieland  :  charming  productions ;  breathing  almost  all 
the  beauty  and  raciness  of  orignal  compositions.  Mr.  Bowles  has 
secured  a  lasting  reputation  as  a  writer  of  Sonnets ;  and  of  these 
Sonnets,  few  are"  more  soothing,  or  sink  deeper  into  the  heart  of  a 
son  of  Alma  Mater,  than  that  upon  a  distant  view  of  Oxford.  I 
would  say  a  word  for  MONTGOMERY  :  a  name,  'dear  to  the  Muse  of 
the  present  day.  But . .  .  read  what  has  been  said  of  his  sweet  poetry 
in  the  6th  vol.  of  the  Quarterly  Review,  p.  405.  The  reputed  author 
of  that  review  is  Mr.  Southey ;  and  the  specimens  selected  prove  the 
justness  of  the  encominms  bestowed.  Delicacy,  tenderness,  and  a 
sacred  feeling  of  the  highest  order,  mark  the  effusions  of  Montgo- 
mery's highly  cultivated  muse. 

*  Before  I  speak  of  the  MAGNUM  OPUS  of  Mr.  A.  Chalmers,  I  will 
say  a  word  about  Dr.  Aikin'sc  performance.  It  is  a  handsome  octavo 
volume,  professing  to  be  a  work  "  entirely  new,  comprising  within  a 
single  volume,  a  chronological  series  of  our  classical  poets,  from  Ben 
Jonson  to  Beattie,  without  mutilation  or  abridgement.  The  contents 
are  so  comprehensive  that  few  poems,  it  is  believed,  are  omitted,  ex- 
cept such  as  are  of  a  secondary  merit,  or  unsuited  to  the  perusal  of 
youth."  I  give  it  an  unqualified  recommendation  to  the  youth  of 
both  sexes. 

The  work  of  Mr.  Chalmers  is  comprised  in  21  royal  octavo 
volumes,  commencing  with  Chaucer  and  concluding  with  Cowper : 
and  containing  the  labours  of  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-SEVEN 


748 


POETRY. 


[ENGLISH. 


bellished  with  cuts,  let  him  entrench  himself  behind 
the  100  tomes  recently  published  of  what  is  called 

English  Poets,  besides  the  translations  which  follow : — Pope's  Homer's 
llliad  and  Odyssey,  Dryden's  Virgil,  Dryden's  Juvenal,  Pitt's  Virgil's 
^Eneid  and  Vida,  Francis's  Horace,  Rowe's  Lucan,  Grainger's  Ti- 
bullus,  Fawkes's  Theocritus,  Anacreon,  &c.  Garth's  Ovid,  Lewis's 
Statius,  Cooke's  Hesiod,  Hoole's  Ariosto  and  Tasso,  and  Mickle's 
Lusiad.  These  translations  occupy  the  last  three  volumes  of  the 
collection.  The  eighteen  preceding  volumes  contain  the  following 
poets,  chronologically  arranged,  with  their  Lives  by  Dr.  Johnson, 
with  additional  notes  j  and  with  NEW  LIVES  by  Mr.  Chalmers, 


Addison, 

Cunningham, 

Hughes, 

Sheffield, 

Akenside, 

Daniel, 

Jago, 

Shenstone, 

Armstrong, 

Davenant, 

Jenyns, 

Sherburne, 

Beattie, 

Da  vies, 

Johnson, 

Skelton, 

Beaumont,  F. 

Denham, 

Jones, 

Smart, 

,  Sir  J. 

Dodsley, 

Jonson, 

Smith, 

Blacklock, 

Donne, 

King, 

Somerville, 

Blackmore, 

Dorset, 

Langhorne, 

Spenser. 

Blair, 

Drayton, 

Lausdowne, 

Sprat, 

Boyse, 

Drummond, 

Lloyd, 

Stepney, 

Brome, 

Dryden, 

Logan, 

Stirling, 

Brooke. 

Duke, 

Lovibond, 

Suckling, 

Broome, 

Dyer, 

Lyttelton, 

Surrey, 

Browne, 

Falconer, 

Mallett, 

Swift, 

Butler, 

Fawkes, 

Mason., 

Thomson,  J. 

Byrom, 

Fenton, 

Mickle, 

•tir 
,  W. 

Cambridge, 

Fletcher,  G. 

Milton, 

Tickell, 

Carew, 

p 

Moore, 

Turberville, 

Cartwright, 

Garth, 

Otway, 

Waller, 

Cawthorme, 

Gascoigne, 

Parnell, 

Walsh, 

Chatterton, 

Gay, 

Phillips,  A. 

Warner, 

Chaucer, 

Glover, 

—  ,  J. 

Warton,  J. 

Churchill, 

Goldsmith, 

Pitt, 

,T. 

Collins, 

Gower, 

Pomfret, 

Watts, 

Congreve, 

Grainger, 

Pope, 

West, 

Cooper, 

Gray, 

Prior, 

Whitehead,  P. 

Corbett, 

Green, 

Rochester, 

,  W. 

Cotton, 

Habington, 

Roscommon, 

Wilkie, 

Cotton,  Dr. 

Halifax, 

Rowe, 

Wyat, 

Cowley, 

Hall, 

Savage, 

Yalden* 

Cowper, 

Hammond, 

Scott, 

Young. 

Crashaw, 

Harte, 

Shakespeare, 

ENGLISH.]  POETRY.  749 

Dr.  Johnson's  Edition  of  the  Poets :  of  which  however 
there  are  impressions  in  almost  all  forms  and  vari- 
eties.* 

Such  are  the  contents  of  this  invaluable  Collection  of  legitimate 
English  poetry.  The  Editor  confesses,  in  a  frank  and  manly  man- 
ner, (p.  viii.)  the  obligations  he  has  lain  under  to  Collectors  of  our 
old  English  poetry  j  and  particularly  to  the  treasures  imparted  by  the 
library  then  in  the  possession  of  Thomas  Hill,  Esq.  His  rarest 
volumes  (he  says)  were  lent  to  him  with  a  ready  confidence  and 
kindness  that  demanded  his  sincerest  thanks.  He  also  enlists  the 
names  of  Messrs.  Heber,  Park,  and  Sir  Egerton  Brydges,  among  his 
benefactors,  in  a  similar  manner.  A  copy  of  this  work,  handsomely 
bound  in  calf,  may  be  had  for  twenty-five  guineas :  about  the  sum 
that  was  given  for  a  dingy  and  imperfect  copy  of  a  small  volume, 
called  Robinsons  Handful  of  Pleasant  Delights,  1584,  12mo. !  Con- 
sult page  69  L  ante.  Whereas  here,  there  is  a  stomach-full — not  for  a 
day,  or  a  year  ;  —  but  for  a  succession  of  years  —  and  at  the  same 
price.  Surge,  age,  erne. ! 

*  Among  the  more  recent  ones,  that  printed  so  "  daintily  "  by  Mr. 
Whittingham,  at  the  Chiswick  press,  is  exceedingly  beautiful :  but 
my  reader  may  be  in  possession  of  one  of  the  minnow  tribes  of  edi- 
tions, published  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago,  with  Bell's  plates,  or 
those  by  Cook,  in  Paternoster  Row— in  which  the  young  pencil  of 
Kirkman  was  so  beautifully  exercised.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Cook 
made  his  fortune  by  the  impression ;  and  built  a  sort  of  baronial 
mansion  in  Epping  Forest,  whence  he  overlooked  the  surrounding 
country.  But  I  believe  that  a  set  of  the  NOVELISTS,  published  by 
the  same  bookseller,  must  be  added  to  the  causes  of  the  erection  of 
this  baronial  mansion.  By  the  by,  what  a  truly  beautiful  and  invit- 
ing set  of  the  best  Modern  Novelists,  has  been  recently  published  in  5O 
volumes,  small  8vo.  !  Away  with  them,  on  ship-board  —  along 
with  the  POETS,  and  the  set  of  ESSAYISTS  noticed  at  p.  606,  ante. 
Away  !— 

"  lenis  crepitans  vocat  Auster  in  altum." 


[  750] 


ITALIAN   POETRY. 

Delightful  as  is  THIS  province  of  the  Belles  Lettres 
— and  fashionable  as  is  now  become  the  study  of  Ita- 
lian Poetry  in  this  country  —  the  reader  will  perceive, 
when  he  looks  at  what  has  gone  before,  and  what  is 
yet  to  follow,  that  my  account  must  be  necessarily 
brief,  jejune,  and  unsatisfactory.  With  Quadrio, 
Haym,  and  Ginguene  at  their  elbows,  why  will  not 
some  well  read  Italian  bibliographer  give  us  a  portable 
volume  to  instruct  us  in  the  choice  of  the  rarest  and 
best  editions  of  the  great  Italian  Writers  ?  The  book- 
treasures  and  the  knowledge  of  SEMPRONIUS  *  are 
great . . .  and  there  are  hands  enough  for  such  a  work. 
Will  Mr.  Singer  give  the  subject  a  second  thought  ? 
Meanwhile,  what  might  not  the  reading  and  the  criti- 
cal tact  of  Mr.  Foscolot  supply? 

*  This  I  apprehend  must  be  the  same  gentleman  who  is  introduced 
in  the  ninth  day  of  the  Bibliographical  Decameron,  vol.  iii.  p.  38. 

f  Mr.  FOSCOLO  is  about  to  publish  the  texts  of  Dante,  Petrarch, 
Ariosto,  and  Tasso,  with  the  Orlando  Inamorato  of  BOIARDO,  re- 
formed by  Berni,  in  twenty  crown  octavo  volumes :  beautifully 
printed,  and  vendible  at  12s.  the  small  paper,  and  18s.  the  large.  To 
these,  it  is  proposed  to  add  the  most  elegarrtly  published  edition  of 
the  Decameron  of  BOCCACCIO  (by  the  same  Editor)  in  three  vols.  of  a 
similar  size,  adorned  by  plates  from  the  designs  of  Mr.  Stothard. 
Notices  of  the  best  MSS.  and  best  editions  of  each  author  will  be 
incorporated.  Here  is  therefore  a  cheering  prospect  for  the  young 
and  ardent  student  in  ITALIAN  LITERATURE.  The  publisher  and  pro- 
prietor of  this  work  is  Mr.  Pickering,  of  Chancery  Lane. 


ITALIAN.]  POETRY.  ?5l 

I  begin  with  DANTE  ;  but  first  entreat  the  reader  to 
peruse  with  attention  a  masterly  review  of  the  talents 
and  character  of  this  great  Father  of  Italian  poetry 
which  appeared  in  the  60th  number  of  the  Edinburgh 
Review,  published  in  1818.  The  reputed  author  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  is  last  mentioned.  And  again, 
to  follow  up  this  course  of  reading,  let  him  peruse  with 
the  closest  attention  the  reviews  upon  Petrarch  and 
Tasso  (by  the  same  hand)  which  appeared  in  the 
xxist.  and  xxivth.  volumes  of  the  Quarterly  Review. 
It  is  difficult  to  pronounce  to  which  the  palm  is  to  be 
tendered.  Such  articles,  full  of  intelligence,  and  en- 
tirely exempt  from  personal  vituperation,  are  the  very 
joy  of  one's  heart  to  peruse. 

But  where  are  the  editions  of  DANTE  ?  Those  only 
which  I  deem  it  necessary  to  point  out  to  the  particu- 
lar attention  of  the  reader,  are  as  follow.  Of  the 
earlier  and  more  precious  editions,  obtain  the  three  of 
the  date  of  1472,  mentioned  below  ;  *  but,  rarer  than 
either,  is  that  of  TUPPO  —  still  a  desideratum  in  the 
wonderful  list  of  early  Dantes  in  the  SPENCER  LI- 
BRARY. It  seems  to  have  escaped  Brunet ;  and  the 
only  copy  of  it  which  I  ever  saw  is  in  the  Royal  Library 

*  Of  the  first  three  editions,  that  of  J4si  is  by  much  the  rarest : 
but  Mr.  Salvi  informs  me  that  Lord  Spencer's  copy,  so  minutely 
described  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  iv.  p.  103,  wants  an  introductory 
epistle,  of  two  leaves,  by  the  printer,  Frederic  of  Verona.  I  will  not 
fix  the  price  of  such  a  book  under  the  sum  of  thirty  guineas.  The 
Foligno  impression  is  called  the  FIRST  EDITION  of  Dante  j  and  a  fac- 
simile of  the  type  may  be  seen  in  the  authority  last  referred  to.  A 
good  sound  copy  of  it  (which  is  by  no  means  common)  is  worth 
twenty  guineas.  The  second  edition  printed  at  Mantua  may  be  worth 
about  J2/.  12s. 


752  POETRY.  [ITALIAN. 

at  Stuttgart.*  Of  course,  the  very  curious  in  graphic 
lore  will  beat  every  bush,  and  scale  every  acclivity,  to 
obtain  as  perfect  a  copy  as  may  be  of  the  famous 
commentary  of  Landino,  with  the  plates  of  Baldim 
after  the  designs  of  BotlcelU.  'Tis  of  the  date  of  1481, 
and  is  altogether  a  grand  volume,  f 

Get  the  first  Aldine  edition  of  1502 — UPON  VELLUM, 

*  This  edition  is  described  in  the  Tour,  vol.  iii.  page  143-4.  It  is 
tremendously  scarce  ;  and  I  know  of  no  copy  of  it  in  England.  Let 
me  just  remark,  that  the  Naples  edition  of  1477*  in  all  probability 
printed  by  Moravus,  is  also  of  extreme  rarity;  nor  was  it  till  Lord  Spen- 
cer had  purchased  the  Cassano  Collection  (Bibl.  Spencer,  vol.  vii.  page 
44)  that  a  copy  of  it  found  its  way  into  the  library  at  St.  James's 
Place. 

t  Let  ALL  copies  of  this  celebrated  volume  bow  their  heads  before 
that  in  the  Public  Library  at  Munich,  that  in  the  Imperial  Library 
at  Vienna,  J  and  that  at  Spencer  House !  —  for  each  of  these  pos- 
sesses TWENTY  COPPER  PLATES  !  !  May  I  say,  that  the  bibliographi- 
cal history  of  this  book  is  well  nigh  exhausted  in  the  Bibl.  Spencer. 
vol.  iv.  p.  108-115?  —  where  also  appear  fac-similes  and  sundry 
anecdotes.  And  pray,  gentle  reader,  consult  Mr.  Ottley's  History  of 
Engraving,  vol.  i.  page  415-425  for  the  best  description  extant  of  the 
plates — together  with  an  admirable  fac-simile  of  that  prefixed  to  the 
Xllth  Canto.  As  to  the  PRICE  of  this  book,  that  depends  entirely  on 
the  number  of  the  Engravings  found  in  the  copy.  Lord  Spencer's 
duplicate,  which  contained  xix  plates,  was  sold  for  52Z.  10s.  The 
purchaser  was  George  Hibbert,  Esq.  This  book  is  usually  found 
with  cuts  to  the  first  two  Cantos ;  and  in  this  state  I  apprehend 
that  I  have  seen  upwards  of  twenty  copies.  Mr.  Payne  marks  one, 
in  such  condition,  at  2Z.  C2s.  As  this  is  a  volume  upon  which  Collec- 
tors of  Prints  fasten  their  fangs,  the  "  Young  Man  "  must  expect  to 
find  it  frequently  in  a  very  dismantled  condition.  It  is  usually  a 
book  of  magnificent  amplitude  of  margin  5  and  it  exists  in  the  Ma- 
gliabechi  Library  UPON  VELLUM. 


t  See  Tour,  vol.  iii.  page  291, 518. 


ITALIAN.]  POETRY.  753 

if  you  can:  the  two  rare  Venetian  editions  of  1512, 
and  1586 :  the  splendid  impression  superintended  by 
Zapata  de  Cisneros,  in  1757,  &c.  4to.  five  vols. :  and, 
perhaps  passing  over  the  rival  editions  of  Bodoni  and 
Mussi,  content  yourself  with  the  useful  one  under  the 
editorial  care,  and  with  a  commentary,  of  Balthasar 
Lombardi — first  published  in  1791,  and  afterwards  in 
1815,  4to.  3  vols.*  But,  at  this  moment,  editions  are 

*  First  for  ALDUS.  His  Majesty,  Earl  Spencer,  and  Mr.  Grenville 
possess  the  first  edition  of  1502,  UPON  VELLUM.  Such  a  volume,  if 
in  fine  condition,  is  worth  seventy-five  sovereigns.  Messrs,  Payne 
and  Foss  mark  a  "  very  large  copy,  slightly  stained,"  upon  paper,  at 
II.  Us.  6d.  The  Venetian  edition  of  1512,  4to.  by  Scagnino  da 
Trino,  is  worth  three  or  four  guineas  if  in  fine  condition.  It  has  cuts 
of  no  despicable  description.  That  of  1586,  4to.  by  Giolito  da  Trino , 
presents  itself  to  us  in  a  tempting  form  in  the  recent  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  ;  namely,  on  <f  large  paper,  scarce  edition, 
very  fine  copy,  red  morocco,  gilt  leaves  " — and  all  for  41.  4s. !  The 
sumptuous  edition  of  1757,  in  five  quarto  volumes,  is  indeed  thought 
by  some  to  be  the  best  of  the  entire  works  of  Dante.  Brunet  vol.  i. 
page  496,  is  minute  and  instructive.  But  there  are  copies  on  LARGE 
PAPER  of  a  folio  size — with  the  plates  struck  off  in  different  coloured 
inks — and  some,  in  "  cameo  gris."  These  are  considered  among  the 
GREAT  GUNS  of  a  collection  of  Italian  poetry — and  they  make  a  toler- 
ably loud  report  at  book- sales.  A  copy  of  this  kind  was  purchased 
by  Messrs.  I.  and  A.  Arch  for  37/.  16s.  at  the  sale  of  Col.  Stanley's 
library :  but  I  remember  the  late  Mr.  Mackinlay  once  asking  an  acci- 
dental customer  not  less  than  60l.  for  a  similar  copy,  bound  in  vellum. 
The  gentleman  flew  out  of  the  shop  as  if  bitten  by  a  centipede.  Mr. 
Payne  marks  the  ordinary  copy  in  4to.  "  very  neat  in  russia,"  at 
71.  7s.  This  copy  cannot  be  long  without  a  purchaser. 

At  Althorp  are  found,  in  russia  bindings,  all  the  splendid  Dantes 
by  Bodoni  and  Mussi.  They  stand  among  the  grenadier  file  of  Italian 
poetry.  Raphael  Morghen's  portrait  accompanies  that  of  Mussi, 
1809,  folio,  3  vols. — and  what  a  portrait  it  is  !  But  in  the  early  edi- 
tions of  the  xvth  century,  you  often  get  splendid  miniature  illumin- 

3  c 


754  POETRY.  [ITALIAN, 

being  printed  in  Italy —  and  that  at  Florence,  in  four 
folio  volumes,  is  to  be  adorned  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty  plates.  All  this  is  truly  delightful.  When  na- 
tions continue  to  make  these  demonstrations  of  attach- 
ment and  respect,,  to  the  great  authors  of  their  country, 
the  period  of  barbarism  is  at  a  remote  distance. 

PETRARCH  will  occupy  our  attention  for  a  very  short 
time.  Get  possession  of  Antonio  'Marsantfs  famous 
edition  of  this  poet,  published  at  Padua,  in  1819,  4to. 
two  vols. ;  and  you  not  only  possess  the  best  text, 
and  the  most  sensible  annotations,  but  a  complete 
Biblioteca  Petrarchesca — or  an  account  of  all  the  edi- 
tions and  literary  history  of  the  Poet.*  But  my 
"  Young  Man" — he,  peradventure,  who  like  Petrarch, 
may  love  to  write  SONTNETS  to  his  Mistress'  "  eyebrow" 
by  the  side  of  haunted  stream  in  lonely  dell — ought  to 
know  something  about  these  editions  in  these  pages. 
Petrarch  first  appeared  from  the  press  of  Jenson  in 
1470.  In  the  library  of  St.  Marc  there  was  a  copy  of  it 

ations  of  the  head  of  the  Poet ;  and  a  fine  one  of  this  kind  is  in  Lord 
Spencer's  copy  of  the  Mantua  edition  of  1472.  The  edition  of  1815, 
4to.  3  vols.  is  worth  about  2Z.  12*.  6d.  But  if  the  "  Young  Man" 
stumble  upon  that  of  1818,  8vo.  3  vols.  of  which  Biagioli  is  the  Edi- 
tor, let  him  distinguish  between  the  admiration  of  the  Editor  and  the 
intelligence  of  the  Commentator. 

*  The  ABBATEMARSAND  published  his  valuable  edition  of  Petrarch 
on  fine  vellum  paper  at  the  price  of  61.  6s.  in  boards  :  but  there  are 
twelve  copies  on  FINE  PAPER,  proof  impressions  of  the  portraits  of 
Petrarch  and  Laura,  engraved  by  Raphael  Morghen.  That  of  Laura 
is  of  excessive  delicacy  and  beauty:  that  of  Petrarch,  is  very  strange 
and  uncommon — approaching,  what  may  be  called, ef  the  quizzical." 
Of  course,  everyltalian  scholar,  having  "  means  and  appurtenances 
to  boot "  rejoices  to  place  these  truly  classical  volumes  in  a  coating 
of  morocco  upon  his  shelf. 


ITALIAN.]  POETRY.  755 

UPON  VELLUM  :  but,  of  all  the  collections  of  editions 
the  Poet,  none  for  rarity  and  choice  come  up  to 
that  at  Spencer  House  The  Laver  impression  of 
1471,  and  that  of  Achates  at  Basil,  1474,  are  much  the 
rarest  of  the  Fifteeners*  Aldus  printed  Petrarch  four 
or  five  times  — -  in  1501,  1514,  1521,  1533,  and  1546. 
Many  are  the  curious  and  covetable  impressions  of  the 
poet  during  the  sixteenth  century ;  but  if  you  have 
that  of  1756,  4 to.  2  vols.  or  that  of  Beccadelli,  1799, 
8vo.  2  vols.  or  that  of  Zotti,  1811,  12mo.  3  vols — pro- 
vided  you  have  not  Marsand's — you  have  good  reason 
to  be  satisfied  with  the  possession  of  a  correct  and 
critical  edition.^ 

*  Earl  Spencer,  Mr.  Grenville,  Mr.  Heber,  and  Mr.  Hibbert,  are 
strenuous  contenders  for  fine  copies  of  early  Petrarchs,  and  especially 
for  those  of  1470  and  1473,  by  Jenson.  The  latter  gentleman  has 
the  second  UPON  VELLUM  :  a  noble  volume.  But  neither  of  the  three 
must  hope  for  the  Zarotus,  of  1473,  or  for  that  of  Arnoldus  de  Brux- 
ella,  1477 — and  least  of  all  must  they  set  their  hearts  upon  those  of 
Laver  and  Achates,  above  mentioned.  Brunet  and  Marsand  had  not 
seen  a  copy  of  the  latter ;  each  referring  exclusively  to  the  Bibl.  Spen. 
cer.  vol.  iv.  p.  139,  for  the  first  particular  description  of  it.  And  yet  I 
had  the  good  fortune  to  rummage  out  another  copy  of  this  exceedingly 
rare  edition,  in  the  library  of  Gottwic  monastery,  near  Vienna.  See  the 
Tour,  vol.  iii.  p.  429  :  I  cannot  pretend  to  affix  PRICES  to  the  early 
editions  of  Petrarch  j  but  the  Jenson  of  1470,  may  be  worth  9,51. ; 
that  of  Laver,  1471,  50L ;  and  those  of  Zarotus  and  Achates,  45Z.  each. 
The  Padua  of  1472,  if  fine  and  perfect,  must  not  steal  from  beneath 
Mr.  Evans's  hammer  under  thirty  guineas. 

f  An  English  bibliographer  may  run  distracted,  in  this  country,  in 
hunting  out,  and  caressing,  Aldine  Petrarchs  UPON  VELLUM  !  Here 
is  his  Majesty,  in  the  first  place,  with  the  editions  of  15O1,  1514,  and 
1533,  in  that  state:  Earl  Spencer  follows,  with  those  of  1501  and 
1533  5  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  riots  (as  he  well  may)  in  his  lovely 
copy  of  the  second  of  1514  (from  the  Paris  Collection)— so  particu- 


756  POETRY.  [ITALIAN. 

ARIOSTO  is  the  third  in  this  small,  but  splendid 
group,  of  Italian  poets :  and  perhaps  equal  to  either 
in  genius,  and  superior  from  the  originality  and 
powerful  interest  of  his  work.  Ginguene,  who  has 
devoted  one  third  of  the  4th  volume  of  his  His- 
toire  Liter  air  e  d'ltalie  to  an  account  and  analysis 
of  the  Orlando  Furioso — and  who  has  exhausted  the 
subject  of  criticism  upon  it — calls  the  author  THE  IDOL 
of  the  Italian  Nation  :  and  when  Mr.  Foscolo  favours 
us  with  his  philological  remarks  upon  him,  we  shall, 
in  all  probability,  have  abundant  reason  to  admit  the 
propriety  of  this  designation .  But  my  business  is  with 
the  Editions  of  his  Works.  The  Catalogues  of  the 
Libraries  of  our  principal  Collectors,  and  those  of  our 
principal  Booksellers,  teem  with  numerous  editions  of 
this  fascinating  Poet — which  prove  what  a.  favourite 
he  is  with  the  English. 

Of  the  first  edition  of  1516,*  I  know  but  of  three  co- 

larly  described  in  the  Bibliog.  Decam.  vol.  ii.  365, ;)  see  also  pp.  347^ 
369,  371)  and  that  in  the  Cracherode  of  1501 — the  GRANDEST  copy 
of  the  whole.  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes  had  that  of  1501  imperfect.  But 
enough.  Brunet  will  supply  further  particulars.  Many,  indeed, 
are  the  curious  and  rare  editions  of  the  sixteenth  century.  A 
most  superb  copy  of  that  of  Rovillio,  1574,  18mo.  richly  orna- 
mented in  old  red  morocco  binding,  with  the  two  suppressed  leaves, 
which  are  frequently  wanting,  was  sold  for  10Z.  10s.  at  the  sale  of 
Col.  Stanley's  library.  The  previous  editions  of  Rovillio  are  1550-1. 
Mr.  Heber  possesses  the  Giunta  of  1515,  in  an  imperfect  state,  UPON 
VELLUM.  The  edition  of  1756,  4to.  2  vols.  by  Castelvetro  is  worth 
about  ll.  Is.  per  volume,  in  good  binding.  It  was  sold  on  large 
paper,  for  ll/.  at  Col.  Stanley's  sale  -,  but  Mr.  Payne  marks  it  in  that 
condition  for  41.  4s.  fine  copy  in  russia.  Beccadelli  is  worth  ll.  Is. 
and  Zotti  about  the  same  sum. 

*  The  reader  may  not  object  to  run  his  eye  over  the  eight  pages 


ITALIAN.]  POETKY.  757 

pies :  that  in  the  library  of  Earl  Spencer,,  the  second  in 
the  Royal  Library  at  Paris,  and  the  third  in  the  Royal 
Library  at  Dresden.  Some  few  editions,  of  most  un- 
common rarity,  (specified  below*)  precede  the  famous 

in  the  JEdes  Althorpiana,  vol.  i.  p.  156,  &c.  which  are  devoted  to 
an  account  of  the  editions  of  Ariosto,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  to 
be  found  in  the  library  at  Althorp.  Subsequent  considerations  have 
confirmed  me  in  the  opinion,  that  NO  edition  of  1515  EXISTS.  Qua- 
drio,  vol.  iv.  p.  556,  speaks  hesitatingly  and  doubtfully  of  such  an 
edition,  by  Mazocco,  "  coll'  assistenza  dell*  Autore."  Orlandini,  in  his 
folio  edition  of  1730,  commences,  it  is  true,  his  copious  list  of  the 
impressions  of  the  Poet,  with  that  of  1515,  as  if  it  were  printed  bv 
Lewis  Mazzoco  :  but  it  is  a  mere  conjectural  statement.  The  point 
has  been  pretty  fully  mooted  in  the  Bibliogr.  Decameron,  vol.  i. 
p.  285-6. 

*  Among  these  rarer  editions,  those  of  1521,  1527,  and  1528, 
each  in  quarto,  may  be  considered  as  taking  a  decided  lead ;  and 
those  who  will  consult  Mr.  Evans's  copious  and  satisfactory  note, 
attached  to  the  copy  of  this  last  edition,  which  was  in  the  collection 
of  Colonel  Stanley,  may  satisfy  themselves  of  the  importance  of  its 
acquisition.  The  Duke  of  Devonshire  became  its  purchaser — but  not 
below  the  sum  of  SIXTY  GUINEAS  !  The  chief  merit  of  this  impression 
consists  in  its  being  the  only  one,  after  the  first,  which  faithfully  re- 
presents its  text.  But  neither  of  these  editions  contains  the  entire 
text  of  the  poet.  The  COMPLETE  46  Cantos  (the  preceding  impressions 
having  only  40)  appeared  in  the  very  rare  Ferrara  edition  of  1532, 
4to.  which  must,  in  all  respects,  be  considered  as  the  TRUE  parent 
text  of  the  Orlando  Furioso.  Apostolo  Zeno  places  it  above  every 
one  for  accuracy;  and  such  is  its  rarity,  that  I  know  of  only  three 
copies  of  it  in  this  kingdom :  that  in  the  library  of  His  Majesty, 
Earl  Spencer,  and  Mr.  George  Hibbert.  The  latter  copy  is  indeed 
"  de  toute  beaute."  Brunet  notices  a  copy  UPON  VELLUM  in  the 
public  library  at  Vicenza.*  Mr.  Grenville  possesses  what  may  be 
considered  as  a  UNIQUE  impression  j  that  of  Milan,  1539,  4to.  printed 


*  Whether  this  copy  was,  or  was  not,  the  IDENTICAL  one  offered  for  sale  to  a 
distingiiished  Collector  in  this  country,  1  cannot  take  upon  we  to  affirm.     Most 


758  POETRY.  [ITALIAN 

one  with  the  cuts  of  Porro,  in  1584,  4to. :  after  which 
we  may  satisfy  ourselves  with  the  splendid  impression 
of  Zatta,  in  1772 — or  the  more  exquisite  one  of  Bas- 
kerville,ofl773,  with  the  cuts  of  Bartolozzi — *  or, with 

by  Scinzenzeler.  It  is  not  noticed  by  any  Bibliographer.  What  is 
singular,  although  46  cantos  had  been  printed  seven  years  before, 
the  edition  of  1539  is  only  a  reprint  of  that  of  1521,  which  contains 
but  40.  It  is  of  excessive  rarity,  it  must  be  admitted.  Of  the  Giolito 
editions,  I  am  not  sure  whether  that  of  1 542,  4to.  be  not  the  first. 
A  copy  of  it  UPON  VELLUM  is  in  his  Majesty's  library.  The  preferable 
edition  seems  to  be  that  of  1551,  8vo.  with  pretty  cuts.  A  beautiful 
copy  of  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Vesey  Fitzgerald  at  the  sale  of  Col. 
Stanley's  library,  for  7L 

The  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  contains  scarcely  fewer 
than  thirty  articles  or  copies  of  editions  of  the  Orlando  Furioso.  For 
the  libraries  of  private  collectors,  those  of  Earl  Spencer,  Mr.  Gren- 
ville,  Mr.  R.  Wilbraham,  Mr.  Heber,  and  Mr.  G.  Hibbert,  are  pro- 
bably the  most  richly  furnished  with  the  same  articles.  Mr.  Hibbert 
has  an  extraordinary  copy  of  the  Aldus  of  1545,  4to. 

*  Concerning  the  edition  of  1584,  4to.  with  the  cuts  of  Porro,  con- 
sult the  JEdes  Althorp.  vol.  i.  p.  163.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark 
a  "  fine  copy,  red  morocco,  gilt  leaves,  complete  with  the  plate  to 
the  34th  Canto,"  at  91.  9s.  A  similar  copy  produced  16Z.  16s.  at  the 
sale  of  Col.  Stanley's  library.  The  pompous  edition  of  Zatta,  of  1772, 
in  eight  folio  volumes,  was,  I  believe,  printed  expressly  for  the  famous 
Earl  Bute  -,  in  whose  library  at  Luton,  some  fifteen  years  ago,  I  saw 
a  copy  of  it  UPON  VELLUM.  The  graphic  embellishments  of  this  use- 
less edition,  are  justly  pronounced  to  be  "  tres  me*diocres"  by 
Brunet.  I  never  see,  or  even  think  of,  the  lovely  edition  of  Basker- 
ville,  of  1773,  8vo.  4  vols,  without  the  most  unmixed  satisfaction. 
Paper,  printing,  drawing,  plates — all  delight  the  eye,  and  gratify  the 
heart,  of  the  thorough-bred  bibliomaniacal  Virtuoso.  This  edition 


certain  it  is,  that  100  guineas  were  offered  for  it :  but  on  the  intelligence  of  Lord 
Spencer's  intended  visit  to  Italy,  the  very  noise  of  his  Lordship's  chariot  wheels 
should  seem  to  have  raised  its  price — which,  then,  was  pushed  up  to  THREE  HUN- 
DRED GUINEAS  !  The  volume  remains  where  it  was. 


ITALIAN.]  TOETRY.  759 

fewer  pistoles  in  our  book-bag,  we  may  rest  well  con- 
ten  ted^with  the  accurate  edition  ofMolini,  in  1788  ;  or 
if  spectacles  must  bestride  the  nose  of  my  "  older  "  rea- 
der, with  the  Milan  impression  of  1818,  in  which  the 
text  assumes  a  form,  as  splendid  as  it  is  correct.  But 
what  says  the  same  spectacled  reader  to  the  sump 
tuous  Pisa  folio  of  1809,  with  graphic  embellishments 
from  Raphael  Morghen  ?* 

has  hardly  its  equal,  and  certainly  not  its  superior — in  any  publica- 
tion with  which  I  am  acquainted.  Look  well  to  the  proves  of  the 
plates,  which  Brunet  tells  us  are  sometimes  more  brilliant  in  the  first 
two  volumes  of  the  octavo,  than  in  those  of  the  quarto,  or  LARGE  PAPER 
form.  But  for  a  drawing-room  table,  or  satinwood  book-case,  aspire 
to  the  quarto  :  for  a  companion  in  green  fields,  or  along  quiet  lanes, 
select  the  octavo.  Colonel  Stanley's  copy  of  the  quarto  impression, 
bound  in  green  morocco,  was  sold  for  2 1/. :  and  this  same  copy  now 
stands  upright,  on  the  shelves  of  Messrs,  Payne  and  Foss,  for  162.  16s. 
It  had  crept  through  one  or  two  channels  before  it  took  up  its 
station  there.  The  same  booksellers  mark  a  very  fine  morocco  copy 
of  the  octavo,  at  the  tempting  price  of  61.  6s. :  and  I  anticipate  a  rare 
scramble  for  it !  Mr.  Renouard  seems  to  possess  a  most  extraordi- 
nary copy  of  the  quarto,  with  a  cluster  of  extra  embellishments, 
see  his  Cat.  de  la  BibL  d'un  Amateur,  vol.  iii.  p.  91.  My  friend  Mr. 
Utterson  justly  rejoices  in  a  copy  of  nearly  equal  beauty,  obtained 
from  the  same  distinguished  bookseller. 

*  The  edition  of  Molini,  in  five  duodecimo  volumes,  is  very  coi- 
rect  and  well  printed.  There  were  either  forty-eight  or  forty-nine 
copies  struck  off  on  LARGE  PAPER,  in  quarto,  which  are  only  coveted 
when  they  are  found  with  the  drawings  of  Cochin,  in  which  state 
Mr.  Renouard  has  a  copy  of  singular  choice  and  beauty.  The  small 
paper,  observes  Mr.  R.  is  an  indifferent  book  enough  j  but  the  large 
is  a  very  elegant  production.  In  the  Macarthy  Collection  there  was 
a  unique  copy  UPON  VELLUM;  which  was  bought  in  for  21OO  francs. 
The  text  of  either,  in  its  small  or  large  state,  is  remarkable  for  its 
accuracy.  The  small  paper  may  be  had  for  a  guinea.  The  edition 
of  1818,  4to.  is  perhaps  a  yet  more  acccurate  performance,  and  is 


760  POETRY.  [ITALIAN. 

Of  TORQUATO  TASSO,  the  first  edition  of  the  Jeru- 
salem Delivered,  of  1580,  seems  to  be  excessively 
scarce,  but  the  poem  is  incomplete  in  this  form ;  so  that 
the  edition  of  Ferrara  of  1581  must  be  considered  as 
the  legitimate  first  text  of  this  delightful  author.  The 
edition  of  1590,  4to.  with  the  plates  of  Agostlno  Ca- 
racci  and  CastelU,  is,  as  the  phrase  runs,  a  "  crack 
article"  when  found  in  a  pure  and  large  state.*  I  do 
not  know  that  the  "  Young  Man"  must  be  permitted 
to  purchase  any  edition  between  the  last  and  that  of 
1745,  published  in  a  splendid  folio  by  Albrizzi  at 
Venice.  Next  ensue  two  tempting  Paris  editions, 
one  of  1771,  and  the  other  of  1784  :  each  sufficient  to 
satisfy  an  ordinary  Collector  of  the  more  beautiful 
impressions  of  the  poet.  Let  Bodoni  have  his  share 
of  praise  in  the  very  sumptuous  editions  published  by 

printed  after  the  text  of  1532,  under  the  editorial  care  of  Morali. 
Brunet  says  there  are  50  copies  struck  off  upon  vellum  paper. 
Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  notice  the  work  as  in  a  folio  form,  and  mark 
a  new  and  very  neat  copy  of  it  at  31.  3s.  Of  the  Pisa  edition,  with 
the  portrait  of  Ariosto  engraved  by  Morghen,  there  are  some  few 
copies  on  vellum  paper  ;  a  still  fewer  number  on  blue  paper,  and  a 
single  copy  UPON  VELLUM.  At  Althorp,  there  is  a  copy  of  the  vellum 
paper,  bound  in  russia,  in  that  noble  suite  of  folio  ITALIAN  CLASSICS 
which  sparkles  on  the  lowest  shelves  of  what  is  called  the  Marlbo- 
rough  Library. 

*  I  know  not  wherefore,  but  so  it  undoubtedly  is,  that  the  EAR- 
LIEST editions  of  Tasso  are  not  only  very  rare,  but  very  cheap. 
The  first  complete  and  correct  edition  of  the  Jerusalem  Delivered 
was  in  1581,  4to.  at  Ferrara,  of  which  a  copy  was  sold  for  six  francs 
only  at  the  sale  of  the  Floncel  Library.  In  1580,  there  appeared  only 
16  cantos,  without  the  name  of  the  author,  and  in  that  same  year 
appeared  two  editions  at  Venice,  one  at  Casalmaggiore,  and  a  fourth 
at  Parma, — all  surreptitious.  Of  the  Ferrara  edition,  of  1581,  there 


ITALIAN.]  POETRY.  761 

him,  in  quarto  and  folio  forms,  in  1794.  These  and 
the  preceding  impressions  are  noticed  below.* 

are  impressions  with  the  dates  of  June  and  July.  The  latter  is  the 
preferable  book.  A  very  correct  edition  under  the  care  of  Osanna, 
appeared  at  Mantua,  in  1584,*  4to.  j  and  of  the  edition  of  1590, 
published  at  Genoa  by  Bartoli,  a  copy  was  sold  for  5Z.  17s.  6d.  at 
the  sale  of  Mr.  Roscoe's  library,  in  1816.  A  copy  of  it,  in  which, 
in  addition  to  the  usual  embellishments,  was  inserted  a  set  of  plates 
from  a  scarce  German  translation  in  1626,  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Heber,  at  the  sale  of  Col.  Stanley's  Library,  for  101  10s. 

*  Perhaps  a  few  others  may  be  also  noticed.  A  tempting  red 
morocco  copy  of  the  Elzevir  of  1652,  in  two  octodecimos,  was 
sold  for  2Z.  at  Col.  Stanley's  sale.  The  French  annalist  of  the  Elze- 
vir family,  (1822,  p.  232)  calls  it  "  a  pretty  little  edition,  not  much 
known."  Mr.  Renouard  seems  to  rejoice  in  his  uncut  copy  of  the 
Elzevir  of  1678,  32mo.  2  vols.  The  Aminta,  of  1656,  18mo.  is 
however  a  more  beautiful  and  a  rarer  volume.  In  spite  of  the  com- 
paratively low  state  of  estimation  in  which  Tonson's  edition  of  the 
Jerusalem  Delivered,  of  1724,  4to,  2  vols.  is  held  by  knowing  biblio- 
graphers, Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  mark  a  very  neat  copy  of  it  at 
2Z.  2s.  and  in  russia,  at  31.  3s.  The  plates  by  Vander  Gucht  are 
copies  of  those  of  Castelli's  edition  of  1590  :  they  are  scratchy, 
black,  and  fluttering  in  effect.  Albrlzzis  edition  is  yet  a  prize  volume 
to  possess.  Brunet  says,  it  has  lost  much  of  its  pecuniary  value 
unless  it  be  on  Dutch  paper,  and  in  a  superbly  bound  condition,  such 
as  was  the  copy  belonging  to  Madame  de  Pompadour,  and  Messrs. 
Delaleu  and  De  Meyzieu.  However  this  may  be,  I  observe  "a  very 
fine  copy,  in  red  morocco,  borders  of  gold,  gilt  leaves"  marked  at 
41.  4s.  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss.  As  to  the 
tempting  Paris  editions,  you  may  have  a  beautifully  bound  copy,  in 
morocco,  of  that  of  177 1*  4to.  in  2  vols.  with  the  plates  of  Gravelot, 


*  Serassi,  in  his  Life  of  Torquato  Tasso,  considers  this  edition  as  the  most  per- 
fect :  and  the  writer  of  a  Memorial  upon  Tasso,  subjoined  to  Pellegrini's  Latin 
Oration  on  his  death— reprinted  by  Sir  Egerton  Brydges  for  the  Roxburghe 
Club— observes,  that  "  he  has  sought  IN  VAIN  for  this  volume  iii  the  great  public 
libraries  of  Italy." 


762  POETRY.  [ITALIAN. 

Generally  read  and  understood  as  is  the  Original 
of  Tasso,  there  are  TRANSLATIONS  of  it  (putting  that 
of  Hoole  out  of  the  question)  which  are  perused 
with  pleasure  and  avidity.  Fairfax  is  an  old  and  a 
great  favourite ;  and  has  been  recently  introduced 
to  us,  in  a  form  the  most  irresistibly  fascinating.* 
The  Rev.  Mr.  J.  H.  Hunt  has  been  eminently  happy 

for  31.  135.  Gd.  but  of  the  LARGEST  PAPER,,  of  which  only  25  copies 
were  printed,  with  sparkling  proofs  of  the  vignettes  and  of  Gravelot's, 
you  must  not  hope  for  a  first  rate  copy  under  eight  or  nine  guineas. 
Of  the  second,  and  more  splendid  edition  of  ]  784,  from  the  press  of 
Didot,  I  must  refer  the  curious  to  the  enthusiastic  testimonies  of 
French  bibliographers.  Only  200  copies  were  printed :  and  the 
edition  was  exhausted  on  the  moment  of  its  appearance.  The  plates, 
41  in  number,  are  from  the  designs  of  Cochin.  A  new  edition, 
printed  with  the  same  luxury,  by  the  same  printer,  with  the  same 
plates,  quickly  followed.  Colonel  Stanley's  copy  of  thejirst  impres- 
sion, splendidly  bound  in  morocco,  and  illustrated  with  114  original 
drawings  by  Novelli,  produced  361.  155.  It  is  thought  to  be  the 
most  lovely  text  of  the  author  ever  published.  JBodoni  published 
a  quarto  and  two  folio  impressions  in  1794.  They  are  each 
splendid,  but  the  text  in  the  folios  is  disproportionably  large  :  one 
having  but  two,  the  other  but  three  stanzas,  in  a  page.  Renouard 
possesses  them  all  three  ;  and  has  also  82  original  drawings  of  Co- 
chin, of  which  only  41  have  been  engraved.  It  is  not  worth  while  to 
enter  into  the  minutia?  of  Bodoni's  impression  5  of  which  130  copies 
of  the  three  stanza  edition,  and  9O  of  the  two  stanza,  were  printed. 
But  all  this  is  a  waste  of  paper  and  printing.  Such  books  will  cause 
their  owners  to  groan  at  heart,  if  ever  they  come  to  the  hammer. 
In  1807,  appeared  two  more  pompous  editions,  one  in  quarto,  the 
other  in  folio,  of  each  of  which  there  is  one  copy  (only)  UPON 
VELLUM. 

f  I  allude  to  that  exquisite  publication,  put  forth  in  an  octavo 
form,  in  1807  :  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Singer,  and  printed  by  Mr. 
Bensley.  The  type  was  most  beautiful,  and  the  wood  cuts  by 
Thomson,  struck  off  on  India  paper,  are  perfect  master-pieces  of  art. 


ITALIAN.]  POETRY.  763 

in  the  execution  of  a  similar  task,  and  a  careful 
perusal  of  his  labours  fully  justifies  the  eulogy  pro- 
nounced upon  it  in  the  Quarterly  Review  of  July, 
1821.  A  new  translation,  in  the  stanza  of  Spenser, 
has  been  acheived  by  Mr.  Wiffen,  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  ;  of  which  some  brief  account  is  given  below.* 

Of  its  kind,  I  hardly  know  such  a  work.  There  were  50  copies 
struck  off  on  large  paper. 

*  This  translation  is  dedicated  to  Georgiana  Duchess  of  Bedford, 
in  six  elegant  stanzas,  of  which  the  first  two  appear  to  me  exceedingly 
sweet  and  apposite.  I  make  no  apology  for  their  insertion  j  leaving 
the  reader  to  guess,  how,  supposing  fidelity  of  version,  the  pen  which 
could  delineate  such  feelings,  is  likely,  or  not,  to  render  justice  to 
Tasso. 

Years  have  flown  o'er  since  first  my  soul  aspired 

In  song  the  sacred  Missal  to  repeat, 
Which  sainted  Tasso  writ  with  pen  inspired 

Told  is  my  rosary,  and  the  task  complete  : 
And  now,  'twixt  hope  and  fear,  with  toil  untired, 

1  cast  th'  ambrosial  relic  at  thy  feet ; 
Not  without  faith  that,  in  thy  goodness,  THOU 
Wilt  deign  one  smile  to  my  accomplished  vow. 

Not  in  dim  dungeons  to  the  clank  of  chains, 

Like  sad  Torquato's,  have  the  hours  been  spent, 

Given  to  the  song,  but  in  bright  halls  where  reigns 
Uncumbered  Freedom— with  a  mind  unbent 

By  walks  in  woods,  green-dells,  and  pastoral  plains, 
To  sounds,  far  off,  of  village  merriment ; 

Albeit,  perchance,  some  springs  whence  Tasso  drew 

His  sweetest  tones  have  touched  my  spirit  too. 
&c.          &c.        &c. 

The  work  is  beautifully  printed  in  two  volumes,  from  the  accurate 
press  of  Mr.  Moyes.  The  wood  cuts  are  fully  equal  to  those  in  the 
reprint  of  Fairfax  just  lauded. 

Of  DANTE,  I  had  forgotten  to  notice  the  best  of  all  our  transla- 
tions—that by  the  REV.  Mr.  CAREY  :  and  of  ARIOSTO'S  Orlando  Fu- 
rioso,  that  by  WILLIAM  STEWART  ROSE,  Esq.  now  in  the  progress  of 
publication.  See  Quarterly  Review,  18^4,  No.  LIX. 


I  764  ] 


FRENCH   POETRY. 

Whoever  consults  Brunei's  admirable  analysis  of 
the  different  ages  of  French  Poetry,*  supplied  chiefly 
by  the  works  of  Goujet  and  La  Croix  du  Maine,  will 
see  how  little  is  absolutely  necessary  to  possess,  from 
the  effusions  of  JEAN  DE  MEUN,  (the  Lydgate  of  his 
day)  to  the  L'Homme  des  Champs  of  DELILLE.  But 
the  French  are  fortunate  in  their  foundation-stones  (if 
I  may  so  speak)  of  the  study  of  their  native  poetry. 
The  collections  of  Le  Grand  d'Aussy,  the  Comte  de 
Tressan,  Barbazan  and  Raynouard,  are  admirable  of 
their  kind  ;  as  well  for  truth  of  criticism,  as  for  beauty 
and  accuracy  of  publication.  The  volumes  mentioned 
in  the  subjoined  note,  are  splendid  ornaments  of  the 

*  In  the  fourth  volume  of  his  invaluable  Manuel  du  Libraire,  p. 
221-232.  It  is  divided  into  four  ages  :  1st.  from  the  12th  century 
to  the  time  of  Villon  :  2,  from  Villon  to  Marot :  3.  from  Marot  to 
Malherbe  :  4.  from  Malherbe  to  modern  times.  This  analysis,  includ- 
ing "  Collections  and  Extracts,"  contains  FIVE  HUNDREDAND  SIXTY 
NINE  articles  of  poetry,  perhaps  not  HALF  of  what  a  complete  French 
poetical  library  should  consist  of.  Of  the  works  of  Goujet  and  La 
Croix  du  Maine,  so  indispensable  in  the  formation  of  a  library  of  early 
French  poetry,  consult  the  Bibliomania,  pp.  42  and  72.  The  absence 
of  an  Index  to  Goujet' s  valuable  eighteen  octavo  volumes  is  much 
to  be  regretted.  Even  my  friend  Mr.  Douce,  whose  head  is  so  plen- 
tifully furnished  with  the  lore  of  this  subject,  cries  (f  pish'' !  more 
than  once — when  he  has  recourse  to  the  pages  of  Goujet.  I  am 
lucky  enough  in  the  possession  of  a  copy,  in  a  mellow-tone  yellow 
morocco  binding,  for  which  I  'joyfully  paid  Messrs,  Payne  and  Foss 
61  6s. 


FRENCH.]  POETRY.  7G5 

noblest  collection.*  MAROT  is  probably  entitled  to  a 
passing  notice,  as  one  likes  to  trace  the  sources  of 
excellence  to  their  legitimate  fountain  head.  MAL- 
HERBE  is  indispensible,  and  he  luckily  occupies  little 
space.f  We  will  then  go  at  once  to  LA  FONTAINE  : 
the  witty,  the  felicitous,  the  inimitable  Fontaine.  The 
well-versed  Bibliomaniac  knows  the  thousand  little 

f  RAYNOUARD'S  work  is  entitled  "  Choix  des  Poesies  Originates  de$ 
Troubadours;  1807,  Svo.  3vol.  Barbazan's  "Fabliaux  et  Contes  des 
Poties  Francais,  des  1%,  13, 14,  et  15  siecles,  Paris,  1808,  Svo.  4  vols. 
LE  GRAND  D'Aussv,  Fabliaux  et  Contes  des  12  et  13  siecles,  1779, 
Svo.  4  vols. :  to  which,  add  a  recent  publication,  entitled  Lais,  fables, 
et  autres  productions  de  Marie  de  France,  (by  Raynouard,  I  believe,) 
1820,  Svo.  2  vols.  The  Roman  de  la  Rose,  (the  joint  production  of 
LORRIS  and  DE  MEUN)  has  been  recently  published  with  great  typo- 
graphical attractions  under  the  care  of  M.  MEON  j  1814,  Svo.  4  vols. 
The  notes  are  worthy  of  its  extrinsic  splendour,  and  it  is  the  best 
edition  extant.*  To  these  beautiful  publications,  add  Roquefort, 
Glossaire  de  la  Langue  Romane,  1808,  &c.  Svo.  3  vols.  My  friend 
Mr*  Utterson  looks  with  unceasing  delight  on  his  fine  set  of  all  these 
beauteous  and  instructive  tomes. 

f  The  first  edition  of  MAROT  was  in  1532,  12mo.  The  pretty 
edition  of  the  Hague  1700,  12mo.  2  vols.  is  only  desirable  when  in 
large  and  clean  condition.  It  is  sought  after,  and  may  be  had  for 
about  15s.  The  best  edition  is,  that  of  1731,  4to,  4  vols.  and  6  vols. 
12mo.  MALHERBE  is  only  to  be  sought  for  in  the  impression  of  1775, 
Svo.  which  is  worth  about  10s.  6d.  Yet  there  be  those  that  bite 
freely  at  the  impressions  of  Barbou,  in  1764  and  1776. 


*  Alas,  for  the  reputation  of  this  once  popular  work  ! — if  the  sentiments  of  GER- 
SON  are  to  be  unqualifiedly  adopted.  Hear  what  that  staid  and  severe  Divine  says, 
as  quoted  in  the  Histriomastix  of  Prynne.  "  Gerson,  sometimes  chancellor  of 
Paris,  speaking  of  a  certaine  booke  made  \jy\Joannes  Meldinensis,  the  title  tvhereof 
is  the  ROMANT  OF  THE  ROSE,  writeth  of  that  booke  two  things.  First,  he  saith,  if 
I  had  the  Romant  of  the  Rose,  and  that  there  were  but  one  of  them  to  bee  had, 
and  might  have  for  it  Jive  hundred  crownes,  I  would  rather  burne  it  than  sell  it. 
Againe,  saith  he,  if  I  did  not  understande  that  Joannes  Meldinensis  did  not  repent 


766  POETRY.  [FRENCH. 

niceties  connected  with  certain  editions  of  his  Tales ; 
and  the  most  fastidious  cannot  deny  the  merit  of 
splendour  to  the  folio  impression  of  his  Fables.* 

*  For  the  entire  works  of  LA  FONTAINE,  secure  the  Paris  edition 
of  1814,  8vo.  6  vols.  so  beautifully  and  accurately  printed  by  Cra- 
pelet,  with  engravings  after  the  drawings  of  Moreau,  M.  Renouard 
tells  us  that  this  is  the  first  perfect  edition  of  all  the  works  of  La 
Fontaine,  and  that  LARGE  PAPER  copies  are  already  rare.  He  possesses 
a  very  choice  one  of  this  description  :  and  one  of  the  three  only  upon 
YELLOW  PAPER  !  Outrageously  barbarous  taste  !  Of  the  Contes,  &c. 
&c.  the  experienced  collector  knows  how  to  appreciate  all  the  pecu- 
liarities of  a  perfect  copy  of  the  edition  of  1762,  8vo.  2  vols.  printed 
by  Barbou,  and  enriched  with  exquisite  engravings  from  the  designs 
of  Eichen,  Cochin,  &c.  I  refer  the  bibliographer  to  the  minute 
and  valuable  account  of  them  in  Mr.  Renouard's  Cat.  de  la  Bibl.  dun 
Amateur,  vol.  iii.  p.  23.  The  plates,  after  these,  in  the  edition  of 
1818,  Svo.  6  vols.  are  absolutely  below  criticism.  Picked  copies 
of  the  edition  of  1762  have  brought  great  prices ;  and  Mr.  Payne 
marks  an  extraordinary  fine  one,  in  morocco,  at  ?l.  7s.  The 
edition  of  1685,  Amst.  12mo.  with  plates  by  Remain  de  Hooghe, 
is  not  to  be  discarded.  These  plates  are  bold,  picturesque,  and 
effective — although  they  be  <f  etrangement  bizarres,"  and  not  "  le 
beau  de  1'ecole  hollandoise," — as  Renouard  infers.  A  choice  copy 
of  this  "genuine  edition,"  in  green  morocco  binding,  brought 
51.  15s.  6d  at  the  sale  of  Col.  Stanley's  library. 

The  Fables  of  Fontaine,  in  the  edition  of  1755, 1759,  folio,  4  vols. 
are  as  attractive  a  book  in  this  form,  as  are  the  Tales  in  the  edition 
of  1762.  The  work,  as  Brunet  properly  remarks,  is  among  the 
commonest  of  books  :  The  Stanley  copy,  in  tine  fourth  and  LARGEST 
SIZE  paper,  produced  the  sum  of  4 1/.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
mark  a  "  very  fine  copy,  red  morocco,  gilt  leaves,  ruled,  bound  by 


with  true  sorrow  of  minde,  for  the  making  and  setting  forth  of  this  booke,  I  would 
pray  no  more  for  him,  then  I  would  for  Judas  Iscariot,  of  whose  damnation  I  am 
most  certaine.  And  they  also  which,  reading  this  Booke,  doe  apply  it  unto  wicked 
and  wanton  manners,  are  the  Authors  of  his  great  paine  and  punishment."  page 
922.  The  worthy  Gerson  need  not  have  felt  so  acutely.  The  antidote  to  all  mis- 
chief, from  the  perusal  of  this  Romance,  is  its  insurmountable  dullness. 


FRENCH.]  POETRY.  76? 

Premising  that  I  shall  include  the  Drama  in  my 
brief  account  of  French  poetry,  I  go  at  once  to  COR- 
NEILLE.  Without  recommending  the  stately  edition 
of  him  in  ten  quarto  volumes,  from  the  press  of  the 
elder  Didot,*  I  am  strong  in  advising  the  ample  and 
correct  one,  published  by  Renouard,  in  12  octavo 
volumes,  with  plates  after  the  designs  of  Moreau/f* 
RACINE,  in  his  quarto  garb,  from  the  Didot  press, 
under  the  patronage  of  the  Dauphin,  stands  nobly  by 
the  side  of  his  great  poetical  ancestor  Corneille — put 
forth  from  the  same  quarter :  but  he  assumes  a  yet 
more  majestic  aspect  in  the  three  sumptuous  folios 
from  the  same  press,  published  in  1801,  and  enriched 
with  engravings  from  the  designs  of  Gerard,  Girodet, 
and  others.  The  best  critical  edition  is  that  of  1807, 
in  seven  octavo  volumes,  with  the  commentary  of  La 
Harpe.X  MOLIERE  follows  Racine  as  naturally  as 

Padaloup,"  at  22  guineas.  For  subsequent  editions,  and  especially 
those  of  1789,  8vo.  2  vols.  and  1811,  12mo.  4  vols.  consult  the 
fruitful  notices  of  Renouard  in  his  work  last  referred  to. 

*  This  edition  was  published  in  1796,  and  only  250  copies  were 
struck  off.  It  forms  one  of  the  works  in  the  splendid  suite  of  FRENCH 
CLASSICS  published  by  Didot  1'Aine  :  but  its  sale  in  this  country  is 
heavy  and  uncertain. 

f  Although  the  testimony  of  an  editor  and  publisher,  in  praise  of 
his  own  performance,  will  be  received  with  sundry  grains  of  cau- 
tion, yet  Renouard's  words  (Cat.  Sac.  vol.  iii.  p.  62)  are  borne  out  as 
well  by  those  of  Brunet  as  by  the  fact — that  this  is  the  very  best 
edition  of  Corneille  in  all  respects.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  how- 
ever, ff  make  a  fight,"  for  their  fine  copy  of  what  they  conceive  to  be 
the  best  edition — namely,  that  of  1764,  in  12  octavo  volumes.  Yet 
Brunet  thrusts  his  "  polish  lance"  through  the  very  ribs  of  this  edition. 

|  Brunet  considers  the  Racine  of  1801,  as  the  chef  d'ceuvre  of  ALL 
modern  typography.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  copies  were  printed,  at 


768  POETRY.  [FRENCH. 

Ben  Jonson  does  Shakspeare.  I  will  not  recommend 
any  editions  but  those  of  1773,  and  1819 — each  in  an 
octavo  form.  Notwithstanding  the  beauty,  accuracy, 
and  popularity  of  the  latter,  the  edition  of  1773,  in  six 
volumes,  yet  maintains  a  stiff  price,  especially  when 
the  plates,  which  are  of  no  great  merit,  happen  to  be 
in  fine  condition.* 

But  where  are  BOILEAU  and  VOLTAIRE  ?  Of  the 
former,  the  editions  are  almost  without  number ;  but 
I  will  mention  none  before  those  of  1747,  1772,  and 

the  subscription  price  of  1200  francs.  One  copy  only,  UPON  VELLUM, 
has  found  its  way  into  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  George  Hibbert.  The  man 
who,  like  LaHarpe,  in  his  Cours  de  Literature,  (see  vols.  i.  iv.  v., 
&c.)  could  write  so  admirably  upon  Racine,  might  with  confidence 
become  the  editor  of  his  works  ;  and  although  this  edition  (the  best, 
in  regard  to  the  commentary)  be  printed  on  indifferent  paper,  yet 
should  it  be  possessed  :  especially  when  the  heavy- pursed  biblio- 
maniac can  meet  with  one  of  the  25  copies  only  which  were  struck 
off  072  vellum  paper,  with  the  13  plates  by  Simonet  from  the  designs  of 
Moreau  le  Jeune,  separately  published  by  Renouard.  These  plates 
are  among  the  most  beautiful  of  the  modern  school  of  engraving. 
Still  the  edition  of  1768,  8vo.  7  vols.  with  the  commentary  of  Bois- 
jerma'm  and  the  plates  of  Grcfoelot,  retains  its  value :  being  worth 
four  or  five  guineas  in  good  binding. 

*  A  good  copy  of  the  edition  of  1773  is  worth  hard  upon  5Z.  5s. 
The  plates  of  this  edition,  when  the  impressions  are  good,  are  spirited 
and  pleasing  enough  :  but  they  were  shamefully  inserted,  in  a  worn 
and  wretched  state,  in  the  editions  of  1788,  18O4,  and  1808,  8vo.  in 
the  same  number  of  volumes.  The  edition  of  1819  is  in  nine  8vo. 
volumes,  with  the  plates  after  Horace  Vernet.  It  is  superior  in  ALL 
respects  to  its  precursor  :  but,  even  to  this  impression,  splendid  and 
covetableas  it  is,  Brunet  recommends  the  addition  of  the  31  plates, 
published  by  Renouard,  after  the  designs  of  the  Younger  Moreau.  A 
copy  of  this  edition  on  LARGE  PAPER,  with  proofs  before  the  letter,  is 
worth  101  or  12  guineas  in  boards. 


FRENCH.]  POETRY.  769 

above  all,  in  1809.  These  are  in  an  octavo  or  duode- 
cimo form.  But  if  folios  only  be  sought  after,  then 
aspire  to  the  impression  of  Bodoni,  or  to  that  ofDidot: 
the  first  in  1814,  and  the  second  in  1819,  —  each  in 
tvro  volumes.  Very  recently  (1821)  there  hath  ap- 
peared one  of  the  most  beautiful  editions  imaginable, 
in  an  octavo  form,  with  the  commentary  of  M.  Amar : 
an  enchanting  performance  in  all  respects.* 

*  Be  satisfied  with  the  edition  of  1747  in  five  octavo  volumes, 
which  is  yet  considered  the  best,  in  spite  of  Brunet's  elaborate  ar- 
ticle, from  which  a  contrary  conclusion  may  be  drawn.  It  is  worth 
2J.  12s.  6d.  in  good  binding, — and  if  found  on  Dutch  paper,  and 
especially  on  thick  paper,  t'will  make  merry  the  heart  of  a  tasteful 
Bibliomaniac — although  procured  at  more  than  double  the  preceding 
price.  After  all,  I  am  doubtful  about  the  earnest  recommendation  of 
the  edition  of  1772,  5  vols.  8vo.  though  the  plates  be  from  the  designs 
of  Picart.  Brunet  is  full  of  particular  information  relating  to  it. 
The  edition  of  1809  is  in  3  volumes  8vo.  and  when  accompanied  by 
the  seven  plates  after  the  designs  of  Moreau,  published  by  Renouard, 
is  both  the  completest  and  most  acceptable  of  all  the  editions  before 
published  of  Boileau  Despre'aux.  I  cannot  however,  while  on  the 
subject  of  octavo  impressions,  give  it  the  preference  to  that  of  1821, 
8vo.  4  vols — which,  as  a  specimen  of  printing  and  paper,  has  scarcely 
any  rival,  even  in  this  country  j  while  the  plates  of  the  Lutrin  are 
rich  in  comic  humour  and  expression  :  they  are  among  the  best  efforts 
of  the  French  school,  and  come  the  nearest  to  those  of  our  Smirke. 
The  designer  is  Desenne.  The  engravings,  by  various  hands,  are  a 
little  too  coarse,  but  have  great  effect.  That,  prefixed  to  the  2d.  Canto, 
if  a  little  more  light  were  introduced,  would  be  charming.  The 
Editor  is  Amar :  and  copies  upon  LARGE  PAPER  make  the  imagination 
run  riot.  The  sumptuous  edition  of  1814,  in  two  huge  folio  volumes, 
which  was  published  under  the  auspices  of  Murat  when  he  was  King 
of  Naples,  is  rare  even  in  France.  But  Didot's  magnificent  edition 
of  1819,  in  two  rare  folios,  is  probably  yet  superior.  Only  125 
copies  were  printed  with  the  vignettes.  A  subscription  copy  is  valued 
at  400  francs. 

3D 


770  POETRY.  [FRENCH. 

If  the  editions  of  Boileau  be  nearly  innumerable, 
what  must  be  those  of  VOLTAIRE — in  a  collected  or 
detached  form  ?  The  idol  of  the  French  nation — and 
scarcely  less  cherished  for  his  dramatic,  historical, 
and  philological,  than  for  his  poetical  talents  —  the 
presses  of  the  Metropolis  of  that  country  are  for  ever 
teeming  with  editions  of  his  works,  in  part  or  in  whole. 
The  famous  edition  of  Beaumarchais  eclipsed  every 
thing  of  its  kind,  on  a  similar  scale  of  magnitude :  but, 
for  intrinsic  worth,  if  not  for  extrinsic  splendour,  it 
has  been  surpassed  by  the  recent  impression  of  Re- 
nouard.  Intermediate  editions,  of  less  cost  and  less 
critical  elaboration,  will  satisfy  the  ordinary  purposes 
of  reading.  Of  these,  and  of  some  other  peculiarities, 
the  subjoined  note  will  afford  a  tolerably  correct 
account.* 

*  To  attempt  to  bibliographise  the  article  VOLTAIRE,  as  it  should  be, 
in  one  note,  would  be  little  short  of  madness.  Even  Brunet  shrinks 
from  the  magnitude  of  such  an  attempt.  I  will  be  therefore  perspi- 
cuous, if  not  brief.  The  famous  edition  of  his  Works  Complete  is  that 
of  Beaumarchais,  published  in  1784,  &c.  at  Kehl,  with  the  types  of 
Baskerville,f  in  seventy  handsome  octavo  volumes :  with  beautiful 


•f-  In  Peignot's  Dictionnaire  de  Bibliologie,  there  is,  to  the  best  of  my  recol- 
lection, an  interesting  article  on  the  subject  of  Beaumarchais'  edition  of  Voltaire  : 
but  La  Harpe  (Cours  de  Litterature,  vol.  xi.  p.  609)  has  given  an  animated  sketch 
of  it,  and  the  Biogr.  Universel,  &c.  (vol.  iii.  p.  635-8)  has  availed  itself  of  the  ma- 
terials of  La  Harpe.  Never  was  a  work  undertaken  with  greater  expectations  of 
success,  or  expenditure  of  capital.  Beaumarchais  began  with  buying  the  whole  of 
Baskerville's  types,  punches,  and  matrices.  He  re-established  ruined  paper 
mills  in  the  Vosges,  about  15  miles  from  Kehl :  was  nice  to  excess  in  the  paper  to 
be  manufactured,  and  employed  the  most  knowing  workmen  engaged  in  the  ma 
nufactory  of  Dutch  paper.  His  printing  office  and  establishment  at  Kehl  were 
immense.  Many  millions  of  livres  were  expended,  and  the  ultimate  LOSS  of  a  mil- 
lion was  the  result  of  his  vast  projects  and  incessant  activity  and  solicitude.  But 
the  proof  sheets  (especially  of  the  duodecimo  edition)  were  carelessly  revised ;  and 
Beaumarchais,  in  an  evil  hour,  exalted  Voltaire  at  the  expense  of  Racine.  In 


FRENCH.]  POETRY.  771 

And  now   .  .  .  leaving  the  lyrical  poetry  of  I.  B. 
ROUSSEAU  to  the  admiration  of  those  who  have  a  taste 

plates.  A  duodecimo  edition,  in  ninety-two  volumes,  was  published 
at  the  same  time ;  but  this  latter  (according  to  Renouard)  though  a 
beautiful  edition,  is  not  free  from  typographical  errors.  Of  each  edi- 
tion there  were  printed  not  fewer  than/ue  different  papers.  A  copy 
of  the  largest  octavo  paper,  neat  in  russia,  is  marked  at  52Z.  105.  in 
the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  :  who  also  mark  a  neat  copy 
of  the  Basic  edition  of  1784,  in  seventy-three  octavo  volumes,  at  21 J. 
At  Paris,  an  edition  was  published  by  Didot,  in  1802,  in  fifty-five 
volumes;  and  another  in  1817,  in  forty-two  octavo  vols.  superior  to 
the  preceding.  I  now  come  to  the  last  and  best  edition  of  the  Entire 
Works  of  Voltaire  by  RENOUARD,  just  completed  in  sixty  octavo  vo- 
lumes, with  one  hundred  and  thirteen  vignettes,  and  forty-seven  por- 
traits. The  designs  of  Moreau  le  Jeune  embellish  this  splendid  and 
estimable  production  :  but  of  designs  and  graphic  embellishments  to 
Voltaire^  there  is  no  end.  Consult  Renouard,  Cat.  de  la  Blbl.  d'wi 
Amateur }  vol.  iii  p.  301 ;  and  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  present  us  with 
a  tempting  article  in  their  last  catalogue  (no.  1248)  containing  fine 
impressions  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  prints,  large  paper,  at 
141.  14s.  Certainly,  the  plates  by  Simonet,  in  Renouard's  edition, 
are  bright,  spirited,  and  very  "  taking:"  and  universal  and  brilliant 
as  was  the  genius  of  Voltaire,  it  must  be  admitted  that  France,  in  the 
publications  of  his  works,  has  done  justice  to  his  talents.  I  entreat 
the  sedulous  reader  to  consult  Brunet. 

But  evident  as  is  this  position,  or  unquestionable  as  may  be  this 
conclusion,  there  are  some  drawbacks  to  be  mentioned :  at  least,  on 
one  score,  there  is  a  very  tremendous  counterbalance  to  be  stated  : 
and  on  this,  the  high  tone  of  feeling,  and  the  masterly  style  of  cri£i- 
cism,  of  La  Harpe  comes  most  opportunely  to  my  aid.  That  such  >. 
man  as  VOLTAIRE,  without  feeling  and  without  principles — in  the 


short,  the  impression  betrayed  the  absence  of  a  correct  editorial  tact :  and  La 
Harpe  tells  us  that  those  of  Didot  are  very  much  superior  in  accuracy  and  utility. 
The  Life  of  Beaumarchais  (a  very  curious  and  chequered  one)  was  published  in 
1802, 12mo. :  and  his  works  in  seven  octavo  volumes  (for  he  was  a  dramatist  and  a 
poet)  in  1809.  Beaumarchais  put  the  finishing  stroke  to  his  speculating  mania  by 
importing  sixty  thousand  stand  of  arms  in  the  Revolution  of  171)2 :  and  he  died  in 
1799  just  on  the  verge  of  his  70th  year. 


772  POETRY.      ,  [FRENCH. 

for  such  performances — and  classing  GRESSET  and 
DELILLE  among  the  most  popular  and  pleasing  of  the 

conscious  and  undisputed  possession  of  the  most  brilliant  talents — 
should  have  written  any  thing  which  interest  or  lucre  suggested,  was 
natural,  and  to  be  expected  \  but  that  a  respectable  government,  or 
that  a  polished  state  of  society,  as  was  France  during  the  middle  of 
the  xviiith  century,  should  have  tolerated  the  publication  of  whatever 
such  an  unprincipled  writer  chose  to  produce,  is  a  matter  beyond  all 
conception,  and  scarcely  to  be  stigmatised  with  sufficient  severity. 
The  reader  has  already  anticipated  the  mention  of  the  PUCELLE  of 
Voltaire.  Hear  the  energetic  language  of  La  Harpe  upon  this  com- 
position. "  Jamais  1'impudence  du  vice  et  du  blaspheme  n'avoit  e*t6 
portee  a  ce  point  j  et  quoique  le  vice  y  fut  souvent  de  la  plus  degou- 
tante  crapule,  et  la  blaspheme  inepte  ou  grossier,  tel  e"tait  deja  1'at- 
trait  de  1'impie'te  hardie  et  de  la  debauche  effrontee,  que  ce  m6me 
ecrivain,  pourqui  Tons'  etait  montre  si  severe  jusques  dans  ses  chefs- 
d'oeuvres,  parut  ne  trouver  presque  plus  que  des  approbateurs,  et 
avoir  fait  de  ses  lecteurs  autant  de  complices.  II  n'y  a  point  de  livre 
qui  ait  ete  plus  repandu,  plus  ge"neralement  lu,  plus  souvent  cite*. 
Toute  la  jeunesse  le  sut  par  cceur,  et  en  fit  sa  philosophic  ,-  les  vers  de 
la  Pucelle  devinrent  le  catechisme  de  cet  age  qui  prend  si  volontiers 
pour  loi  1'absence  de  tout  frein  :  et  si  Ton  reflechit  a  tout  le  mal  qu' 
a  fait  et  du  faire  ce  poeme,  on  avouera  qu'un  gouvernement  tombe 
dans  la  plus  etrange  inconsequence,  lorsqu'il  interdit  la  vente  des 
poisons,  et  qu'il  autorise  on  tolere  le  debit  de  pareils  livres."  Cours  de 
Litterature,  vol.  viii.  p.  213-14. 

And  yet,  whether  in  LARGE  PAPER  copies  of  the  edition  of  the 
Pucelle  in  1789,  8vo.  two  vols.  —  or  in  one  volume  4to.,  of  the  same 
date — or  in  the  more  sumptuous  edit,  of  1797*  4to.  published  by  Didot 
— or  in  minor,  and  exquisitely  printed,  editions  of  the  same  work — 
there  is  hardly  a  Frenchman  of  education,  or  as  it  is  called  of  good 
breeding,  but  what  lavishes  his  napoleons  on  the  decorations  of 
the  PUCELLE.  Plates  from  the  designs  of  Moreau — others,  from  the 
most  licentious  originals — are  thrust  into  this  book ;  —  and  copies  of 
it,  glittering  on  the  shelves  of  Bibliophiles,  make  us  surprised  at  the 
indifference  or  temerity  of  their  Owners.  But  this  imprudence  does 
not  belong  to  France.  Brunet  taxes  us,  and  perhaps  with  justice,  of 


FRENCH.]  POETRY.  773 

recent  poets  of  France — (not  failing  to  recommend  the 
two  latter  strongly  to  a  place  in  every  well  chosen 
library)  *  I  take  leave  of  the  department  of  POETRY, 
usually  so  considered.  At  any  rate,  that  department, 
as  far  as  it  relates  to  the  British  Muse,  will  be  closed 
— together  with  the  LIBRARY  COMPANION  itself— in  the 
ensuing  pages,  to  be  devoted  to  the  BRITISH  DRAMA. 

being  also  instrumental  to  the  execution  of  plates  of  similar  inde- 
cency. Proh  pudor ! 

*  JEAN  BAPTISTE  ROUSSEAU  is  a  lyrical  poet,  with  whom  (from  the 
information  which  I  gathered  when  in  France)  I  suspect  the  French 
themselves  to  be  but  little  conversant,  Indeed  he  may  not  be  worthy 
of  a  very  intimate  acquaintance.  A  very  pretty  edition  of  him  in  five 
duodecimo  volumes,  appeared  in  1797:  perhaps  worth  \l.  5s,:  but 
Crapelet  has  lately  put  forth  the  most  correct  and  valuable,  as  well 
as  the  most  beautifully  printed,  edition,  in  1820,  8vo.  5  vols.  The 
copies,  on  LARGE  PAPER  — of  which,  one,  of  singular  splendour, 
bound  in  white  calf  by  C.  Lewis,  glitters  on  the  book  shelves  of  the 
visto-cabinet  of  Menalcas  — present  a  most  resplendent  appearance. 
M.  Brunet  says  "  the  free  epigrams  are  printed  apart ''  . .  to  be  read 
apart,  I  ask  ?  They  should  not  have  been  printed  at  all.  Of  GRESSET, 
I  will  recommend  only  Renouard's  edition,  in  1811,  8vo.  3  vols.: 
worth  about  I/.  105.  On  large  paper,  there  were  only  TWO  copies 
printed.  One  is  in  the  library  of  Earl  Spencer,  the  other  in  that  of 
the  publisher.  The  plates  are  very  clever— from  the  pencil  of  Moreau. 
DELILLE  is  the  glory  of  the  modern  school  of  French  poetry:  and  I 
love  his  Jardins,  and  LHomme  des  champs,  ou  les  Georgiques  Fran- 
poises,  so  much,  that  I  will  spur  on  both  "  the  young"  and  "  the  old 
man  "  to  get  the  most  beautiful  copy  of  each  work,  printed  by  Didot, 
in  8vo.— which  they  can  procure  :  and  if  on  LARGE  PAPER,  and  bound 
in  green  morocco,  so  much  the  better.  They  are  sweet  poems :  full  of 
pleasing  imagery  and  virtuous  sentiment. 


[  774  ] 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

The  first  thing  that  may  strike  the  learned  in 
DRAMATIC  LORE,  will  be  the  paucity  of  the  pages  here 
devoted  to  that  subject.  But  my  path  is  necessarily 
short  and  contracted.  I  must  have  nothing  to  do 
with  Mysteries  and  Moralities ;  whether  in  a  foreign 
or  our  own  tongue.  If  indeed  I  were  disposed  to  un- 
draw the  curtain  which  conceals  the  strange  and  "mys- 
terious" productions,  founded  on  the  dramatic  art, 
which  enrich  the  early  annals  of  French  Literature,  I 
should  only  have  to  sit  myself  down  in  the  beautiful 
Library  of  my  friend  and  brother-Roxburgher,  Robert 
Lang,  Esq.  of  Portland-place,*  arid  within  ninety-six 

*  SOME  account,  however,  of  the  treasures  of  this  extraordinary 
collection  (of  which  more  than  a  slight  hint  is  given  in  the  Bibliogr. 
Decameron,  vol.  iii.  p.  35,  &c.)  may  be  expected  in  a  volume  of  such 
portly  dimensions  as  the  present.  But,  ere  I  speak  of  the  French 
Mysteries  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Lang,  let  me  briefly  notice  his 
Romances  and  Poetry  in  the  same  language.  They  are  not  only 
choice  and  numerous,  but,  the  generality  of  them,  in  a  condition  the 
most  surprisingly  clean  and  beautiful.  I  have  handled  and  perused 
many  a  thin  tome  of  black-letter  poetry,  of  which  the  aspect  was  per- 
fectly marvellous  —  sufficient  to  stagger  the  uninitiated,,  and  to  over- 
whelm the  experienced  with  unmixed  transport.  I  am  doubtful 
whether  a  single  Bibliophile,  at  Paris,  possesses  such  an  extraordinary 
cabinet  of  poetry  in  his  native  tongue.  The  Owner  of  them,  who 
reads  the  bizarre-looking  pages  of  these  books  with  the  same  facility 
that  my  friend  Mr.  Bolland  does  Machlinia's  edition  of  Littleton's  Te- 
nures, is  just  now  occupied  in  a  raisonne'  catalogue  of  his  treasures : 
and  let  me  hope  that  such  a  catalogue  will  be  seen  in  print — at  least 
by  the 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  775 

hours  of  such  a  sitting,  I  should  enrich  my  memoran- 
dum book  with  such  entries  (of  which  indeed  theaccom- 

And  now  for  the  MYSTERIES.  One  of  the  most  extraordinary, 
half-laughable,  and  half- tragical,  is  that  of  St.  Christophe.  It  is  a 
folio  volume,  of  the  date  of  1530,  having  a  wood-cut  of  the  Saint  for 
a  frontispiece  : — *  with  the  following  title :  "  Sensuytla  vie  de  sainct 
Christofle  ele'gamment  copose'e  en  rime  francoise  et  par  personages 
par  maistre  Cheualet  iadis  souueral  maistre  en  telle  compositure  nou- 
uellement  imprimee."  The  work  is  printed  in  a  large,  round,  unusual, 
and  unfinished  roman  letter,  in  double  columns.  The  first  part  ends 
on  sign.  N  ii.,  thus  : 

Quant  penthecostes  furent  de  iuing  le  neuf 
M,  D.  uingt  et  sept  fust  faict  neuf 
Ce  present  liure  et  en  ce  lieu  et  terre 
De  Grenoble  fust  ioue  son  mystere 
Duquel  faiist  la  premiere  iournee 
Nouuellement  audict  leu  imprimee. 

The  second  set  of  signatures  ends  on  Z  Z  iiii.  rev.  Then  A  A  A,  to 
C  C  C,  inclusively,  in  fours :  as  indeed  run  all  the  signatures,  each  leaf 
numerically  marked.  On  the  reverse  of  CCC  iii,  the  colophon  is 
thus  : 

Icyfinist  le  mystere  du  glorieux  sainct  chri- 

stofie  compose  par  personages  et  imprime^ 

a    Grenoble  le  uingthuit  de  ianuier  Ian  co 

ptat  a  la  natiuite  de  nostre  seigneur  mil  ciq 

cens  trente  au  despens  de  maistre  Anemond 

amalberti  citoyen  de  grenoble. 

Then  a  leaf,  with  the  same  cut  of  St.  Christopher,  on  the  reverse,  as 
at  the  commencement.  There  are  verses  below.  This  copy,  ob- 
tained from  Chardin's  collection,  is  bound  in  blue  morocco.  See  the 
Bibl.  du  Theatre  Francois,  1768,  vol.  i.  page  93-6.  Of  course  such  a 
volume  (believed  to  be  the  only  one  in  this  country)  is  BEYOND  all 
price. 

Mr.  Lang  possesses  another  copy,  in  MS.  (which  however  is  not 
exactly  the  same  work)  executed  in  a  small  gothic  type,  ON  VELLUM  j 
upon  the  whole,  very  cleverly.  This  also  was  Chardin's  book,  who 

*  In  Mr.  Lang's  copy,  the  frontispiece  and  the  three  first  leaves  of  text  are  MS.. 
of  a  neat  execution. 


776  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

panying  note  bears  powerful  testimony)  as  might 
astonish  even  the  Society  of  the  Bibliophiles,  at  Paris ! 

had  a  rage  for  transcripts  :  half  of  his  collection  affording,  more  or 
less,  specimens  of  successful  calligraphy.*  It  was  transcribed  from 
an  edition  printed  by  the  widow  of  lehan  Trepperel  for  lehannot, 
bookseller,  in  4 to.  without  date.  We  learn  from  the  title,  that  not 
fewer  than  THIRTY-THREE  personages  are  engaged  in  this  mysterious 
Drama:  of  whom  the  son  of  God  is  one.  Another  most  rare  and 
singular  Mystery,  in  this  collection,  is  called  "  homme  pecheur ;" 
which,  from  the  title,  we  learn  was  "  played  by  sundry  personages 
in  the  town  of  Tours."  Mr.  Lang's  copy  is  printed  by  Verard,  in 
double  columns,  without  date.  A  fine  copy,  in  old  blue  morocco 
binding.  Again  :  L'homme  iuste  &  Vhomme  mondain  Nouuellement 
compose  et  imprime  a  Paris,  1508,  4to.  Also  printed  by  Verard.  A 
fine,  large,  crackling  copy :  but  with  signatures  i.  Hi.  and  iiii.  in  ms. 
— admirably  done.  Chardin's  copy.  Once  more  :  Le  Mistere  de  la 
Passion,  &c.  which  we  learn,  from  the  title,  was  "  triumphantly 
played  at  Angiers,  and  latterly  at  Paris."  It  is  a  quarto  volume, 
printed  at  Paris,  by  lehannot  and  Trepperel' s  widow,  in  the  black 
letter,  in  double  columns  :  and  may  be  at  least  300  years  old.  A  fine 
copy. 

Mystery  the  Fifth.  Le  loyeulx  Mistere  des  Trois  Rois:  a  Dixsept 
Personnages  Compose' par  lehan  Dabondance  Bazochien.  Et  Notaire 
Royal  de  la  Ville  du  Pont  Saint  Esprit.  A  ms.  copy,  in  an  octavo 
form,  of  the  ONLY  ORIGINAL  MS — which  is  almost  undecipherable.  In 
the  whole,  fifty-two  pages  :  perhaps  executed  seventy  or  eighty  years 


*  Fora  particular,  and  I  trust  not  unamusing  account,  of  M.  CHARDIN,  the  last 
of  the  old  school  of  FRENCH  BOOKSELLERS,  the  reader  may  consult  a  certain  Tour, 
vol.  ii.  p.  400-3  :  where  a  portrait  of  this  old  Bibliopolist — executed  (t  ad  vivum — " 
and  the  "  Vir  Illustrissimus  ipse  " — may  be  seen.  If  poor  Mr.  Chardin  be  not  now 
no  more,  his  intellectual  faculties  have,  I  understand,  entirely  forsaken  him.  His 
books  were  disposed  of  last  year.  I  learn  a  curious  anecdote  of  him,  when  he  was 
comparatively  a  young  man,  during  the  French  revolution.  Chardin  was  a  despe- 
rate Republican  :  hating  Louis  XVI.  and  his  Swiss  guard.  He  was  one  of  those 
who  was  engaged  in  that  murderous  contest  in  the  hall  and  stair-case  of  the  Thuil- 
eries,  when  the  Swiss  Guard  were  slaughtered  to  a  man.  In  the  convulsive  ago- 
nies of  death,  one  of  them  bit  off  the  left  fore  finger  of  his  destroyer,  and  that 
destroyer  was  Monsieur  Chardin ! 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  777 

The  question  is  yet  perhaps  to  be  gone  into — namely, 
how  those  persons  and  things,  held  the  MOST  SACRED 
from  infancy,  and  connected  with  our  best  hopes  in 

ago.  See  Bibl.  du  Theatre,  vol.  i.  page  118.  For  the  sixth  and  last 
time  :  Le  Trh  excellet  et  salnct  mystere  du  VIEIL  TESTAMENT,  par  per- 
sonnages,  &c.  Lan  mil  cinq  cens  quarante  et  deux.  Folio,  324  leaves 
— with  the  Mysteries  of  OCTAVIAN  and  the  SYBILS  —  having  wood, 
cuts  of  the  latter.  To  these  volumes  (li  rari  nantes  ingurgite  vasto'*) 
might  be  added  a  list  of  a  few  Dramas,  sacred  and  otherwise, 
in  the  same  Collection :  but  I  forbear.*  Let  the  preceding  satisfy  all 
ordinary  curiosity. 

*  And  yet,  not  WHOLLY  so  :  for  how  can  I  forget  the  Actes  des  Apotres  Sf  Apoca- 
lypse, printed  in  1501,  folio  ?  and,  still  less  —  La  Vegeance  et  destruction  de  Hier- 
usalem  par  personages,  1539,  4to.  On  the  two  last  pages  and  half  are  the  "  Dra- 
matis Personae,"  amounting  to  ONLY  178  in  number  !  From  a  ms.  note,  referring 
to  the  Metz  Chronicle,  it  appears  that  this  Drama,  or  Mystery,  was  acted  in  1437 ; 
and  that  four  days  were  consumed  in  the  performance  of  it.  It  farther  appears, 
that  the  Cure"  of  St.  Victoire,  who  had  acted  the  part  of  the  Almighty  in  the  Mis- 
tere  de  la  Passion  (above  noticed)  acted  the  part  of  Titus  in  this  Drama.  Mr. 
Lang  has  another  edition  of  it,  without  date,  printed  by  I.  lehannot  for  Trepperel's 
widow ;  which  has  two  wood-cuts  at  the  beginning,  such  as  would  charm  the  heart 
of  my  romance  and  mystery-loving  friend  Mr.  Douce.  On  the  reverse  of  the  title- 
page,  are  two  minstrels  playing,  at  the  entrance  of  a  castle ;  one  with  a  guitar, 
and  the  other  with  a  clarionet ;  while  a  page  is  attending  with  a  duplicate  of  each 
instrument.  Some  guards  are  looking  out  at  their  approach.  A  similar  wood-cut 
is  at  the  end  of  the  table  ;  except  that  the  page  has  his  hat  off  in  his  left  hand,  with 
a  sword  in  his  right.  This  edition,  besides  the  epilogue  of  two  pages,  contains 
ccxii  leaves. 

A  few  more  "  LAST  WORDS."  In  the  same  collection  there  is  an  ancient  MS.  of 
La  Destruction  de  Troye  le  Grand:  perhaps  of  the  xivth  century :  beginning  thus  : 

En  passant  par  vne  lande 
Plaine  de  Roses  et  defleurs. 

&c.         &c.         &c. 

There  are  two  leaves  of  vellum,  with  six  or  seven  of  paper,  usually  throughout.  It 
is  written  in  a  close  but  broad-faced  gothic  letter.  At  the  end,  we  read  the  name 
of  the  Transcriber  thus  pleasantly  introduced  : 

Nomen  scriptoris  lohanncs  plenus  amoris. 

This  MS.  concludes  with  seven  leaves  of  a  "  Chanson  sur  le  mort  dc  Hector." 
But  I  must  really  tear  myself,  and  perhaps  the  reader  too,  from  a  farther  registry 

Of  SUCh  DRAMATIC  BlJOUX  ! 


778  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

this  world,  and  our  happiness  in  the  world  to  come, 
should  be  made  the  instruments  of  the  most  puerile 
conceits,  the  most  vulgar  and  revolting  language,  and 
the  most  ridiculous  or  brutal  actions  ?  Both  in  the 
French  and  English  languages  there  are  sufficient 
testimonies  of  the  truth  of  this  remark. 

In  regard  to  the  mysteries  in  our  own  language,  I 
must  exhort  the  curious  to  dive  into  the  lore  of  those 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Chester  and  Coventry 
Mysteries;  especially  if,  after  the  lucubrations  of 
Warton,  Dodsley,  Malone,  and  Hawkins,  they  are  for- 
tunate enough  to  be  favoured  with  the  perusal  of  what 
has  been  written  by  Mr.  MARKLAND  and  Mr.  SHARP:  * 

*  The  first  of  the  above  named  gentlemen  has  wrought  for  himself 
a  much  more  imperishable  "  garland"  than  ever  old  Skelton  (see 
pp.  653,  658,  ante)  had  the  impudence  or  ingenuity  to  twine  round 
his  temples,  in  that  recherche*  Roxburghe  Volume,  called  CHESTER 
MYSTERIES  ;  and  presented  by  its  Editor  to  the  Roxburghe  Club,  in 
1818.  The  mysteries  are,  The  Deluge,  and  The  Slaughter  of  the 
Innocents :  from  a  MS.  of  the  XlVth  century,  "  the  most  ancient,  as 
well  as  the  most  complete  collection  of  the  kind  now  in  existence." 
An  Introductory  Essay  of  xvi  pages,*  preceded  by  an  engraved  fron- 
tispiece, and  three  title  pages  or  prefixes,  render  the  text,  printed  for 
the  FIRST  TIME,  perfectly  invaluable  to  a  thorough-bred  Antiquary. 
'Tis  like  a  well-proportioned  marble  porch,  of  the  Doric  Order,  to  a 
building  of  perfect  symmetry.  This  book  is,  throughout,  a  model  in 
every  respect.  The  paper,  printing,  ornaments,  and  intrinsic  matter 
render  it  the  most  sparkling  of  the  Roxburghe- Club  Book-Gems. 
It  has  sold  for  as  high  as  22Z.  and  as  low  as  12 /.  With  difficulty  I 
refrain  from  an  extract :  but  it  must  not  be. 

For  the  latter  gentleman — above-named — I  gather,  from  the  pre- 
face of  an  ancient  Pageant  called  Judicium,  (or,  et  The  Day  of  Judg- 
ment,'') in  the  possession  of  Peregrine  Towneley,  Esq.  and  printed 


Reprinted  in  vol.  iii.  of  Malone's  Shakspeare,  by  Boswell. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  779 

gentlemen  who  have  proved  themselves  competent  in 
all  respects,  for  the  interesting  and  arduous  tasks 
which  they  have  undertaken. 

by  him  for  the  FIRST  TIME,  for  the  Roxburghe  Club— that  "  a  large 
portion  of  the  COVENTRY  MYSTERIES  has  already  been  printed  j  and 
it  may  be  gratifying  to  the  lovers  of  the  ancient  Drama  to  be  inform- 
ed, that  the  whole  of  them,  with  every  necessary  elucidation,  will, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  at  no  distant  time,  be  made  public  by  the  dili- 
gence and  liberality  of  a  Gentleman  at  Coventry,  who  is  every  way 
qualified  for  the  execution  of  this  difficult  and  laborious  task."  That 
gentleman,  it  is  no  secret,  is  Mr.  Sharp  of  Coventry  !  who,  on  more 
accounts  than  one,  has  been  frequently  lauded  in  the  humble  pages 
of  the  author  of  this  work.  The  <f  Dramatis  Personse"  of  this 
ancient  Pageant  of  tf  the  Day  of  Judgment,*"  are  only  xiii,  begin- 
ning with  "  Jesus  Christ,"  who  has  Jive  good  Angels  attending  him  : 
the  first  and  second  Demon :  Tutivillus  :  with  four  attendant  evil 
Spirits.  An  argument,  prefixed,  gives  us  in  few  words  the  scope  of 
the  play.  A  glossary  concludes  it.  The  introduction  and  glossary 
are  by  the  hand  of  Francis  Douce,  Esq.  If  the  reader  wishes  for 


*  Is  it  mere  fancy,  that  I  suppose  Skelton  to  have  borrowed  somewhat  of  the 
structure  of  his  verse  from  a  perusal  of  a  transcript  of  this  piece  ? — as  thus  : 

Here  is  a  bag  full  of  lokys  :  of  pride  and  of  lust 
Of  wraggers  and  of  wrcars, :  a  bag  full  of  brefes 
Of  carpars  and  cryars  :  of  mychers  and  thefes 
Of  lurdans  and  lyars :  that  no  man  lefys 
Of  flytars  of  flyars  ;  and  renderars  of  reffys 
&c.  &c.  &c. 

sojoly, 

Ilka  las  in  a  lande :  like  a  lady  nerehande 
So  freshe  and  so  plesande :  makys  men  to  foly 
If  she  be  never  so  fowll  a  dowde  :  with  hir  kelles  and  hir  pynnes 
The  shrew  hirself  can  shrowde  :  both  hir  chekys  and  her  chynnes 
She  can  make  it  full  prowde  :  with  japes  and  with  gynnes 
Hir  hede  as  hy  as  a  clowde  :  but  no  shame  of  hir  synnes. 

Page  v. — ix. 

Mr.  Douce  thinks  the  original  MS.  is  older  than  either  the  Chester  or  Coventry 
Manuscripts.  I  subjoin  an  explanation  of  some  of  the  above  words  :  Wraggers  and 
Wrcars,  Wranglers  and  Noisy  Fellows;  Mychers,  Pilferers;  Lurdans,  Block- 
heads ;  Flytars,  Scolds  ;  Rendrears  of  reffys,  Thief- takers. 


780  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

Then  again  for  Collections  of  Old  Plays,  I  must 
entreat  the  "Young-  Man"  to  furnish  himself  with 
those  published  by  Hawkins  and  Dodsley  ;*  or  per- 
haps it  may  answer  his  object  still  better,  to  secure, 
as  they  come  out,  the  Numbers  of  the  Old  English 
Drama,  published  by  Mr.  Baldwyn,  apparently  under 
the  care  of  a  most  competent  Editor.1!*  As  the  remain- 
more  horrible  things,  from  Old  Mysteries  and  Dramas,  he  may  pe- 
ruse what  is  written  in  the  Bibliogr.  Decameron,  vol.  ii.  p.  217^  &c. 
and  Tour,  vol.  ii.  p.  302-10.  The  work  referred  to  in  the  latter 
authority — the  Blasphemateurs  du  Nom  de  Dieu—haa  been  reprinted 
by  the  Society  of  Bibliophiles  at  Paris  3  but  where  is  MY  copy  of  it — 
as  an  honorary  member  ?  Speak  Messrs.  Chateaugiron  and  Durand 
De  Langon  ! 

*  The  contents  of  the  Collections  of  Hawkins,  (1773,  8vo.  three 
vols.)  andDodsley's,  1780,  8 vo.  twelve  vols.  best  edition  by  Reed — are 
set  forth  in  Mr.  Harris's  very  judicious  catalogue  of  the  library  of  the 
Royal  Institution,  p.  243.  A  copy  of  the  first  work  may  be  had  for 
II.  Is. :  of  the  second  for  41  14s.  6d.  But  if  a  copy  of  the  second 
work,  on  LARGE  PAPER,  be  aspired  unto,  desperate  must  be  the  struggle, 
and  ponderous  must  be  the  price  paid,  for  its  attainment.  Only  six 
copies  were  so  printed ;  and  one  of  these  was  sold  for  141.  14*.  at  the 
sale  of  Mr.  Woodhouse's  library  in  18O3. 

f  Two  numbers  only  of  this  work  have  been  published,  by  Mr. 
Baldwyn,  of  Newgate  Street.  The  first  contains  The  Second  Maiden's 
Tragedy,  first  printed  from  the  original  MS.  of  the  date  of  1611, 
from  the  Lansdowne  Collection :  the  second,  A  Pleasant  Conceited 
Comedy,  wherein  is  showed  how  a  Man  may  chuse  a  Good  Wife  from  a 
Bad.  Will  not  my  "  Young  Man  "  feel  some  curiosity  about  such  a 
Drama?  These  numbers  are  elegantly  printed  in  a  small  type,  on  good 
paper,  at  2s.  6d.  the  number.  When  this  work  is  complete,  it  will 
be  found  to  be  the  most  copious  and  valuable  of  all  the  "  Selections 
of  Plays  from  the  Old  English  Dramatists"  extant :  that  of  Dodsley 
(even  by  Reed)  "  from  the  small  number  of  Plays  it  contains,  in 
comparison  with  the  immense  quantity  of  materials  to  be  found  in  the 
different  libraries  in  the  kingdom,  being  a  very  inadequate  representa- 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  781 

ing  preliminary  piece  of  instruction,  I  cannot  resist 
the  opportunity  of  strongly  recommending  a  Series  of 
Essays  on  the  Early  English  Drama,  to  be  found  in 
the  Retrospective  Review.*  They  are  copious  and  in- 

tion  of  the  earliest  and  best  age  of  our  dramatic  literature."— Pro- 
spectus.  I  learn  with  pleasure  that  a  transcript  of  Marlow's  Dido, 
Queen  of  Carthage,  (see  p.  700  ante)  is  in  hand  for  one  of  the  ensuing 
numbers  of  this  work.  There  are  copies  upon  LARGE  PAPER,  beauti- 
fully printed,  and  arranging  handsomely  with  the  large  paper  Dodsley, 
and  the  large  paper  of  the  reprint,  (1766,  Svo,  4  vols.)  of  the  twenty 
Old  Plays  of  Shakspeare,  published  in  4to.  during  the  Poet's  life  time. 

While  on  the  subject  of  Reprints  of  OLD  PLAYS,  or  publications 
of  them  for  the  first  time  from  MSS.  the  reader  should  be  informed 
that  Mr.  Haslewood  printed  for  the  Roxburghe  Club  two  Interludes 
called  Jack  Juggler  and  Thersytes  '•  the  one  from  the  press  of  W.  Cop- 
land, and  the  other  from  that  of  Tysdale.  The  originals  were  UNIQUES: 
and  formed  a  part  of  a  most  extraordinary  Collection  of  Old  Plays,  dis. 
covered  in  181 0.  That  collection  is  now  dispersed;  and  Mr.  Hasle- 
wood, in  his  short  Introductionf  tells  us  wherefore.  Mr.  John  Arthur 
Lloyd,  another  member  of  the  same  UNIQUE  Club,  has  favoured  his 
associates  with  the  printing  of  two  plays  called  The  Cuck  Queanes, 
and  The  Faery  Pastorall,  or  the  Forest  of  Elues — from  a  most  extraor- 
dinary ms.  volume  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Haslewood.  The  author 
of  these  plays,  as  well  as  of  the  whole  contents  of  the  ms.  volume, 
was  WILLIAM  PERCY,  the  third  son  of  Henry,  the  eighth  Earl  of  Nor- 
thumberland. Such  another  Olla  Podrida  of  dramatic  composition, 
was  surely  never  conceived  or  executed.  But  every  Roxburgher 
REVELS  in  his  copy  ! — and  long  may  he  revel.  I  ought  however  to 
notice  the  Collection  of  Ancient  English  Dramas,  published  by  Miller, 
in  three  handsome  royal  octavo  volumes  :  worth  about  II.  Us.  6d. 

*  In  the  second  and  several  following  numbers  of  that  well-con- 
ducted periodical  work. 

•f*  This  Introduction  consists  of  two  pages  only,  printed  on  India  paper,  on  the 
rectos  of  two  leaves,  for  the  sake  of  the  exquisite  little  wood-cuts  with  which  it 
begins  and  ends.  But  let  us  us  hope  it  will  be  very  long  ere  its  worthy  author  hob 
and  nob  with  such  a  "  boon  companion,"  as  appears  in  the  tail-piece — for  then 
there  will  be  an  END  of  all  things. 


782  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

structive :  and  bring  the  history  and  "  reasoning  of 
thing/'  acurately  and  vividly  before  our  observation. 
To  these,  add  the  last  and  best  edition  of  Baker's 
Biographia  Dramatical  or  a  Companion  to  the  Play 
House — and  both  the  Young  and  the  Old  Man  has 
wherewithal  to  recreate  and  instruct  himself  in  this 
department  for  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

But  my  "Young  Man"  is  becoming  impatient  for 
an  account  of  those  Dramatists,  worth  noticing,  who 
preceded  Shakspeare  ;  in  order  that  he  may  revel  un- 
controuled  in  the  bibliographical  luxuries  attending 
a  description  of  the  rarer,  more  curious,  costly,  and 
best  editions  of  that  Immortal  Dramatist.  A  little 
patience,  and  he  shall  be  gratified.  An  illustrious 
group  passes  across  the  stage  in  the  mind's  eye,  as  pre- 
cursors of  our  great  Bard.  And  let  us  applaud  them 
as  they  pass.  BALE,  HEYWOOD,  LORD  SACKVIL^E, 
GASCOIGNE  (already  noticed  as  a  poet)  PEELE  and 
MARLOWE.  In  the  subjoined  notef  will  be  found  an 

*  Edited  by  Mr.  Stephen  Jones,  1812,  8vo.  3  vols.: — the  first  in  two 
parts  :  a  work,  which,  whatever  be  its  deficiencies  (and  these  have  been 
pointed  out  by  no  unsparing  hand  in  an  early  number  of  a  certain 
popular  Review)  is  doubtless  the  best  edition,  of  what  has  always 
been  considered  the  best  production  on  the  subject,  extant.  It  may 
be  obtained  for  about  1Z.  10s. :  and  till  a  more  perfect  edition  of  it 
appears,  must  be  considered  a  stock-book  in  a  dramatic  library.  When 
will  Mr.  Haslewood  favour  the  world  with  a  compression  of  his  very 
copious  stores,  entitled  NOTITIA  DRAMATICA  ?  There  is  not  a  play,  a 
player,  or  a  play-house,  but  of  which  that  Gentleman  has  the  most 
precise  intelligence.  Some  outlines  of  this  dramatic  history  have 
appeared  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine. 

f  BALE'S  Pieces  are  very  rare  and  highly  prized — especially  when 
found  in  a  fine  and  perfect  state.  A  copy  of  the  second  edition  of 
his  Tragedie  or  Enterlude,  manifesting  the  Chefe  Promises  God  unto 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  783 

account  of  a  few  earlier  and  rarer  pieces  of  these 
Writers  ;  premising,  that  they  are  all  reprinted  in  the 

Man,  printed  by  Charlewoode  in  1577j  was  sold  for  12J.  15s.  at  the 
sale  of  Steevens's  library.  The  first  was  printed  in  1538.  But 
quaere  ?  My  interleaved  copy  of  Herbert,  p.  1 094,  notices  the  ori- 
ginal edition  as  of  1548.  Bale's  Comedy  or  Enterlude  ofJohan  Bap- 
tyste  preachy ng  in  the  Wildernesse^  is  reprinted  in  the  Harleian  Mis- 
cellany, vol.  1,  p.  37.  I  know  not  who  possesess  the  original  edition. 
His  Resurrection  of  Lazarus,  Temptation,  Passion  and  Sepulture  of 
our  Lord,  are  three  yet  rarer  performances.  The  first  editions  are 
supposed  to  have  been  printed  abroad.  See  Malone's  note,  in  Bos- 
well's  edition  of  his  Shakspeare,  vol.  iii.  p.  31.  The  first  edition  of 
LORD  SACKVILLE'S  Gorboduc  is  without  date,  but  supposed  to  be  in 
1562.  His  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  also  without  date,  in  1571.  With  these 
earlier  pieces  should  be  united  STILL'S  Gammer  Gurton's  Needle,  sup- 
posed to  have  been  printed  in  1566.*  These  three  pieces  (says  Mr. 
Campbell)  were  the  earliest  though  faint  draughts  of  our  regular 
tragedy  and  comedy :  but  see  Malone's  Shakspeare ,  Boswells  edit.  vol.  iii. 
p.  38.  Gascoigne's  ' '  Supposes,"  translated  from  Ariosto,  is  our  earliest 
prose  comedy.  Its  dialogue  is  easy  and  spirited.  Specimens,  &c.  vol.  i. 
p.  140.  Mr.  Campbell  gives  a  glowing  account  (supported,  it  must  be 
confessed,  by  a  most  beautiful  quotation)  of  PEELE'S  David  and  Beth- 
sabe.  I  have  no  space  for  the  Critic's  eulogy  or  the  Poet's  beauties  : 
nor  do  I  know  who  possesses  a  copy  of  the  first  impression  of  this 
dramatic  treasure— but  if  the  lucky  hunter  after  theatrical  rarities 
happen  to  stumble  upon  Peele's  Old  Wives  Tale,  a  pleasant  con- 
ceited  Comedie,  played  by  the  Queen's  Majesties'  Players,  1595,  4to. 
it  may  rejoice  his  heart  to  learn  that  only  two  copies  of  it  were  known 
to  the  late  George  Steevens  :  his  own,  and  that  in  the  King's  library. 
His  own  was  sold  for  \^l.  It  would  now  bring  three  times  the  sum. 
As  to  MARLOWE  .  .  . 

But  what  am  I  about  ?  What  limits  are  to  be  assigned  to  these  en- 
quiries 1  The  matter  is  instantly  and  easily  solved  :  and  read  atten- 
tively, enthusiastic  young  man,  the  mode  of  its  solution.  Naturally 


*  A  copy  of  this  rare  volume,  of  the  date  of  1575,  was  sold  at  Bindley's  sale  for 
19J.  5*. 


784  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

Collections  of  Hawkins  and  Dodsley,  so  frequently 
before  mentioned.  But  "illustrious"  as  this  group 

conceiving  what  must  be  the  dramatic  treasures  in  the  MALONE 
COLLECTION  at  Oxford,  some  two  months  ago  I  wrote  to  an  old  and 
excellent  friend,  admirably  qualified  to  answer  every  question  con- 
nected with  the  subject,  to  favour  me  with  some  account  of  these 
same  dramatic  treasures.  In  the  course  of  due  time,  his  answer 
came,  after  the  following  manner :  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that 
many  a  gem,  not  even  alluded  to  in  the  above  text,  will  be  found  to 
sparkle  on  the  shelves  of  "  Old  Bodley." 

Oxford,  April  21,  1824. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

You  tell  me  I  shall  be  doing  you  some  service  if  I  send  you  a  short 
account  of  Mr.  Malone's  dramatic  collections,  now  in  the  Bodleian 
Library ;  and,  as  you  confine  me  to  the  titles  of  some  few  of  those 
pieces  which  I  consider  the  most  rare  and  curious,  I  can  have  no 
excuse  for  not  complying  with  your  request.  1  should  however 
have  obeyed  you,  with  equal  alacrity  and  pleasure,  had  you  even 
drawn  more  largely  on  my  time  and  transcription. 

The  foundation  of  Mr.  Malone's  Dramatic  Library  was  one  hundred 
and  nineteen  volumes  of  old  Plays,  printed  in  quarto,  (containing,  on 
an  average,  eight  plays  in  each  volume)  given  to  him  by  George 
Steevens,  Esq.  I  believe  in  1778.  To  these  Mr.  Malone  added  forty- 
eight  volumes  in  quarto,  twelve  in  duodecimo  and  octavo,  besides  an 
almost  perfect  collection  of  the  single  plays  of  all  the  early  dramatic 
writers.  You  desire  me  to  give  you  a  few  titles  of  the  rarest — and  I 
do  so  as  they  occur,  without  arrangement  or  classification,  premising 
only  that  I  shall  give  you  nothing  subsequent  to  the  year  1600. 

1.  The  Tragedie  of  Tancred  and  Gismund,  compiled  by  the  Gentle- 
men of  the  Inner  Temple,  and  by  them  presented  before  herMaiestiej 
newly  reuiued  and  polished,  according  to  the  decorum  of  these  daies. 
By  R.  W.  London,  1592,  4to.    See  Cens.  Liter,  vol.  viii.  p.  35O. 

2.  The  Tragedie  of  Solimon  and  Perseda,  wherein  is  laide  open 
Loue's  Constancie,  Fortune's  Inconstancie,  and  Death's  Triumphs. 
At  London,  1599,  4to.  (Entered  on  Stationer's  Books,  1592.) 

3.  The  Blinde  Begger  of  Alexandria.  By  George  Chapman.     Imp. 
at  London,  1598,  4to. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  785 

may  be,  the  characters  of  which  it  is  composed  are 
forgotten  . . .  save  in  the  library  of  the  studious  in  dra- 

4.  The  Battell  of  Alcazar,  fought  in  Barberie,  betweene  Sebastian 
King  of  Portugall  and  Abdelmelec  King  of  Marocco,  with  the  death 
of  Captaine  Stukeley.     At  Lond.  1594,  4to. 

5.  A  Moral  and  Pitiful  Comedie  intituled  All  for  Money ;  plainly 
representing  the  manners  of  men  and  fashion  of  the  world  nowe 
adayes,  compild  by  Thomas  Lupton.    At  Lond.  15*8,  4to. 

6.  The  Tragedieof  Gorboduc,  (1562)  4to. 

7-  Pompey  the  Great  his  faire  Corneliaes  Tragedie  :  Effected  by 
her  Father  and  Husbandes  downe-cast,  death,  and  fortune.  Written 
in  French,  by  that  excellent  Poet,  Ro :  Gamier,  and  translated  into 
English  by  Thomas  Kid,  at  Lond.  1595,  4to. 

8.  Cornelia.     At  Lond.  1594,  4to.  (The  same  play,  first  edition.) 

9.  The  Pleasant  History  of  the  two  angry  women  of  Abington,  with 
the  humorous  mirth  of  Dick  Coomes  and  Nicholas  Prouerbes,  two 
seruing  men,  as  it  was  lately  playde,  &c.  By  Henry  Porter,  Gent., 
At  Lond.  1599,  4to. 

10.  The  Coblcfs  Prophesie.    Written  by  Robert  Wilson,  Gent.  At 
Lond.  1594,  4to. 

11.  The  Love  of  King  David  and  fair  Bethsabe,  with  the  Tragedie 
of  Absalon.    As  it  hath  ben  diuers  times  plaied  on  the  stage,  written 
by  George  Peele,  Lond.   1 599,  4to. 

12.  A  new  Enterlude  no  lesse  wittie  then  pleasant,  entituled  New 
Custome,  deuised  of  late,  and  for  diuerse  causes   nowe  set  forthe, 
neuer  before  this  tyme  imprinted,   1573.     Imp.  at  Lond.  by  William 
How  for  Abraham  Veale,  4to. 

33.  An  excellent  new  Commedie  intituled  The  Conflict  of  Con- 
science. At  Lond.  1581,  4to. 

14.  The  Historie  of  Orlando  Furioso,  (by  Robert  Green)  one  of  the 
twelve  Peeres  of  France.     As  it  was  play'd  before  the   Queenes 
Maiestie.    At  Lond.  1599,  4to.  Second  Edition.    The  first  was  in 
1594. 

15.  A  certayne  Tragedie  wrytten  fyrst  in  Italian,  by  F.  N.  B.  enti- 
tuled, Freewyl,  and  translated  into  Englishe  by  Henry  Cheeke,  black 
letter,  no  date,  4to.    See  British  Bibliographer ,  vol.  i.  p.  6. 

3E 


786  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

matic  lore.  Bright,  beautiful,  and  original  as  are  many 
of  the  passages  in  their  works,  the  majority  of  readers 

16.  Antonlus,  or  the  Tragedy  of  Marc  Anthony.  By  the  Right 
Hon.  Mary  Countess  of  Pembroke,  1595,  4to. 

17-  The  Lamentable  and  True  Tragedie  of  M.  -^rden,  of  Faversham 
in  Kent.  Imp.  at  London,  1592,  4to. 

18.  The  Raigne  of  King  Edward  the  third:  as  it  hath  bin  sundrie 
times  plaied  about  the  Citie  of  London,   Lond.  1596,  4to.  Another 
Copy  and  Edition,  Imp.  at  London,  1599,  4to. 

19.  Campaspe,  played  before  the  Queenes  Maiestie  on  twelfe  Day 
at  night  by  her  Maiesties  Children,  and  the  Children  of  Paules. 
Imp.  at  London,  1591,  4to.  Third  Edition. 

20.  Mother  Botnbie,  as  it  was  sundrie  times  plaied  by  the  Children, 
of  Powles,  Lond.  1598,  4to.  Third  Edition. 

21.  A  Warning  for  Faire  Women,  containing  the  most  tragicall  and 
lamentable  murther  of  Master  George  Sanders  of  London,  Marchant, 
nigh  Shooters  Hill,  Lond.  1599,  4to. 

22.  A  pleasant  conceyted  Comedie  of  George  a  Greene,  the  Pinner  of 
Wakefield.    As  it  was  sundry  times  acted  by  the  seruants  of  the  Right 
Honourable  the  Earle  of  Sussex.     Imp.  at  London,  1599,  4to. 

23.  A  Pleasant  Comedie  called  Summers  last  Will  and  Testament, 
written  by  Thomas  Nash,  Imp.  at  Lond.  16OO,  4to. 

24.  The  famous  Chronicle  of  King  Edward  the  First,  sirnamed  Ed- 
ward Longshankes,  Lond.  1593,  4to. 

25.  The  Lamentable  Tragedie  of  Locrine,  the  eldest  sonne  of  King 
Brutus,  Lond.  1595,  4to. 

26.  A  ryght  pithy,  pleasaunt  and  merie  Comedie,  Intytuled  Gammer 
Gurton's  Nedle.    Imprynted  at  London  in  Fleete  Street  beneth  the  Con- 
duit at  the  signe  of  St.  John  Evangelist,   by  Thomas  Colwell,  black 
letter,  4to. 

27.  A  lamentable  Tragedie,  mixed  full  of  plesant  mirth,  containing 
the  life  of  Cambises  King  of  Persia,  no  date,  4to. 

28.  The  First  part  of  the  Tragicall  raigne  of  Selimus,  Lond.  1594. 

29.  A  right  excellent  and  famous  Comoedy  called  the  three  Ladies  of 
London.  At  Lond.  1584,  4to. 

30.  A  new  and  pleasaunt  enterlude  intituled   the  Marriage  of  Witte 
and  Science.     Imp.  at  Lond.  1570,  4to. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  787 

will  never,  I  fear,  become  acquainted  with  them  ;  or, 
knowing  them,  will  be  slow  to  commend.  Our  dra- 
matic taste  is  debasing  apace.  Bustle^  parade  .... 

31.   Thenterlude  of  Youth, 

Jesu  that  his  armes  dyd  sprede 
And  on  a  tree  was  done  to  dead. 

Imp.  at  Lond.  by  John  Waley,  (1557)  4to. 

3*2.  An  Enterlude  intituled  Like  wil  to  like  quod  the  Deuel  to  the 
Colier,  being  godly  and  ful  of  plesant  mirth,  Imp.  at  Lond.  1 568,  4  to. 

33.  A  most  pleasant  and  merie  new  Comedie  intituled  a  Knacke  to 
"knows  a  Knaue.    Newlie  set  foorth,  as  it  hath  sundrie  tymes  bene 
played   by  Ed.  Allen  and  his  Companie.     With  Kemps  applauded 
Merrimentes  of  the  men  of  Goteham,  in  receiuing  the  King  into 
Goteham.     Imp.  at  London,  1594,  4to. 

34.  The  Raigne   of  King  Edward   the  Third.     As  it  hath  bene 
sundry  times  played  about  the  Citie  of  London.  Imp.  at  Lond.  1599, 
4to. 

35.  The  Pedler's  Prophetic,  Lond.  1595,  4to. 

36.  The  famous  Victories  of  Henry  the  Fifth  :  containing  the  ho- 
nourable Battell  of  Agin-Court.    As  it  was  plaide  by  the  Queenes 
Maiesties  Players.     Lond.  1 598,  4to. 

37.  A  new   Comodye  in  englysh  in  maner  of  an  enterlude  ryght 
tlygant  and  full  of  craft  of  rethoryk,  wherein  is  shewd  and  dyscrybyd 
as  well  the  bewte  and  good  propertes  of  women,  as  theyr  vycys  and 
euyll  codicios,  with  a  morall  coclusion  and  exhortacyon  to  vertew. 
Johes  Rastell  me  imprimi  fecit,  small  folio. 

"  I  have  taken  these  titles  at  random  from  the  various  volumes  of 
old  plays,  bound  as  they  are,  without  arrangement  -,  and  they  will 
enable  you  to  form  some  little  idea  of  the  value  of  the  entire  collec. 
tion.  Independently  of  this  mass  of  miscellaneous  plays,  Mr.  Malone 
has  been  at  the  trouble  and  expense  of  procuring  all  or  almost  all  the 
works  of  the  dramatic  writers  (afterwards  collected  and  published  in 
a  distinct  form)  in  single  pieces  as  they  originally  appeared.  Thus 
we  have 

Shakspeare's  Plays,  7  vol.  4to.  Decker,  1  vol.  Massinger,  2  vol. 
Ford,  1  vol.  Lord  Sterline,  1  vol.  Geo.  Chapman,  2  vol.  Beaumont 


788  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

"  Drum,  gun,  trumpet,  blunderbuss,  and  thunder/* 
have  of  late  become  the  paramount  objects  of  attrac- 

and  Fletcher,  3  vol.  Middleton,  3  vol.  Hey  wood,  3  vol.  J.  Lily, 
1  vol.  Marston,  1  vol.  Shirley .  4  vol.  Dancer,  1  vol.  Wycherley, 
1  vol.  to  say  nothing  of  Rowe,  Southerne,  Congreve,  Lee,  Farquhar, 
and  innumerable  others.  Of  two  of  these  volumes  you  shall  have 
the  contents,  and  I  promise  you  somewhat  of  a  dramatic  treat  in  read- 
ing only  the  titles  of  these  rarest  among  the  rare. 

LILY'S  PLAYS  in  one  volume  quarto. 

"  This  (says  Mr.  Malone)  is  one  of  the  most  curious  and  expen- 
sive volumes  in  my  library.  The  plays  were  purchased  for  the  most 
parts  at  very  dear  rates  :  and  are  not  now  to  be  had  at  any  price. 
For  Midas  alone  I  think  I  pay'd  seven  guineas  and  a  half.  The  Songs 
which  were  not  inserted  in  the  original  copies,  are  here  introduced 
from  Blount's  republication." — 

1 .  Campaspe.   Played  beefore  the  Queenes  Maiestie  on  new  yeares 
day  at  night,  by  her  Maiesties  Childre,  and  the  Children  of  Paules. 
Imprinted  at  London,  for  Thomas  Cadman,  1584. 

2.  Midas.  Plaied  before  the  Qveenes  Maiestie  vpon  tvvelfe  Day  at 
night,  By  the  Children  of  Paules.  London,  printed  by  Thomas  Scar- 
let for  J.  B.  and  are  to  be  sold  in  Paules  Churchyard  at  the  signe  of 
the  Bible,  1592. 

3.  Mother  Bombie.    As  it  was  sundrie  times  plaied  by  the  Children 
of  Powles.     London,  Imprinted  by  Thomas   Scarlet  for   Cuthbert 
Burby,  1594. 

4.  The  Woman  in  the  Moone.  As  it  was  presented  before  her  High- 
nesse.     By  John  Lyllie,  Maister  of  Artes.     Imprinted  at  London  for 
William  Jones,  and  are  to  be  sold  at  the  signe  of  the  Gun,  neere 
Holburne  Conduit,  1597. 

5.  Sapho   and   Phao.    Played  beefore   the  Queenes  Maiestie  on 
Shroue  tewsday,  by  her  Maiesties  Children,  and  the  Boyes  of  Paules. 
Imprinted  at  London  by  Thomas  Orwin,  for  William  Broom,  1591. 
Second  Edition. 

6.  The  Maydes  Metamorphoses.  Asithathbene  sundrie  times  acted 
by  the  Children  of  Powles.    London,  printed  by  Thomas  Creede,  for 
Richard  Oliue,  dwelling  in  Long  Lane,  1600.     Second  Edition. 

7.  Love's  Metamorphoses.    A  wittie  and  courtly  Pastorall,  written 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  789 

tion  ;  and  if  GARRICK  were  to  reappear,  it  might  be 
questioned  whether  he  would  be  tolerated  more  than 
twice  in  the  week. 

by  Mr.  John  Lyllie.  First  playd  by  the  Children  of  Paules,  and  now 
by  the  Children  of  the  Chappell.  London,  Printed  for  William 
Wood,  dwelling  at  the  West  end  of  Paules,  at  the  signe  of  Time, 
1601.  Only  edition. 

"  The  above  are  seven  of  the  original  quartos.  To  which  Mr.  Ma- 
Jone  has  added,  by  inlaying,  Gallathea  and  Endimion  from  Blount's 
republication,  8vo.  Lond.  1632,  The  first  edition  of  the  former,  is 
1592,  4to.  :  of  the  latter,  1591,  4to. 

The  other  volume  shall  be  that  containing  Christopher  Marlowe's 
Works,  of  which  Mr.  Malone  records  that  the  original  purchase  of 
the  tracts,  together  with  the  expence  of  the  inlaying  and  the  binding 
in  red  morocco,  cost  him — what !  think  you  ? — FIVE  GUINEAS  !  !  ! 
You  shall  judge  whether  he  had  not  a  dear  bargain  for  he  only  got 
for  his  money  the  following. 

1 .  Tamberlaine  the  Great,  who  from  the  state  of  a  Shepheard  in 
Scythia,  by  his  rare  and  wonderfull  Conquests,  became  a  most  puis- 
sant and  mighty  Monarque,  Lond.  1605.   (I  should  perhaps  tell  you 
that  Mr.  Malone  had  afterwards  the  good  fortune  to  recover  the  first 
edition  of  this  extremely  rare  play,  printed  by  Rich.  Jhones  in  8vo. 
Lond.  1590.    It  is  in  one  of  the  volumes  of  his  octavo  plays,  bound 
up  with  three  of  Dodsley's  reprints  !) 

2.  The  famous  Tragedy  of  the  Rich  Jew  of  Malta.  As  it  was  playd 
before  the  King  and  Qveene  in  his  Majesties  Theatre  at  White-Hall, 
by  her  Majesties  Servants  at  the  Cock-Pit.     Written  by  Christopher 
Mario.  Lond.  1633. 

3.  The  Tragedie  of  Dido,  Queen  of  Carthage.   Played  by  the  Chil- 
dren of  her  Maiesties  Chappell.     Written  by  Christopher  Marlowe 
and  Thomas  Nash,  Gent.   At  London,  Printed  by  the  Widdowe  Orwin, 
1594. 

"  This  Tragedy  of  Dido  was  not  in  Mr.  Malone's  original  calcula- 
tion j  he  purchased  and  inserted  it  in  the  volume  afterwards.  There 
were,  and  I  believe  are,  only  two  copies  of  it  known,  both  which  came 
into  Mr.  Malone's  hands  :  one  at  Dr.  Wright's  sale  for  sixteen  gui- 
neas, the  other  at  Mr,  Steevens's  sale  for  seventeen  pounds." 


790  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

With  the  name  of  Garrick,  that  of  SHAKSPEARE  is 
irresistibly  associated.  And  with  how  many  charms 
is  it  encircled !  While  the  mere  auditor  hears  his 
incomparable  diction  on  the  stage,  or  the  mere  student 
is  fastened  to  his  invective,  or  pathos,  or  eloquence,  in 
his  closet — the  BIBLIOMANIAC — "  young,"  or  "  old," 
and  equally  a  hearer  and  reader  of  his  works — fires  at 
the  mention  of  his  name  ;  thinks  with  rapture  of  his 

4.  The  troublesome  Raigne  of  King   Edward,  the  second  King  of 
England  :    Imp.  at  Lond.  1598. 

5.  The  Massacre  at  Paris  :   with  the  Death  of  the  Duke  of  Guise. 
At  London,  Printed  by  E.  A.  no  date  but  about  1600,  8vo.  inlaid. 

6.  The  Tragicall  Historie  of  the  Life  und  Death  of  Doctor  Faustus* 
With  new  Additions,  written  by  Chr.  Mar.    At  Lond.  1631. 

7.  Lust's  Dominion ;  or  the  lascivious  Queen.  A  Tragedie.  Written/ 
by  Christopher  Marloe,  Gent.     Lond.  1657^  8vo.  inlaid. 

8.  Hero  and  Leander:  Begunne  by  Christopher  Marloe.     Lond. 
1600. 

9.  Lucan's  first  Booke,  translated  line  for  line,  by  Chr.  Marlow. 
At  Lond.  1600,  (supposed  by  Mr.  Malone  to  be  UNIQUE.) 

10.  All  Ovid's  Elegies,  3  Bookes.     By  C.  M.    Epigrams  by  I.  I). 
At  Middlebovrgh,  8vo.  inlaid.     (See  p.  7OO,  ante.) 

"  You  desired  me  to  confine  myself  to  the  titles  of  a  few  of  the 
scarce  pieces  in  Malone's  dramatic  collection,  and  I  have  obeyed  your 
directions.  I  hope  however,  that  brief  as  my  list  is,  it  will  leave  no 
unfavourable  impression  as  to  the  worth  and  rarity  of  Mr.  Malone's 
OLD  PLAYS.  Had  you  said  any  thing  about  his  old  Poetry,  I  should 
indeed  have  been  at  a  loss  where  to  select  or  where  to  terminate ; 
and  instead  of  this  letter,  you  must  have  received  a  volume.  It  may 
however  be  some  consolation  to  you  to  hear,  that  a  very  full  and  de- 
scriptive Catalogue  is  in  preparation,  which  will  also,  as  is  probable, 
contain  all  Mr.  Malone's  manuscript  remarks  on  the  poetical  merit 
and  bibliographical  peculiarities  of  the  several  volumes.  You  may 
give  something  like  a  guess  at  the  general  state  and  condition  of  the 
whole,  when  I  mention  that  the  old  Harleian  Collection,  Major  Pear- 
gon's,  Dr.  Wright's,  and  Dr.  Farmer's,  as  well  as  Mr.  Sleevens's,  Mr. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  791 

early   quartos,  and   unsoiled  folios,  *  in    which   the 

Allen's,  Mr.  Reed's,  and  Mr.  Brand's  libraries,  were  the  mines  that 
supplied  this  almost  invaluable  treasure  of  OLD  ENGLISH  LITERA- 
TURE. 

Your's,  my  Dear  Sir, 

very  sincerely, 

*  *  *  *  * 

But  whoever  will  be  at  the  pains  of  examining  the  list  of  book- 
sales  in  the  Bibliomania,  from  page  426  to  page  617>  will  see  out  of 
how  many  Gardens  of  tempting  fruit  Mr.  Malone  has  picked  his 
GOLDEN  APPLES  :  and  in  particular,  let  the  reader  cast  his  eye  upon  a 
few  articles,  selected  from  the  library  of  Dr.  Wright,  to  be  seen  at 
p.  534  of  the  same  work.  Of  Mr.  KEMBLE'S  dramatic  library,  said 
to  be  the  RICHEST  in  the  kingdom,  I  am  unable  to  speak  j  never 
having  seen  it  but  superficially,  on  the  floor  of  Messrs.  Payne  and 
Foss,  in  its  way  to  Chatsworth  —  it  having  been  purchased  entire  by 
his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  with  the  exception  of  the  first 
folio  Shakspeare  of  1623,  &c.  and  the  Play  Bills  from  the  time  of 
Garrick  downwards,  inclusively.  May  it  not  be  reasonably  asked, 
how  such  a  dismemberment  happened  ? — for  surely  these  things 
were,  in  the  purest  sense,  dramatical. 

*  Of  early  quartos  we  shall  presently  speak,  and  eke  of  folios  :  but 
in  regard  to  the  first  folio  edition  of  1623,  it  may  not  be  irrelative 
or  unamusing  to  illustrate  the  advantages  of  an  "  UNSOILED  "  copy, 
by  the  following  anecdote  from  Steevens,  in  his  Variorum  edition  of 
1793,  repeated  in  the  two  subsequent  and  enlarged  editions  by  Reed, 
and  in  Malone's  edition,  by  Boswell,  vol.  ii.  p.  658.  The  usually 
soiled  condition  of  this  precious  folio  has  been  alluded  to,  at  p.  727, 
ante.  The  following  is  Steevens's  account  of  it.  "Of  all  volumes, 
those  of  popular  entertainment  are  soonest  injured.  It  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  name/OMr  folios  that  are  oftener  found  in  dirty  and  mutilated 
condition,  than  this  first  assemblage  of  Shakspeare's  plays,  God's  Re- 
venge against  Murder,  the  Gentleman's  Recreation,  and  Johnson's  Lives 
of  the  Highwaymen.  Though  Shakspeare  was  not,  like  Fox  the  Mar- 
tyrologist,  deposited  in  churches,  to  be  thumbed  by  the  congregation, 
he  generally  took  post  on  our  hall  tables  :  and  that  a  multitude  of  his 
pages  have  "  their  effect  of  gravy  "  may  be  imputed  to  the  various 
eatables  set  out  every  morning  on  the  same  boards. 


792  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

Dramas  of  that  Great  Bard  individually,  or  collectively, 
first  appeared,  and  which  moved  so  vehemently  the 

"  It  should  seem  that  most  of  his  readers  were  so  chary  of  their  time, 
that  (like  Pistol,  who  knaws  his  leek  and  swears  all  the  while)  they 
fed  and  studied  at  the  same  instant.    I  have  repeatedly  met  with  thin 
flakes  of  pie- crust  between  the  leaves  of  our  author.     These  unctuous 
fragments,  remaining  long  in  close  confinement,  communicated  their 
grease  to  several  pages  deep  on  each  side  of  them.   It  is  easy  enough 
to  conceive  how  such  accidents  might  happen ;  how  aunt  Bridget's 
mastication  might  be  disordered  at  the  sudden  entry  of  the  ghost  into 
the  Queen's  closet,  and  how  the  half  chewed  morsel  dropped  out  of 
the  gaping  Squire's  mouth,  when  the  visionary  Banquo  seated  him- 
self in  the  chair  of  Macbeth.  Still,  it  is  no  small  elogium  on  Shaks- 
peare,  that  his  claims   were  more  forcible  than  those  of  hunger. 
Most  of  the  first  folios  now  extant  are  known  to  have  belonged  to 
antient  families  resident  in  the  country.     Since  our  breakfasts  have 
become  less  gross,  our  favourite  authors  have  escaped  with  fewer 
injuries  ;  not  that  (as  a  very  nice  friend  of  mine  observes)  those  who 
read  with  a  coffee-cup  in  their  hands,  are  to  be  numbered  among  the 
contributor's  to  bibliothecal  purity.     I  claim  the  merit  of  being  the 
first  commentator  on  Shakspeare  who  strove,  with  becoming  serious- 
ness, to  account  for  the  frequent  stains  that  disgrace  the  earliest  folio 
edition  of  his  Plays,  which  is  now  become  the  most  expensive  single 
book  in  our  language ;  for  what  other  English  volume  without  plates, 
and  printed  since  the  year  1600,  is  known  to  have  sold,  more  than 
once,  for  351.  14s." 

To  the  latter  part  of  these  observations,  Mr.  Boswell  has  added 
the  following  remarks  : <f  It  has  become  still  more  expensive.  Ipse 
miserrimus  gave  a  much  larger  sum  at  Mr.  Kemble's  sale;*  but  I 
could  not  bring  myself  to  a  cold  calculation  of  the  value  of  a  copy 
which  was  at  once  a  memorial  of  Shakspeare  and  of  Kemble."  Yet 
another  word  about  early  quartos  and  folios  of  Shakspeare.  It 
is  said,  above,  that  these  "  moved  the  bile  "  of  Prynne.  That  they 
did  so,  is  unquestionable :  for  hear  what  he  says  of  them,  in  the 
preface  "  to  the  Christian  Reader"  of  his  Histriomastix ,  published  in 


*  The  original  price  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare  was  , . .  ONE  POUND.   Steevens, 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  793 

bile  of  Prynne  ;  while  he  hardly  vouchsafes  to  dwell  a 
moment  on  purest  copies  of  the  editions  of  Roive, 
Pope,  Theobald,  Hanmer,  Cap  ell,  Johnson,  Steevens, 
Malone,  and  Reed* 

1633, 4to. — the  year  ensuing  the  second  folio  of  Shakspeare.  ' '  Some 
PLAY-BOOKS,  since  I  first  undertook  this  subject,  are  grown  from 
quarto  into  folio ;  which  yet  bear  so  good  a  price  and  sale,  that  I 
cannot  but  with  grief  relate  it,  they  are  now  new  printed  in  far  better 
paper  than  most  octavo  or  quarto  Bibles,  which  hardly  find  such  vent 
as  they."  This  is  accompanied  by  the  two  following  marginal  anno- 
tations, among  others.  "  SHACKSPEER'S  PLAIES  are  printed  on  the 
best  crowne  paper,  far  better  than  most  Bibles."  "  Above  40,000 
Play-bookes  have  been  printed  and  vented  within  these  two  yeares." 
If  the  fact  be  as  Prynne  states  it,  how  fruitless  the  attempt  to  bibli- 
ographise  thoroughly  the  department  of  THE  DRAMA  ! 

*  The  four  latter  editions  will  be  more  particularly  noticed  in  a 
future  page.  Of  the  three  first,  it  may  be  remarked  that  HOWE'S 
edition  was  printed  in  1709,  in  seven  octavo  volumes  ;  and  I  find  a 
copy  of  it  on  LARGE  PAPER  selling  for  ll.  C2s.  (full  as  much  as  it  was 
worth)  at  the  sale  of  Isaac  Reed's  library  in  1807.  It  was  reprinted 
in  1714,  in  nine  duodecimo  volumes,  and  then  expired  without  a 
struggle.  POPE'S  first  edition  appeared  in  1725,  in  six  quarto  vo- 
lumes, at  61.  6s.  the  copy,  subscription-price  j  but  in  1767  it  sunk, 
among  the  booksellers,  to  165.  a  copy.  Seven  hundred  and  fifty  copies 
were  printed.  It  was  reprinted  in  1728  in  10  duodecimo  volumes  3 
and  republished  by  the  aid  of  WARBURTON  in  1747*  f  in  eight  8vo. 
volumes.  Perhaps,  of  all  the  Commentators  upon  Shakspeare, 
Warburton  (in  the  language  of  Mr  Douce)  ' '  was  surely  the  worst.  " 
THEOBALD'S  edition  first  appeared  in  1733,  in  seven  octavo  volumes, 
and  is  the  FIRST  which  contains  plates — from  the  designs  (I  believe) 

t  See  what  A  NAME  will  produce  !  In  the  recent  catalogue  of  Mr.  Thorpe  (1824, 
partii.  no.  11871)  there  occurs  the  seventh  volume  only  of  this  edition  by  Warbur- 
ton. It  had  belonged  to  GARRICK,  whose  wife  thus  wrote  in  it : "  This  book  went 
with  us  to  Althorp  in  December  the  30M,  1778 ;  my  husband  never  traveled  without 
some  work  of  Shakespeare'*  It  is  marked  by  Mr.  Thorpe  at  ll.  5s. :  but  is  not  the 
Vendor  a  little  ungallant  in  copying  Mrs.  Garrick's  bad  spelling?  —  as  thus — 
<*  whent,"  He  should  have  remembered  that  Mrs,  Garrick  was  a  foreigner. 


794  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

Let  us  adopt  a  more  sober,  and  perhaps  satisfactory, 
strain :  but,  at  starting,  may  we  not  reasonably  ask 

of  Hayman.  These  are  curious,  inasmuch  as  they  shew  the  costume 
of  the  time  in  the  dressing  of  the  characters.  Fine  impressions — or  I 
should  rather  perhaps  say,  tolerable  impressions — are  worth  the  Col- 
lector's looking  after.  My  friend  and  neighbour  Mr.  Wilson,  in  his 
marvellously  illustrated  folio  Shakspeare  (to  be  noticed  in  due  order) 
preserves  a  set  of  these  plates  —  which  are  doubtless  effective,  in  a 
certain  degree : — and  my  friend  Mr.  Douce  loves  to  contemplate  them 
as  memorials  of  a  costume  .  .  never  I  trust  to  be  again  revived  !  Of 
the  quantity  of  intrinsic  merit  of  Theobald's  edition,  (of  which  not 
fewer  than  12,860  volumes  have  been  printed)  I  will  not  pretend  to 
be  the  judge ;  but  it  ought  to  be  considerable  :  since,  of  ALL  the  edi- 
tors of  Shakspeare,  down  to  the  nineteenth  century,  Theobald  had 
the  largest  remuneration  for  his  labours:  namely,  not  less  than 
652Z.  10*. — while  Pope,  who  made  this  Editor  the  hero  of  the  first 
edition  of  his  Dunciad,  received  but  217^.  Warburton  received 
560Z. 

Sir  THOMAS  HANMER'S  edition  in  quarto  was  the  first  which 
appeared  in  any  splendid  typographical  form.  It  was  published  at 
Oxford  in  1744,  in  6  volumes  j  and  republished  there,  in  the  same 
number  of  volumes,  in  1771.  The  first  edition  was  a  popular 
book,  and  was  proudly  displayed  in  morocco  binding  in  the  libraries 
of  the  great  and  fashionable.  In  the  year  1747,*  when  Warburton's 
edition  was  selling  off  at  ]  8s.  a  copy,  (the  original  price  having  been 
2J.  8s.)  Hanmer's  edition,  which  was  published  at  31.  3s.  rose  to 
91.  9s.  -,  and  continued  at  that  price  till  its  reprint  in  1771.  But  both 
original  and  reprint  have  now  . .  .  sunk  nearly  to  nothing.  Steevens's 
copy  of  the  reprint  produced  11.  7s.  bound  in  hog's  skin  :  but  who 
in  these  days,  would  give  half  the  price  ?  Mr.  Thorpe,  however, 
marks  the  first  quarto  at  31.  13s.  6d.  The  plates  are  below  criti- 
cism. I  learn  from  indisputable  authority,  in  that  great  mart  of 
bibliopolism — THE  Row — (nota  bene,  this  word  must  not  be  pro- 
nounced after  the  Greek  fashion,  £«)  that  a  quarto  Shakspeare  can 
now  NEVER  SUCCEED  —  and  yet,  if  Mr.  Wilkie  should  ever  introduce 


*  In  a  recent  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  I  find  an  edition  of  1748,  in 
nine  small  duodecimo  volumes,  called  "  uncommon,  and  very  accurate  "  marked 
at  I/.  1  Is.  6d.  Whose  edition  is  it  ? 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  795 

what  course  is  to  be  pursued  ?  Shall  we  have  an  In- 
troduction to  the  Reading  of  Shakspeare  ? — for  his 

an  old  lady  or  gentleman,  in  one  of  his  charming  interiors,  reading 
Shakspeare,  it  will  be  from  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer's  edition.  What  is 
there  so  unsaleable  in  a  quarto  Shakspeare  ? 

CAPELL,  who  had  300/.  for  his  critical  or  rather  editorial  labours, 
came  forth  in  1768,  with  his  ten  sprucely  printed  crown  octavo  vo- 
lumes. *  An  elegant  copy  of  it,  in  marble  leaves,  brought  the  formi- 
dable sum  of  5Z.  7s.  6d.  at  Reed's  sale.  I  suppose  there  were  but  few 
copies  printed  j  as  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  work  is  entitled  to  little 
commendation.  Capell's  Shakspeariana,-\  or  the  Catalogue  of  his  Col- 
lection relating  to  Shakspeare,  was  printed  in  one  volume  in  1779  : 
and  I  find  a  copy  of  it  "  uncut,  very  rare,"  marked  at  K  11s.  6d.  in 


*  In  what  is  called  the  CAPEL  CLOSET,  at  Trinity  College  Cambridge,  there  is 
(as  I  understand)  the  original  MS.  of  these  ten  volumes,  bound  in  the  smartest 
possible  manner,  in  red  morocco,  in  the  same  number  of  quarto  volumes.  Such  a 
MS.  for  the  press  I  never  witnessed,  nor  could  have  conceived,  nor  will  probably 
be  ever  executed  again.  But  this  SHAKSPEARE  COLLECTION  was  made  in  the  green 
days  of  the  Bibliomania.  Those  of  Steevens,  Malone,  and  Kemble,  display  the 
splendour  of  summer  and  the  richness  of  autumn — as  applicable  to  the  same 
object. 

t  Of  these  SHAKSPEARIANA,  who  shall  undertake  to  describe  the  nature,  or  define 
the  limits  ?  Even  the  heart  of  old  Isaac  Reed  warmed  with  this  passion ;  witness, 
the  article  no.  8536,  so  called,  in  the  Catalogue  of  his  books ;  which  article  con- 
tained a  set  of  nine  octavo  volumes  "  a  most  desirable  acquisition  to  any  gentleman 
wishing  to  compleathis  Collection."  It  was  sold  for  231.  But  carry  this  Shakspeare 
mania  a  little  farther.  Place  your  Shakspeare  library,  of  some  500  volumes,  in  a 
ROOM  decorated  with  statues,  busts,  portraits,  and  pictures  relating  to  "  Shaks- 
peare and  his  Times !"  Represent y  by  means  of  the  chisel,  pencil,  and  burin,  what 
Dr.  Drake  and  others  have  written  of !  . .  And  why  should  not  the  wing  of  some 
lordly  mansion  in  the  Country  be  thus  appropriated  ?  Why  should  not  a  few  of  the 
streams  of  superfluous  wealth  flow  in  such  a  Briton-like  channel?  Does  MAN  i- 
LIUS  take  the  hint,  and  fire  at  the  thought  ?  Let  me  at  any  rate  bargain  for  a  room 
of  (at  least)  twenty- five  feet  in  length,  by  eighteen  in  width . .  from  which  I  must 
catch  a  peep,  through  the  plated  galss  bay-window  extremity,  of  something  like 
the  scenery  of  the  "  Forest  of  4rdenn.es  " — the  fore-ground  representing  the 

obliquo  laborans 

Lympha  fugax  trepidare  rivo 

of  Horace ;  or  the  "  slowly  winding  of  the  stealing  wave  "  of  Collins.     But  this  is 
unpardonably  excursive. 


796  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

very  PORTRAIT  has  recently  furnished  food  for  an  en- 
tertaining volume.*  Or,  shall  we  plunge  at  once  into 

Mr.  Thorpe's  last  catalogue.  It  usually  sells  for  1Z.  Is.  I  learn  that 
the  late  Mr.  George  Baker,  of  UNIQUE  memory,  had  a  copy  of  Capell's 
Shakspeare  stitched  up  in  sheets,  and  even  uncut,  for  the  completing 
his  happiness  j  the  owner  strenuously  forbidding  all  paper-cutters, 
whether  of  mother  of  pearl,  ivory,  silver,  or  steel,  from  entering  the 
premises.  Oh,  the  infinite  variety  of  character  enveloped  in  a  BIB- 
LIOMANIAC ! 

*  I  allude  to  the  elegant  and  amusing  octavo  volume  just  published 
by  Mr.  BOADEN  j  being  An  Enquiry  into  the  Authenticity  of  the  vari- 
ous Pictures  and  Prints  of  Shakspeare — with  five  engraved  portraits 
of  the  great  Dramatist.  A  lively  notice  of  this  work  appeared  in  the 
Universal  Review,  no.  ii.  p.  234.  It  is  a  glorious  volume  for  ILLUS- 
TRATORS -,  being  printed  in  a  quarto,  as  well  as  octavo  form.  In  the 
first  and  foremost  rank  of  ft  Introductory  Works  to  the  Reading  of 
Shakspeare  "  is  that  of  Mr.  DOUCE  j  called  "  Illustrations  of  Shaks. 
peare,  and  of  Ancient  Manners ;  1807^  Svo.  2  vols. :  with  numerous 
and  appropriate  wood  and  copper  cuts.  I  look  upon  this  work  as  a 
sort  of  Hortus  Shakspearianus,  from  which  fruit  of  every  hue  and  fla- 
vour may  be  safely  pluckt  and  eaten.  The  research  and  learning 
bestowed  upon  it  are  immense.  I  once  attempted,  during  the  HorcR 
SubsecivfB  of  a  watering  place,  to  make  a  catalogue  of  the  authors 
consulted  in  it ;  but  my  courage  or  patience  failed.  My  own  copy, 
smartly  bound  antique-wise,  by  poor  George  Faulkener,  was  pre- 
sented to  a  young  and  intelligent  Frenchman — who  was  perfectly 
t€  SHAKSPEARE-MAD" — and  who  devoured  its  pages  with  the  voracity 
of  an  Alderman  over  a  Jamaica  turtle  !  These  delightful  volumes  sell 
for  about  VI.  2s.  in  goodly  binding.  Another,  and  a  justly  popular 
introductory  work,  is  the  Characters  of  Shakspeare' s  Plays,  by  Mr. 
Hazlitt,  1817,  Svo. :  a  volume,  written  with  taste,  ability,  and  power  j 
but  with  peculiarities,  now  and  then  betraying  themselves,  which 
border  on  affectation.  To  this  add  Richardson's  Essays  on  the  Cha- 
racters of  Shakspeare ;  a  work  of  considerable  elegance  of  style,  and 
replete  with  judicious  remarks.  A  more  copious  and  instructive 
work  is  from  the  pen  of  DR.  DRAKE  $  entitled  Shakspeare  and  his 
Times,  1817,  4to.  2  vols. :  worth  about  4?.  4s.  in  calf  binding.  But 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  797 

the  miscellaneous  and  well  nigh  interminable  notes  of 
his  later  Commentators  ?  Yes.  I  readily  anticipate  all 
the  revelry  of  those,  who  wish  to  be  learned  in  the 
contemporaneous  history  of  the  Drama — who,  charmed 
with  the  learning  of  Farmer,  the  research  of  Malone, 
the  accuracy  of  Chalmers,  and  the  sagacity  of  Steevens, 
will  be  content  with  nothing  short  of  the  21  octavo 
volumes  of  the  works  of  our  Bard,  recently  edited  by 
Reed  and  Malone.  Of  more  modern,  and  almost  weekly 
issuing  editions,  in  all  forms  and  characters,  the  list  is 
endless.* 

the  prolegomena,  contained  in  the  editions  of  Steevens  and  Malone, 
may  be  considered  the  best  introductions  to  the  reading  of  our 
immortal  Bard.* 

*  <(  Endless  "  indeed  would  be  such  a  list :  but  having,  in  the  last 
note  but   one,  concluded  with  the   edition  of   Capell,  I   continue 
the  catalogue  of  EDITORS  with  those  of  JOHNSON,  STEEVENS,  MA- 
LONE,  and  REED.     Up  to  the  time  of  Dr.  Johnson,  there  can  hardly 
be  said  to  have  been  a  satisfactory  edition  of  Shakspeare.  By  "  satis- 
factory," I  mean  one  which  should  combine  antiquarian  research 
with  critical  acumen.     Nor  indeed  was  Johnson  calculated  for  the 
former.  He  wanted  both  patience  and  taste  5  and,  fortunately,  in 
Steevens  he  found  a  union  of  both,  combined  with  an  acuteness  and 
wide  range  of  black-letter  reading  which  was  not  eclipsed  even  by 
that  of  Dr.  FARMER  himself.     Johnson  delighted  in  character:  in 
portrait  painting  :  and  with  his  pen  he  was  as  unrivalled  as  his  friend 
Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  was  with  his  pencil.     Full  of  the  general  im- 

*  And  here,  let  me  put  in  a  word  for  Mr.  "  JACKSON'S  Shakspeare's  Genius  Jus- 
tified," published  in  1819,  8vo.     Mr.  Jackson  was  a  printer;   and  he  saw,  pro- 
fessionally, that  many  of  the  errors  of  the  text  of  Shakspeare  arose  from  the  igno- 
rance of  the  printers  of  the  ;first  quarto  and  folio  editions.     Steevens  himself 

dmitted  that  many  of  the  errors  were  attributable  to  the  like  cause.  Mr.  Jack- 
son's book  had  not  the  success  which  it  merited.  If  many  of  the  emendations  were 
fanciful  and  wild,  several  were  ingenious  aud  just.  It  was  at  first  received  with  a 
jealous  eye,  by  those  who  ought  to  have  been  ashamed  of  such  jealousy— and  mucb. 
more  to  have  allowed  it  to  mingle  the  bitterness  of  gall  iu  their  criticisms.  I  re- 
commend it  to  an  impartial  perusal. 


793  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

But  there  are  those  who  take  up  Shakspeare  in  a 
different  point  of  view  ;  or  rather,  who,  sensibly  alive 

portance  of  the  task,  rather  than  stimulated  by  any  pecuniary  com- 
pensation, (which  amounted  to  about  4801.  according  to  Malone)  he 
sat  down  to  the  composition  of  his  Preface :  a  work,  upon  which  he 
always,  and  justly,  prided  himself.  It  is  doubtless  a  great  and  mas- 
terly  performance  evincing  a  mind  of  large  general  powers ;  and  is 
executed  throughout  with  uncommon  dignity  and  effect.  There  are 
those  who  elevate  to  the  skies  >  but  there  is  also  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  well-read  Shakspearians  who  are  far  from  bowing  with  unqua- 
fied  submission  to  the  critical  canons  which  it  contains.  That  it  is 
to  be  ranked  with  the  preface  of  Calvin  to  his  Institutes,  of  De  Thou 
to  his  History,  or  of  Casaubon  to  his  Poly  bins,*  may  be  reasonably 
doubted,  without  any  disparagement  of  its  general  excellence.  John- 
son's critical  summary  of  the  preponderating  merits  and  demerits  of 
each  play,  should  be  always  a  concomitant  of  every  edition  of  Shak- 
speare. 

The  first  edition  of  Johnson,  alone,  appeared  in  1765,  in  eight 
octavo  volumes  :  and  the  first,  with  Johnson  and  Steevens  together, 
in  1773,  in  ten  octavo  volumes.  This  latter  has  yet  its  price  5  and 
may  be  worth  3/.  }3s.  6d.  The  second  edition  of  the  united  labours 
of  these  editors  appeared  in  1778 ;  of  which  Messrs.  Payne  and 
Foss  mark  a  neat  copy  at  5/.  5s.  A  copy  of  it,  with  Malone's  Sup- 
plement, in  two  octavo  volumes,  was  sold  for  41.  Is.  in  boards,  at 
Reed's  sale.  The  third  edition  came  forth  in  1785,  revised  and  aug- 
mented by  Dodsley,  and  is  worth  about  51.  5s.  The  fourth,  last,  and 
best  edition,  is  that  of  1793,  generally  called  STEEVENS'S  edition — in 
fifteen  octavo  volumes.  The  text  was  corrected  by  Steevens  himself, 
and  every  care  and  attention  was  paid  to  render  it  the  most  accurate 
and  desirable  of  ALL  the  editions  of  the  Bard.  The  result  has  realised 
the  wishes  of  its  editor.  It  is  of  all  previous,  and,  as  some  may 
think,  of  all  subsequent  editions,  of  Shakespeare,  the  MOST  accurate 


*  Warton,  in  his  edition  of  Pope,  1797,  8vo.  vol.  i.  p.  1,  note,  says  that  the 
above  three  Prefaces  are  "  perhaps  the  finest  ever  written."  He  has  borrowed 
this  idea,  without  acknowledging  it,  from  Bayle's  Diet.  Art.  Calvin,  note  F.  and  at 
Pelisson,  ad  calcem.  I  owe  this  detection,  or  discovery,  to  Mr.  James  Roche, 
late  resident  at  Cork. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  799 

to  all  the  charms  and  beauties  'of  his  diction,  consi- 
der him  as  the  MIGHTIEST  of  intellectual  PAINTERS; 

and  desirable.  Steevens's  own  copy,  small  paper,  was  sold  for 
61.  16s.  6d. :  but  such  a  copy  is  now  worth,  on  an  average,  double 
the  sum.  The  LARGE  PAPER  is  the  great  gun  to  fire  off. . .  before  a 
visitor  who  comes  to  be  astounded  with  your  library.  Only  twenty- 
five  copies  were  printed  j  and  Reed's  copy  of  it,  in  boards,  was  sold 
for  29J.  Sir  Mark  Sykes's  copy  produced  391.  12s.  The  most  won- 
derful copy  of  it  IN  THE  WORLD  is  that  in  the  library  of  Earl  Spencer, 
at  St.  James's  Place,  so  frequently  noticed  by  me.*  It  has  illus- 
trations, in  the  way  of  small  prints,  to  the  value  of  1000Z. — and  is 
bound  in  18  volumes,  in  blue  morocco,  uncut.  This  edition  conti- 
nued to  be  the  substratum  of  those  of  REED,  in  1803,  and  1813, 
each  in  21  octavo  volumes:  which  certainly  must  be  considered 
as  the  EDITIO  OPTIMA  of  Shakespeare.  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss 
mark  a  copy  of  the  second  edition  of  1813,  on  large  paper,  in  calf 
extra  binding,  at  26J.  5s.  Yet  there  are  good  judges  who  consider 
the  edition  of  Mr.  Boswell,  noticed  below,  to  be  in  many  respects 
preferable. 

The  first  edition  of  Mr.  MALONE'S  labours  on  Shakespeare,  ap- 
peared in  1790,  in  ten  small  octavo  volumes.  There  were  copies  on 
large,  or  rather  FINE  PAPER,  (for  the  adjusting  of  this  point  is  ridicu- 
lously minute)  which  used  to  sell  for  nearly  a  guinea  per  volume. 
The  matter  in  the  two  Supplemental  Volumes  published  by  Malone 
in  1780,  8vo.  (worth  about  9,1.  2s.)  is  not  incorporated  in  this 
edition  of  1790.  But  this  edition  is  entirely  eclipsed  by  the  recent 
one  in  1821,  8vo.  twenty-one  volumes,  of  which  the  late  Mr.  James 
Boswell  was  the  editor,  and  for  which  he  received  100OJ.  The 
twenty-first  volume  of  this  edition  is  occupied  by  the  Poems  of 
Shakspeare  j  and  whatever  may  be  the  disappointments  expressed 
by  some,f  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  this  handsome  and  copious 
impression  will  work  its  way  gallantly  through  the  market,  and  in 


*Turn,  gentle  reader,  top.  571  of  the  Bibliomania,  (if  in  possession  of  that  strange 
performance)  and  notice  what  is  there  said,  both  of  this  copy,  and  of  the  subse- 
quent edition  of  1803.     His  Lordship  possessed  it  as  a  bequest  from  the  Editor ; 
who  had  himself  expended  nearly  500/.  upon  it.  But  see  Md.Althvrp.  vol.  i.  206. 
t  It  was  reported  that  the  late  Mr.  Octavius  Gilchrist  had  been  long  engaged  in 


800  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

as  one,  who  has  peopled  the  air  above,  "  and  the 
earth  beneath "  with  beings  peculiarly  adapted  to 

due  time  disappear.  It  cannot  be  otherwise.  When  <e  the  ingenuity 
of  Fanner,"  and  ft  the  accuracy  of  Chalmers"  are  above  mentioned, 
allusion  is  made  to  the  celebrated  essay,  by  the  former,  on  "  the 
Learning  of  Shakspeare/' — which,  as  a  matter  of  course,  finds  its  way 
into  every  respectable  edition  of  the  Bard.  It  was  the  first  thing,  or 
one  of  the  first  things,  which  excited  a  rage  for  black-letter  hunt- 
ing among  Chronicles  and  Histories  j  and  Steevens's  notes  gave 
that  rage  a  collateral  direction  among  early  Poetry  and  Dramas. 
"  The  hunt  was  up."  The  sound  of  the  bugle,  now  blown  by 
Farmer,  and  now  by  Steevens,  made  the  "  welkin  ring,-"  and  up 
started,  on  all  sides,  with  the  celerity  of  the  followers  of  Roderic 
Dhu,  (so  magically  described  in  the  Lady  of  the  Lake)  hosts  of  des- 
perate adventurers  under  the  banners  of  their  respective  readers.  ft  Sed 
quo" — Enough.  The  name  of  Mr.  GEORGE  CHALMERS  is  introduced  in 
the  above  text,  as  decidedly  connected  with  Shakspeare,  from  his  me- 
morable "  Apology  for  the  Believers  in  Ireland's  Forgery," — published 
as  an  answerto  Malone's  well  known  attack  on  the  Believers,  in  1796, 
Svo.  This  was  succeeded,  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Chalmers,  by  a  Supple- 
mental Apology — a  volume  of  the  same  thickness — in  1799,  Svo.  in 
which,  amongst  other  things,  is  an  attempt  to  ascertain  the  order  of 
Shakspeare' s  plays.  It  cannot  be  denied  that,  in  both  these  volumes, 
there  is  a  great  mass  of  curious  and  useful  intelligence,  relating  to 
Shakspeare  :  and  "  have  them  you  must." 

I  have  above  slightly  alluded  to  the  "  countless  editions"  of  Shak- 
speare, large  and  small.  Among  the  latter,  and  as  the  SMALLEST 
edition  extant,  in  one  volume,  let  me  notice  that  of  Mr.  Whittingham, 


whetting  a  large  critical  knife,  in  order  to  cut  deeply  into  the  abdominal  regions 
of  this  edition  ;  but  death  took  away  the  editor,  to  the  surprise  and  sorrow  of  his 
friends,  (of  whom  few  could  boast  of  a  larger  circle)  and  the  INTENDED  REVIEW 
dropt,  -unfinished,  from  the  hand  of  the  critical  anatomist.  Some  little  time  after, 
the  Reviewer  himself  paid  the  debt  of  nature—equally  to  the  surprise  and  sorrow 
of  Ms  friends.  When  one  thinks  of  all  this  "  hacking  and  hewing,"  (as  oldAn- 
thony-a-Wood  somewhere  expresses  it)  on  subjects  so  little  calculated  to  make 
either  party  happy,  one  cannot  but  subscribe  readily  to  the  justness  of  Burke's 
sentiment,  so  magnificently  expressed: "  WHAT  SHADOWS  WE  ARE,  AND 

WHAT  SHADOWS  WE  PURSUE  !  " 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  801 

their  respective  elements  and  avocations  ;  and  yet,  of  a 
character  such  as  was  never  before  so  vividly  and  justly 
impressed  upon  the  mind  of  the  spectator  or  student. 
The  reader  will  instantly  perceive  the  allusion  to  those 
editions  of  our  Bard  which  are  decorated  with  plates, 
of  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  splendour,  from  the  pen- 
cils of  our  ARTISTS  :  and  if  that  reader  be  a  general 
Collector,  or  a  professed  Shakspearian,  he  will  think 
with  delight  upon  his  choice  copies  of  the  editions  of 
Bell  and  Boy  dell:* — to  say  nothing  of  sundry  inter- 
printed  in  1823,  crown  8vo.  on  paper  of  peculiar  delicacy.  I  consi- 
der it,  for  the  convenience  of  immediate  reference,  very  useful  j  and 
for  those,  whose  eyes  are  eagle-like,  it  is  a  delightful  portable  com- 
panion. The  printing  is  admirably  skilful  and  perfect.  But  Mr. 
Whittingham  has  published  one  or  more  editions,  in  a  larger  type, 
with  wood-cuts,  and  in  a  very  elegant  manner.  Yet,  a  still  smaller 
edition  than  the  first — in  regard  to  the  size  of  the  page,  but  not  of 
the  type — is  that  of  Mr.  Pickering: — a  very  "  dapper  elve  "  in  form 
and  appearance.  It  is  published  in  numbers,  with  a  play  in  each  : 
prefixed  to  which  is  a  small  copper  cut  of  the  principal  subject  or 
character. . . .  When  complete,  it  will  form  about  6  vols.  It  is  a  very 
Sedan  book — like  the  Latin  Classics,  from  the  same  quarter,  so 
generally  patronised. 

*  For  Bell's  edition  much  cannot  be  said  in  commendation.  It  was 
first  published  in  1773,  again  in  1780,  and  the  third  time  in  1788; 
each  in  20  small  crown  octavo  volumes:  having  a  copper  plate 
prefixed  to  each  play — being  a  portrait  of  the  actor  or  actress  in  the 
principal  character  of  the  piece.  LARGE  PAPER  copies  of  the  earlier 
editions,  with  proof  impressions  of  the  plates,  superbly  bound,  &c. 
have  brought  a  guinea  per  volume  j  but  the  present  age  is  better  ac- 
quainted with  good  art  than  to  countenance  such  a  price.  Mr. 
Steevens's  copy  brought  17s.  17s.  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  mark 
a  fine  copy  of  the  small  paper,  of  the  edition  of  1773,  (a  subscri- 
ber's copy)  at  61.  6s.  In  regard  to  the  splendid  edition  of  BOY- 
DELL,  begun  in  1791,  and  perfected  in  1802,  see  a  full  and  par- 
ticular account  in  the  Bibliographical  Decameron,  vol.  ii.  p.  383.  It 

3    F 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

vening  or  subsequent  editions,  more  or  less  embel- 
lished by  the  burin,  and  of  which  there  are  various  and 
obvious  degrees  of  merit.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  depre- 
ciate any  one  of  these  gratifying  performances,  at  the 
expense  of  another ;  but  I  may  be  allowed  to  say  that, 
among  them,  few  have  greater  claims  to  just  admira- 
tion than  that  which  at  present  employs  the  pencil  of 
of  Mr.  Smirke.* 

But  I  will  tantalise  the  thorough-bred  Biblioma- 
niac no  longer :  and  he  shall  know,  in  as  few  words 
as  possible,  what  are  the  first,  rarest,  and  most  costly, 
impressions  of  the  text  of  our  immortal  Dramatist. 
From  the  first  impression  of  the  first  published  play,  in 
1597,  to  the  last,  in  1622 — each  in  quarto — the  list  of 
the  dramas  mentioned  in  the  subjoined  note-f-  may 

was  executed  to  accompany  plates,  engraved  from  the  celebrated 
paintings  called  THE  SHAKSPEARE  GALLERY  ;  and  of  all  the  ILLUS- 
TRATED copies  of  it  in  existence,  there  is  none,  I  would  venture  to 
affirm,  which  approaches  that  of  my  friend  Mr.  Wilson,  bound  in 
twenty  folio  volumes,  in  blue  morocco,  by  Charles  Lewis.  It  is  in 
degree,  like  that  of  Lord  Spencer,  of  the  octavo  editon  of  1793. 
Whether  beneath  the  warm  lustre  of  the  argand  lamp,  or  by  the  side 
of  the  stained  glass  window,  (in  both  of  which  lights  I  have  <(  hung 
over  it  entranced/')  this  magnificent  set  of  books  be  opened,  the  gra- 
tification is  equally  complete. 

*  I  have  seen  the  drawings,  or  rather  the  paintings  of  Mr.  Smirke, 
in  a  bistre  colour,  for  an  edition  now  in  progress,  which  has  not  more 
than  three  figures  in  a  composition.  These  painting  are  thoroughly 
beautiful  j  and  there  can  be  but  one  prophecy  or  prediction  about 
the  result  of  such  an  impression  of  the  Bard.  Only  four  numbers, 
with  six  plates  in  each,  are  published ;  at  14s.  the  number.  Four 
additional  numbers  are  just  ready.  There  are  copies  on  LARGE  PAPER, 
with  proof  impressions  of  the  plates,  on  India  paper. 

t  Without  preface,  or  introduction,  I  entreat  the  "  Young  Man's" 
earnest  attention  to  the  following  catalogue  of  the  editions  above 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  803 

probably  be  found  sufficiently  interesting,  if  not  en- 
tirely satisfactory. 

alluded  to.  If,  during  the  course  of  an  ordinary  earthly  pilgrimage 
("  three-score  years  and  ten,")  he  become  possessed  of  one  third  of 
the  treasures  here  recorded — let  him  "  bless  his  stars,"  and  enjoy 
the  honeysuckle  bower  of  old  age  as  sweetly  and  serenely  as  any 
Devonshire  Gentleman-farmer  enjoys  it. 

FIRST  Editions  of  the  QUARTOS, 
In  the  order  in  which  those  plays  were  published. 

I.  KING  RICHARD  II.  Valentine  Sommers,  for  Andrew  IVise,  1597,  of 

most  excessive  rarity.     In  no  collection,  of  which  I  am  aware : 

not  even  in  that  of  Mr.  Heber. 
•  By  the  same  Printer,  1598.      In  the  Steevens 

and  Malone  Collections.     A  copy  was   sold  at  the  sale  of  the 

White  Knights  Library  for  10Z. 
,  Printed  by  W.  W.  1608.     In  the  Steevens  and 

Malone  Collections.    Sold  at  the  sale  of  the  former  for  10/.   See 

Malone's  Shakspeare,  by  Boswell,  vol.  ii.  p.  647. 

II.  KING  RICHARD  III.   1597.     Printed  by  Saris,  for  IVise.     In  the 

Malone  Collection  and  in  that  of  Mr.  Heber.  Not  in  Steevens's. 

,  1600.  Called  the  Second  Edition  in  Malone's 

list ;  but  qu  ?  A  copy  is  in  Mr.  Heber's  library. 

III.  ROMEO  AND  JULIET,   Printed  by  Danter,  1597-    In  the  Malonef 


f  In  this  same  Collection  is  that  marvellously  scarce  piece  ("  being  almost  as 
rare  as  a  Manuscript,"  says  Steevens)  printed  by  Richard  Tottill,  1562,  8vo. 
called  "  The  Tragicall  History  of  Romeus  and  Juliet  "  for  which  Mr.  Malone  gave 
201.  Steevens,  to  the  joy  of  all  Dramatic  Antiquarians,  reprinted  this  tract  at  the 
end  of  Shakspeare's  play,  so  called — and  I  have  read  as  much  of  it  as  I  could, 
—after  being  possessed  of  the  magic  of  Shakspeare's  text.  Let  the  reader,  how- 
ever, judge  for  himself— from  no  unfavourable  specimen,  by  the  by.  It  is  a  part 
of  Juliet's  answer  to-the  entreaties  of  her  mother  to  marry  Paris. 

Doo  what  you  list ;  but  yet  of  this  assure  you  still 

If  you  do  as  you  say  you  will,  I  yelde  not  there  vntill. 

For  had  I  chose  of  twayne,  farre  rather  would  I  choose 

My  part  of  all  your  goodes,  and  eke  my  breathe  and  lyfe,  to  lo§ e, 

Then  graunt  that  he  possesse  of  me  the  smallest  part ! 

First,  weary  of  my  painefull  life,  my  cares  shall  kill  my  hart : 

Els  will  I  perce  my  brest  with  sharpe  and  bloody  knife ; 

And  yon,  my  mother,  shall  become  the  murdresse  of  my  life, 


804  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

While  the  young  Collector's  eye  runs  with  ecstasy 
along  the  titles  of  the  several  plays — while  it  finds  NO 

and  Kemble  Collections  -,  and  so  rare,  that  Kemble  gave  Mr. 
Stace,  the  bookseller,  301.  for  a  copy  of  it.  Not  in  Steevens  or 
Reed  :  but  Mr.  Heber  has  a  copy,  which,  like  the  greater  num- 
ber of  his  first  quarto  Shakspeares,  is  large,  fair,  and  sound. 
ROMEO  AND  JULIET,  Printed  by  Creede,  1599.  Second  Edition. 
In  the  Malone  Collection.  An  inlaid  copy  brought  61.  at  the 
sale  of  Steevens's  Library  :  which  seems  to  be  the  same  as  was 
sold  at  the  sale  of  the  White  Knights  Library  for  10J.  10s. 

IV.  LOVE'S  LABOUR   LOST,  Printed  by  W.  W.  for  Cutberd  Burby, 

1598.  In  the  Malone  Collection  j  and  in  that  of  Mr.  Heber.  A 
copy  of  it  was  sold  for  40J.  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Bindley's  library. 

V.  HENRY  IV.  Part  I.  Printed  by  P.  S.  for  Andrew  Wise,  1598.  Not 

in  the  Malone  or  Steevens  Collections  ;  but  in  Capell's  List.  Mr. 
Heber  justly  boasts  of  his  fair  copy  of  this  very  scarce  play. 

,  Printed  by  S.  S.  for  Andrew  Wise,    1599.    In  the 

Malone  Collection.  A  copy  of  it  was  sold  for  31.  Ws.  at  the  sale 
of  Steevens's  Library,  and  for  131.  7s.  6d.  at  that  of  the  White 
Knights  Library.  It  is  in  Mr.  Heber's  library. 

VI.  HENRY  IV.  Part  II.    Printed  by  V.  S.for  Andrew  Wise  and   Wil- 

liam Apsley,  160O.  Both  Steevens  and  Malone  appear  to  have 
had  two  copies  of  this  edition.  Mr.  Bos  well  has  the  following 
note  upon  Mr.  Malone's  copies.  "  In  Mr.  Malone's  Collection 
there  were  two  copies  of  this  edition.  In  one  of  them  Mr.  M. 
has  the  following  note :"  In  this  copy,  signature  E  has  only  the 
ordinary  quantity  of  leaves,  namely  four.  The  publisher,  find- 
ing he  had  omitted  somewhat,  (the  whole  of  the  first  scene  of 
the  third  act,  says  Mr.  Boswell,)  cancelled  the  two  latter  leaves 
(E  3  and  E  4}  reprinted  them  in  a  different  manner,  and  added  a 
fifth  leaf,  in  order  to  get  in  the  omitted  lines.  This  is  the  only 
difference  between  the  two  copies."  Malone's  Shakspeare,  vol.ii. 
p.  650.  edit.  Boswell.  A  copy  of  one  of  these  first  editions 


In  geeving  me  to  him,  who  I  ne  can,  ne  may, 

Ne  ought,  to  love :  wherfore,  on  knees,  deere  mother,  I  you  pray, 

To  let  me  Hue  henceforth 

Reed's  Shahsp.  vol.  xx.  p.  316. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  805 

Comedy  of  Errors,  there-no  Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona, 
nor  King  John,  nor  AWs  Well  that  ends  well,  \\ovAsyou 

brought  only  31.  13s.  6d.  at  the  sale  of  Steevens's  library.  A 
copy  of  it  is  in  his  Majesty's  library  j  and  Mr.  Heber  possesses 
it  in  an  ample  and  genuine  state.  We  may  express  our  surprise 
at  not  seeing  it  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Bindley. 

VII.  HENRY  V.  Printed  by  Thomas  Creede,  for   Thomas  Millington 
and  John  Busby,  1600.     In  the  Royal  and  Malone  Collections. 
An  inlaid  copy  of  this  exceedingly  rare  book  was  bought  by  Mr. 
Kemble  at  the  sale  of  Steevens's  library  for  27Z.  6s.  The  second 
edition  is  in  1602,  and  the  third  in  1608.     A  copy  of  the  third 
was  sold  for  5J.  7s.  6d.  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's  library. 

VIII.  MERCHANT  OF  VENICE.     Printed  by  J.  R.  for  Thomas  Heyes, 
160O.     In  the  collections  of  Steevens,  Malone,  Mr.  Heber,  and 
his  Majesty.  A  copy  of  it  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's  library 
for  22 1.  Is.     Another  edition  of  the  same  date,  printed  by  J. 
Roberts  alone — and  having  W.  Shakspeare,  instead  of  William 
Shakspeare,  in  the  title,  was  sold  for  2J.  2s.  at  Steevens's  sale. 

IX.  MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S  DREAM.     Imprinted  for    Thomas   Fisher, 
1600.     In  the  Malone  and   Steevens  Collections.     Steevens's 
copy  brought  25  Z.  10s.  although  part  of  one  leaf  was  wanting. 
Mr.  Bindley's  copy,  apparently  perfect,  brought  22Z.  lOs.    There 
is  another,  but  the  second  edition,   of  the  same  date,  printed  by 
James  Roberts, — probably  not  worth  a  third  part  of  the  sum. 

X.  MUCH  ADO  ABOUT  NOTHING.    Printed  by  V.  J.  for  Andrew  Wise, 

and  William  Aspley,  160O.  In  the  Malone  Collection,  and  in 
that  of  Mr.  Heber.  Steevens's  copy  sold  for  25J.  10s.  but  that 
of  Mr.  Bindley's  brought  only  17/.  17s.  Note  :  I  find  that  Stee- 
vens's copy  is  said  to  have  been  printed  by  Valentine  Sommer : 

but  Mr.  Boswell  describes  it  as  by  "  V.  J." 

+  J 

XI.  MERRY   WIVES   OP  WINDSOR.     Printed   by    T.  C.  for  Arthur 
Johnson,   1602.      In  the  Malone  Collection,  and  in  that  of  Mr. 
Heber.  Steevens's  copy  was  sold  for  28J.  j  but  Bindley's  for  only 
18J.     The  second  edition  appeared  in  1619. 

XII.  HAMLET.     Printed  by  J.  R.for  N.  Landure,  1604.     Not  in  the 
Malone  Collection,  according  to  Mr.  Boswell :   nor,  as  far  as  I 
ean  observe,   is  it  in  the  collections  of  Steevens  and  Bindley. 
Mr.  Heber  also  still  sighs  for  its  possession.     Its  rarity  may 


806  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

like  it9  nor  King  Henry  VIII^  nor  Measure  for  Mea- 
sure, nor  The  Winter's  Tale,  nor  Cymbeline,  nor  Mac- 
be  therefore  easily  imagined.  May  I  ask,  if  the  Curators  of  the 
Bodleian  Library  (in  which  venerable  and  magnificent  collection 
of  books  the  MALONE  TREASURES  repose — but  not  slumber)  will 
let  slip  any  opportunity  of  securing  it  ?  They  will  not.  They  can- 
not. The  second  edition  was  published  in  1605  :  also  very 
rare :  the  third,  no  date,  for  Smethwicke :  of  which  a  copy 
brought  41.  4s.  at  the  sale  of  Bindley's  Library. 

XIII.  KING  LEAR.     Printed  by  Nathaniel  Butter,  and  are  to  be  sold 
at  his  shop  in  Paul's  Church  Yard,  at  the  Signe  of  the  Rede  Bull, 
neere  St.  Austin's  Gate,  1608.     I  am  particular  in  this  colophon  j 
because  there  is  another  edition,  with  the  same  title  and  datet 
which  is  said  to  be  printed  for  ' '  Nathaniel  Butter' — without  any 
adjunct  of  the  place  of  sale  :  and  farther,  the  FIBST  and  TRUE 
edition  begins  on  signature  B,  but  the  second  on  signature  A.* 
A  copy  of  the  first  is  in  the  Malone  and  Royal  Collections. 
Steevens's  copy  brought  %8l.    It  is  among  the  rarest  ot  the 
early  Shakspeare  Quartos ;    and  my  friends  Mr.  Freeling  and 
Mr.  Heber  point  with  singular  complacency  to  the  possession  of 
such  a  DRAMATIC  GEM  among  their  poetical  bijoux. 

XIV.  TAMING  OP  THE  SHREW.     Printed  by   V.  S.   (Qu.    Valentine 
Sommer  ?)  1607.    I  gather  this  title  from  Steevens's  Catalogue  : 
the  edition  being  omitted  in  Malone's  list  by  Boswell.  The  play 
is  said  to  have  been  "  acted  by  the  Earle  of  Pembroke's  Ser- 
vants," and  it  is  called  (very  properly)   "  a  pleasant  conceited 
Historic."    The  copy  in  Steevens's  Library  was  sold  for  20/. 
Mr.  Heber  absolutely  revels  in  the  possession  of  a  copy.   It  does 
not  seem  to  be  in  the  Malone  Collection.   Judge  therefore  of  its 
rarity  !     But  the  play  is  in  fact  NOT  Shakspeare's. 

XV.  TROILUS  AND  CRESSIDA.     Imprinted  by  G.  Eld.  for  R.  Bonian, 


*  Mr.  Boswell  says  that,  in  the  first  edition,  the  Poet's  name  is  spelt  SAak- 
tpeare  without  the  middle  e :  the  only  instance  in  which  he  had  met  with  it  so 
spelt,  vol.  ii.  p.  652,  which  page  must  be  consulted  for  some  other  peculiarities, 
respecting  a  third  edition,  beginning  on  signature  B. — but  having  no  specification 
of  the  place  of  sale.  Let  the  CURIOUS  therefore  look  well  to  their  copies  -  as  to 
the  title-page  being  thoroughly—  Buttered. 


THE  ENGLISH  DHAMA.  807 

beth,  nor  Julius   Ccesar,  nor  Antony  and  Cleopatra, 
nor   Timon  of  Athens,  nor  Coriolanus,  nor  the  Tern- 

and  H.  Walley,  1609.  In  the  Malone  and  Steevens  Collections. 
Steevens's  copy  produced  5J.  10s.  and  is  said  to  have  been 
printed  by  G.  Alde,"~—a>  mistake,  I  suppose.  There  is  another 
edition  with  the  same  title  and  date— but  with  the  word  ft  Fa- 
mous," (before  "  Historic  of  Troylus  and  Cresseid,")  omitted  ; 
and  with  the  addition  of  its  being  acted  by  the  King's  Majesty's 
Servants  at  the  Globe."  Mr.  Heber  possesses  a  fine  copy  of  the 
first  edition. 

XVI.  OTHELLO.  Printed  by  N.  O.for  Thomas  Walkley,  1622.  The 
last,  but  not  the  least — either  for  intrinsic  excellence  or  biblio- 
graphical curiosity — is  this  FIRST  EDITION  of  the  text  of  Othello : 
a  book,  of  most  extraordinary  rarity  :  which,  "  with  MS.  notes 
and  various  readings  by  Mr.  Steevens,  "  brought  29£.  8s.  at  the 
sale  of  the  library  of  the  latter.  Rare  as  it  is,  it  is  in  the  Malone 
Collection,  and  also  in  that  of  Mr.  Heber.  A  third  copy  of  it  was 
sold  at  Bindley's  sale  for  56Z.  14s.  the  HIGHEST  PRICE  yet  given 
for  ANY  Shakspearian  quarto  !  But  a  fourth  copy,  at  the  sale  of 
Mr.  Gilchrist's  library,  dropt  to  the  price  of  19J.  10s.  I  cannot 
however  refrain  from  indulging  an  idea,  that,  as  this  play  was 
written  in  1611,  some  impression  will  yet  turn  up  of  an  earlier 
date  than  that  of  1622  :  since,  with  the  projected  edition  of  all 
the  works  of  Shakspeare,  which  appeared  in  the  following  year, 
(1623)it  seems  a  little  odd  that  Othello,  like  the  Tempest,  Twelfth 
Night,  The  Winter's  Tale,  and  several  others,  (which  are  noticed 
in  the  above  text)  was  not  postponed  to  appear,  also  for  the  first 
time,  in  the  folio  of  1623.  It  is  true  that  many  of  Shakspeare' s 
plays  were  written  long  before  that  of  Othello  3  and  have  never, 
as  far  as  we  know,  appeared  in  print  before  the  impression  of  1623 ; 
but  the  inference  from  their  early  non-appearance  in  print  is  not 
analogous.  In  truth,  there  BE  some  sanguine  book-knights, 
that  encircle  the  ROXBURGHE  ROUND  TABLE,  who  reckon 
upon  possessing  early  quartos  of  half  of  those  plays  of  Shak- 
speare, which  are  supposed  to  have  been  first  published  in  the 
folio  of  1623.  May  such  daily  and  nocturnal  dreams  of  con- 


808  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

pest,   nor    Twelfth   Night, — and  while,   among   the 
treasures  recorded,  it   finds   NO  possessor  of  King 

summate  felicity  be  verified!      More  chimerical  hopes  have 

probably  been  indulged. 

Here  ends  the  list  of  all  the  known  FIRST  EDITIONS  of  the  LEGI- 
TIMATE PLAYS  of  Shakspeare,  published  in  a  quarto  form— before  the 
first  folio  of  1623,  which  comprehended  the  entire  works  of  the 
Bard.  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  Titus  Andronicus,  Pericles, 
and  the  second  and  third  Parts  of  Henry  FI.— any  farther  than  to  say 
that  the  first  edition  of  Titus  was  in  1600  :  and  the  second  in  161 1  : 
of  Pericles  in  1609  ;  of  Henry  VI.  Parts  II.  and  III.  in  1594,  1595, 
and  1 600.  Mr.  Chalmers  has  the  edition  of  1595,  the  Hid  of  Henry 
VI.,  which  he  purchased  at  Dr.  Pegge's  sale,  for  5Z.  15s.  6d.  See 
Boswell's  note  :  vol.  ii.  p.  655.  I  may  farther  add  that  copies  of  all 
these  first  editions  of  the  spurious,  or  rather  altered,  Plays  of  Shaks- 
peare, are  in  the  wonderful  Collection  of  Mr.  Malone,  at  Oxford  -,* 
and  I  have  also  good  reason  to  believe  that  fine  copies  of  them  will 
be  found  in  that  of  Mr.  Heber. 


*  "  Wonderful,"  indeed  is  this  Collection.  I  shall  have  to  notice  it,  slightly 
again  :  but  here,  I  may  be  well  permitted  to  transcribe  the  note  of  Mr.  Malone 
HIMSELF,  prefixed  to  the  seven  volumes,  which  contain  the  treasures  just  cata- 
logued. "  This  collection  of  Shakspeare's  Plays  and  Poems  (which,  with  several 
pieces  on  which  he  constructed  dramas  bound  up  among  my  SHAKSPEARIANA 
[in  twelve  thick  volumes  !]  forms  perhaps  the  most  complete  assemblage  of  the 
early  editions  of  his  Productions  that  has  ever  been  made.  It  wants  only  the 
King  Richard  //.,  1597,  King  Henry  IV.  Part  I.  1598,  and  Hamlet,  of  1604." 
The  owner  then  goes  on  to  compare  it  with  the  Collections  of  Pope,  Capell,  Gar- 
rick,  Steevens,  Kemble,  and  Mr.  Jenning  (of  Gopsal),  to  all  of  which  it  appears 
greatly  superior.  After  this  note  was  written^  Mr.  Malone  obtained  the  Venus  and 
Adonis  of  1593 — (see  page  696  ante.)  and  the  Romeus  and  Juliet,  of  1562,  by 
Tottilr  see  page  803. 

Precisely  at  THIS  moment,  I  learn  that  Mr.  Jolly,  who  coriibats  as  lustily  as  any 
heavy-metalled  Roxburgher  for  RARE  EARLY  ENGLISH  POETIIY,  stumbled,  in  one  of 
his  Lancashire  rambles,  upon  an  unostentatious  little  volume,  containing.... what ! 
think 'st  thou,  gentle  and  curious  reader  ?  .  .  containing  . .  .  the  Venus  and  Adonis  of 
1593  and  the  Sonnets  of  1609  . .  both  FIRST  EDITIONS— in  one  and  the  same  volume. 
Did  he  give  3s.  6d.  for  the  same  ?  He  was  not  asked  so  much.  Would  they  bring 
fourscore  guineas?  They  would  bring  more.  Hie,  for  Lancashire ! —  and  will 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  809 

Richard  II.  1597,  of  Hamlet,  1604,  and  but  two  of  the 
first  part  of  Henry  IV.  1598  —  he  is  alternately  dis- 
tracted by  presumption  and  despair.  If  the  latter 
feeling  prevail,  and  he  give  up  the  quarto  chase,  he 
must  apply  all  his  energies,  and  struggle  might  and 
main  in  the  folio  chase  —  for  a  large,  clean,  and  ge- 
nuine copy  of  the  Princeps — ay,  and  the  Prince  too ! — 
of  these  folio  impressions.  Of  course,  I  allude  to  that 
of  which  Shakspeare's  dramatic  Associates,  HEMINGE 
and  CONDELL,  were  the  Editors.  The  edition  of  1623  is 
the  Parent  text  of  Shakspeare  in  a folio  form  ;  and  con- 
tains the  FIRST  impressions  of  those  Plays  mentioned  in 
the  immediately  preceding  text.  The  subjoined  note* 

«  Of  all  the  NOTES,  in  this  noteable  volume,  the  present  is  one 
which  will  probably  afford  the  most  general  interest  and  amusement : 
at  least,  to  such  who  take  delight  in  the  bibliographical  history  of  the 
WORKS  OF  SHAKSPEARE.  I  am  about  to  make  mention  of  THIRTY 
COPIES  (described  in  a  manner  more  or  less  circumstantial)  of  the 
first  folio  of  1623  :  but  for  this  description  I  am  chiefly  indebted  to 
my  friend  Mr.  Amyot,  who  hath  a  marvellous  love  of  the  Shaks- 
peare Hunt,  and  who  himself  enjoys  the  supreme  felicity  of  posses- 
sing two  copies  of  this  recherche  folio :— but,  then  again,  this  felicity 
is  dashed  with  the  infelicity  of  having  neither  of  them  perfect !  It  is 
a  bold,  and  perhaps  a  fearful  thing,  to  class  the  copies  of  the  several 
Owners  according  to  their  supposed  merits :  but  I  will  venture  upon 
the  following  arrangement .  .  with  those  copies  which  I  have  seen. 

CLASS  THE  FIRST.  The  copy  in  the  Cracherode  Collection,  and 
those  in  the  Collections  of  the  Right  Hon.  T.  Grenville  and  Daniel 
Moore,  Esq.  These  have  size,  condition,  and  the  genuine  properties 
of  a  true  copy.  They  are  thirteen  inches  in  height,  eight  and  a  half 
in  width,  have  the  true  portrait  and  title-page,  with  the  genuine 


not  my  friend  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rice  be  of  the  party  ?  Assuredly  he  will.  For  $uch 
an  "  ultimate  result,"  even  my  friend  Bernardo  would  throw  himself  across  the 
horse's  back  as  postilion ! 


810  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

will  give  a  "  full,  true,  and  particular  account  "  of  this 
precious  ornament  of  any  library. 

verses  in  the  centre  of  the  leaf  facing  the  title  page.*  They  have  no 
spurious  leaves,  foisted  in  from  other  editions  —  and  are  "  sound  to 
the  back  bone :"  in  other  words,  to  the  end  of  the  volume.  Of  these 
three  copies,  that  in  the  Cracherode  Collection  is  the  most  objection- 
able, as  the  commendatory  verses  of  Ben  Jonson,  facing  the  title- 
page,  are,  although  genuine,  inlaid.  See  the  niceties  and  difficulties 
of  this  subject !  Mr.  Moore  has  had  his  large,  sound,  and  genuine 
copy  these  thirty  years,  and  is  supremely  happy  in  its  possession.  It 
is  a  fire  to  warm  him,  without  the  aid  of  Newcastle  coals.  Mr. 
Grenville's  copy,  beautifully  bound  in  red  morocco  by  Charles 
Lewis,  is  most  surprisingly  sound  and  clean  :  but  it  was  not  ob- 
tained (at  a  sale  at  Mr.  Saunders's  in  1818)  under  the  sum  of 
121Z.  165. :  the  highest  price  ever  given,  or  likely  to  be  given,  for  the 
volume.  It  was  then  in  old  ragged  binding  —  apparently  original.* 
These  three  copies,  on  the  whole,  are  entitled  to  be  registered  in  the 
FIRST  CLASS. 


*  These  genuine  verses  are  printed  in  the  following  manner: 

To  the  Reader. 
This  Figure,  that  thou  here  seest  put, 

It  was  for  gentle  Shakespeare  cut ; 
Wherein  the  Grauer  had  a  strife 

with  Nature,  to  out-doo  the  life  : 
O,  could  he  but  haue  drawne  his  wit 

Ai  well  in  brasse,  as  he  hath  hit 
His  face :  the  Print  would  then  surpasse 

All,  that  was  eucr  writ  in  brasse. 
But,  since  he  cannot,  Reader,  looke 

Not  on  his  Picture,  but  his  booke. 

B.I. 

In  the  second  edition,  the  lines,  where  the  words  in  italic  occur,  are  printed  thus 

Wherein  the  Graver  had  a  strife 
O  could  he  but  have  drawne  his  wit 
As  well  in  Brasse,  as  he  hath  hit 
His  Face ;  the  Print  would  then  surpasse 

All  that  was  ever  writ  in  Brasse. 
The  preceding  and  subsequent  verses  are  the  same  in  BOTH  editions. 

*  Mr.  Grenville  informs  me  that  an  ancestor  of  Sir  Watkin  Williams  Wytin  had  a 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  81 1 

While  therefore  the  attention  of  the  more  curious 
and  desperate,  in  these  matters,  is  rivet  ted  to  this 

CLASS  THE  SECOND.  The  copies  in  the  collections  of  the  Duke  of 
Devonshire,  Earl  Spencer,  George  Hibbert,  Esq.  John  Dent,  Esq. 
John  Lichfield,  Esq.  the  late  John  Kemble's,  and  the  Malone  Col- 
lection at  Oxford.  Of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  s  copy,  I  wish  I 
could  speak  with  greater  confidence  ;  but  I  think  it  has  the  genuine 
verses  and  title,  (although  a  portion  of  this  latter  be  inlaid)  and 
that  it  is  full  thirteen  inches  high  and  sound  to  the  very  end.  The 
price  given  (not  always  an  infallible  criterion,  I  admit)  seems 
to  justify  such  a  description.  Lord  Spencer's  copy  had  every  leaf 
picked  by  the  experienced  hands  of  the  late  George  Steevens. 
The  verses  opposite  are  genuine,  but  inlaid,  and  there  are  many  tender 
leaves  throughout.  There  are  also,  in  the  centre  of  some  of  the  pages, 
a  few  greasy-looking  spots,  which  might  have  originally  received  the 
ef  flakes  of  pie-crust  "  in  the  servant's  hall — as  notified  by  Steevens  : 
see  p.  792,  ante.  But  it  is  a  beautiful  and  desirable  copy ;  and  the 
chef  d'oeuvre  of  the  binding  of  Walthers.  See  the  JEdes  Althorpiance, 


copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare  UNCUT.  It  was  lying  on  the  table  in  that  condi- 
tion, when,  in  a  luckless  moment,  a  Stationer  (in  the  neighbourhood  of  Wynn- 
stay)  came  in.  The  book  was  given  to  him  to  be  bound :  and  OFF  went,  not  only 
the  edges,  but  half  of  the  margins  !  !  !  O  unprecedented  act  of  bibliopegistic  bar- 
barity !  No  wonder,  on  my  mentioning  this  anecdote  to  Charles  Lewis,  that  his 
teeth  were  set  an  edge,  and  he  gave  an  involuntary  inward  groan ! 

In  regard  to  HIGH  or  LOW  PRICES,  it  may  be  remembered  (see  p.  792,  ante)  that, 
in  the  opinion  of  Steevens,  this  ' first  folio  was  originally  sold  for  I/. ;  and  even 
then  it  was  a  partnership  concern— "  no  single  publisher  at  that  time  being  willing 
to  risk  his  money  on  a  complete  collection  of  our  author's  Plays."  Mr.  Garrick 
however  gave  but  I/.  16*.  for  his  copy,  to  the  father  of  the  present  Mr.  Payne.  This 
copy  was  said  to  have  been  stolen  from  Garrick's  collection,  and  never  went  with 
his  books  to  the  British  Museum.  But  it  was  nevertheless  sold  with  Garrick's 
library  in  1823,  for  341.  2s.  6d. :  not  a  fine  or  a  perfect  copy.  Mr.  Jolly  was  the 
purchaser.  Had  the  report  of  the  theft  been  true,  it  would  only  have  been  an  act 
of  retributive  justice;  for  Garrick  used  to  stuff  the  pockets  of  his  carriage  with 
many  a  rare  dramatic  article,  stolen  from  the  Dulwich  library,  of  which  Master 
Alleyn,  (Shakspeare's  friend,  and  a  great  patron  of  the  Drama)  was  the  Owner. 
Can  it  be  believed  that  SUCH  a  man  had  wofthe  first  folioofthe  great  Bard's  works  ? 
No  such  copy  has  ever  been'  found  there.  Mr.  Cracherode's  copy  has  the  mark 
of  8/.  IBs.  6rf.  Dr.  Wright's  copy,  in  1787,  bound"  in  russia  with  gilt  leaves," 


812  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

elongated  note — while  the  ruler  of  MINCIO  is  in  a  con- 
stant state  of  requisition,  in  consequence  of  the  jnemo- 

vol.  i.  page  194.  Mr.  Hibberfs  copy  is  pronounced  by  Mr.  Amyot  to 
be  the  best  that  he  has  seen,  after  those  described  in  the  First  Class  ; 
where  perhaps  it  deserves  a  place.  It  is  shortish,  but  clean  and  ge- 
nuine throughout,  with  the  original  verses.  The  end  is  very  good. 
("  Finis  coronat  opus.")  It  is  bound  in  russia,  had  belonged  to  the 
well  known  Mr.  Jennings,  of  Dog  designation,  and  was  purchased  of 
Mr.  Payne  for  70  guineas.  Mr.  Dent's  is  a  large,  fine  copy,  with 
some  ROUGH  LEAVES.  The  title  is  pasted  down.  Mr.  Lichfield's  copy 
is  perfect  and  genuine,  in  old  calf  binding. 

The  copy  belonging  to  the  late  Mr.  Kemble,  and  purchased  by  the 
late  Mr.  Boswell  for  112Z.  7s.  was  a  complete  copy;  but  it  was 
washed,  white  and  clean,  and  inlaid — in  consequence  of  the  edges 
having  been  cut  very  close — after  the  fashion  of  the  Wynnstay  sta- 
tioner (vide p.  811,  ante.)  The  inlaying  was  on  large  paper,  with 
blank  leaves  at  the  beginning  and  end  :  and  the  book,  after  having 
been  sumptuously  bound  in  morocco  by  Mackinlay,  and  enclosed  in  a 
case  of  calf  leather,  cost  its  late  Owner,  exclusively  of  its  first  price, 
threescore  guineas.  As  a  specimen  of  genuine  and  tasteful  restitu- 
tion, it  was  a  failure.  No  first  Shakspeare  ever  could  have  appeared 
of  such  a  form :  but  see  the  gallant  sentiments  of  its  last  possessor 
(p.  792)  respecting  the  acquisition  of  it.  The  reader  is  now  about 
to  be  staggered.  Here  comes  a  copy  of  the  first  Shakspeare,  thirteen 


brought  10/.  The  price  kept  gradually  mounting,  when,  in  1790,  the  late  Duke  of 
Roxburghe  gave  the  then-considered-to-be  astounding  sum  of  35/.  14*.  for  a  copy. 
The  manner  in  which  that  copy  was  acquired  is  told  in  the  Bibliomania,  p.  701 :  and 
this  very  copy  was  afterwards  sold  at  the  sale  of  the  Duke's  library  in  1 812  for  100/. 
It  is  now  in  Devonshire  House. 

For  this  copy  I  had  a  commission  from  the  late  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes  to  give  751.  It 
was  tall  and  sound,  but  my  memory  serves  me  with  the  recollection  of  some  ruled 
red  lines  in  the  frontispiece,  which  has  always  a  suspicious  appearance.  Mean- 
while, the  copy  of  Steevens,  purchased  at  his  sale  by  the  late  Dr.  Burney,  in  1800, 
and  now  in  the  British  Museum,  produced  221.  although  the  title  was  MS.  and  the 
verses  were  taken  from  the  second  edition.  Reed's  copy,  in  1807, "  bound  in  three 
vol.  elegant  in  russia,  and  beautifully  inlaid  by  the  late  Mr.  Henderson,  with  addi- 
tional portraits,"  was  sold  for  38/.  To  conclude  Kemble's  copy,  described  above, 
was  purchased  in  1822  by  the  late  Mr.  James  Boswell  for  112/.  7s. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  813 

randa  taken  from  the  intelligence  there  imparted—and 
while  seven-eighths  of  my  readers  despair  of  ever 

inches  and  a  HALF  high,  embodied  only  in  the  Second  Class  :  and  where- 
fore? Because  it  is  far  from  being  of  a  genuine  size  throughout. 
Several  leaves  are  inlaid  :  and  the  title-page  is  a  REPRINT.  Beware 
of  these  reprinted  title-pages,  which  are  in  two  copies  in  four.  But 
the  impression  of  the  portrait  is  a  good  one  :  and,  says  my  excellent 
and  experienced  Correspondent,  (to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  an 
account  of  the  treasures  in  the  Malone  Collection,  detailed  between 
pages  784  and  791)  "  by  way  of  making  up  for  deficiencies,  Mr. 
Malone  has  inserted  an  original  warrant,  signed  by  Lord  Pembroke, 
authorising  "  MAISTER  ALLEYN,  maister  of  his  Majesty's  Bear 
Garden,  to  procure  Dogs  for  his  Majesty's  service," — such  dogs  being 
mightily  in  request. 

CLASS  THE  THIRD.  The  copy  in  the  British  Museum  belonging  to 
the  late  Dr.  Burney ;  that  in  the  Dissenter's  library,  in  Red  Cross- 
street  j  in  the  London  Institution  ;  and  in  the  library  of  Edward  Ver. 
non  Utterson,  Esq.  5  the  latter,  with  whatever  abatements  of  washing 
and  inlaying,  is  a  very  desirable  one — and  sumptuously  bound  by 
Herring  in  blue  morocco.  The  copy  which  had  belonged  to  Steevens, 
and  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  his  library  by  Dr.  Burney,  wants 
the  title  and  portrait :  the  latter  being  supplied  by  a  fac- simile 
drawing  by  Steevens.  The  verses  are  from  the  second  edition.  Many 
of  the  leaves  have  stains  and  ink  marks.  It  has  a  ms.  note  by  Steevens, 
which  informs  us  that  the  copy  was  given  to  him  by  Jacob  Tonson 
in  1765,  and  that  it  had  passed  through  the  hands  of  Theobald  and 
Dr*  Johnson,  the  ff  latter  not  having  improved  its  condition."  Let 
me  add  another  copy — quod  manibus  propriis  tractavi.  It  is  that  of 
Roger  Wilbraham,  Esq. :  which  is,  in  fact,  deserving  of  the  Second 
Class.  The  title  is  a  reprint,  and  the  commendatory  verses  are  want- 
ing :  but  it  is  otherwise  sound  and  genuine  to  the  end.  In  blue 
morocco  binding.  The  copy  belonging  to  the  late  Mr.  Nassau,  (pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Thorpe  for  491.  7s.)  was  a  perfect,  though  not  a  fine 
copy.  Mr.  Jolly's  copy,  late  Garrick's,  has  been  mentioned  in  a 
preceding  note  (p.  811.) 

To  these  may  be  added  copies  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Mr. 
Knight,  Mr.  Perry,  and  Colonel  Stanley.  The  copy  of  Mr.  Knight,  of 


814  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

obtaining  a  genuine  copy  of  such  a  beloved  volume — 
let  me  lead  every  reader,  desperate  or  indifferent  in 

Portland-Place,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Murray  of  Albemarle- 
street.  It  is  admirably  bound  in  russia,  by  Roger  Payne.  This  title 
is  a  reprint ;  two  leaves  of  the  Prolegomena,  with  two  in  Cymbeline, 
are  inserted  from  the  second  edition  -,  and  the  last  leaf  is  supplied 
from  the  reprint  of  1808.  With  all  these  drawbacks,  this  volume  is 
richly  worth  the  sum  given  for  it  by  its  present  Owner — namely, 
29  J.  185.  6d.  Mr.  Murray,  if  report  speak  accurately,  was  the  com- 
petitor of  Mr.  Boswell  for  Kemble's  copy,  just  described.  Mr. 
Perry's  copy,  purchased  by  Mr.  Matthews  at  the  sale  of  his  library 
for  28Z.  10s.  had  the  reprint  title  and  portrait :  no  verses  opposite  -, 
and  was  otherwise  a  soiled  and  in  part  perforated  copy.  Colonel 
Stanley's  copy  was  superior  to  either  of  the  preceding.  It  wanted 
the  original  verses  and  title-page,  but  was  a  very  fair  one,  and  beau- 
tifully bound  in  russia  by  Roger  Payne.  It  was  bought  by  Mr. 
North  at  the  sale  of  the  Colonel's  library  for  371.  16s.,  and  was  sold 
at  the  sale  of  Mr.  North's  library  for  39/.  18s. :  being  purchased  by 
Mr.  Jervis. 

Other  copies  belong  to  this  CLASS.  Mr.  Amyot  has  two;  and  is 
therefore  doubly  blest.  The  first  is  Dr.  Farmer's  copy,  and  is 
valued  by  the  present  owner  accordingly.  The  title  is  a  reprint ; 
but  the  portrait  is  original.  The  verses  opposite  the  title  are  re- 
printed. The  second  copy  of  Mr.  Amyot  is  not  so  good  as  the  pre- 
ceding. The  title  is  a  reprint:  the  portrait,  original.  There  are 
no  commendatory  verses.  Some  leaves  are  in  a  bad  state,  and 
the  whole  Play  of  Cymbeline  is  inserted  from  the  second  edition. 
But  a  very  remarkable  variation  is  found  in  Hamlet,  p.  278,  and 
two  other  leaves.  Consult  BoswelVs  edit,  of  Malone's  Shakspeare, 
vol.  xxi.  p.  449.  I  have  already  recorded  one  copy  (in  the  preceding 
Class)  as  having  been  in  the  possession  of  Messrs,  Arch,  booksellers, 
and  I  have  here  to  record  two  more.  One,  not  large,  with  no  verses 
opposite,  and  bound  in  morocco,  has  the  UNIQUE  distinction  of  having 
the  date  of  1622  in  the  title-page — which  is  genuine.  Another  copy, 
bound  in  blue  morocco,  twelve  inches  and  three-eights  in  height, 
with  the  original  title,  and  with  the  opposite  verses  from  the  second 
edition,  is  marked  at  forty-five  guineas  in  their  recent  catalogue :  and 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  815 

these  matters,  to  the  brief  description  of  the  remain- 
ing folio  editions.  There  is,  secondly,  that  of  1632  ; 

this  article  is  preceded  by  the  four  6rst  folios  (one  of  those  just 
described  forming  that  of  1623)  "  complete,  and  uniformly  bound  in 
russia,  gilt  leaves,"  which  have  been  recently  sold  for  841.  What  a 
triumphantly  trading  article  is  a  first  folio  Shakspeare  ! 

I  have,  in  the  last  place,  to  notice  the  copy  at  Buckingham  House, 
those  in  the  collections  of  Mr.  Heber  and  Mr.  George  Nicol,  and  a 
few  others  which  now  cannot  be  traced  or  appropriated.  The  King's 
copy,  though  clean,  scarcely  exceeds  twelve  inches  in  height  j  has  a 
reprint  title  ;  no  verses  are  opposite,  but  the  portrait  is  original.  It  is 
in  morocco  binding.  Mr.  Heber's  copy  ought  to  be  an  indifferent  one, 
since  he  gave  only  10J.  105.  for  it  at  a  sale  at  Sotheby's.  It  is  short; 
the  title  is  a  reprint  from  the  second  edition,  and  some  leaves  are 
stained,  and  others  mutilated.  In  old  calf  binding.  Mr.  Nicol'scopy 
is  rather  short ;  the  title  is  a  reprint  3  but  the  portrait  is  original.  The 
verses  opposite  are  in  the  hand  writing  of  Person.  Some  leaves  are 
mended  and  completed  at  the  edges  by  MS.  This  copy  was  made  up 
by  Mr.  Henderson  for  the  late  Duke  of  Roxburghe,  who  gave  it  to 
Mr.  Nicol  when  the  latter  had  purchased  for  him  the  copy  described  in 
the  SECOND  CLASS.  Messrs.  Longman  and  Co.  had  a  copy  of  a  mid- 
dling height,  but  not  a  good  title  ;  although  the  opposite  verses  were 
genuine.  A  remarkable  variation  in  this  copy  occurred  in  the  Othello. 
See  BoswelVs  Shaksp.  vol.  xxi.  page  45O.  Mr.  Triphook  had  also  a 
copy,  wanting  title  and  three  first  leaves  of  the  Prolegomena.  He 
asked,  and  obtained,  ten  guineas  for  it. 

Besides  the  foregoing,  there  are  copies  in  the  possession  of  the  fol- 
lowing Noblemen  and  Gentlemen.  The  Marquis  of  Stafford,  the 
Marquis  of  Bath,  Lord  Milton,  Right  Hon.  C.  W.  Wynn,  J.  Broad- 
head,  Esq.,  Arthur  Atherley,  Esq.,  late  M.  P.  j  the  late  Robert  Blake, 
Esq.  M.  P.  and  John  Field,  Esq.,  and  J.  B.  Rhodes,  Esq.  But,  accord- 
ing to  M.  Payne's  testimony,  the  most  beautiful  and  perfect  copy 
is  that  in  the  collection  of  Sir  R.  Newdigate.  Will  it  ever  be  dis- 
played beneath  the  mellow  skylight  in  Pall  Mall?  A  copy  is  also 
in  the  library  of  Canterbury  Cathedral,  and  in  that  of  Eton  College ; 
the  latter  being  Anthony  Storer's.  But,  strange  to  say,  there  was 
no  copy  in  the  libraries  of  Lord  Oxford,  Dr.  Mead,  West,  Askew, 


816  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

which  was  once  thought  to  be  more  intrinsically  valu- 
able than  its  precursor :  but  Steevens,  who,  I  believe, 
was  the  first  to  propagate  this  notion,  had  the  good 
sense  to  recant ;  and  Malone  would  teach  us  to  sup- 
pose, that  this  edition  is,  in  fact,  as  erroneous  as  it 
was  thought  to  be  accurate.  Of  all  copies  of  it,  that 
in  his  Majesty's  collection  may  be  considered  as  the 
most  desirable.*  It  is  usually  a  well-printed  book, 

Hoblyn,  Crofts,  Beauclerk,  Heath,  Willett,  and  Bindley.  Nor 
(equally  strange)  does  there  appear  to  be  a  copy  in  the  library  at 
Blickling,  or  Ham,  or  in  the  Pepysian  library  at  Magdalen  Col- 
lege. I  have  just  observed,  that  a  first  folio  Shakspeare  is  a  "tri- 
umphantly-trading "  article  in  the  book-market ;  and  that  Messrs. 
Arch  appear  to  have  had  three  copies  (of  various  degrees  of  per- 
fection) of  that  one  volume — together  with  two  of  each  succeeding 
volume :  and  that  the  first  set  was  sold  for  84 1.  Mr.  Thorpe,  as 
was  to  be  expected,  presents  a  bold  front  on  this  occasion.  In  his 
recently  published  catalogue  (1824,  Pt.  ii.  no.  7851)  there  stand  the 
FIRST  FOUR  FOLIOS,  described  in  capital  letters  throughout.  For  the 
first  folio,  65Z.  is  marked  :  for  the  second  10Z.  10*. :  for  the  third, 
25Z.  and  for  the  fourth,  61.  6s. :  if  taken  together,  they  are  to  be  sold 
for  1 OOZ.  Mr.  Pickering,  of  Chancery-lane,  has  another  similar  set, 
in  4  vols.  which  he  values  at  95Z.  The  copy  of  the  first  edition  is 
both  tall  and  wide  ;  being  thirteen  inches  in  height,  by  eight  and  a 
half  in  width.  The  title-page  is  genuine,  but  inlaid  :  the  opposite 
verses  are  genuine.  The  latter  end  is  a  little  tender.  Upon  the 
whole,  a  sound  and  clean  copy,  in  handsome  russia  binding. 

*  I  have  seen  this  desirable  volume.  It  belonged  to  Charles  I. :  and 
has  his  initials  and  motto  "  Dum  Spiro,  Spero."  It  was  purchased 
at  Steeven's  sale  for  18Z.  18s. — the  largest  sum  ever  given,  or  likely 
to  be  given,  for  the  book  :  but  Steevens  was  wrong  in  saying  that 
Charles  "  presented  this  copy  to  Sir  Thomas  Herbert,  the  Master  of 
the  Revels."  The  late  King  had  corrected  this  :  adding,  that  it  was 
given  to  Sir  T.  Herbert,  ' '  Groom  of  the  Chambers."  In  fact ;  the 
very  Herbert  who  published  those  interesting  Memoirs  of  the  last 
two  Years  of  the  Reign  of  Charles  I. :  reprinted  in  a  very  elegant 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  8)7 

and  much  handsomer,  in  every  respect,  than  that  of 
1623.  The  third  of  1664  is,  next  to  the  first,  the 
scarcest;  and  there  are  those  (including  the  late 
George  Steevens)  who  deem  it  of  yet  greater  scarcity, 
although  of  no  literary  value.  The  fire  of  London  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  cause  of  its  rarity.  The 
fourth  folio,  of  1685,  has  little  to  recommend  it,  either 
on  the  score  of  rarity  or  intrinsic  worth.* 

And  now,  methinks,  it  is  high  time  to  bid  adieu  to 
Shakspeare.  Beloved,  idolised,  and  immortalised  as  he 
will  be — the  object  of  our  enthusiastic  attachment  in 
youth,  and  of  unabated  respect  in  age — it  was  surely 
venial  tohavebeen  thus  far  minute  and  communicative 
respecting  the  PRIMARY  EDITIONS  of  those  works, 
which  are  destined  to  be  the  delight  of  the  latest 
periods.  Shakspeare,  as  Mr.  Campbell  has  well  ob- 
served, "  is  the  poet  of  the  world  ;"  and  "  the  stream 
of  time  (as  Johnson  has  nobly  remarked)  which  is 
continually  washing  the  dissoluble  fabrics  of  other 

manner,  and  published  by  Messrs.  Nicol,  in  18l3,  then  booksellers 
to  his  Majesty.  Messrs.  Arch  mark  a  copy  of  this  second  edition  of 
Shakspeare  at  51.  5s.  and  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  mark  a  "  fine  copy 
of  it  in  the  original  binding1,  with  the  portrait,"  at  81.  8s. 

*  It  will  be  seen,  at  the  end  of  the  last  note  but  one,  that  Mr. 
Thorpe  marks  a  copy  of  the  third  edition  at  25/.  -,  and  we  learn  from 
his  catalogue  that  he  has  "refused  ten  pounds  for  the  title  of  1663  3" 
— which  contains  the  portrait.  There  are,  in  fact,  two  title-pages 
to  this  edition  :  one  of  1663,  which  has  the  portrait  ;  and  another  of 
1664  without  it.  This  edition  has  also  some  pretension  to  the  impor- 
tance of  a  parent  text.  It  has  the  seven  additional  REPUTED,  or  I 
should  say,  SPURIOUS  plays  of  Shakspeare.  Both  titles  must  be  found 
to  render  the  possessor  THOROUGHLY  happy.  In  his  Majesty's  library 
there  is  a  copy  of  this  third  edition  with  an  amazing  amplitude  of 
margin.  The  fourth  edition  of  1685  may  be  worth  about  from3l.l3s.6d, 
to  5/.  5s.  according  to  condition. 

3    G 


818  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

poets,  passes  without  injury  by  the  adamant  of  Shak- 
speare."  But,  in  this  genial  glow  of  admiration  for 
the  works  of  this  wonderful  man,  let  it  not  be  forgot- 
ten that  these  works  are  not  to  be  promiscuously  and 
unguardedly  read  ;  nor  can  I  close  this  subject  without 
recommending  the  qualified  publications  which  have 
appeared  under  the  names  of  Griffiths,  Bawdier,  and 
Pitman.* 

*  Mrs.  Griffiths  published  an  octavo  volume.,  some  forty  or  fifty 
years  ago,  called  The  Morality  of  Shaskpeare.  The  object  of  this 
publication  was,  to  exhibit  a  great  number  of  those  passages  from 
the  plays  of  Shakspeare  in  which  the  moral  and  social  virtues  were 
described  in  the  peculiarly  forcible  language  of  their  great  author. 
But  this  undertaking,  although  not  without  its  use,  had  little  success. 
Few  admired,  and  none  imitated  it.  The  late  Mr.  BOWDLER'S  Family 
Shakspeare,  in  ten  small  duodecimo  volumes,  in  which  all  gross  and 
offensive  words  only  are  expunged — and  nothing  added  to  the  text  of 
the  original — is,  of  ALL  the  Shakspeares,  for  a  FAMILY  CIRCLE,  the  most 
to  be  commended  ;  and  it  has,  I  make  no  doubt,  a  great  and  a  pros- 
perous sale.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pitman  has  lately  published  a  Family  Shak- 
speare, on  the  same  plan,  in  one  large  octavo  volume  $  but  with 
greater  dismemberments  of  the  original.  This  useful  book  is  appro- 
priately  dedicated  to  the  greatest  Representative  which  ever  lived 
of  the  female  characters  of  the  original — Mrs.  Siddons :  the  dedication 
is  at  once  short,  neat,  and  forcible. f 


*  There  never  will  be  an  end  of  SHAKSPEARIANA—  or  publications  relating  to  our 
great  Dramatist.  The  above  sentence  was  scarcely  written,  when  mine  eyes  came 
across  a  biography  of  the  Bard,  written  by  AUGUSTINE  SKOTTOWE,  Esq.  and 
printed  in  two  handsome  octavo  volumes,  price  I/.  1*.  Of  its  intrinsic  excellence 
I  know  nothing,  but  have  heard  considerable  things.  And  here  again  is  a  work 
in  Prospectu,  to  be  announced  by  me— under  the  title  of  "  Vindicatio  Shakspe- 
ariana ;  or  Supplementary  Remarks  on  the  Editions  of  Shakspeare  by  Reed  and 
others  :  with  Occasional  Illustrations  of  some  obscure  and  disputed  passages.  By 
JOHN  SHERWEN,  M.  D."  The  remarks  are  carefully  and  beautifully  written  on 
the  alternate  pages  of  two  moderate  sized  quarto  volumes  :  and  although  their 
author  be  a  Septuagenarian,  they  betray  all  the  vivaciousness  of  youth.  Dr. 
Sherwen  has  an  idea  (long  and  carefully  entertained  by  him)  that  Shakspeare  is 
to  be  greatly  illustrated  by  a  knowledge  of  the  northern  dialects  of  this  country. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  819 

The  next  great  dramatic  wight  is  BEN  JONSON  ; 
a  man  of  astonishingly  strong  and  acute  natural 
powers,  modified  and  chastened  by  learning,  far  above 
all  his  contemporaries  and  compeers.  There  is  no 
need  to  say  even  half  a  dozen  words  about  the  history 
of  the  early  and  separate  publications  of  his  plays  and 
masques,  since  these  involve  few  bibliographical  nice- 
ties— few  cruces,  on  which  the  Bibliomaniac  loves  his 
ingenuity  to  be  stretched  and  tortured — and  since 
they  are  all  fully  discussed  and  settled  in  the  very  best, 
and  only  desirable,  edition  of  the  author's  works  ex- 
tant : — of  course,  that  of  Mr.  Giffbrd  is  necessarily 
alluded  to.*  To  read  Ben  Jonsonin  any  other  edition, 

*  Published  in  1816,  8vo.  in  nine  vols.  41.  14s.  6d.  There  are  copies 
on  LARGE  PAPER.  The  critical  tact  evinced  in  Mr.  Gifford's  edition 
of  Massinger's  plays,  1805-8,  prepared  the  world  for  the  gratifica- 
tion to  be  derived  from  the  present  performance :  which,  for  acute- 
ness,  judgment,  and  full  and  satisfactory  intelligence,  on  all  the 
material  points  involved  in  a  consideration  of  the  more  obscure  or 
important  passages  of  the  text,  is  eminently  happy  and  successful. 
The  supposed  enmity  of  Jonson  to  Shakspeare  is  triumphantly  refuted 
by  the  editor  himself:  and  needed  not  the  postliminary  fe  proofs"  of 
Mr.  Gilchrist — which  come  so  peltingly  thick  upon  the  reader,  as 
hardly  to  allow  him  time  to  look  about  and  draw  breath  !  Never  was 
a  POINT  (a  sort  of  cardinal  one,  in  reference  to  posterity,  and  in  the 
estimation  of  the  literary  character)  more  solidly  and  satisfactorily 
settled,  and  put  at  rest ;  beyond  the  possibility  (I  should  conceive 
and  hope)  of  future  reasonable  doubt.  The  notes  on  this  thoroughly 
well-executed  performance,  neither  disappoint  from  their  paucity, 
nor  overwhelm  by  the  length  of  extraneous  and  merely  curious 
matter.  They  go  directly  to  the  point  at  issue ;  and  you  see,  in  a 
moment,  that  the  editor  is  complete  master  of  the  sense  of  his  author. 
None  but  a  classical  commentator  could  be  a  successful  editor  of 
HONEST  BEN  :  for  Jonson's  mind  was  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
learning  of  a  scholar.  It  breaks  out  and  overflows  on  the  commonest 


320  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

is  to  stand  upon  your  head  to  look  at  a  prospect :  so 
inverted  and  confused  is  the  larger  portion  of  the  ob- 
jects before  you.  Whalleys  once-lauded  impression 
is  thought  of  no  more.* 

I  proceed,  necessarily,  at  a  "  swing  trot,"  with  the 
remainder  of  the  dramatic  corps.  For  BEAUMONT 
and  FLETCHER,  procure  the  edition  of  Mr.  Weber, 
1812,  8vo.  fourteen  vols.  This  edition  might  have 
been  better ;  but  in  this  life  we  must  swallow  much 
of  bitter  with  a  little  that  is  sweet.  The  same  editor 
published  FORD'S  Dramatic  Works,  in  1811,  8vo.  two 
vols.  which  drew  forth  a  sharp  but  able  article  in  the 

occasions,  and  in  the  most  familiar  passages.  Let  the  tasteful  English 
student  read  the  notes  on  the  Folpone,  Alchemist,  and  Silent  Woman — 
and  he  will  not  only  admit  the  truth  of  the  preceding  remarks,  but  ex- 
press, with  their  author,  a  regret  that  the  PEN,  from  which  they  pro- 
ceeded, is  not  exercised  upon  the  ONLY  superior  of  Ben  Jonson  ! 

*  A  short,  and  a  sweet  word,  for  Mr.  Campbell's  brief  delineation 
of  the  merits  of  Ben  Jonson.  That  delineation  has  always  struck 
me  as  forcible  and  happy  ;  and  referring  my  "  Young  Man,"  in  par- 
ticular, to  this  account,  (Specimens,  &c.  vol.  i.  p.  160,)  and  INSISTING 
on  his  securing  Mr.  Gifford's  edition  of  the  Dramatist,  I  hope,  pro- 
digal as  may  have  been  my  bibliographical  notice  of  Shakspeare,  that 
BEN  JONSON  has  met  with  his  deserts  in  these  pages.  But  what  has 
become  of  Whalley's  edition  ? — once,  the  high  hope  and  constant  en- 
deavour of  the  Bibliomaniac  to  possess.  And  how  comes  it  to  pass 
that  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss  have  the  hardihood  to  mark  this  worth- 
less performance  (1?56,  8vo.  seven  vols.)  at  51.  5s.  ?  'Twill  sleep 
soundly  on  their  shelves,  at  such — or  at  any  price.  In  former  days, 
when,  with  hesitating  step,  and  faultering  voice,  I  ventured  among 
the  KNOWING  in  the  book-market,  I  lifted  up  my  eyes  with  asto- 
nishment, to  see  twenty  guineas  given  for  a  large  paper  Whalley. .  .  . 
That  day  is  past. .  .and  we  now  feel  the  force  of  the  old  Scotch  song, 

Beginning 

Waly,  Waly,  up  yon  bank, 

And  Waly,  Waly,  down  yon  lea  ... 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  821 

Quarterly  Review  of  November  1811.*  For  MASSIN- 
GER,  rest  satisfied,  to  your  heart's  content,  with  Mr. 
Giffbrd's  second  edition,  1808,  8vo.  four  vols.  Heyne 
never  edited  an  ancient  classic  with  more  acumen  and 
correct  critical  feeling  than  Mr.  Gifford  has  edited 
Massinger.  Report  speaks  loudly  of  the  same  gentle- 
man's forthcomingedition  of  SHIRLEY'S  dramatic  works; 
so  long  wanted,  and  so  anxiously  looked  for.  Indeed, 
there  is  a  whisper  abroad,  that  the  first  volume  of  FORD'S 

for  that  said  edition  not  only  "  waxes  cauld/' 

"  But  fades  away  like  morning  dew." 

*  Previously  to  the  edition  of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  by  Mr. 
Weber,  the  elder  COLMAN  published  one  in  1778,  in  ten  octavo 
volumes ;  now  worth  about  31.  13s.  6d.  There  was  yet  a  pre- 
vious edition,  published  by  Tonson,  in  175O,  in  the  same  number 
of  volumes;  and  of  which  a  good  copy  is  worth  nearly  the  same  sum. 
Had  Mr.  Weber's  edition  satisfied  the  expectations  of  the  curious, 
neither  of  the  preceding  would  have  been  worth  half  the  money. 
But  it  is,  nevertheless,  the  BEST  edition  of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  ; 
and  the  Young  Man  must  not  scruple  to  go  as  far  as  51.  5s.  for  a 
well  bound  copy  of  it,  at  a  public  sale.  Note  :  of  all  rare  and  pre- 
cious pieces  of  dramatic  lore,  of  this  period,  not  one  will  bring  such 
a  price  as  the  "  Love  lies  a  Bleeding  "  of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  of 
the  date  of  1620,  4to.  with  the  frontispiece.  Mr.  Reed's  copy  of 
this  keimclion  brought  24J.  Eheu,  et  Euge  ! 

The  works  of  FORD,  as  above  observed,  were  published  by  the 
last  editor  of  the  preceding  dramatists  in  1811 5  and  in  the  6th 
volume  of  the  Quarterly  Review,  (p.  460-487)  there  appeared  an 
elaborate  and  lively  notice  of  the  edition;*  and  it  must  be  owned 
that  the  ('  causes  shewn"  for  passing  a  severe  "judgment"  on  it, 
were  numerous  and  palpable.  Mr.  Weber  is  no  more ;  but  it  is  only 


*  The  authors  of  particular  Reviews,  like  the  author  of  the  Letters  of  Junius, 
will  never  perhaps  be  correctly  ascertained.  But  as  Hercules  was  known  "  from 
his  foot,"  even  so  I  imagine  a  certain  passage,  in  the  Review  above  referred  to,  to 
be  as  palpably  the  performance  of  the  EDITOR  of  that  Review,  as  Master  Hercules 


•822  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

plays,  from  the  same  hand,  is  nearly  ready  for  publica- 
tion. Let  us  hope  that  report  for  once  "  speaks  true." 
OTWAY  has  been  recently  and  respectably  edited  in 
two  octavo  volumes  ;  and  as  he  is  a  legitimate  Eng- 
lish classic,  and  as  his  Venice  Preserved  is  yet  among 
the  most  justly  applauded  of  our  dramatic  perfor- 
mances, I  should  be  censurable  if  I  did  not  allow  him 
a  foremost  place  in  the  foremost  rank  of  the  DRAMATIC 

the  honest  exercise  of  the  duty  of  an  author  of  a  work  like  the  present, 
to  make  known  that  Ford  is  deserving  of  a  better  editorial  fate. 

*  In  the  strong  hope  and  wish  that  SHIRLEY  will  come  forth  from 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Gifford,  in  the  same  bright  and  perfect  state  that 
Massinger  has,  I  will  borrow  the  language  of  Dr.  Johnson — which 
he  has  applied  to  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer — as  applicable,  in  a  much 
more  forcible  manner,  to  the  Editor  of  Jonson,  Massinger,  and  Shir- 
ley. It  is  this.  "  He  has,  what  is  the  first  requisite  to  emendatory 
criticism,  that  intuition,  by  which  the  poet's  intention  is  immediately 
discovered,  and  that  dexterity  of  intellect  which  despatches  its  work 
by  the  easiest  means."  I  must  not  forget  that  Massinger,  like  Ben 
Jonson,  is  upon  LARGE  PAPER;  and  of  these,  as  well  of  the  large 
paper  of  Steevens's  Shakspeare,  I  saw,  a  few  months  ago,  a  most 
beautiful  set— in  white  calf  binding,  with  richly  sprinkled  gilt  tool- 


might  have  been  discovered  from  his  muscular  and  brawny  foot.  It  is  worth  ex- 
tracting ;  since  it  is  one  of  the  happiest  "  hits  off"  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  of 
the  character  of  the  late  George  Steevens,  as  an  Editor  of  Shakspeare,  "  Steevens 
(says  the  writer)  is  a  dangerous  guide  for  such  as  do  not  look  well  about  them. 
His  errors  are  specious,  for  lie  was  a  man  of  ingenuity  :  but  he  was  often  wantonly 
mischievous,  and  delighted  to  stumble  for  the  mere  gratification  of  dragging 
unsuspecting  innocents  into  the  mire  with  him.  He  was,  in  short,  the  very  PUCK 
of  Commentators."  vol.  vi.  p.  478.  See  also  p.  797  ante.  One  of  the  "  pieces  of  fun" 
of  Steevens  was,  to  make  use  of  the  name  of  AMNER  (that  of  a  respectable  dissent- 
ing Clergyman)  as  the  author  or  communicator  of  certain  notes  in  his  Variorum 
edition  of  1793,  which  contained  expositions  of  original  passages,  not  remarkable 
for  their  delicacy  or  propriety.  Amner  remonstrated,  as  was  natural  enough. 
Steevens  laughed . .  for  he  knew  he  was  safe  from  a  duel.  Thus  the  matter  ended, 
as  far  as  a  personal  interview  was  concerned  :  but  Steevens  continued  to  write- 
away.  He  richly  deserved  three  strokes  of  Caliban's  club. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  823 

WORTHIES  of  his  Country.*  For  Southerne,  Rowe, 
Wycherley,  and  Vanburgh — the  reader  may  pick  and 
choose  as  he  list :  and  for  the  writers  of  the  MODERN 
STAGE,,  from  the  unrivalled  SHERIDAN  to  the  last  of 
living  Debutants,  there  are  editions  in  all  forms  and 
of  all  varieties  of  degrees  of  merit. f 


Let  soft  music  be  heard,  while  the  curtain  gently 
falls  at  the  close  of  the  several  ACTS,  or  divisions,  of 
this  LIBRARY  COMPANION: — not  precisely  of  a  dra- 
matic cast  of  character,  it  must  be  confessed ;  but  of 

ing,  and  marbled  edges  to  the  leaves — (orthodox  garniture !)  at 
Charles  Lewis's.  It  is  in  THIS  condition  that  the  tasteful  and  heavy- 
metalled  young  Collector  must  aspire  to  keep  up  his  intimacy  with 
the  legitimate  English  Classics  of  the  sock  and  buskin.  Nor  let 
Baskerville's  unrivalled  impression  of  CONG REVE'S  works,  in  1761, 
Svo.  3  vols.  be  wanting  in  such  a  series.  For  typographical  beauty, 
and  clad  in  a  similar  vestment,  by  Montague,  or  Johnson,  it  is 

velut  inter  ignes 

LUNA  minores. 

*  The  edition  alluded  to  is  in  2  vols.  Svo.  1812 :  worth  about 
I/,  Is.  in  good  binding.  It  has  notes,  and  a  life  of  the  poet. 

t  The  dramatic  works  of  Sheridan  are  just  published  by  Mr. 
Murray  in  three  octavo  volumes.  The  editor  is  Mr.  Thomas  Moore. 
Of  course  it  is  useless  to  refer  to  any  other  edition.  It  will  be  accom- 
panied by  a  life  of  the  author.  But  of  the  MODERN  STAGE,  down  to 
the  writings  of  Messrs.  Morton  and  Reynolds,  get  possession  of  a 
choice  copy— considered  with  reference  to  the  plates — of  Bell's  edi- 
tion, in  25  duodecimo  volumes.  The  portraits  of  the  actors,  in  the 
principal  parts" of  the  respective  dramas,  are  admirably  executed  :  and 
LARGE  PA  PER  copies,  in  morocco  binding,  make  the  eyes  sparkle,  and 
the  heart  dance,  of  a  dramatic  virtuoso.  Such  a  copy  may  be  worth 
a  sovereign  a  volume.  But  the  present  times  are  not  destitute  of  such  a 


824  THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA. 

a  nature  to  bring  before  the  reader  many  of  the  ILLUS- 
TRIOUS DEAD,  in  those  departments  of  literature,  in 
which,  while  living,  they  enacted  their  Parts  with  so 
much  credit  and  success.  To  the  YOUNG  ...  I  make 
an  appeal  with  that  confidence,  which  the  conscious- 
ness of  having  done  all  in  my  power  for  their  amuse- 
ment and  instruction,  must  impart.  They  will  find, 
in  the  preceding  pages,  a  GUIDE  to  enable  them  to 
walk  with  comparative  ease  and  pleasantness  in  those 
paths,  which  presented  no  trifling  or  discouraging 
obstacles  to  the  pioneering  exertions  of  the  author. 
Meanwhile,  a  liberal  spirit  and  an  enlightened  under- 
standing will  stimulate  them  to  the  collection  of  those 
works — "THE  MEDICINE  OF  THE  SOUL" — of  which 
the  reward  of  a  conscientious  perusal  is  not  confined 
to  this  state  of  existence. 

To  the  OLD  .  .  my  address  must  be  necessarily  of  a 
different  nature.  I  must  bow  with  deference  and  re- 
spect for  many  apparently  abrupt  and  familiar  pas- 
sages ;  in  which  the  experience  of  a  counsellor  may 
seem  to  have  been  exchanged  for  the  enthusiasm  of  a 
Bibliomaniac.  But  from  beginning  to  end  I  have  not 
been  unmindful  of  the  professed  view,  or  title,  of  this 
work.  Unless  I  have  greatly  deceived  myself,  it  will 
afford  COMFORT  to  those,  who,  at  the  close  of  a  long 

theatrical  companion.  Mrs.  INCHBALD'S  THEATRE,  in  25  duodecimo 
volumes,  is  the  most  correct  and  the  most  respectable  work  of  this  kind 
extant.  Each  play  has  a  plate  5  but  of  inferior  execution  to  those  of 
Bell.  Whether  the  play  of  Catiline,  also  the  property  of  the  publishers, 
(Messrs.  Hurst  and  Robinson,)  and  perhaps  the  most  ably  written  of 
modern  dramatic  performances — will  be  incorporated  in  this  popular, 
set  of  modern  plays,  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  inform  the  reader. 


THE  ENGLISH  DRAMA.  825 

and  actively  spent  life,  will  find  a  communion  with 
their  books  one  of  the  safest  and  surest  methods  of 
holding  a  communion  with  their  GOD.  The  library  of 
a  good  man  is  one  of  his  most  constant,  cheerful, 
and  instructive  COMPANIONS  ;  and  as  it  has  delighted 
him  in  Youth,  so  will  it  solace  him  in  Old  Age. 


SUPPLEMENT. 


SUPPLEMENT. 

PAGE  22. 

FIRST  HEBREW  BIBLE,  p.  22.  The  copy  of  the  first  Hebrew 
Bible,  in  the  library  of  Exeter  College,  Oxford,  belonged  to  a 
Mr.  Sandford,  an  amiable,  scholar-like,  and  respectable  old 
gentleman :  the  friend  of  Toup,  Markland,  Cracherode,  and  of 
many  scholars  of  that  period.  Mr.  Sandford  always  had  a  no- 
tion that  he  should  stumble  upon  this  Bible  in  England,  and  men- 
tioned it  to  his  friends  with  an  air  of  anticipated  triumph  on  its  dis- 
covery. One  day  he  went  into  the  shop  of  Mr.  Wilson,  a  book- 
seller in  the  Strand,  and  Uncle  of  Mr.  George  Nicol,  bookseller  to 
his  late  Majesty.  He  asked  Mr.  W.  if  he  had  "  any  old  Hebrew 
Bibles  in  his  possession  ?"  Mr.  W.  replied,  "  he  believed  he  had 
one,  very  old  one"— and  forthwith  he  she  wed  it  to  Mr.  Sandford. 
The  transport  of  Mr.  S.  may  be  readily  conceived,  when  he 
found  this  volume  to  be  the  IDENTICAL  editio  princeps  of  the 
sacred  text  in  the  Hebrew  language.  He  was  silent— except  as 
to  asking  the  price.  "HALF  A  GUINEA" — was  the  reply: 
Down  went  the  money,  and  up  went  the  book . .  .under  the  arm  of 
Mr.  Sandford.  Mr.  Wilson  begged  that  he  might  send  it  home 
to  Mr.  Sandford's  house :  but  the  wary  purchaser  would  not  run 
the  risk  of  a  possibility  of  its  loss  on  the  way,  nor  could  he  forego 
the  luxury  of  being  himself  the  Porter  of  such  a  Burden  !  On 
his  death,  it  became  the  property  of  Exeter  College  by  bequest. 
This  book  is  now  worth  one  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  GUINEAS. 

PAGE  31. 

GENEVA  VERSION  OF  THE  BIBLE,  1560,  4to.  This  volume 
has  been  omitted  to  be  noticed.  It  is,  of  its  kind,  a  sort  of 
parent  text ;  and  is  now  become  rare.  No  early  English  Bible  is 
likely  to  be  found  in  a  more  soiled  and  injured  state,  and  it  is 
seldom  perfect.  As  Dr.  Cotton  has  justly  observed,  "  this  ver- 


830  SUPPLEMENT.  [DIVINITY. 

sion  was  for  many  years  the  most  popular  one  in  England,  as  its 
numerous  editions  testify."  The  copy  at  Baliol  College,  Oxford, 
is  an  exceedingly  fine  one,  printed  on  LARGE  PAPER."  A  copy 
is  also  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Cotton  and  of  Dr.  Bliss  at  Oxford. 
See  Cotton's  Various  Editions  of  the  Bible,  p.  14. 

PAGE  42. 

EARLY  PRAYER  BOOKS.  It  may  beas  well  to  notice  the  subse- 
quent revisions  of  the  Prayer  Books,  after  that  of  1549  :  namely, 
in  the  years  1552,  1569,  1603,  and  lastly,  1661  ;  which  latter  is 
the  one  now  in  common  use. 

PAGE  47. 

ANCIENT  FATHERS.  I  have  omitted  to  notice  the  Works  of 
St.  JEROM.  The  best  edition  of  his  works,  is  that  of  VaUarsius, 
(after  the  Benedictin  edition  of  1693)  in  10  folio  volumes,  of  the 
date  of  1734-40.  Messrs.  Rivington  and  Cochrane  have  two 
desirable  copies  of  this  edition,  of  which  the  lowest  is  marked  at 
217.  neat  in  calf. 

PAGE  51. 

CHARACTER  OF  BARROW.  The  character,  here  given  of  this 
extraordinary  divine,  is  perhaps  not  only  susceptible  of  a  little 
correction,  but  of  amplification  :  for  the  truth  is,  that  Barrow's 
language  is  sometimes  as  copious  and  eloquent  as  his  ideas  are 
fertile  and  profound.  There  is  a  power  and  prodigality  of  ex- 
pression in  many  of  his  discourses,  as  if  the  writer  were  conscious 
of  the  inefficacy  of  his  vernacular  tongue  to  convey  precisely  the 
views  and  bearings  of  his  thesis.  Barrow's  sermon  on  the 
Atonement  is  one  of  the  most  astonishing  instances,  which  present 
themselves  to  my  memory,  of  an  eloquence  as  powerful  and  per- 
suasive as  the  ideas  are  original  and  sublime. 

IBID. 

LIGHTFOOT*  This  learned  and  valuable  commentator,  who, 
from  his  long  and  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Jewish  rites 
and  ceremonies,  as  well  as  the  language  itself,  Gibbon  styles  a 


DIVINITY.]  SUPPLEMENT.  831 

RABBI,  has  unaccountably  escaped  being  recorded  in  the  place 
here  referred  to.  This  omission  is  the  more  readily  and  plea- 
singly supplied,  by  the  notice  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pitman's  forth- 
coming and  nearly  completed  edition  of  ALL  his  works,  in  1 2  8vo. 
volumes,  as  a  companion  to  the  Jeremy  Taylor  of  which  that 
gentleman  is  also  the  recent  Editor. 

With  the  mention  of  Jeremy  Taylor,  I  have  great  pleasure  in 
finding  the  wish  expressed — at  page  55  note, — of  a  separately 
published  volume  of  the  Rev.  Reginald  Heber's  biography  of 
that  great  prelate  being  verified.  That  separate  publication, 
of  so  charming  a  piece  of  biography,  has  APPEARED,  and  may 
be  purchased  for  10s.  6d.  The  biographer  is  now  Bishop  of 
Calcutta. 

PAGE  66. 

LATIMER'S  SERMONS.  I  find  that  the  first  edition  of  them 
was  printed  by  Berthelet  in  1 537,  small  8vo.  See  the  Typ. 
Antiq.  vol.  Hi.  p.  297-  Mr.  Heber  is  in  possession  of  a  copy  of 
this  exceedingly  rare  little  book. 

PAGE  85. 

MODERN  SERMONS.  The  reader  may  be  surprised  to  find  two 
omissions,  in  this  department  of  Divinity:  the  first,  that  of 
BLAIR'S  Sermons,  than  which  scarcely  any  others  appear  to  have 
been  read  about  forty  or  fifty  years  ago.  To  doubt  the  worth 
of  a  performance,  of  which  the  popularity  was  without  precedent, 
might  be  at  once  arrogant  and  vain :  nor  will  I  dispute  the 
designation  of  the  author  as  the  ADDISON  of  Sermon  writers. 
He  has  doubtless  given  good  "  Milk  for  Children :"  but  Men 
require  meat ;  and  strong  men,  strong  meat. 

The  second  is  a  less  venial  omission.  It  is  that  of  a  set  of 
sermons,  known  under  the  name  of  the  BAMPTON  LECTURES  ; 
of  which  a  complete  set,  in  46  vols.  octavo  is  valued  at  267.  5$. 
in  handsome  condition  and  binding,  by  Messrs.  Rivington  and 
Cochrane :  who  have  not  fewer  than  three  complete  sets ;  one 
in  an  uncut  state.  The  third  set  is  sold  in  detached  articles ; 
and  among  them,  Dr.  Taiham's  Sermons,  1789?  8 vo.  2  vols. 
are  valued  at  IL  4$.  They  are  the  scarcest  of  the  whole. 


832  SUPPLEMENT.  [HISTORY. 

PAGE  106. 

Fox's  BOOK  OF  MARTYRS.  First  edition.  A  perfect  copy  of 
this  scarce  l>ook  was  sold  at  an  auction  at  Mr.  Saunders's,  in  1823 
for  561.  Mr.  Douce's  copy  (alluded  to  at  the  bottom  of  the  note 
at  p.  106)  is  of  the  first  edition. 

PAGE  161. 

FROISSART.  A  new  edition  of  the  Chronicles  of  this  incompa- 
rable historian  is  now  in  a  course  of  publication,  in  fifteen  octavo 
volumes  at  Paris.  It  is  the  result  of  a  more  careful  comparison 
of  the  MSS.  previously  examined,  and  of  others  RECENTLY  disco- 
vered :  so  as  to  make  it,  in  all  respects,  the  preferable  edition  for 
a  Library.  For  the  comfort  of  the  less  initiated  in  ancient  ortho- 
graphy, the  modern  mode  of  spelling  is  adopted  ;  but  where  any 
word  of  doubtful  construction  occurs,  that  word  is  also  given 
between  brackets.  It  forms  one  work  in  a  glorious  plan,  recently 
projected,  of  republishing  ALL  the  old  French  Chronicles — includ- 
ing those  of  ST.  DENIS,  MONSTRELET,  and  the  PETITES  CHRO- 
NIQUES  :  in  sixty  octavo  volumes,  in  the  whole.  The  price  is  9,9. 
per  volume.  The  publishers  are  Messrs.  Treuttel  and  Wiirtz. 

PAGE  214. 

HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN.  Sir  Mark  Sykes's  copy  of  the 
fine  paper  Rapin,  1732,  with  Tindal's  continuation,  and  heads 
from  Houbraken,  &c.  inserted,  in  all  nine  volumes,  was  sold  at  the 
sale  of  his  library  in  June  last  for  67 1-  4$.  But  thejirst  two  volumes 
only  were  upon  writing  paper.  The  purchaser  was  Miss  Currer; 
a  lady,  who  ennobles  a  fine  income  by  the  application  of  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  it  to  the  collection  of  a  library,  singularly  rich 
in  the  department  of  British  History. 

PAGE  215. 

FIRST  EDITION  of  Iceland's  Itinerary  by  Hearne,  1710,  8vo. 
9  vols.  I  am  now  abundantly  satisfied  that  NO  copy  of  this  work 
is  to  be  found  on  LARGE  PAPER.  It  is  on  fine  paper  only  that 
the  12  copies,  here  alluded  to,  were  printed.  With  a  view  to 
satisfy  myself  completely  on  this  point,  I  examined  two  subscrip- 


HISTOKY.]  SUPPLEMENT.  833 

tion  copies :  one,  of  Dean  Aldrich's,  in  the  library  of  Christ 
Church,  Oxford  :  the  other,  of  Francis  Duke  of  Bedford,  in  the 
old  library  at  Woburn  Abbey.  They  are  each  on  small,  but 
a  finer,  paper. 

PAGE  249. 

Unkind  Deserter  of  Loyal  Men,  16*76',  12mo.  The  author 
was  "  Nicholas  French,  catholic  Bishop  of  Ferns,  an  unprinci- 
pled politician,  who  repeatedly  changed  sides.  He  went  to 
Brussels,  and  offered  the  crown  of  Ireland  to  the  Duke  of  Lor- 
rain  :  afterwards  he  proceeded  to  Paris,  and  requested  an  inter- 
view with  Charles  II,  who  refused  to  see  him.  This  he  attri- 
buted to  the  DUKE  OF  ORMOND  ;  became  his  inveterate  enemy, 
and  concentrated  in  this  volume  every  circumstance  which  he 
could  collect  injurious  to  Ormond's  reputation."  BibL  Townelei- 
ana9  No.  697-  Mr.  Evans's  note.  The  copy  thus  described  was 
purchased  by  the  Earl  of  Leitrim  for  3  \L  IQs.  Another  copy 
was  in  the  Lansdowne  Collection,  No.  6003. 

PAGE  251. 

Hibernia  JJominicana,  by  THOMAS  DE  Bunco,  1762,  4to. 
The  most  important  information  respecting  De  Burgo's  curious 
and  desirable  book  is  omitted  to  be  stated ;  namely,  that  the 
work  is  almost  always  in  a  castrated  state,  wanting  one  chapter 
on  the  State  of  the  Protestants  in  Ireland  under  James  II.  which 
was  most  carefully  suppressed.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Evans 
for  this  notice. 

For  the  error  about  the  date  of  MusgravJs  History  of  the 
Rebellion,  see  "  Corrrections." 

PAGE  256. 

The  Teares  of  Ireland;  by  John  Crauford,  1642,  I2mo. 
The  Duke  of  Devonshire  possesses  a  copy  of  this  extraordinarily 
rare  little  book  (here  minutely  described)  at  Chatsworth.  It  is 
bound  in  blue  morocco.  Mr.  Thorpe  has  a  copy,  perfect  with 
the  exception  of  one  leaf.  A  copy  was  also  in  Brand's  Collec- 
tion. 

3    H 


834  SUPPLEMENT.  [HISTORY. 

PAGE  265-6. 

Expedition  into  Scotland  by  the  EARL  OF  HERTFORD,  and  the 
DUKE  OF  SOMERSET,  1544, 1548,  12mo.  Here  is  a  mistake  in  the 
designation  of  these  wonderfully  rare  tracts  :  which  are  noticed 
as  being  one  work.  The  former  is  the  account  of  the  expedition 
into  Scotland  by  the  Earl  of  'Hertford,  and  was  published  in 
1554,  12mo.  of  which  the  Duke  of  Roxburghe's  copy  was  sold 
for  3 II.  Ws.  The  latter  relates  to  a  similar  expedition  by  the 
Duke  of  Somerset,  1548,  12mo.  and  was  sold  for  21?.  at  the 
same  sale.  Note  farther:  in  1547  there  was  published  an  Ex- 
hortation to  the  Scottes,  preparatory  to  the  Duke's  expedition ; 
and  in  1548  was  published  an  Epistle  from  the  Lord  Protector 
to  the  Scots.  These  two  latter  tracts  were  sold  together  for  1J/- 
at  the  sale  of  the  Duke  of  Roxburghe's  library. 

PAGE  299. 

HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  To  the  Works  enumerated  in  the  ten 
pages  preceding  the  above— devoted  to  the  History  of  France — 
I  have  to  add  the  notice  of  a  new  and  interesting  one,  entitled 
Memoirs  of  Jeanne  If  Arc,  surnamed  La  Pucelle  U1  Orleans; 
with  the  History  of  her  Times.  It  is  in  the  course  of  publica- 
tion, in  2  neat  Svo.  volumes,  printed  by  Mr.  Moyes.  I  have  seen 
only  the  first  volume,  which  is  filled  by — /.  A  Summary  of  the 
Revolutions  of  France,  preceding  the  appearance  of  Jeanne  d>Arc. 
II.  History  of  the  Pucelle  &  Orleans.  III.  Historical  Diary  of 
the  Siege  of  Orleans  by  the  English;  taken  verbatim,  and  the 
style  preserved  as  much  as  possible,  from  the  ORIGINAL  MS. 
'written  on  parchment  during  the  Siege,  and  preserved  in  the 
Town  House  at  Orleans.  A  literal  English  version.  There  are 
copies  of  this  Work  beautifully  printed  on  LARGE  PAPER. 

PAGES  300-317. 

HISTORIES  OF  SPAIN  AND  PORTUGAL.  When  the  account  of 
these  Histories  was  written,  I  was  not  furnished  with  those  valu- 
able materials  which  a  late  book  sale*  has  enabled  me  to  lay 

*  The  following  is  the  title  of  the  Catalogue  of  the  Sale,  \vhich  took  place 


HISTORY.]  SUPPLEMENT.  8S5 

before  the  reader.  From  the  well-executed  Catalogue  of  the  sale 
in  question,  the  reader  is  supplied  with  a  few  articles,  and  the 
prices  for  which  they  were  sold,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  make 
his  selections  accordingly.     Many  of  those  relating  to  conquests 
in  America  and  the  East  Indies,  are  unavoidably  omitted : 
188  Beuther,  Coronica  general  de  Toda  Espana  y      £.  s.    d. 
especialmente  del  Reyno  de  Valencia,  la.  y  2a. 
parte.     Part  of  leaf  14  is  wanting.     Valen- 
cia, 1551-63,  folio,  -       0  17     0 
1 90  Bleda,  Coronica  de  los  Moros  de  Espana,  vellum, 

Valencia,  1618.  2     3     0 

29?  Febrer  (Mosen  Jaume)  Trobes  en  que  tracta 
des  llinatges  de  la  conquista  de  la  ciutat  de 
Valencia  e  son  Regne,  Valencia,  1796,  4 to.  -  1  16  0 
298  Ferreras  (Don  Juan  de)  Synopsis  Historica 
Chronologica  de  Espana,  1 7  vol .  Madr.  1 775-9 1 
4to.  5  2  6 

336  Historia  del  valeroso  y  bien  afortunado  caval- 
lero  Cid  Ruy  diaz  de  Bivar,  Burgos,  Junta, 
1568.  Historia  de  la  Poncella  de  Francia  y 
de  sus  grandes  hechos :  sacados  de  la  Chro- 
nica  Real  por  un  Cavallero  discrete  embiado 
por  embaxador  de  Castilla  a  Francia  por  los 
Reyes  Fernando  y  Isabel  a  quien  la  presente 
se  dirige,  black  letter,  EXTREMELY  RARE, 
Burgos,  Junta,  1562,  4 to.  5  7  6 

378  Cieza  de  Leon  (Pedro  de)  Parte  primera  de  la 
Chronica  del  Peru,  que  tracta  la  demarca- 

under  the  prosperous  hammer  of  Mr.  Evans.  "  Catalogue  of  rare,  curi- 
ous, and  interesting  books,  and  miscellaneous  Articles,  forming  the  Library 
of  Don  J.  dntonio  Conde.  July  6,  1824."  Detached  from  the  articles 
relating  exclusively  to  Spain  and  Portugal,  is  the  following  most  singular 
and  interesting  one — connected  with  the  history  of  our  own  country  : 
724  Fisher.  (Episcopus  Roffensis)  de  causa  Matrimonii  Regis  Angliae  (Hen- 
rid  VIIL  cum  Catharina  Aragonensi.}  4to.  Printed  at  Alcala.  It  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Thorpe  for  25/.  j  and  is  probably  UNIQUE.  Perhaps 
intended  for  private  distribution. 


S3(>  SUPPLEMENT.  [HISTORY. 

cion  de  sus  provincias ;  la  descripcion  dellas :      £    s.     d. 
Las  fundaciones  de  las  nuevas  ciudades,  &c. 
Black  letter p,  a  most  beautiful  copy  of  this 
extremely  rare  edition  -     10  15     0 

Jmpresso  en  Sevilla  por  Martin  Mon- 
tesdoca,  1553,  folio;  &c.  &c.  &c. 

PAGE  339,  340. 

NORTHERN  HISTORIES.  Mr.  Murray  has  published  CAPTAIN 
PARRY'S  Second  Voyage  to  the  Polar  Sea.  It  is  a  large,  quarto 
volume,  price  41. 14s.  6d.  accompanied  by  numerous  engravings  in 
the  line  manner,  after  the  drawings  of  Captain  Lyon :  drawings, 
which  reflect  great  credit  upon  the  tasteful  and  accurate  pencil  of 
the  delineator.  So  little  had  the  public  curiosity  abated,  and 
although  it  was  known  that  Captain  Parry  had  not  accomplished 
the  grand  object  of  his  undertaking  in  discovering  a  north- 
western passage  so  as  to  enable  him  to  return  by  Asia  and  Africa, 
yet  the  announce  of  his  second  work  was  received  with  acclama- 
tion; and  all  those  demonstrations  of  a  liberal  spirit  of  competi- 
tion, provoked  by  the  certainty  of  an  extensive  and  rapid  sale — 
and  which  are  described  in  the  pages  above  referred  to  —  again 
marked  the  subscription,  in  the  trade;  and  not  fewer  than  1200 
copies  put  on  wings  and  flew  away.  An  elaborate  and  masterly 
analysis  of  this  second  volume  of  Captain  Parry's  Voyage,  ap- 
peared in  the  LIXth  Number  of  the  Quarterly  Review. 

Shortly  afterwards,  CAPTAIN  LYON  published  his  own  Private 
Journal  of  the  same  Voyage ;  written  in  the  most  simple,  per- 
spicuous, and  unaffected  manner,  and  replete  with  interesting 
matter.  It  is  published  in  8vo.  price  1 6s. 

PAGE  374. 

VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  In  the  account  of  the  plates  in 
Hariot's  English  Version  of  VIRGINIA,  1590,  folio,  published  in 
De  Bry's  Set.  I  have  omitted  to  notice  the  five  plates  of  the 
Picts,  which  are  incorporated  with  the  text :  and  it  may  be  worth 
while  adding,  that  a  third  copy  of  this  exceedingly  rare  volume 
was  sold  at  the  sale  of  the  library  of  the  Hon.  G.  Nassau  for 


HISTORY.]  SUPPLEMENT.  837 

100£: — the  precise  sum  which  Lord  Oxford  gave  for  a  copy  pro- 
cured for  him  at  Frankfort. 

PAGE  388. 

DAMPIER'S  VOYAGE,  1729,  8vo.  4  vols.  An  excellent  account 
of  this  valuable  work  appeared  in  the  Retrospective  Review,  vol. 
viii.  p.  73. 

PAGE  407. 

BARROS'  PORTUGUESE  ASIA,  1628,  folio.  A  copy  of  the  re- 
print of  the  entire  works  of  Barros,  of  this  date,  was  sold  at  the 
sale  noticed  at  page  835,  for  I2l. 

PAGE  455. 

VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS.  At  the  sale  of  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes's 
library,  a  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  COLOMBUS'S  Epistle,  printed 
by  Planck,  at  Rome,  in  1493,  4to.  was  sold  for  207.  It  is  the 
FIRST  PRINTED  document  extant  relating  to  America ;  and  was 
unknown  to  Robertson.  A  copy  of  the  same  epistle,  printed  by 
Eucharius  Argenteus,  in  the  same  year,  and  having  only  four 
leaves,  was  sold  at  the  sale  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Books 
just  referred  to,  for  34Z.  13s. 

PAGE  509-10. 

MEMOIRS  AND  ANECDOTES.  A  new  and  perfect  copy  of 
Cavendish's  Life  of  Wolsey  is  now  in  the  press :  beautifully 
printed,  and  embellished  with  the  portraits  of  Wolsey,  Crom- 
well, and  Henry  VIII.  The  Editor  is  Mr.  Singer,  under  whose 
care  Spencers  Anecdotes  were  given  to  the  public :  of  which  some 
mention  is  made  at  page  561. 

PAGE  577* 

PHILOLOGY  and  BELLES  LETTRES.  In  the  account  of  Grecian 
Philology}  I  have  omitted  the  writings  of  LUCIAN  :  and  must 
here  only  content  myself  with  mentioning  Mr.  Grenville's  very 
beautiful  copy  of  thejirst  edition  of  1496 — adding  that  the  only 
known  copy  of  it  UPON  VELLUM  is  in  the  library  at  Blenheim. 
In  regard  to  the  best  edition  of  this  author,  obtain  that  of  Hem- 
sterliusius  and  Reitzius,  1743,  4to.  Gr.  &  Lat.  four  vols.;  of 
which  a  "  very  neat  copy  in  vellum  "  is  marked  at  bl.  5s. 
in  the  last  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Fosa :  and  a  copy 


838  SUPPLEMENT.  [HISTORY 

on  LARGE  PAPEE  at  101.  lOtf.    I  have  heard  that  a  Supplemental 
volume  of  Notes  is  just  published  at  Leyden. 


PAGE  580. 

PHILOLOGY  and  BELLES  LETTEES.  Among  the  Lalin  Philo- 
logists I  have  omitted  PLAUTUS  and  TEEENCE  ;  intending  to 
have  incorporated  them  in  the  Dramatic  Department.  The 
JEditio  princeps  of  Plautus  is  that  of  1472,  printed  by  Vindelin  de 
Spira ;  the  best  editions,  are  those  of  the  Dauphin,  Gronovius, 
and  Ernesti.  See  the  subjoined  note.  * 

Of  TEEEN'CE  the  parent  text  is  that  of  Mentelin,  without  date. 
The  best  editions,  are  those  of  Westerhovius,  Beniley  and  Zeu- 
niuft:  while  the  Variorum  of  1686,  and  a  fine  copy  of  Sandby's 
classically  embellished  edition  may  with  equal  propriety  find  its 
way  into  the  cabinet  of  the  tasteful.  The  subjoined  note  will 
afford  some  idea  of  the  prices  of  these  respective  editions,  -j- 

*  Perhaps  the  most  beautiful  known  copies  of  the  first  edition  of  Plautus 
are  those  belonging  to  the  Rt.  Hon.  T.  Grenville  and  Mr.  A.  A.  Renouard. 
But,  bright  and  beautiful  as  is  the  latter  copy,  and  although,  as  its  possessor 
justly  remarks,  "  one  would  think  it  had  been  kept  in  a  box,  ever  since  it 
left  the  printer's  office,"  (Bibl.  (fun  Amateur,  vol.  ii.  page  308)  yet  I  am  not 
sure  whether  Mr.  Grenville's  copy  be  not  superior  in  size.  It  is  at  any  rate 
bound  (in  Venetian  morocco  by  C.  Lewis)  in  much  better  taste.  Why 
should  not  there  be  one  copy  of  this  book  (as  of  the  Catullus,  Tibullus,  and 
Prepertius  of  1472)  UPON  VELLUM  ?  A  good  copy  of  the  Delphin  Plautus, 
1679,  4to.  is  worth  31.  3s.  of  the  f^ariorumy  including  the  notes  of  Gronovius, 
1684,  8vo.  2  vols.  I/.  5*. :  of  Ernesti,  with  the  notes  of  Gronovius,  1760, 
8vo.  2  vols.  I/.  4s. :  but  a  struggle  should  be  made  to  secure  the  beautiful 
copy  of  Barbou's  beautiful  impression,  1759,  J2mo.  3  vols.,  coated  in  red 
morocco,  which  glitters  in  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Payne  and  Foss,  and  is 
marked  by  them  21.  2s. 
t  A  sound  and  desirable  copy  of  the  Mentelin  impression  of  Terence  was 

old  at  the  sale  of  Sir  Mark  Sykes's  library  for  the  moderate  sum  of  47/.  5*. 
Rare  as  is  this  book,  and  absolutely  essential  as  it  is  to  render  the  set  of 
early  Terences  complete,  it  is  not  so  rare  as  the  second  impression  by 

G&ring ;  of  which  the  only  copy  in  this  country  is  in  the  library  of  Earl 
Spencer.  They  have  k  not  at  Paris.  I  may  add  that,  with  the  exception 


GEEEK  POETRY.]          SUPPLEMENT.  839 


PAGE  624. 

GREEK  POETRY.  It  should  seem  that  the  omission  here,  of 
^ESCHYLUS,  SOPHOCLES,  and  EURIPIDES,  arose  from  the  idea  of 
incorporating  them  in  the  Drama,  at  a  subsequent  page:  but  the 
previously  protracted  contents  of  this  work  forbade  their  inser- 
tion. I  will  here  therefore  only  recommend  Dr.  Butler's  edition 
of  the  Works  of  JEscfiylus,  gr.  et  lat.  in  four  quarto,  or  eight 
octavo  volumes:  Cantab.  1809,  &c.  published  at  Si  8s. :  4to.  and 
41.  4s.8vo.and  the  separate  plays  of  that  great  Dramatist  published 
Dr.  Blomfield,  now  Bishop  of  Chester.  They  are  these  :  Pro* 
metheus,  Perscc,  Septem  contra  Thebas,  Agamemnon,  et  C/ioe- 
phorce.  They  are  published  at  the  University  Press,  at  Cam- 
bridge, in  a  manner  at  once  neat  in  appearance,  accurate  in  text, 
and  moderate  in  price.  These  plays  exhibit  the  purest  state  of 
the  text  of  ^Eschylus  extant,  with  short  notes,  explanatory  of 
the  alterations,  &c.  We  learn  from  the  Museum  Criticum, 
p.  112,  that  Dr.  Blomfield  s  edition  of  ^Eschylus  will,  when  com- 
plete, "  form  three  octavo  volumes  of  about  400  pages  each." 
Mr.  Surges  published  the  Supplices,  in  1 82 1 ,  8vo.  Upon  this 
play  consult  the  Classical  Journal,  vol.  i.  p.  472,  801:  ii.  183, 
414:  iv.  154. 

Of  SOPHOCLES,  procure  Brunck's  edition  of  the  entire  works. 
Argent.  1786,  4to.  two  vols.  71.  fs. ;  or,  if  this  purchase  be  too 
expensive,  procure  the  reprint  of  Musgrave's  text,  with  the 
Scholia  of  Brunck,  published  at  Oxford,  1809,  8vo.  three  vols. 
at  about  2/.  in  calf  gilt.  The  learned  Dr.  Elmsley  has  just  pub- 
lished— as  the  precursor  to  his  edition  of  the  entire  works  of 

of  the  early  editions  of  Terence  in  the  library  of  Count  D'Elci  at 
Florence,  the  collection  of  them  by  Lord  Spencer  is  unrivalled.  Perhaps 
not  one  of  the  ancient  Classics  involve  so  many  Cruces  of  bibliographical 
discussion.  A  fine  copy  of  Westherhov'mtf s  edition,  1726,  4to.  two  vols.  is 
worth3/.  3s.:ofBentIey's,  1727,  4to.  U.  10s.;  of  Zeunius,  1774,  8vo.  2 
vols.  I/.  5s. ;  of  the  Variorum  of  1686,  I/.  1*. ;  and  of  Sandby,  1751,  8vo. 
in  fine  condition,  I/.  1*. 


840  SUPPLEMENT.  [EARLY 

Sophocles — the  CEdipus  Coloneus  of  this  celebrated  Dramatist, 
1823,  8vo.  price  10s.  6 d. :  replete  with  curious  and  successful 
annotations:  which  will  make  the  classical  world  unusually 
anxious  to  witness  the  completion  of  a  task  thus  brilliantly  begun. 
The  same  consummate  Scholar  has  also  in  the  press  a  new  edition 
of  the  Roman  Scholia  (as  they  are  called)  on  Sophocles,  from  a 
MS.  in  the  Laurentian  library  at  Florence :  to  be  published  in 
an  octavo  form. 

Of  all  the  Dramatists  of  Greece.  EURIPIDES,  from  the  variety 
of  publications  relating  to  him  in  this  country,  seems  to  be  the 
general  favourite.  Procure  Beck's  edition  of  the  entire  works, 
published  at  Leipsic  in  1778,  4to.  3  vols.  Gr.  et  Lat.  worth 
about  61.  l6s.  6d.  For  detached  plays,  those  published  by 
Porson  and  Dr.  Elmsley  will  necessarily  have  the  strongest 
claims  on  the  attention  and  funds  of  the  Collector.  The  former 
are  more  generally  known;  but  the  Heraclidce,  Bacchce,  and 
Medea,  edited  by  the  latter,  and  published  at  Oxford  at  about 
6s.  each,  display,  of  their  kind,  the  richest  harvest  of  classical 
illustration  which  those  respective  plays  have  yet  received.  The 
former  has  been  noticed  in  the  Mus.  Crit.  vol.  i.  p.  134.  Dr. 
Monk,  the  present  Dean  of  Peterborough,  published  the  Alcestis 
and  Hippolytus  in  a  very  beautiful  and  accurate  manner. 

PAGE  654. 

EARLY  ENGLISH  POETRY.  In  the  above  page,  the  name  of 
the  late  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes,  Bart,  occurs  among  the  purchasers  of 
rare  old  English  Poetry  at  the  sale  of  the  Roxburghe  Library. 
Although  Sir  Mark  was,  in  fact,  the  purchaser  of  the  Conusance 
d1  Amours,  printed  by  Pynson,  in  4to.  without  date, — which  was 
sold  for  541. — this  department  of  the  LIBRARY  COMPANION  was 
completed,  before  the  sale  of  the  Library  of  that  respected  and 
lamented  Baronet  began.  It  may  not,  therefore,  be  unacceptable 
to  the  curious,  if  I  present  them  with  a  list  of  the  prices  for  which 
the  more  rare  and  estimable  articles  were  sold ;  premising,  that 
the  sale  took  place  between  the  1 1  th  of  May  and  29th  of  June, 
inclusively.  The  Catalogue  of  the  Library,  drawn  up  and  sold 
by  Mr.  Evans,  was  divided  into  three  portions ;  and  common 


ENGLISH  POETRY.]       SUPPLEMENT.  841 

justice  must  compel  the  most  fastidious  in  these  matters  to  ad- 
mit, that  never  was  a  task  executed  with  greater  care  and  atten- 
tion, or  crowned  with  more  decided  success  Since  the  sale  of  the 
Roxburghe  Library,  no  Collection  in  Europe  has  produced  such 
a  pecuniary  result.  The  gross  amount  was  18,624/. 

PART  I.  &.    s.    d. 

459  Barclay.  —  Here  begynneth  a  ryghte  frutefull 
Treatyse,  intituled  the  Myrrour  of  Good 
Maners  or  Cardynall  Vertues,  compvled  in 
Latyn  by  Mancyn  :  and  translate  into  Eng- 
lyshe  Verse  by  Bercley,  fine  copy,  from  the 
Roxburghe  Collection.  Imprinted  by  Pynson.  16  16  0 

547  Nicholas  Breton's  Ravisht  Soule,  and  Blessed 

Weeper,  a  Diuine  Poeme,  divided  into  two 

Partes,  very  rare,  1601,  -       4     6     0 

548 Excellent   Poeme   upon    the 

Longing  of  a  Blessed  Heart,  with  an  addition 

upon  the  Definition  of  Loue,  11  ARE,  1601,  500 

541)  • Soules    Immortall    Crowne, 

consisting  of  seaven  glorious  Graces,  Vertue, 
Love,  Constancie,  &c.  poems,  very  scarce, 
1605,  500 

550  —  -  Sir  Philip  Sydney's  Oura- 

nia,  that  is  Endimion's  Song  and  Tragedie, 

1606  -220 

551  - • Mother's  Blessing,  a  poem, 

very  scarce,  1621,*  -440 

590  The  Castell  of  Pleasure.  A  poem,  excessively 
rare,  and  believed  to  be  Unique,  fine  copy  in 
morocco.  Empryntedby  WynkyndeWorde-f-  31  00 
706  Chester's  Loves  Martyr,  or  Rosalin's  Complaint, 
with  the  True  Legend  of  the  Famous  King 
Arthur,  Poems,  to  which  are  added  Poetical 
Essaies  by  the  best  and  chiefest  of  our  Mo- 
derne  Writers,  extremely  rare,  1601,}  -  6ll9  0 

*  See  page  699,  ante.        f  See  page  654.       J  See  page  701,  ante. 


842  SUPPLEMENT.  [EARLT 

*£.   3.  d. 

731  Here  Begynneth  a  Lyttel  Treatyse  cleped  La 
Conusance  d'Amour,  a  Poem,  excessively 
rare,  and  supposed  to  be  unique,  from  the 
Roxburghe  Library,  in  morocco.  Imprinted 
by  Pynson,*  -  26  5  0 

862  Davies  (of  Hereford's)  Mfcrocosmos,  or  Disco- 

very of  the  Little  World,  with  the  Govern- 
ment thereof,  a  poem,  very  scarce,  1611,  5     7     6 

863  Davies  (of  Hereford) 's  Mirum  in  Modum,  a 

Glimpse  of  God's  Glorie,and  the  Soule'V. 

Shape,  a  poem,  very  rare,  blue  morocco,  1602,       3   19     0 

864  Davies  (of  Hereford)'s  Wittes  Pilgrimage,   a 

poem,  very  rare,  but  the  Title  is  manuscript,f       460 
1413  Patrick  Hannay's  Nightingale,  Sheretine  and 
Mariana,  Happy  Husband,  and  other  poems, 
frontispiece,  including  the    extremely   rare 
Portrait  of  Patrick  Hannay,  and  a  Portrait 
of  Anne  of  Denmark,  by   Crispin  de  Pass 
inserted,  excessively  rare,  and  believed  to  be 
unique  in  this  perfect  state,  1622,  12mo.  Mr.     42     0     0 
Bindley 's  copy.     See  p.  645,  ante. 

PART  II. 

400  Marlow  and   Chapman.— -Hero  and  Leander, 

begunne  by   Marloe  and  finished  by  Chap- 
man (in  verse)  extremely  rare,  1606,  12mo.J       990 

401  Mars  and  Venus. — The  Love  and  Complayntes 

betwene  Mars  and  Venus,  a  poem.  Here  fo- 
loweth  the  Couceyll  of  Chaucer  touching 
Maryag,  &c.  excessively  rare,  beautiful  copy 
in  morocco.  Thys  in  pryntyde  in  Westmoster 
in  Kyng  streete  for  me  Julianus  Notarii.g  -  42  10  6 
763  PasquiPs  Jests,  mixed  with  Mother  Bunch's 
Merriments,  whereunto  is  added  a  doozen  of 

*  See  page  650.  t  See  page  710,  ante. 

+  See  page  700,  ante.  §  See  page  658-9  ante. 


ENGLISH  POETRY.]        SUPPLEMENT.  843 

<£.    *.    d. 

Guiles,  pretty  and  pleasant  to  driue  away  the 
tediousnesse  of  Winters  Evening,  very  scarce, 
1604,  See  page  600,  ante.  -  4  19  0 

PART  III. 

<)S  W.  Percy's  Sonnets  to  the  Fairest  Ccelia.     A 
poetical  volume  of  extreme  rarity  red  morocco, 

1 594.  "  It  is  said  that  only  one  other  copy 
of  this  book  is  known.     The  author  has  been 
conjectured  to  be  the  brother  of  Henry,  9th 
Earl  of  Northumberland,  who  was  imprison- 
ed on  account  of  the  Gunpowder  Plot.'1  SO     0     0 

360  Skelton.     Heare   after  foloweth  certain  Bokes 

cumpiled  by  Master  Skelton  Poet  Laureat, 
Speake  Parrot,  Ware  the  Hawke,  Tunning 
of  Elynour  Rummyng,  &c.  very  rare,  red 
morocco.  Imprinted  by  Day.  512  6 

361  Skelton's   Pithy,    Pleasaunt,    and     Profitable 

Workes,  nowe  collected  and  newly  published, 
excessively  rare,  in  yellow  morocco.  Im- 
printed by  Marshe  1568,  -  19  8  6 

363  Skelton.  Heare  after  foloweth  a  little  boke, 
whyche  hathe  to  name,  Why  come  ye  not  to 
Courte.  Imprinted  by  Jhon  Wallye.  Heare 
after  foloweth  a  little  boke  of  Philip  Sparrow, 
compyled  by  Master  Skelton,  Imprinted  by 
Abraham  Veale,  excessively  rare,  red  mo- 
rocco* -  -900 

418  Smith's  Chloris,or  the  Complaint  of  thePassion- 
ate  despised  Shepheard,  Sonnets,  excessively 
rare,  1596,  4to.  -  29  0  0 

509  Spenser's  Complaints,  containing  sundrie  small 
Poems  of  the  World's  Vanitie,  first  edition, 
very  rare,  1591.  Spenser's  Colin  Clouts 
Come  Home  Againe,  first  editition,  rare, 

1595.  Spenser's  Fowre  Hymnes  and  Daplv- 

*  See  pages  653,  678,  ante. 


844  SUPPLEMENT. 

£.   s.   d. 

naida,  first  edition,  very  scarce,  1596.  Spen- 
cer's Prothalamion,  or  Spousall  Verses,  in 
honour  of  the  Marriages  of  the  Ladie  Eliza- 
beth and  the  Ladie  Katherine  Somerset,  first 
edition,  1596, 4to.  bound  in  2vol.  the  Duke  of 
Roxburglie^s  copies,  red  morocco,*  19  5  0 

*  See  page  693,  ante. 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


Abbadie,  Jacques,  his  praise  of  Saurin,  94. 

Abdollatiph, — Compendium  Rerun  Memorabllium  Egypti,  438. 

Abercromby,  Patrick,  M.  D. — Martial  Achievements  of  the  Scots  Nation, 

1711-15,  270. 
Abergavenny,  Lady  Frauds,  verses  by,  in  the  Monument  of  Matrons,  125, 

126. 
Abulfeda,  or  Abul-pheda,  Ishmael, — Africa, — Descriptio  Egypti,  Arab  ice 

et  Latine,  438. 

Abyssinia,  books  relating  to,  Vide  Synoptical  Table, 
Achates,  Leonard,  his  impression  of  Dante,  1474,  and  price  of  ditto,  755. 
Ackermann,  Mr. — his  publication  of  Views  on  the  Rhine,  329.     Of  the 

World  in  Miniature,  478. 

Adair,  James,  History  of  the  American  Indians  1775,  465. 
Adams,  Robert,  Narrative  of  a  Wreck  on  the  Western  Coast  of  Africa, 

1816,  450- 
Addison,  Joseph,  eulogy  on,  603.  Editions  of  his  Works;  First,  1721,  604. 

1730,  ibid.     Baskerville's,   1760,  ibid.     Bishop   Kurd's,  1811,   605. 

1766,  ibid. 

Adelinus,  Johann  Philip,  Vide  Gottfried. 
Adelkind,  Cornelius,  his  Hebrew  Bible,  1547-49,  22. 
Adelung,  Johann  Christopher,  his  improved  edition  of  Jochefs  Lexicon, 

1784-87,  487 

Adler,  James  George  Christian,  his  remark  concerning  Luther's  Bible,  18. 
Advocates,  Library  of  the  Society  of,  Edinburgh,  copy  there  of  Davidson's 

Black  Acts  on  vellum,  264.    Of  a  Voyage  to  Jerusalem,  printed  by 

Wynkyn  de  Worde,  420. 
/Eschylus,  various  editions  of,  839. 
^Esopus,  editions  of. 

Caxton's,  576.     Zainer's,  ibid.     Spanish,  ibid.     Editio  Princeps,  ibid. 

De  Furia's,  ibid.     Whittingham's,  ibid.    Bewick's,  ibid. 
Africa,  extent  and  character  of,  437-    Books  on,  vide  Synoptical  Table. 
African  Association,  Proceedings  of  the,  450. 
Africanus,  John  Leo,  Africce  Descriptio  ix.  libris  absoluta,  439. 
Agincourt,  Seroux,  his  Work  on  the  Fine  Arts  commended,  Pref.  iv. 
Aikin,  Mr.  Arthur,  his  English  Translation  of  Denon's  Travels  in  Egypt, 

1802,  442. 
Aikin,  John,  M.  D.,— General  Biography,   1799-1815,   488.     His  Life  of 

Thomas  Linacre,  566.  His  edition  of  Spenser's  Poetical  Works,  1806, 

695.    Ditto  of  Milton's  ditto,  709.    Ditto,  of  the  Select  Works  of  the 

British  Poets,  747- 

Akenside,  Mark,  M.  D.  Pleasures  of  the  Imagination,  735. 
Alcazar,  The  Battel  of  Alcazar  fought  in  Barbaric,  1594,  785. 
Algerius,— De  Orbe  l\ovo,  1516,  459. 


848  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Almeida,  Manoel,  Historia  General  de  Ethiopia  Alta,  445. 

Alonzo  the  Wise  and  XI.  Kings  of  Spain,  Chronicles  of,  303. 

Althorpe,  Vide  Spencer. 

Alured  of  Beverley,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Annales,  1/16,  219. 

Amar,  M.  his  edition  of  Boileau,  1821,  769. 

Amyot,  Thos.  Esq.  Treasurer  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries, — obligations 
to  him  confessed,  Pref  xxiii.  His  copies  of  Asser's  Life  of  Alfred  by 
Archbishop  Parker,  144.  Of  Savile's  Scriptores  post  Bedam,  150. 
His  notice  of  Bishop  Asser's  Annals,  155.  His  remark  concerning 
Milton,  201.  Ditto  on  Whitelock's  Memorials,  ibid.  His  Enquiry 
concerning  the  Death  of  Richard  II. ,225.  His  observation  relating 
to  Tanner's  Bibliotheca,  509.  His  information  relative  to  thirty  copies 
of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  809,  812.  His  copies  of  the  first  folio 
Shakspeare,  814. 

Jacques,  Abbot  of  Bellozane,  his  French  Translations  of  Plutarch, 

489,  490. 

Anacreon,  editions  of: 

Editio  Princeps,  Maittaire's,  622     Fischer's,  623. 

Anderson,  James,  Collections  relating  to  the  History  of  Marti  Queen  of 
Scotland,  1727,  271. 

— —  Dr.  John,  Genealogical  Memoirs  of  the  House  of  Yvery,  1742, 
554. 

Andrews,  Mr.  James  Petit,  his  Continuation  of  Henry's  History  of  Great 
Britain,  1796,  236. 

Anquetil,  Louis  Pierre,— Pre'cis  de  VHisto'ire  Universelle,  1807,  132.  His- 
toire  de  France,  1805,  295.  L' Intrigue  du  Cabinet  sous  Henri  IV.  et 
sous  Louis  XIII.,  1818,  543. 

— Duperron,  Abraham  Hyacinth,  Legislation  Orientale,  1778.   Re- 

cherches  Historiques  et  Ge'ographiques  sur  I'Inde,  1786,  411. 

Anson,  George,  Lord,  his  character,  392.  Voyage  round  the  World,  1748. 
394. 

Anthologia  Hibernica,  reference  to  the,  243. 

Antonio,  Nicolo,  Bibliotheca  Hispania  Vetus  et  Nova,  1783-88,  301.  illus- 
trative references  to,  305,  4/6. 

Apollonius  Rhodius,  editions  of. 

Edit.  Prin.  Schaefer's,  Elzevir's,  626. 

Apollyn  of  Thyre,  King,  1510,  649. 

Apostles,  Les  Actes  des  Apotres,^  et  V Apocalypse,  1501,  777- 

Appianus,  Schweighaeuser's  edition  of,  137. 

Apuleius,  editions  of.  Editio  Priaceps,  581 .  Pricseus,  ibid.  Oudendorp 
and  Rhunkenius,  ibid. 

Arbuthnot,  Alexander,  his  edition  of  Buchanan's  History,  1582,  265. 

Arch,  Messrs.  John  and  Arthur,  their  catalogues  commended,  with  the 
supposed  beneficial  effect  resulting  from  the  circulation  of  them  ; 
Pref.  xxv.  Copies  of  works  in  their  possession,  37,  135,  152,  159, 
164,  189,  196,  208,  213,  218,  220,  233,  241,  243,  269,  270,  274,  277, 
301,  343,  349,  378,  379,  381,  388,  397,  404,  442,  444,  448,  488,  498, 
500,  521,  629,  630,  707,  708,  724,  726,  753,  814,  815,  816,  817. 

Archenolz,  Johann,  Me'moires  de  Christine  Heine  de  Suede,  1/51,  353. 

Arden. — The  Lamentable  and  True  Tragedle  of  M.  Arden,  of  Faversham 
in  Kent,  1592,  786. 

Ariosto,  Ludovico,  editions  of, 

Editio  princeps,  756.     Editions  of,  1521,  1527,  1528.   757-     Scin- 
zeuzeler,  758.    Giolito's,  ibid.     POITO'S,  Zatta's,  Baskerville's,  ibid, 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  849 

Molini's,  759.  Morali's  Pisan,  760.  W.  S.  Rose's  English  Translation 
of,  763. 

Aristotle,  editions  of, 

Aldine,  Editio  princeps,  573,  Sylburgius',  ibid.  Casaubon's,  574.  Du 
Val's,  ibid.  Ruble's  Bipont,  ibid.  Commentary  on,  by  Eustratius 
de  Moribus,  1 536,  ibid.  Tyrwhitt's  edition  of  his  Poetics,  1 794,  675. 

Arnold,  Richard,  his  Chronicle,  174.    Verses  from,  728. 

Articles  condemned  for  Heresy,  extract  from,  27. 

Arthur,  la  Morte  dy,  new  editions  of,  6. 

Ascham,  Roger,  his  Censures  of  Romances,  6.  Toxophilus,  1544,  587« 
Schoolmaster,  1570,  ibid.  Affairs  of  Germany,  1570,  ibid,  Letters  to 
Queen  Elizabeth,  and  entire  Works  by  Bennett,  ibid. 

Asiatic  Researches,  1799 — 1821,  412.     Reference  to,  414. 

Asserius,  Bishop  of  Sherborne,  his  Life  of  King  Alfred,  142.  Annals  as- 
scribed  to,  155. 

Astley,  Thomas,  his  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  1?45,  388. 

Asulanus,  Andreas,  his  Greek  Septuagint,  1518,  25. 

Atherley,  Arthur,  Esq.  late  M.  P.,  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare, 

Athenseus,  editions  of, 

Aldine,  Editio  princeps,  577.  Casaubon's,  ibid.  Schweighaeuser's,  ibid. 

Avesbury,  Robert  of,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Historia  Edvardi  ///,  1720, 
220. 

Augustine,  St.  D.  Aurelius,  Paris  edition  of  his  Works,  1679,  47-  Appendix 
Augustiniana,  1703,  ibid.  Civitate  Dei,  1467,  ibid. 

Austin,  S.  Naps  on  Parnassus,  1658.     Sale  and  price  of,  644. 

Aulus-Gellius,  editions  of, 

Editio  princeps,  581.  Variorum,  Gronovius's,  Conradus,  Delphini, 
ibid. 

Azzoguidi,  Balthasar,  his  Editio  Princeps  of  Ovid,  1471,  630. 

Bacon,  Sir  Francis,  Lord  Verulam,  History  of  the  Life  and  Reign  of  Henry 
VII.,  1622,  515.  Dates  of  the  editions  of  his  Works,  610. 

Bagster,  Mr.  Notice  of  his  Polyglot  Bible,  1821,  10,  26.    His  edition  of 
"  Dr.  Gill's  Exposition,  $c.  1810-12,  37.    His  expected  Reprint  of  Bax- 
ter's Works,  51. 

Baker,  David  Erskine,  References  to  his  Bio&raphica  Dramatica,  594,  599, 
782. 

Baker,  Mr.  George,  his  copy  of  Capell's  Shakspeare,  in  sheets,  796. 

,  Sir  Richard,  his  Chronicle  of  the  Kings  of  England,  1641,  192.  Un- 
fortunate Death  of,  193.  Religious  Works  by,  ibid,  194. 

,  Mr.  Richard,  his  Copy  of  Anderson's  House  of  Yvery,  555. 

Baldwin,  Messrs,  their  edition  of  Hudibras,  1819,  722,  724.  Of  Butler's 
Remains,  724.  Of  the  Old  English  Drama,  1824,  780.  Mario w's 
Dido,  preparing  for  ditto,  781. 

>-,  William,  sale  and  price  of  his  FunerallesofKingEdwardthe  Sixt, 
1560,644. 

Bale,  John,  his  Remark  on  Fabian's  Chronicle,  175.  Scriptores  Illustres 
Majoris  Britannicce,  505.  A  Tragedy  or  Enterlude  manyfesting  the 
chef e  Promises  of  God  unto  Man,  15/7,782.  Johan Baptyste  preachyng 
in  the  Wyldernesse,  783.  Resurrection  of  Lazarus,  ibid.  Temptation, 
Passion,  and  Sepulture  of  our  Lord,  ibid. 

Ballard,  George,  his  Memoirs  of  Learned  Ladies  of  Great  Britain,  552. 

Bamburgh  Castle,  Library  at,  Copies  there  of  Walton's  Polyglot,  8.  Of 
Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs,  106.  Of  Lydgate's  Siege. of  Troy,  on  vellum 

3    I 


850  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Bampton  Lectures,  831. 

Bancroft,  Thomas,  Sale  and  price  of  his  Two  Bookes  of  Epigrammes,  1639, 
644. 

Bankes's  Bay  Horse  in  a  Trance,  1595,  Sale  and  price  of,  644. 

Barbary  States,  vide  Synoptical  Table. 

Barbauld,  Mrs.  Anna  Letitia,  her  edition  of  the  British  Novelists,  1810,  749. 

Barbazan,  Etienne,  Fabliaux  et  Contes  des  Poetes  Francois  des  XL  XII. 
XIII.  XIV.  et  XV.  Siecles,  1808,  765. 

Barbier,  Antoine  Alexandre,  his  praise  of  Poulle's  Sermons,  87.  Illustra- 
tive References  to  his  Bibliotheque  dyun  Homme  de  Gotit,  concerning 
Bourdaloue,  94.  On  Saurin's  Sermons,  95.  On  Berthier,  98.  On 
Renault,  293  .  Censure  of  Reynault's  Histoire,  410.  Account  of 
Volney's  Voyage,  &c.  423.  Of  Norden's  ditto,  441.  Of  Bruce's  ditto, 
446.  Remarks  on  La  Harpe,  539.  On  French  Memoirs,  541,  542, 544, 
545,  546.  On  Foreign  Translations  of  Homer,  617.  Reference  to  his 
Dissertation  sur  sowante  Traductions  Francois,  122.  Various  biogra- 
phical References  to  his  Examen  Critique  et  Complement  des  Diction- 
naires  Historiques,  %c.,  1820,  483,  484,  487. 

Barbou  Edition  of  Tacitus,  1776,  137.  Of  Malherbe,  765.  Of  La  Fontaine, 
1762,  766. 

Barbour,  John,  Bruce,  or  the  History  of  Robert  I.  King  of  Scotland,  261, 
262. 

Barclay,  Alexander,  Myrrour  of  Good  Maners,  by  Pynson,  841. 

Barcias,  Andreas  Goii9alez,  Historiadores  Primitivos  de  las  Indias  Occiden- 
tales,  476. 

Barlseus,  Gaspard,  Hi&toriaRerum  in  Brasilia  et  alibi  nuper  gestarum,  1647, 
469. 

Barnard,  Frederic,  Liberal  use  of  his  Majesty's  Library,  granted  by  him, 
Pref.  xxiv. 

Barnes,  Robert,— Articles  condemned  for  Heresy,  extract  from,  27.  Ditto 
from  his  Priests  may  lawfully  marry,  28. 

Baronius,  Caesar,  excellence  &c.  of  his  Ecclesiastical  Annals,  102. 

Barre",  Joseph,  his  Histoire  Ginirale  d'Allemagne,  1748,  332. 

Barrett,  T.  sale  and  price  of  his  copy  of  Howe's  Chronicle,  189. 

Barros,  Juan  de,  Bibliographical  Description  of  his  Decades  de  Asia,  407, 
price  of  the  reprint  of  1628, 837. 

Barros, — Portuguese*  Asia,  reprint  of,  1628,  837- 

Barrow,  Mr.  John,  his  Chronological  History  of  Voyages  into  the  Polar 
Regions,  1818,  341.  His  Reviews  of  Travels  in  the  Quarterly,  425. 
His  works  on  China,  426.  Extract  from  his  account  of  Pitcairn's 
Island,  ibid.  His  Account  of  Travels  in  the  Interior  of  Southern  Africa, 
1801-3,452. 

Barrow,  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac,  character  of  his  Writings,  49,  51, 830.  Works  of 
1741,  1757,52. 

Bartas,  Guillaume  Salluste,  Sieur  Du,  imitated  by  Milton,  699,  704. 

Barthel^my,  Abbe*  John  James,  —  Voyage  du  Jeune  Anacharsis  en  Grece, 
1799,  135. 

Barthius,  Caspar,  his  edition  of  Statius,  1664,  638. 

Bartholin,  Thomas,  his  work  De  causis  contemptce  a  Danis  adhuc  gentilibus 
mortis,  1689,  346. 

Bartholomseus,  vide  Glanvill. 

Bartoli,—  his  edition  of   Tasso,  1590,  761. 

Bartolozzi,  Francesco,  his  copies  after  Holbein,  502. 

Bartsch, — his  character  and  death,  333. 

Baskerville,  John,  his  impression  of  the  English  Bible,  33.   Of  the  Common 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  851 

Prayer,  43.  Variations  of  Ditto,  44.  His  stock  sold,  ibid.  His  im- 
pression of  Addition,  604.  Of  Milton's  Poetical  Works,  703.  Of 
Ariosto,  1773,  758. 

Baskett,  John,  his  edition  of  the  English  Bible,  1717,  33. 
Basnage,  James  de  Franquener,  reference  to  his  Histoire  des  Eglises  Re- 

form&es,  1690,  92. 
Bassompierre,  Francois  de,  Memoires  contenant  Vhistoire  de  sa  vie,  1666. 

544. 

Bates,  Rev.  Dr.  William, — Vitee  Selectorum,  1681,  512. 
Bath,  the  Marquess  of,  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 
Batman,  Stephen,  his  English  Translation  of  and  Commentary  on  Bartholo- 

mcKiis,  1582,  584. 
Batty,  Captain  Robert,  his  Campaign  of  the  Left  Wing  of  the  Allied  Army 

in  the  Pyrenees,  1823,  312.     His  Views  in  Italy,  326. 
Bavaria,  Gonzalez  de,  his  edition  of  Herrera's  Decades,  1729-30,  459. 
Bavarian  Monuments,  335. 
Baudouin,  Fermanel,  his  Vwjage  en  Italie  et  du  Levant,  1665,  429.     His 

French  Translation  of  f^ega's  Commentaries  on  the  Incas,  1633,  477- 
Bayle,  Pierre,  excellence  of  his  Dictionnaire  Historique  et  Critique,  484. 

Character  of,  ibid. 

Baxter,  Rev.  Richard,  his  character  and  writings  :  English  Non-conformity, 
1689,  50.  Concordant  discord  of  a  broken  healed  heart,  1681,  ibid. 
Cure  of  Melancholy,  1683,  ibid.  Works,  1707,  ibid.  Expected  reprint 
of,  51. 

William,  Glossarium  Antiquitatum  Britannicarum,  1719,  248. 

Bazochien,  Jean  Dabondance,  Le  ioyeulx  Mistere  de  Trots  Rois,  776. 
Beaumarchais,  Pierre  Augustine  Caron  de,  his  edition  of  Voltaire,  1784, 

770.     Typographical  Speculation  of,  ibid.     His  Life,  1802,  771. 
Beattie,  Dr,  James,  character  of  his  Minstrel,  735. 

Beaumont,  Francis,  and  John  Fletcher,  Weber's  edition  of  their  Works, 
1812,  820.     Colman's  ditto,   1778,  821.    Tonson's  ditto,  1750,  ibid. 
Their  Love  Lies  a  Bleeding,  1620,  rarity  and  sale  of,  ibid. 
Beausobre,  Charles  Louis,  his  Continuation  of  Saurin's  Discourses,  1728-39, 

96. 

Beaver,  Captain  Philip,  African  Memoranda,  1805,  451. 
Beccadelli,  Ludovico,  his  edition  of  Petrarch,  1799,  755.     Price  of  ditto, 

756. 
Beckford,  William,  Esq.  his  late  copy  of  Mezerai's  History  of  France,  large 

paper,  292.    Of  De  Bry's  Voyages,  376. 
Bede,  Venerable,  Ecclesiastical  History,  104, 145.    Editions  of  his  Works, 

105.    His  time  of  flourishing,  ibid. 

Bedford,  Duke  of,  his  copies  of  Rapin's  History  of  England,  214.      Of 

Leland's  Itinerary,  by  Hearne,  fine  paper,  215,  832.     Of  Sir  Charles 

Stuart's  privately-printed  Account  of  the  capture  of  Constantinople, 

300. 

Bekker,  William  Gott,  his  edition  of  Thucydides,  1821,  133.     Of  Plato, 

1816,  573. 

Belin,  Richard,  Vindiciarum  Catholicorum,  in  Hibernia,  1649,  247- 
Bell,  John,  Travels  from  Petersburgh  to  diverse  parts  of  Asia,  1763,  359. 
Bell,  John,  his  edition  of  the  British  Poets,  749. 

.  his  impressions  of  Shakspeare,  801. 

— his  British  Theatre,  823. 

Mathias,  his  works  on  the  History  of  Germany,  332. 

Bellenden,  John,  his  Scottish  Translation  of  Boece's  Scotorum  Historia,  263. 
Modern  edition  of  ditto,  264,  265. 


852  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Beloe,  Rev.  William,  reference  to  his  Anecdotes  of  Literature,  5,265,  266, 

418,  458,  618,  657,  658.     His  Translation  of  Herodotus,  1791,  130. 
Belus,  Robert,  Rerum  Hispanicarum  Scriptores  Aliquot,  1579,  Spanish  His- 
tories in,  302,  306. 
Belzoni,  Giovanni,   Narrative  of  the   Operations  and  Recent  Discoveries, 

within  the  Pyramids,    Temples,  Tombs,  and  Excavations  in  Egypt  and 

Nubia,  1820,443,444. 
Benedictus,  Abbas  Petroburgensis,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Vita  et  Gestis 

Henricill.   et  Ricardi  I.,    1735,228. 
Bengel,  John  Albert,  his  Greek  New  Testaments,  1734,  38. 
Ben'et   College,  Cambridge,  Library  of,  Copies  there  of  Archbishop  Par- 
ker's Antiquitate  Britannicse  Ecclesije,  108. 
Bennet,  James,  his  edition  of  Ascham's  Works,  587- 
Bensley,  Thomas,  his  impressions  of  Milton's  Poetical  Works,  1796,  708. 

1799,  709.     Of  Butler's  Remains,  1799,  723.     Of  Pope's  Works,  729. 

Of  Thomson's  Seasons,  1797,  733. 
Bentley,   Richard  and  Thomas,  their  edition  of  Horace,  1/28,  636.     Of 

Manilius,  1739,  642. 

Berard,  M.  his  fine  Collection  of  Elzevirs,  122. 

Berington,  Rev.  Joseph,  Literary  History^  of  the  Middle  Ages,  1814,  529. 
Berkenhout,  Dr.   John,   references  to  his  Biographia  Litteraria,  1777,  5, 

146,  147,  175, 188,  notice  of,  509. 
Bernard,  John  Peter,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  General  Dictionary,  1734-41, 

487- 
Berners,  Sir  John  Bourchier,  Lord,  his  Translation  of  Froissart,  1523, -25, 

164. 

Bernhard,  M.  Public  Librarian  at  Munich,  his  character  and  death,  334. 
Bernier,  Francis,  his  Account  of  Hindostan  and  Cashmeer,  409. 
Berriman,  William,  his  vindication  of  Field,  33.     Notices  of  misprints  in 

the  English  Bible,  35 
Berthelet,  Thomas,  his  impression  of  the  Temple  of  Glass,  654.   Supposed 

edition  of  Chaucer's  Works,  673.    His  impressions  of  Gower,  677-  Of 

Latimer's  Sermons,  831. 
Berthier,   Pere  Guillaume  Frangois,  praise  of  his  Continuation  of  the  His- 

toire  de  I'Eglise  Gallicane,  98. 
Bertochus,  Vide  Rugerius. 
Bertram,  Charles,  —  Britannicarum  Gentium  Histories  Antiques  Scriptores 

tres,  1757,  156. 

Berwick,  Jacques  de  Fitzjames,Mare'chal  Duke  de,  Memoirs,  0/"1778,  544. 
Beuter,  Antonio,  his  first  part^  of  the  History  of  Valencia,  1538,  305.     His 

Spanish  Translation  of  ditto,  ibid. 

Bewick,  Thomas,  his  edition  of  The  Fables  of  Esop,  1818,  576. 
Bey,  Ali,  Travels  in  Morocco,  Tripoli,  $c.  1816,  448. 
Beza,  Theodore,  Verce  Imagines  Virorum  Doctrina  simul  et  Pietate  Illus- 

trium,  1580,  492. 

Biagioli, — his  edition  of  Dante,  1818,  754. 
Bibles,  Vide  Synoptical  Table.     Additions  to,  829. 
Bibliophiles,  Society  of  at  Paris,  their  reprint  of  Les  Blasphemateurs  du 

Norn  de  Dieu,  780. 
Bibliotheque  du  The'&tre  Francois,  1768,  references  to,  on  the  subject  of 

Mysteries,  775,  777- 

Bibliotheque  Portatif  des  Voyages,  1810,  389. 

Bingham,  Rev.  Joseph,  Antiquities  of  the  Christian  Church,  1726,  112. 
Bindley,  Mr.  James,  Sale  and  prices  of  his  copies  of  Coryate's  Crudities, 

380.     Of  Mandeville's  Travels,  405.     Of  the   Aldine   Collection   of 

Travels,  416.     Sale  of  his  old  Poetry,  644. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  853 

Biographic  Universelle,  various  references  to  the,  392,  398,  406,  438,  440, 
461,  478,  487,  495,  497,  501.  Notice  of  the  publication  of,  487,  770. 

Biography,  character  of,  and  eulogy  on,  479,  480. 

Bion,  Professor  Gaisford's  edition  of,  626. 

Birch,  Dr.  Thomas,  Portraits  of  Illustrious  Persons,  1743,  213,  498.  His 
edition  of  T/iurloe's  State  Papers,  1742,  287.  One  of  the  editors  of 
the  General  Dictionary,  1734-41,  485.  His  edition  of  Milton's  Works, 
1749-54,611. 

Bircherodus,  Jano,  his  Breinmium  Equestre,  1704,  346. 

Black  Acts  or  Statutes  of  Scotland,  264. 

Black,  Rev.  John,  Life  of  Torquato  Tasso,  1810,  436. 

Blair,  Rev.  Dr.  Robert,  character  of  his  Sermons,  831. 

Blake,  Robert,  Esq.  his  late  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 

Mr.  W.  his  designs  to  Young's  Night  Thoughts,  734.     Mr.  D'ls- 

raeli's  Collection  of  his  Drawings,  ibid 

Blasphemateurs  du  Norn  de  Dieu,  780. 

Bleda,  Jayme,  his  Chronica  de  los  Moros  de  Espana,  1618,  306. 

Blickling,  Library  at,  copies  there  of  Coverdale's  Bible,  30.  Of  the  Sedan 
New  Testament,  40.  Of  Oswen's  Prayer  Book,  43.  Of  Lord  Bernefs 
Froissart,  165.  Of  Hearne's  works,  on  large  paper,  232.  Of  Pri/nne's 
Records,  imperfect,  280.  Of  De  Bry's  Voyages,  376.  Notices  of  the 
house  and  library,  578,  623. 

Bliss,  Rev.  Dr.  Philip,  obligations  to  him,  Pref.  xxiii.  Various  references 
to  his  edition  of  Wood's  Athence  Occoniemes,  1813,  20,  81,  145,  146, 
183, 186,  190,  191,  192,  193,  194,  199,  211,  377,  380,  381,  382,  421, 
659,  564,  565,  566,  567,  600,  704,  710,  715.  Eulogium  on  ditto,  508. 
Various  references  to  his  ReliquiasHearnianfe,  193,  209,  216,217,218. 
His  account  of  the  Boar's  Head  Carol,  659. 

,  his  copy  of  the  Geneva  Bible,  830. 

Blomfield,  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  James,  Bishop  of  Chester,  his  edition  of  Col- 
limachus,  1815,  624,  625.  Ditto  of  several  Plays  of  JBschylus,  839. 

Blore,  Mr.  his  work  of  "  Monumental  Remains"  commended,  Pref.  v. 

Boaden,  Mr.  James,  An  Enquiry  into  the  Authenticity  of  the  various  Por- 
traits of  Shakspeare,  1824,  ?96. 

Boar's  Head  Caroll,  ceremony  of  singing,  and  copy  of,  569. 

Bodleian  Library,  Oxford,  vi(le  Burton,  Malone :  copies  there  of  the  Maza- 
rine Bible,  13.  Of  Fust's  and  Schoiffer's  ditto,  15.  Of  Kimchi's  Psal- 
ter, 20.  Of  the  Soncino  Hebrew  Bible,  22.  Of  the  Acta  Sanctorum, 
103.  Of  a  collection  of  public  papers  printed  in  the  reign  of  Eliza- 
beth, 267.  Of  Prynne's  Records,  279.  Of  a  Manuscript  of  Plato, 
361.  Of  Leland's  Commentarii  Scriptoribus  Britannicis,  506.  Of 
Whittington's  Epi^rammata,  on  vellum,  565.  Of  Linacre  De  Concin- 
nitate  Grammaticis,  567.  Of  Palsgrave's  Comedye  of  Acolastus, 
569.  Of  the  Aldine  Aristotle,  on  vellum,  573.  Of  Wilson's  Epistola, 
588.  Malone's  Collection  of  Facetiae  there,  594,  595.  Burton's  Li- 
brary there,  600.  Copy  there  of  the  edit,  princ.  of  Virgil,  627-  Of 
the  edit.  prin.  of  Ovid,  630.  Of  Berthelet's  edition  of  the  Temple 
of  Glass,  654.  Of  the  Tunnyng  of  Eleanoure  Rummyng,  679. 

Bodoni,  Jean  Baptiste,  his  edition  of  Homer  on  vellum,  1808,615.  Of 
Dante,  1796,  753.  Of  Tasso,  1794,  761,  762.  Of  Boileau,  1814, 
769. 

Boece,  Hector,  Scotorum  Historia,  263. 

Boetius,  editions  of. 

Editio  princeps;  Koburger,  1473;  Variorum,  1671,  580. 

Bohn,  Mr.  his  extensive  and  valuable  catalogues,  Pref.  xxvii.     References 


854  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

to  his  catalogue,  7,  9,  10,216,  221,242,  303,  320,  321,  331,  337,  342, 
345,  348,  350,  371,  459,  476,  573,  574,  575,  578,580,  581,  583,617, 
621,  629,  633,  636,  637,  640,  641. 

Boileau,  Despr&iux,  Nicole,  editions  of  his  Works,  1747,  17/2,  1809,  768. 
Didot's,  769.  Bodoni's,  ibid.  Amat's,  ibid.  Marat's,  ibid. 

Boisjermain,  Mons.  his  edition  and  Commentary  on  Racine,  1768,  768. 

Boissard,  Jean  Jacques,  his  Biographical  Works,  492. 

Bold,  Henry,  Wit  a  Sporting  in  a  pleasant  Grove  of  New  Fancies,  720. 

Bolingbroke,  Henry  St.  John,  Viscount,  Letters  on  the  Study  of  History, 
130. 

Bolland,  Mr.  William,  his  reprint  of  Lord  Surrey's  translation  of  Virgil. 
683. 

Bomberg,  Daniel,  Hebrew  Bibles  printed  by,  1547-49,22. 

Bond,  John,  his  Scholia  to  the  Variorum  Horace,  1670,  636. 

Bongars,  James,  "bis  edition  of  the  Gesta  Dei  per  Francos,  1611,  98. 

BOOKSELLERS,  number  and  importance  of  their  Catalogues,  Pref.  xxiv. 

Boone,  Mr.  J.  S.  Essay  on  the  Study  of  Modern  History,  1821,  130. 

Boothroyd,  B.  his  Hebrew  Bible,  1816,  24. 

Bos,  Lambert,  his  edition  of  the  Greek  Bible,  1709,  25. 

Bossange  and  Co.,  Messrs,  their  copies  of  certain  works,  91,  92,  94,  101, 
292,  295. 

Bossi,  M.  his  Ancient  and  Modern  Italy ,  1819,  325. 

Bossuet,  James  Be'nigne,  Bishop  of  Meaux,  his  character  and  editions,  &c. 
of  his  works,  91. 

Boswell,  James,  praise  of  his  Life  of  Dr.  Johnson,  524. 

Jim.  references  to  his  edition  of  Malone's  Shakspeare, 

1821,  783,  791,  803,  804,  806,  808,  814,  815.  Buys  the  Kemble  copy 
of  the  first  Shakspeare  folio,  792,  812.  Sum  paid  him  for  the  editing 
of  Malone's  Shakspeare,  799. 

Bouchard,  Alain,  Les  Grandes  Chroniques  de  Bretaigne,  167. 

Bourdaloue,  Louis,  character  and  editions  of  his  writings,  Brettonneau's, 
93.  Parisian,  94. 

Bouquet,  Dom  Marten,  commences  the  Recueil  des  Historiens  des  Gaules, 
1738-1822,  140,  289,  290. 

Bourke,  William,  History  of  the  Moors  in  Spain,  1811,  311. 

Bouterwek,  Frederick,  his  remarks  on  Spanish  Chronicles,  302.  On  the 
editions  of  Lazarillo  de  Tonnes,  307.  On  Mariana's  Hurtado  de 
Mendoza,  476.  Spanish  History,  308. 

Bowditch,  Mr.  T.  Edward,  his  Account  of  a  Mission  from  Cape  Coast  Castle 
to  the  Kingdom  of  Ashantee  in  Africa,  1819,  452. 

Bowdler,  Mr.  'The  Family  Shakspeare,  182,  818. 

Bowles,  Rev.  William  Lisle,  his  edition  of  Pope's  Works,  1806,  731.  His 
Sonnets,  747. 

Bowyer,  William,  Biographical  and  Literary  Anecdotes  of,  1782,  556.  His 
edition  of  Thomson's  Seasons,  1797,  733. 

Boydell,  — his  splendid  impression  of  Shakspeare,  1791-1801.  801.  Mag- 
nificent series  of  paintings  to,  802. 

Boyle,  Hon.  Robert,  excellence  of  his  Treatise  on  Seraphic  Love,  61.  Lec- 
tures of  eminent  Divines  founded  by,  62.  Editions  of  his  Works, 
1744,1772,610. 

Brady,  Dr.  Robert,  his  Complete  History  of  England,  1685-1700,  202.  Ad- 
ditions to  ditto,  203. 

Braith wait,  Richard,  his  English  Gentleman,  1630,  597-  Notices  of  his 
other  works,  ibid  The  Author  of  Drunken  Barnabe's  Journal,  689. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  855 

Brandao,  Antonio  and  Francisco,  their  Continuations  of  Brittfs  Monarchia 
Lusitana,  1632-72,  314-315. 

Brandon,  St.  Life  and  Acts  of,  239. 

Brantome,  Pierre  De  Bourdeille,  Seigneur  de,  Hommes  et  Dames  fllustres, 
1740,  538. 

Bray,  Mr.  William,  Editor  of  the  Evelyn  Memoirs,  550. 

Breitinger,  John  Jacob,  his  edition  of  the  Greek  Bible,  1730-32,  26. 

Brequigny,  Frederic  Louis  George  Oudarde  de,  his  Tables  Chronologiques  de 
Diplomes,  Chartres,  fyc.  concernant  PHistoire  de  France,  1769,290. 

Brereton,  Mr.  Joseph,  Books  in  his  collection  of  old  English  Poetry,  &c. 
668,  669. 

Brescia,  rarity  of  volumes  printed  at,  21.    Edition  of  Virgil,  628. 

Breton,  M.,  Russie  ;  ou  Masurs,  Usages,  et  Costumes  des  habitans  de  toutes 
les  provinces  de  cet  Empire,  1813,  363. 

Breton,  Nicholas,  sale  and  price  of  his  Floorish  upon  Fancie,  1577,  644, 
699.  A  small  Hand/nil  of  Fragrant  Flowers,  1575,  691.  Wwkes  of 
a  Young  Wyt,  699.  Ravish  fSoule,  1601,  ibid.  Prices  of  various 
pieces  by  at  the  sale  of  Sir  M.  Sykes's  Library,  841. 

Brettoneau,  Francis,  his  edition  of  Bourdaloue's  Sermons,  1707-34,  93. 

Brewer,  Anthony,  his  Lingua  imitated  by  W.  Penn,  57. 

Breydenbach,  Bernardus,  his  Peregrinatio  Hierosolymitana,  420. 

Brial,  Dom  Michel  Jean  Joseph,  his  Continuation  of  the  Recuetl  des  Histo- 
riens  de  la  France,  289. 

Bridges,  John,  his  copies  of  Holinshed's  Chronicles,  187.  OfLeland's  Iti- 
nerary by  Hearne,  large  paper,  215. 

Brigida  Thaumaturga,  1620,  241. 

British  Bibliographer,  various  references  to  the,  5, 215, 220,  223,  225,  226, 
231,  252,  584,  585,  586,  588,  590,  591,  592,  600,  613,  653,  686,  690, 
691,  699,  701,  703,  711,  785. 

British  Critic,  Religious  Principles  of  the,  86.  Its  Review  of  Dr.  Cople- 
stone,  on  Predestination,  88.  Of  Roscoe's  Life  of  Lorenzo  de  Medicis, 
525. 

Brito,  Bernardo  de,  his  Monarchia  Lusitana,  1597 — 1689,  314.  Account 
of  him,  315. 

Broadhead,  Mr.  J.  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 

Broadley,  Mr.  John,  his  fine  Library  at  Kirk  Ella,  Preface  xxii. 

Brooke,  A.  de  Capell,  Travels  through  Sweden,  Norway,  andFinmark,  1823, 
349, 

Brotier,  Gabriel,  edition  of  Tacitus,  1771,  137- 

Browne,  Sir  Thomas,  his  Character  and  Works,  608.  His  Hydrotaphia, 
609. 

,  W.  G.  his  Travels  in  Egypt  and  Syria,  1799,  448. 

Bruccioli,  Anthony,  his  Italian  Bible  and  Commentary,  1546,  19. 

Bruce,  James,  Travels  to  discover  the  Source  of  the  Nile,  1790,  446.  Trans- 
lations of  ditto,  447. 

Brucker,  John  James,  Pinacotheca,  1741,  486. 

Brumoy,  Pierre,  a  compiler  of  the  Histoire  de  VEglise  Gallicane,  1730,  98. 

Bruns,  Cornelius  le,  royage  au  Levant,  1 700,  423. 

Brunner,  Andreas,  his  Annalmm  Boicorum,  1626-29,  335. 

Brunet,  James  Charles,  various  References  to  his  Manuel  du  Libraire,  22, 
23,  91,  93,  95,  97,  99,  101,  102,  110,  129,  163,  164,  168,  308,  321, 
322,  324,  325,  330,  343,  346,  355,  363,  372,  376,  386,  387,  397,  404, 
407,  409,  410,  412,  419,  425,  427,  428,  439,  458,  485,  494,  538,  753, 
761,764,  766,767,768. 


856  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Bruxella,  Arnold  de,  his  impression  of  Horace,  1474,635.  Ditto,  of  Pe- 
trarch, 1477,  755. 

Bry,  Theodore  and  Sons,  their  Greater  and  Lesser  Voyages,  1590,  1637. 
371.  Description  of  a  Splendid  Copy  of,  372.  Notices  of  other  copies 
of,  376.  Their  Advertisement  concerning  their  Prints,  374.  Piga- 
fetta's  Account  of  Congo,  translated  for,  398.  Their  Plates  to  Las 
Casas'  Brevissima  Relation  de  la  Destrucyon  de  las  Indias,  458. 

Bryant,  Jacob,  his  edition  of  Plutarchus,  1729,  489. 

Bryant,  Mr.  William,  sale  and  price  of  his  copy  of  Hall's  Chronicle,  184. 
Of  Grafton's  ditto,  185.  <• 

Brydges,  Sir  Samuel  Egerton,  vide  Censura  Literaria,  his  Apology  for 
Nashe,  593.  His  edition  of  the  Paradise  of  Dainty  Devices,  1810, 
691.  Of  Davidson's  Poetical  Rhapsodies,  720.  His  Roxburghe  Re- 
print of  Pellegrini's  Latin  Oration  for  Tasso,  761. 

Buch,  Baron  Leopold  Von,  his  Travels  in  Norway  and  Lapland,  1813,  349. 

Buchanan,  Dr.  Francis,  Journey  through  the  Countries  of  Mysore,  1807, 4(93. 

,  George,  Rerum  Scoticarum  Historia,  265.  His  Detection  of  the 

Doings  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  266. 

Buckingham  House,  vide  King's  Library. 

Buckingham,  Marquess  of,  his  unique  copy  of  the  Fourth  Volume  of 
Prynne's  Records,  280.  His  copy  of  Lydgate's  Siege  of  Troy,  on 
vellum,  668. 

Buckley,  Samuel,  his  edition  of  De  Thou's  History  of  his  Own  Time,  1733, 
296. 

Buder,  Christian  Gottlieb,  vide  Meuselius. 

Buhle,  John  Thomas,  edition  of  the  Bipontine  Aristotle,  574. 

Bukinstop,  Father  Henri  de,  his  Explanation  of  Passages  in  the  Aldine 
Bible,  1710,  17. 

Bull,  Dr.  George,  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  excellence  of  his  Writings,  62. 

Bullart,  Isaac,  Academie  des  Sciences,  1682,  497. 

Bullett,  Jean  Baptiste,  Me'moires  sur  la  Langue  Celtique,  1754,  343. 

Bulmer,  William,  Prints  Reeves's  Bible  and  Common  Prayer,  44.  A  Selec- 
tion from  Bossuet's  Works,  92.  An  edition  of  Milton's  Poetical  Works, 
1794-97,  708. 

Burchard,  John,  Historia  Arcana,  1697,  527. 

Burchell,  William  James,  his  Travels  in  the  Interior  of  South  Africa,  1822- 
24,  453. 

Burckhardt,  John  Lewis,  Travels  in  Syria  and  Mount  Sinai,  422.  His  other 
Work,  445. 

Bure,  William  Francis  de,  Mazarine  Bible  discovered  by,  11.  His  praise 
of  Stephen's  Hebrew  Bible,  23.  Account  of  Dugdale's  Monasticon, 
109.  References  to  his  Bibliographic  Instructive,  151,  164,  458,  462. 
His  notice  of  Rudbeck's  Atlantica,  355. 

Burgess,  Mr.  George,  his  edition  of  the  Supplices  of  dEschylus,  889. 

Burgo,  Thomas  de,  Hibernia  Dominicana  sive  Historia  Provinciee  Hibernice, 
1762,  251,  833. 

Burghley,  William  Cecil,  Lord,  Lord  Treasurer,  Collection  of  his  State 
Papers,  287. 

Burnet,  Dr.  Gilbert,  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  his  praise  of  Bourdaloue,  94- 
His  censure  of  Henry  Wharton,  113.  Editions  of  his  History  of  the 
Reformation,  114.  His  Memoirs  of  the  Dukes  of  Hamilton,  1 677, 269. 
His  History  of  his  Own  Times,  1724-32,  283. 

Burnett,  Mr.  George,  Reference  to  his  Specimens  of  English  Prose  Writers* 
1807,  197. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS  857 

Burney,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles,  his  copy  of  Fleury's  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory, 101. 

Buriiey,  Admiral  James,  his  Collection  of  Voyages  in  the  South  Sea,  1813-16, 
400. 

Burns,  Robert,  Dr.  Currie's  edition  of  his  Works  and  Reliques,  743. 

Burton,  Robert,  his  Anatomy  of  Melancholy,  1621,  599.  His  Library  at 
Oxford,  600. 

Butler,  Rev.  Dr.  of  Shrewsbury,  his  edition  of  ^Eschylus,  839. 

Mr.  Charles,  Reference  to  his  History  of  the   Catholics,  116.     His 

Life  and  Writings  of  I.  B.  Bossuet,  1812,.  92. 

•  •    •       Samuel,  Hudibras,  editions  of. 

Dr.  Grey's,  722.     Tovvneley's  French  Translation,   723.     Dr.  Nash's 
edition, 'ibid.     Baldwin's,  724.    Remains,  by  Thyer,  723. 

Byron,  Lord,  Reflections  on  his  Genius  and  Death,  744,  745.  Characte- 
ristic list  of  his  Poems,  ibid.  746. 

Hon.  John,  his  Voyage  round  the  World,  394. 

Byzantine  Historians,  best  edition  of  the,  138. 

Bzovius,  Abraham,  Ecclesiastical  Annals,  1616,  102. 

Cabala,  sive  Scrinia  Sacra,  1663,  283. 

Cadamosto,  Luigi,  Prima  Navigazione  per  I'Oceano  a  le  Terre  de  Negri  del- 
la  Basse  Etopia,  439. 

Caesar,  C.  Julius,  Oudendorp's  edition  of  his  Commentaries,  1737-  Ober- 
lin's  ditto,  1805,  137. 

Caius,  Thomas,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Vindicice  Antiquitatis  Academiae 
Oxoniensis,  1730,  225. 

Caley,  Mr.  John,  his  edition  of  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  111. 

Callander,  John,  Voyages  printed  in  his  Collection,  1766-68,  391,  392,  394. 

Calleville,  Catteau,  History  of  the  Revolutions  of  Norway,  1818,  350.  His 
Memoirs  of  Christine  Queen  of  Sweden,  1815,  353. 

Calles, — Annales  Austrice  F'eteris  et  Novce,  1750,  333. 

Calliergus,  Zacharias,  his  edition  of  TJteocritus,  1516,  620. 

Callimachus,  editions  of. 

Robortellus',  Editio  Princeps,  Graevius',  624.     Blomfield's,  625. 

Calmet,  Augustine,  his  Histoire  Universelle,  1735;  Dictionnaire  de  la 
Bible,  1730,  131. 

Cambridge, Public  Library  at,  volume  of  Prayers  in,  printed  by  W.  de  Worde, 
42.  Dr.  Henry  More's  Library  there,  52.  Copy  there  of  Bishop 
Tonstall's  books  De  Arte  Supputandi,  on  vellum,  568.  Of  Apuleius, 
first  edition,  581.  Of  the  Corallus  Catullus  and  Statius,  642.  Of 
Wynkyn  de  Worde's  Castell  of  Labour,  649.  Of  Caxton's  Temple  of 
Glass,  654.  Of  his  Parliament  of  Birds,  ibid.  Number  of  books 
contained  in,  657.  Volumes  there  of  Old  Poetry  by  Caxton,  and  W. 
de  Worde,  655.  Of  Chaucer's  Book  of  Fame  by  Caxton,  670.  Of 
other  pieces  by  the  same  printer,  ibid. 

Camden,  William  Clarenceux  King  of  Arms,  Anglica,  Normannica,  Hiber- 
nica,  et  Cambrica,  1603,  150.  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Annales,  1717, 
219.  His  Works  concerning  Ireland,  248. 

Campbell,  Mr.  Thomas,  reference  to  his  Pleasures  of  Hope,  339,  737- 
Various  illustrative  quotations  from,  and  references  to,  his  Specimens 
of  the  British  Poets,  1819,  654,  678,  682,  684,  685, 692, 698,  699,  700, 
703,  704,  705,  712,  714,  716,  719,  721,  736,  783,  820.  His  Essay  on 
English  Poetry,  prefixed  to  the  above  work,  736.  Large  paper  copies 
of  ditto,  737-  His  Gertrude  of  Wyoming  and  Ballads,  738. 

Campion,  Edmund,  his  Chronicle  of  Ireland,  1633,  243S 

3  K 


858  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Camus,  Francis  Denis,  particulars  from,  relating  to  De  Bry's  Voyages, 

373,  375.     Ditto,  to  Thevenot's  ditto,  386. 
Canterbury  Cathedral,  Library  of,  copy  there,  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare, 

815. 
Canzler,  his  M^moires  pour  servir  a  la  connaissance  des  affaires  de  la  Suede* 

1776,  354. 

Capel  Closet,  vide  Trinity  College. 

Capel,  Edward,  reference  to  his  Prolusions,  1760.     His  edition  of  Shak- 
speare, 1768,  and  sum  paid  him,  795.     Shakspeariana,  1779,  ibid. 
Capell,  Arthur,  Earl  of  Essex,  and  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  his  Letters, 

1770,  249. 
Caraffa,  Cardinal  Antonio,  editor  of  Zanetti's  Greek  Bible,  25.    Of  a  Latin 

ditto,  ibid. 

Carbonell,  P.  M.,  his  Chroniques  de  Espanya,  305. 
Carey,  Rev.  Henry  Francis,  his  English  Translation  of  Dante,  1813,  763. 
Carey  and  Lea,  Messrs.  their  American  Atlas,  456. 
Carew,  Richard,  his  Translation  of  Tasso's  Jerusalem  Delivered,  715. 

Thomas,  poetical  character  of,  713.     Editions  of  his  Works,  715. 

Carion,  John,  his  Three  Bokes  of  Chronicles,  1550,  182. 

Carlton,  Sir  Dudley,  his  Collection  of  State  Papers,  1757,  288. 

Caron,  R.  P.  F.  R.,  Lynch's  edition  of  his   Remonstrantia  Hibermcorum, 

&c.  1665,  246. 

Carreri,  J.  F.  Geinelli,  Circumnavigatory  Voyage,  1699,  398. 
Carte,  Thomas,  his  General  History  of  England,  1747-55,  233.     His  Life 

of  James  Duke  of  Ormond,  1735-36,  234. 
Cartwright,  William,  Comedies,  Tragi-Comedies,  and  Poems,   1651,  117. 

Commendatory  Verses,  prefixed  to,  ibid.  718. 
Carve,  Thomas,  his  Works  on  Ireland,  244. 
Carver,  Captain  Jonathan,  Travels  through  the  Interior  parts  of  North 

America,  1779,  466. 
Casas,  Bartholomaeus  las,  Brevissima  Relation  de  la  Destruycion  de  las  In- 

dias,  1552,  458. 
Casaubon,  Dr.  Isaac,  his  edition  of  Aristotle,  1590,  574.    Of  Athenam, 

1657,  577. 

Casirio,  Michael,  his  Bibtiotheca  Arabico-Hispana  Escurialensis,  1760,  301. 
Castanheda,  Fernan  Lopez  de,  his  Conquests  of  the  Portuguese  in  India, 

1522-24,  408. 

Castell,  Dr.  Edmund,  his  Lexicon  to  Walton's  Polyglot,  1669,  /• 
Castell  of  Labour,  1506,  commencement  of,  649. 
Castell  of  Pleasure,  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  verses  from,  654.     Sold  at  the 

Sale  of  Sir  M.  Sykes's  Library,  841. 
Castelnau,  Marquis  Michel  Gabriel  de,  his   Essai  sur  VHistoire  ancienne 

et  moderne  de  la  nouvelle  Russie,  1820,  358. 
Castelvetro,  Ludovico,  his  edition  of  Petrarch,  1756,  756. 
Castera,  J.  his  History  of  Catharine  II.  Empress  of  Russia,  1800,  362. 
Castlehaven,  James  Lord  Audley,  Earl  of,  his  Memoirs,  fyc.  in  the  Wars  of 

Ireland,  various  editions  of,  248. 
Catullus,  editions  of. 

Editio  Princeps,  641.     Coralline,  Valpine,  Parisian,  642. 
Cavazzi,  Giovanni,   Antonio  du  Montecucolo,  Descrizione  del  tre  Reame 

cioe  Congo,  Matouba,  e  Angola,  451. 
Cave,  Dr.  William,  Canon  of  Windsor, — Historia  Litteraria  Scriptorum 

Ecclesiasticorum,  1740,  112.    His  disputes  with  Henry  Wharton,  113. 
Caxton,  William,  his  Chronicle,  1480,  169.     Various  reprints  and  editions 

of,  170-172.     His  edition  of  the  Polychronicon,  1482,  172.     His  edi- 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  859 

tion  of  the  Statutes,  1490-91,  275.  Grammatical  Works,  printed  by, 
566,  569.  His  edition  of  JEsop,  576.  His  edition  of  Reynard  the  Fox, 
584.  Of  the  Temple  of  Glass,  654.  Books  of  at  Ham  House,  663. 
His  impressions  of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  668,  669.  Old  and  recent 
prices  given  for  his  Fruitful  and  Ghostly  Matters,  669.  His  Life  of 
St.  JVenefrid,  ibid.  Of  his  Virgil's  JSneid,  ibid.  670.  His  Impres- 
sion of  Chaucer's  Book  of  Fame,  670.  Ancient  prices  given  for  ditto, 
and  for  his  Godfrey  of  Boulogne,  Faitsof  Arms,  and  Chastising  of  God's 
Children,  ibid.  His  impression  of  Chaucer's  Troilus  and  Cressida,  ibid. 
Of  Chaucer's  Minor  Poems,  671.  Of  Gower's  Confessio  Amantis, 
1483,  677.  Of  various  Poems  by  Lydgate,  678. 

Caylus,  Madame  de,  Me'moires  of,  1805,  543. 

Cellini,  Benvenuto,  editions  of  his  Memoirs,  560. 

Censura  Litteraria,  various  illustrative  references  to  the,  151,  174,  190, 
199,  382,  421,  584,  586,  591,  595,  601,  602,  649,  656,  657,  658,  681, 
683,  686,  687,  689,  691,  692,  696,  697,  699,  700,  701,  710,  711,  712, 
713,  715,  728,  732,  733,  784. 

Cevallos,  Pedro  Ordonez  de,  his  Voyage  round  the  World,  1614,  398. 

Chalmers,  Mr.  Alexander,  references  to  his  General  Biographical  Dictio- 
nary, 106,  107,  112,  113,  146,  188,  190,  193,  233,284,  345,  346,382, 
388,  394,  421,  512,  524,  558,  585,  588,  597,  599,  601,  602, 608.  His 
copy  of  Brucker's  Pinacotheca,  486.  His  Account  of  the  publication 
of  the  General  Historical  Dictionary,  487.  His  fragment  of  the  Sixth 
Volume  of  the  Biographia  Britannica,  488.  His  work  above  quoted, 
ibid.  His  copy  of  Bullart's  Academic  des  Sciences,  497-  His  edition 
of  the  British  Essayists,  606.  Of  the  British  Poets,  747.  List  of  Au- 
thors and  Translations  in,  748.  Assistance  received  for  the  Work, 
749. 

Mr.  George,  his  Copies  of  Bellenden's  Chroniklis  of  Scotland, 

264.  Of  Davidson's  Black  Acts,  ibid.  Of  Patten's  Expedicion  of  the 
Duke  of  Somerset,  266.  His  literarv  Character,  272.  His  Caledonia 
and  Life  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  273.  His  Political  Annals  of  the 
United  Colonies,  1/80,  466.  His  edition  of  Defoe's  History  of  the 
Union,  1787,  607.  Life  of  Defoe,  1790,608.  Apology  for  the  Be- 
lievers  in  Ireland's  Forgery,  and  Supplement  to  ditto,  800.  His  copy 
of  Shakspeare's  Henry  VI.  Part  HI.  1595,  808. 

Chamberlayne,  Mr.  John,  his  Portraits  of  the  Illustrious  Persons  of  th^ 
Court  of  Henry  VIII.  1792,  501. 

Champion,  The,  praise  of  Lord  Wellington  in,  746. 

Chandler,  Dr.  Richard,  his  Travels  in  Greece  and  Asia  Minor,  1774-76, 
422.  Life  of  William  of  Waynficte,  181 1,  534. 

Chapman,  George,  his  Continuation  of  Marlow's  Hero  and  Leander,  1600, 
700.  The  Blinde  Begger  of  Alexandria,  1598,  784. 

Chardin,  Sir  John,  Voyage  en  Perse,  1735,409.  Excellence  and  other  edi- 
tions of  ditto,  41/. 

Chardin,  M.  his  copies  of  French  Mysteries,  775.  vide  Long.  Particulars 
of  him,  776. 

Charles  I.  S$c.  True  Effigies  of,  1641,  Sale  and  price  of,  646. 

Charlevoix,  Peter  Francis  Xavier  de,  Histoire  du  Japon,  1736,  428.  His 
Nouvelle  France,  1744,  &c.  461. 

Chartier,  Alain,  the  Booke  callyd  Cathon,  fyc.  1483,  585. 

Chateaubriand,  Marquis  de,  Itine'raire  de  Paris  a  Jerusalem,  1812,  420. 

Chatsworth,  590,  vide  Devonshire. 

Chaucer,  Geoffrey,  Editions  of  his  Works. 

Caxton's,  668.    Pynson's  669,  671.  Wynkyn  de  Worde's,  672.     God- 


S60  INDEX   OF  BOOKS, 

fray's,  672,  673.    Bonham's,  674    Howe's  and  Speght's,  ibid.    Urry's, 

ibid.     Tyrwhitt's,  675.   Pickerings,  ibid.    Manuscripts  of,  ibid.     His 

jComplaint  unto  his  empty  Purse,  copy  of,  671. 
Chaudon,  Abb£  Louis  Mayeul,  his  Nouveau  Dictionnaire  Historique,  1804, 

386. 

Chaufepie",  Nouveau  Dictionnaire  Historique  et  Critique,  1 750,  485. 
Cheeke,  Henry,  A  certayne  Tragedie  wryttenfyrst  in  Italian,  by  F.  N.  B. 

entituled  Freewyl,  785. 

Chenier,  M.  his  Re'cherches  Historiques  sur  les  Maures,  1787,  448. 
Chester,  Robert,  Love's  Martyr,  1601,  701.     Sale  and  price  of  in  Sir  M. 

Sykes's  Library,  841. 
Chillingworth,  Rev.  William,  Quotation  from,  Pref.  vi.     Character  of  his 

writings,  49.  Best  edition  and  price  of  his  Works,  52. 
Christ-Church  College,  Oxford,  Library  of,  large  paper  Hearnes  there,  2 16, 

232,  832.     Copy  there  of  Hudson's  Minor  Greek  Geographers,  402. 
Christina,  Queen  of  Sweden,  various  editions  of  her  Memoirs,  353. 
Christmas  Corols,  account  of,  659. 

Christopher,  St.  Le  Mysttre  du  glorieux  Sainct  Christofle,  1530,  775. 
Chronicle  of  the  CidRodrigo  Diaz  de  Bivar,  the  Campeador,  Mr.  Sou  they 's 

Translation  of,  1808/303. 
Chroniques  de  St.  Denys,  early  editions  of,  162. 
Chrysostom,  St.  John,  best  edition  and  price  of  his  works,  1708,  47. 
Church,  Ralph,  his  edition  of  Spenser's  Faerie  Queen,  1758,  693. 
Churchill,  Awnsham  and  John,  their  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels, 

1732,  387.     Prices  of  ditto,  388. 

Rev.  Charles,  his  Poetical  Works,  733. 

Churchyard,  Thomas,  Notices  and  sale  of  his  works,  686-688. 

Churton,  Rev.  Ralph,  his  Life  of  Dr.  Alexander  Novell,  1809,  535.     His 

Lives  of  the  Founders  of  Brazen-nose  College,  1800,  536. 
Chute,  Anthony,  Sale  and  price  of  his  Beawtie  Dishonoured,  1593,  645, 

701.     Procris  and  Cephalus,  1593,  701. 
Gibber,  Colley,  his  Apology  for  his  Life,  558. 
Cicero,  editions  of  his  works. 

Olivet's,  578.     Elzevirs,  579.     Foulis's,  Ernesti's,  Lallemand's,  580. 
Cicognara,  Leopold,  his  Works  on  Sculpture  commended,  Pref.  iv.  Biblio- 

theca,  reference  to  the,  496. 
Cirencester,  Richard  of,  his  Itinerary,  156. 
Cisneros,  Cristofero  Zapata  de,  his  edition  of  Dante,  1757,  753. 
Clarendon,  Edward  Hyde,  Earl  of,  History  of  the  Rebellion  and  Civil  (Vars, 

1702-3-4,  209.     Numerous  editions  of  ditto,  210.     Notice  of  his  Por- 
trait, 211.     His  censure  of  May's  History  of  the  Long  Parliament, 

281.     Collection  of  his  State  Papers,  287.     His  character  of  Carew, 

714. 
Clarendon  Press,  Oxford,  reprints  of  Strype's  Lives  produced  there,  1 18, 

517,519. 

Clarke,  Dr.  Adam,  his  praise  of  Bomberg's  Hebrew  Bible,  22.     His  Com- 
mentary on  the  Scriptures,  37,  38.     His  edition  of  Rymer's  Fcsdera, 

1816,  282. 
— i Dr.  Edward  Daniel,  his  Travels,  359.    Analysis  and  excellence  of 

ditto,  360.     Notice  of  his  other  works,  361. 

Rev.  James  Stanier,  Life  of  Lord  Nelson,  1809,  537- 

Dr.  Samuel,  editions  of  the  works  of,  62.     His  edition  of  Homer, 

1729-40,615. 
Mr.  his  price  for  Machlinia's  Nova  Statuta,  275.    Helps  to  English, 

History  in  his  Law  catalogue,  276. 
,, — :—  Mr.  William,  his  notice  of  a  Fourth  volume  of  Prynne's  Records, 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS  861 

280.    Of  Mr.  Beckford's  copy  of  Mezerai's  History,  292.    References 

to  his  Repertorlum  Bibliographicum,  658,  686. 
Classical  Journal,  Account  of  the  Mazarine  Bible  in  the,  11.    Dissertation 

in,  on  the  lyrical  metre  of  Anacreon,  622. 
Claudiamis,  editions  of. 

Editio  princeps,  Gesner's,  Burman's,  640.    Elzevir's,  Variorum,  641. 
Clede,  M.  de  la,  Histoire  General  fide  Portugal,  1735,  316. 
Clement,  David,  reference  to  his  Bibliotheque  Curieuse  historique  ct  critique, 

1753,  163. 
Clerc,  John  le,  his  Latin  Bible  and  Commentary,  1735,  16.     His  edition  of 

Erasmus's  Works,  1703,  90. 
Clerc,  N.  Gabriel  le,  his  Histoire  de  la  Russie  Anclenne  et  Moderns,  1783, 

358. 
Clergy,  Tract  on  Contempt  of  the,  57.     Answer  to  ditto,  61.     Ancient 

provision  for  the,  58.     Difficulties  of  the  indigent,  59,  60,  61. 
Cluni,  Alexander,  his  American  Traveller,  1769,  465. 
Coch  LoreWs  Bote,  658. 

Cointe,  Charles  le,  his  Annales  Ecclesiastici  Fra"corum,  1665,  98. 
Coke,  Thomas  William,  Esq.  M.  P.  his  copy  of  Archbishop  Parker's  Anti- 

quitates  Britannicae  Ecclesise,  108. 
Colgan,  John,  his  works  on  the  Irish  Saints,  240. 

Collection  Universelle  des  Memoires  relatifs  a  V Histoire,  1785,  290,  295. 
Collier,  Rev.  Jeremy,  his  Ecclesiastical  History  of  England,  1 708,  111. 
Collins,  Arthur,  kis  edition  of  the  Sydney  Papers,  1748,  288.     His  Histo- 
rical Collections,  1752,  521. 
'  William,  editions  of  his  Odes  and  Eclogues,  733.    Excellence  of  his 

Ode  to  Evening,  ibid. 
Colman,  George,  Sen.  his  edition  of  Beaumont's  and  Fletcher's  Works, 

1778,  821. 

Cologne  Chronicle,  1499,  reference  to  the,  12. 
Colonia,  John  de,  his  edition  of  Catullus,  1475,  641. 
Columbus,  Christopher,  his  Epistle,  1493,  printed  by   Planck,  copy  of,  in 

Sir  M.  Sykes's  Library,  837-     Ditto,  printed  by  Silber,  copy  of,  in 

Don  Antonio  Conde's  Library,  ibid. 

Combes,  Mr.  William,  his  copy  of  Herrick's  Hesperides,  703. 
Comines,  Philip  de,  editions  of  his  Memoires,  167,  168. 
Complaynt  of  the  Herte  thorughe  perced  with  the  lokynge  of  the  Eye,  651. 
Complaynte  of  a  Loner's  Lyfe,  650. 

Conde",  Louis  de  Bourbon,  Prince  de,  Memoires  de,  1820,  544. 
Conscience,  an  excellent  New  Commedic  entituled  the  Conflict  of  Conscience, 

1581,  785. 
Conusaunce  d' Amours,  650.     Sale  and  price  of,  in  Sir  M.  Sykes's  Library, 

841. 

Cook,  C.  his  editions  of  Select  British  Poets,  and  Novelists,  749. 
Capt.  James,  eulogies  on,  395.     Bibliographical  Account  of  his 

Voyages,  396.     Reprint  of  ditto,  397- 

Cooper,  Robert,  his  Continuation  ofLanquett's  Epitome  of  Chronicles,  181. 
Coote,  Dr.  Charles,  his  new  edition  of,  Maclaine's  Translation  of  Moshelm' s 

Ecclesiastical  History,  1811,  118. 
Coplestone,  Dr.  Edward,  his  Work  on  Predestination,  88.     His  Prazlec- 

tiones  Academlcce,  1803,  639. 

Cordiner,  Rer.  James,  Description  of  Ceylon,  1807,  431. 
Cordova,  Martini  de,  his  Chronicle  of  Spain,  306. 
Coreal,  Francois,  Voyages  en  les  Indes  Occidentals,  \  722,  460. 
Corneille,  editions  of  his  Works,  Didot's,  Renouard's,  767* 
Cornwallyes,  Sir  William,  his  Essay es,  1632,  601. 


862  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Corpus  Christ!  College,  Oxford,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  the  Alcline  Aris- 
totle on  vellum,  573. 

Cortez,  Ferdinando,  various  editions  of  his  Epistles,  463. 

Coryate,  Thomas,  editions  and  prices  of  his  Crudities,  1611,  380. 

Cotelerius,  John  Baptist,  Collection  of  the  Greek  Apostolic  Fathers,  1724, 
47. 

Cotton,  Dr.  Henry,  A-arious  References  to  his  List  of  the  Editions  of  the 
English  Bible,  &c.  29,  30,  32,  33,  829.  His  copy  of  the  Geneva  Bible, 

,  Roger,  sale  and  price  of  his  Armour  of  Proof e,  1596,  645.  Ditto  of 

his  Spiritual^  Song,  1596,  ibid. 

Coverdale,  Dr.  Miles,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  excellence  of  his  Works,  27.  His 
English  Bible,  editions  of,  30. 

Cowle v,  Abraham,  Poetical  Blossoms,  1 633,  7 1 7,  72 1 .  The  Mistresse,  1 647, 
ibid. 

Cowper,  William,  Memoirs  of,  532,  533,  His  edition  of  the  Latin  and  Ita- 
lian Poems  of  Milton,  1808,  709.  His  Poetical  Character,  735. 

Cox,  Richard,  Hibernia  AngUcana,  1689,  248. 

Coxe,  Rev.  William,  Archdeacon  of  Wilts,  his  Remarks  on  Tindall's  Con- 
tinuation of  Rapin,  213.  His  Histories  of  the  House  of  Austria ,  and 
Kings  of  Spain  of  the  House  of  Bourbon,  333.  His  Travels  in  Poland 
and  Russia,  1784, 359.  His  biographical  works,  531. 

Crabbe,  Rev.  George,  character  of  his  Poetry,  742. 

Cracherode,  Rev.  Clayton  Mordaunt,  his  vellum  copy  of  Fust's  and  Schoif- 
fer's  Bible,  14.  Collection  of  Jeremy  Taylor's  \Vorks,  54.  His  Copy 
of  Holinshed's  Chronicles,  187.  Anecdotes  concerning,  394.  His 
vellum  copy  of  Lilye's  Grammar,  565.  Of  the  Edit.  Prin.  of  Catullus, 
on  vellum,  641.  Of  the  Aldine  Petrarch,  756.  Of  the  first  folio 
Shakspeare,  1809,  810.  Price  marked  in  ditto,  81 1. 

Crantz,  vide  Gering. 

Crapelet,  M.,  his  Impression  of  Fontaine's  Works,  1814,  766.  Of  J.  B. 
Rousseau's  ditto,  1820,  773. 

Crashaw,  Richard,  Steps  to  the  Temple,  1646,  712.  Carmen  Deo  Nostro, 
1652,  ibid.  Song  by,  714. 

Crauford,  John,  his  Teares  of  Ireland,  1642,  255.  Mr.  Grenville's  Re- 
marks on  ditto,  256.  Duke  of  Devonshire's  copy  of,  833. 

Critici  Sacri,  1660,  48. 

Croix  du  Maine,  Fran$ois  Grus  de  la,  Bibliotheque  Fran$aise,  1772-73,  764. 

Crompton,  Hugh,  sale  and  price  of  his  Poems,  1657,  644.  Ditto  of  his 
Pierides,  1658,  645. 

Cruden,  Mr.  R.  his  copy  of  Coryate's  Crudities,  380. 

Cry&te  Crosse  me  spede,  verses  from,  658. 

Cudworth,  Dr.  Ralph,  his  Intellectual  System  excellently  translated  by 
Mosheim,  119. 

Cumberland,  Richard,  his  Memoirs,  534. 

Currer,  Miss,  her  line  library,  Pref.  xxi,  832.  Her  copy  of  the  Fructus 
Temporum,  on  vellum,  '170.  Private  Catalogue  of  her  Library,  ibid. 
Her  copy  of  the  Polychronicon,  1 72.  Historical  Apparatus  to  her 
Library,  277«  Her  copy  of  Norden's  Voyage  d'Egypte,  large  paper, 
441.  Of  the  fine  paper  tindal,  832. 

Custome,  Anew  Enterlude,  entituled New  Customc,  1573,  785. 

Gustos,  Dominic,  his  Fuggerorum  et  Fuggeramm  Imagines,  496. 

Cuthell,  Mr.  his  sale  copy  and  price  of  To wneley's  Translation  of  Hudibras, 
723. 

D'Ablancourt,  Perrot,  his  French  Translation  of  Marmot's  Description  dc 
Africa,  1669,  439. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  863 

Dalrymple,  Alexander,  his  Historical  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Discoveries 

in  tie  Southern  Pacific  Ocean,  1770,  429.    Particulars  concerning  him, 

ibid. 

Sir  David,  Lord  Hailes,  his  Annals  of  Scotland,  271. 

Dampier,  Captain  William,  Collection  of  Voyages,  1729,  8vo.  388,  392, 

837.     His  character  from  the  Biographic  Universelle,  392. 
Daniel,  Father  Gabriel,  Histoire  de  France,  1755,  293. 
Samuel,  Collection  of  the  History  of  England,  199.  Works  of,  17J8, 

715.    Complaint  of  Rosamond,  1592,  716-    Certain  small  Woorhes,  161 1 

ibid. 
Dante,  editions  of  his  Divina  Commedia,  J£si,  Foligno,  Mantuan,  Tuppo, 

751.     Naples,   752.     With  Landino's    Commentary,   ibid.     Aldine, 

ibid.     Venetian,  753.     Zapata  de  Cisneros,  ibid.     Lombardi's,  ibid. 

Bodoni's  and  Mussi's,  ibid.    English  Translation  of,  by  the  Rev.  F.  H. 

Carey,  763. 
D'Anville,  Jean  Baptiste  Bourignon,  his  L1  Empire  de  Russie,  1772,358. 

His  Geographical  Works,  419.     His  new  Atlas  of  China,  1737,  427. 
Dapper,  Olfert,  Asia,  or  a  Description  of  the  Empire  of  the  Great  Mogul, 

1672,  411,  439.     His  praise  of  Ogilby's  America,  460. 
D'Arc,  Jeanne,  New  History  of,  1824^  833. 

D'Arevieux,  Chevalier,  his  'Voyages  a  Constantinople,  &c.  1735,  422. 
Dashwood,  Sir  Francis,  his  Abridgement  of  the  Common  Prayer,  1773, 45. 
David,  Citizen  Francois  Anne,  his  Histoire  de  France,  1787-96,  292.     His 

Histoire  de  Russie  reprdsente'e  par  figures,  1799,  363. 
Davies,  John,  of  Hereford,  Works  of,  f&),  711.     Epigrams  printed  with 

Marlow's  Ovid,  790.    Prices  of  his  pieces  at  the  Sale  of  Sir  M.  Sykes's 

Library,  842. 
Davila,  Enrico  Katerina,  his  Storia  delle   Guerre  Civile  di  Francia,  1733, 

297- 
Davis,  Sir  John,  Historical  relations  concerning  Ireland,  1644,  248.     Sale 

and  price  of  his  Epigrams,  645. 

Davison,  Francis,  Sale  and  price  of  his  Poetical  Rapsodie,  1611,  645,  720. 
Davys,  John,  his  Tract  concerning  Whitelock  and  Clarendon,  202. 
Day,  John,  his  English  Bible,  1568,  31. 
Defoe,  Daniel,  character  and  names  of  his  Works,  607,  608.     First  edition 

of  Robinson  Crusoe,  ibid. 
Dekker,  Thomas,  character  of  his  works,  5,  594.     Collection  of  them  by 

Mr.  Heber,  6.     His  Test  to  make  you  merrie,  1607,  598. 
Delabere  copy  of  Holland's  Basilioologia,  494. 
Delanc/m,  Mons.  his  copy  of  Hume's  History  of  England,  large  paper, 

Delancourt,  Antoine  Francois,  his  Nouveau  Dictionnaire  Historique,  1804, 
486. 

D'Elci,  Count,  his  copy  of  Ulric  Han's  Juvenal,  632. 

Delia,  contemning  certain  Sonnets,  1592,  720. 

Delille,  M.,  his  Poetical  Works,  773. 

Dempster,  Thomas,  references  to  his  Works  on  the  Antiquity  of  Scotland, 
240. 

Denham,  Sir  John,  Cooper's  Hill,  1642,  721.  Poems,  1719,  722 

Denina,  Carlo,  his  Revoluzioni  d' Italia,  1769,  325. 

Denmark,  Compendious  History  of  the  Kings  of,  1695,  347. 

Denon,  Vivant,  his  Voyage  dans  la  Basse  et  la  Haute  Egypte,  1802,  442. 

Dent,  Mr.  John,  his  copy  of  Tindall's  edition  of  Rapin's  History,  214. 
Large  paper  Hearnes  in  his  Library,  232.  His  copy  of  Pryune's 
Records,  280.  Of  Montfaucon's  Antiquite's  Explique's,  large  paper, 
294.  Of  Anderson's  House  of  Yvery,  555.  Of  the  editio  princeps  of 
Homer's  Odyssey  on  vellum,  615.  Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  812. 


864  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

D'Entrecasteaux,  Vice-Admiral  Brimv,  his  Voyage  in  Search  of  Perouse, 
1808,  399. 

Description  of  Britain,  169. 

Desodoard's,  Fantin  de,  his  Continuation  ofVelley's,  VttlarcCs,  and  Gamier' t 
History  of  France,  1819,  295.  His  History  of  Italy,  1803,  325. 

D'Espignay,  Madame,  her  Me'moireset  Correspondence,  1818,  548 

D'Estrades,  Godfrey,  Due,  The  Secrets,  Letters,  and  Negotiations  of  the  Ma- 
rechal  Duke  D'Estrades,  1743,  544. 

Devonshire,  Duke  of,  his  copies  of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13.  Of  Fust's  and 
Schoiffer's  do.,  15.  Of  the  Aldiiie  do.,  16.  Of  De  Thou's  Caraffa 
Latin  Bible,  25.  Of  Fox's  Book  of  Martyr's,  106.  Of  Caxton's  Chro- 
nicle, 169.  Of  Caxton's  Nova  Statuta,  275.  Of  Prvnne's  Records, 
280.  Of  De  Bry's  Voyages,  376.  Of  the  Tears  of  Ireland,  477.  Of 
The  Book  for  Travellers,  571.  Of  Serranus's  edition  of  Plato,  572. 
Of  Fraunce's  Lawyer's  Logike,  590.  Of  the  modern  Greek  Homer, 
618.  Of  the  editio  princeps  of  Callimachus,  624.  Sale  of  his  dupli- 
cate of  Catullus,  &c.  editio  princeps,  641.  Of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's 
Lover  and  Jay,  650.  Of  his  Complaynte  of  a  Loue'r's  Lyfe,  ibid.  Of 
his  Titus  and  Gesyppus,  656.  Of  Tyrwhitt's  Aristotle's  Poetics,  large 
paper,  675.  Of  Chaucer's  Canterbury  Tales,  in  Manuscript,  ibid.  Of 
Gower's  Confessio  Amantis  by  Oaxton,  677.  Of  the  Aldine  Petrarch, 
755.  Of  the  Ferrara  Ariosto,  757-  Buys  the  Dramatic  Library  of 
J.  P.  Kemble,  791.  His  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  811,  812. 

D'Ewes,  Sir  Simon,  his  description  of  Queen  Henrietta  Maria,  228.  His 
Journal  of  all  the  Parliaments  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  1 708,  283. 

Dictionnaire  Bibliographique  Choisi,  reference  to,  171. 

Dictionnaire  Nouveau  Historique,  its  censure  of  French  Novels  and  Tales, 
125. 

Dictionnaire  de  Trevoux,  1771,483. 

Didot,  Firmin,  notice  of  his  Latin  Bible,  1785,  16.  His  edition  of  Tasso, 
1784,  762.  Of  Corneille,  1796,  767.  Of  Racine,  ibid.  Of  Voltaire, 
771,772.  Of  Delille,  773. 

Digges,  Sir  Dudley,  his  Compleat  Ambassador,  1655,  283. 

Diodati,  John,  his'  Italian  Bible  and  Annotations,  1607,  19. 

Diodorus  Siculus,  Bipont  edition  of,  1793-1807,  135. 

Diogenes  Laertius,  editions  of  his  Lives  of  the  Philosophers, — Meibomius', 
Longolius',491. 

Dion  Cassius,  Fabricius'  and  Reimar's  edition  of,  1750,  136. 

Dionysius  Halicarnassensis,  Reiske's  edition  of,  1784,  136. 

Discourse  of  Artificial  Beauty,  supposed  by  Bishop  Taylor,  notice  of,  55. 

Disney,  Dr.  John,  his  Memoirs  of  Thomas  Brand  Hollis,  1808,  555. 

• ,  Thomas,  his  Memoirs  of  Dr.  John  Disney,  555. 

D' Israeli,  Mr.  J.  references  to  his  Literary  character,  and  Calamities  of 
Authors,  5,  236,  288,  592,  593,  594.  To  his  Quarrels  of  do.,  116, 
722.  Particulars  from  concerning  Milton's  History  of  England,  201. 
Ditto  relating  to  Whitelock's  Memorials,  202.  His  Memoirs  of  Ita- 
lian Historians,  318,  324.  His  remark  on  Guicciardini,  323.  Obser- 
vation concerning  the  study  of  Biography,  480.  His  praise  of  Hoffman 
and  the  Dictionnaire  de  Trevoux,  483.  His  Article  on  Bayle  and  his 
Dictionary,  484.  Ditto  on  the  Sources  of  Secret  History, '562.  His 
collection  of  Blake's  Drawings,  734. 

Dodd,  Charles,  his  Church  History  of  England  regarding  the  Roman 
Catholics,  1737-42,  115,  reference  to,  207. 

Doddridge,  Dr.  Philip,  his  praise  of  Bishop  Hall's  Contemplations,  56. 
Character  and  Family  Expositor  of,  64.  His  Rise  and  Progress  of  Re- 
ligion, &c.  65. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  865 

Dodsley,  Robert,  his  Collection  of  Old  Plays,  1780,  780.  Reference  to 
ditto,  57.  His  revised  edition  of  Johnson's  and  Steevens's  Shahspeare, 
1785,  798. 

Doesborow,  John,  his  edition  of  Arnold's  Chronicle,  174. 

D'Ohsson,  Mouradja,  his  Tableau  Generate  de  I'Epire  Othoman,  424. 

Dolarney, — Sale  and  price  of  his  Primerose,  1606,  645,  reprint  of,  720. 
Domesday  Book,  modern  edition  of  the,  1783-1816,  277. 

Donne,  Dr.  John,  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,  Poems,  1719,  722. 

Doubdan,  J.  Le  Voyage  de  la  Terre  Sainte,  1661,  420. 

Douce,  Mr.  Francis,  liis  copy  of  Edgeworth's  Sermons,  81.  Of  Fox's  Book 
of  Martyrs,  106,  832.  "Detects  the  supposed  Painting  of  Archbishop 
Parker,  108.  References  to  his  Illustrations  of  Shakspeare,  1807,  170, 
583.  Excellence  of  ditto,  796.  His  edition  of  Arnold's  Chronicle, 
1811,175.  His  copies  of  Hall's  Chronicle,  184.  Of  Pynson's  Statutes, 
276.  Of  the  Fuggerorum  et  Fuggerarum  Imagines,  496.  OfWick- 
liffe's  Translation  of  the  Scriptures,  518.  Of  Burchard's  Historia 
Arcana,  527.  Of  Stanbridge's  Accedence,  564,  Of  Palsgrave's  Ec- 
claircissemens,  568.  Of  the  Promptorius  Puerorum,  570.  Caxton's 
Reynard  the  Fox,  584.  Of  Godfray's  edit,  of  the  Canterbury  Tales, 
673.  His  introduction  and  glossary  to  Judicium,  an  ancient  Pageant, 
779. 

Douglas,  Dr  James,  his  collection  of  Horace,  614.  v 

D'Oyley,  Dr.  George,  his  English  Bible,  27,  36,  37.  References  to  his 
Life  of  Archbishop  Sancroft,  113. 

Drake,  Sir  Francis,  works  relating  his  services,  391. 

Dr.  Nathan,  his  Essays,  Biographical,  Critical,  and  Historical,  illus- 
trative of  the  Spectator,  &c.,  1805,  607.  Shakspeare  and  his  Times, 
1817,  796. 

Dr.  Samuel,  his  edition  of  Archbishop  Parker's  Antiquitates  Britan- 

nicce  Ecclesice,  1729,  108.     His  edition  of  the  Castrations  in  Hollins- 
hed,  1728,  186. 

Drant,  Dr.  Thomas,  Extracts  from  his  Sermons,  75 — 80. 

Drayton,  Michael,  character  of,  716.  The  Owle,  1604,  ibid.  The  Muse's 
Elyzium,  717-  Polyolbion,  1622,  ibid. 

Dresden,  particulars  concerning  the  horses  there  by  Fynes  Moryson,  434. 

,  Royal  library  of,  copy  there  of  Mazocco's  edition  of  Ariosto,  757- 

Drouet,  M.  his  edition  of  Moreri's  Grand  Dictionnaire  Historique,  1759, 
483. 

Drummond,  Mr.  his  copy  of  Mariana's  Spanish  History,  309. 

,  William,  of  Hawthornden,  his  History  of  Scotland,  1665,  269, 

His  Poetical  Worhs,  719. 

Drury,  Rev.  Henry,  his  copy  of  Lebrun's  Voyage  au  Levant,  on  large  paper, 
423.  Of  the  editio  princeps  of  Homer,  615.  Of  Barnes's  Homer, 
616.  Of  Schrevelius  do.  large  paper,  ibid.  His  reprint  of  Cock  Lorell's 
Bote,  658.  His  recitation  of  Pindar,  621. 

Dryander,  Jonas,  his  account  of  the  fourth  volume  of  Rudbeck's  Atlantica. 
355. 

Dryden,  John,  editions  of  his  works,  Malone's,  603,  726.  Warton's,  726. 
Sir  W.  Scott's,  ibid. 

Dubois,  Abbe,  J.  A.  his  works  on  India,  430. 

Ducarel,  Dr.  Andrew  Coltee,  his  List  of  English  Editions  of  the  Bible,  1778, 
36.  His  account  of  Archbishop  Parker's  work,  de  Antiquitate  Britan- 
nicae  Ecclesiae,  in  the  Lambeth  Library,  1 18. 

Duchesne,  Andrew,  Histories  Normannorum  Scriptores  Antiqui,  1619,  150, 
Price  of  do.  152.  Histoire  Generate  d'Anglcterre,  d'Ecosse,  et  d'lre- 

3  L 


INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

lande,  1614,  151,  200.    His  Historic  Francorum  Scriptores  coetanei, 
1636,  290. 

Dugdale,  Sir  William,  Garter  King  of  Arms,  various  editions  of  his  Moncts- 
ticon  Anglicanum,  109.  Modern  do.,  110,  111. 

Dulwich  College,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  the  Earl  of  Surrey's  translation 
of  Virgil's  ^Eneis,  683.  Portrait  there  of  Lovelace's  Althea,  711. 

Duncan,  Mr.  his  edition  of  Wakefield's  Lucretius,  1813,  630. 

Dunstaple,  priory  of,  Hearne's  edition  of  the  Annales  of,  1733,  226.  Ac- 
count of,  and  various  extracts  from  do.,  227,  228.  Verses  on  the 
Name  and  arms  of  Dunstaple,  229. 

Dunster,  Mr.  Charles,  his  edition  of  Milton's  Paradise  Regained,  &c.  1795, 
708. 

Dupleix,  Scipio,  his  Histoire  Genirale  de  France,  1646—63,  290. 

Dysart,  Countess  of,  her  large  paper  copy  of  Burnett's  History  of  the  Re- 
formation, 114.  Copy  of  Fabian's  Chronicle,  176.  Of  Bellenden's 
Boece,  on  vellum,  265.  Her  collection  of  Skeltons,  653.  Her  copy 
of  the  Parliament  of  Deuylles,  ibid.  Of  De  Worde's  Boke  of  Hunting, 
&c.  ibid.  Her  collection  of  Caxtons,  663.  Her  copy  of  Hawes's 
Comfort  of  Lovers,  665.  Of  his  Passtime  of  Pleasure,  666.  Of  the 
Canterbury  Tales,  edit.  prin.  668. 

Eadmer  j — Historia  Novarum,  sive  sui  Seeculi,  157. 

Eclectic  Review,  religious  principles  of  the,  86. 

Echard,  Rev.  Lawrence,  extract  from  his  supposed  tract  on  the  Contempt  of 
the  Clergy,  1670, 58.  Answer  to  do.,  1671,  61.  His  praise  of  Samuel 
Daniel,  200.  His  History  of  England,  1710,  207. 

Edgeworth,  Rev.  Roger,  Canon  of  Salisbury,  account  of  his  Sermons,  1557, 
81 .  Extracts  from  do.,  82. 

Edmonton,  character  of  a  library  in  the  vicinity  of,  Pref.  xxiii. 

Edinburgh  English  Bible,  1811,  notice  of,  117. 

Edinburgh  Critical  Journal,  review  in  of  the  Me"moires  Historiques,  Litte- 
raires,  et  Anecdotiques,  548. 

Monthly  Magazine,  particulars  in  the,  concering  Mackenzie's 

Memoirs  of  the  Affairs  of  Scotland,  270 

Philosophical  Journal,  review  in  of  Moorcroft's  Travels,  415. 

Review,  Sermons  of  Horsley  and  Alison  analysed  in,  88.  Criti- 
cisms in  of  Col.  Johnes'  Translation  of  Froissart,  166.  Of  Mackenzie's 
Memoirs  of  the  Affairs  of  Scotland,  270.  Of  Dr.  Clarke's  Travels  in 
Denmark,  &c.  360.  Of  Elphinston's  Kingdom  of  Caubul,  416. 
Of  Morier's  Journey  through  Persia,  418.  Of  Humboldt's  Travels, 
474.  Of  Gait's  Novels,  520.  Of  Roscoe's  Life  of  Leo  X.,  526.  Of 
Berington's  Literary  History  of  the  Middle  Ages,  529.  Of  Hayley's 
Life  and  Writings  of  Cowper,  532,  Of  the  Life  of  Richard  Cumber- 
land, 434.  Of  Schweighaeuser's  edition  of  Athenasus,  578.  Of  Moore's 
Lalla  Rookh,  741.  Of  the  character  and  Genius  of  Dante,  751. 

University  Library,  copies  there  of  Bellenden's  Boece,  on  vellum, 


265. 

Edrisi,  his  Geographical  Works,  438. 

Edwards,  Bryan,  his  History  and  Survey  of  the  French  Colony  of  St.  Do- 
mingo. History  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  of  the  British  Colonies  in  the 
West  Indies,  467. 

Egypt,  Description  de  I'Egypte,  1809,  443. 

Eichstadt,  Henreich  Carl  Abraham,  D.,  his  edition  of  Lucretius,  1801, 
630. 

Eickhorn,  John  Godfrey,  his  edition  of  Abulfedtfs  Africa,  1791,  438. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  867 

Ellis,  Mr.  George,  reference  to  his  Specimens  of  Early  English  Metrical 
Romances,  and  Poets,  144,  200,  262,  715.  Excellence  of  do.,  737- 

— ,  Mr.  Henry, his  edition  of  Dug-dale's  Monasticon,  111.  His  remarks 
on  the  various  editions  of  Fabian's  Chronicle,  176.  His  edition  of  do., 
1811,  177.  His  edition  of  Hardyng's  Chronicle,  1812,  180.  His  In- 
troduction to  Domesday  Book,  1816,  277- 

Elizabeth,  Queen  of  England,  translates  the  Queen  of  Navarre's  Meditation 
on  inward  love  of  Christ,  124.  Verses  by  in  the  Monument  of  Matrons, 
126.  Address  to  her  by  Serranus,  572. 

Elmes,  Mr.  James,  his  edition  of  Wren's  Parentalia,  1823,  559. 

Elmharn,  Thomas  de,  Hcarne's  edition  of  his  Vita  fy  Gesta  Henrici  V, 
1727,  224. 

Elmsley,  Rev.  Dr.  Peter,  his  edition  of  Thucydides,  1812,  133.  Of  the 
(Edlpus  Colonceus  of  Sophocles,  839.  Of  several  Plays  of  Euripedes, 
840. 

Elphinston,  Hon.  Mountstuart,  his  Account  of  the  Kingdom  of  Caubul, 
1815,  416. 

Ely,  Dr.  Thomas  Dampier,  Bishop  of,  his  copy  of  the  Modern  Greek 
Homer,  618. 

Elyot,  Sir  Thomas,  his  works,  585. 

Elys,  Sir  Richard,  letter  to  from  M.  Maittaire,  623. 

Emery,  Jacques  Andre,  remarks  on  Fleury's  Discourses,  100. 

Enderbie,  Percy,  his  Cambria  Triumphans,  274. 

England's  Helicon,  1600,  613,  692. 

England's  Parnassus,  1600,  613,  692. 

English,  remarks  on  the  Manners  and  Dress  of  the,  by  Fines  Moryson,  434, 
435. 

Enterludes,  An  enterlude  entituled  Like  wil  to  like  quod  the  Devil  to  the 
Cottier,  1568,  787- 

Erasmus  Desiderius,  his  Greek  Testament,  1516-19,  24,  38.  Various  notices 
of  his  works,  90. 

Erland,  Israel,  his  Vita  S.  Erici  Sueciee  Regis,  1675,  352. 

Ernesti,  Johann  Augustus,  his  edition  of  Xenophon,  134.  Of  Suetonius, 
491.  Of  Cicero,  580.  Of  Homer,  1759,  616.  Of  Callimachus,  1751, 
625.  His  account  of  the  Parisian  Catullus,  642. 

Eshton  Hall,  seat  of  Miss  Currer,  Pref.  xxi. 

Essai  Bibliographique  sur  les  Editions  des  Elzevirs,  1822.  Reference  to, 
122, 636,  641,  764. 

Essex,  Lord,  his  copies  of  Capt.  Dampier's  Voyages,  389.  Of  RaynaPs 
History  of  European  commerce  with  the  Indies,  410.  Of  Sir  Hans 
Sloane's  Voyage  to  Jamaica,  467. 

Esther,  Prayer  of,  from  the  Monument  of  Matrons,  124. 

Eton  College,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 

Evans,  Mr.  his  sale  of  Meuselius'  Bibliotheca  Historica  Selecta,  129.  Of 
a  Collection  of  Hearne's  publications,  217 — 229.  Of  Lithgow's  Tra- 
vels, 429.  Of  Mr.  Johnson's  Homer,  615.  Of  the  library  of  Sir  M. 
M.  Sykes,  Bart.  836,  do.  Of  Don  Antonio  Conde,  834.  His  edition 
of  Burnet's  History  of  his  own  Times,  1809,  284.  Of  Haklmjt's  Voy- 
ages, 378.  His  sale  copy  of  Stritter's  Memoriae  Populorum,  344. 
His  note  on  the  editions  of  Ariosto,  757- 

Evelyn,  John,  Memoirs  of  his  Life  and  Writings,  1818,  549,  anecdote  con- 
cerning his  Diary  and  Letters,  550  Editions  of  his  Sylva,  554.  Ex- 
pected edition  of  his  minor  works,  ibid. 

Evesham,  Monk  of,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Historia  iTitee  et  Regni  Ri- 
chardi  11.  1729,  225. 


868  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Euripides,  various  editions  of,  840. 

Eustace,  Rev.  John  Chetwode,  his  ClaasicalTouT  through  Italy,  1813,  326. 

Exeter  College,  Oxford,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  the  Soncino  Hebrew 

Bible,  22,  829. 

Expedition  into  Scotland,  by  Lord  Hertford,  &c.  1544,  1548,  833. 
Fabian,  Robert,  editions  of  his  Chronicle,  175,  178. 
Fabre,  Pere  John  Claudius,  his  Continuation  of  Fleury's  Ecclesiastical  His- 

tory,  99. 
Fabricius,  John  Albert,  his  edition  of  Dion  Cassius,  1750,  136.  References 

to  his  Bibliotheca  Latina,  155,  207,  231,  642. 
Facius,  John  Frederick,  his  edition  of  Pausanias,  1794,  134. 
Fagell,  Greffier,  various  references  to  the  Bibliotheca  Fagelllana,  1802, 193, 

196,  201. 
Fairfax,  reprint  of  his  English  Translation  of  Tasso's  Jerusalem  Delivered, 

1807,  762. 

Fakes,  Richard,  his  impression  of  the  Parliament  of  Deuylles,  653. 
Farmer,  Rev.  Dr.  Richard,  sale  and  price  of  his  copy  of  the  Flower  of 

Fame,  698.     His  Essay  on  the  Learning  of  Shakspeare,  800.    His 

copv  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  814.     Minor  references  to  his  Sale 

Catalogue,  1798,  179,  187. 

Fauntleroy,  Mr.,  his  illustrated  copy  of  HowelPs  Letters,'  602. 
Feast  full  of  sad  Cheare,  1592,  720. 

Fell,  Dr.  John,  Bishop  of  Oxford,  his  verses  in  praise  of  Cartwright,  717- 
Feltham,  Owen,  his  verses  to  the  memory  of  Randolph,  718. 
Fenton,  Elijah,  his  edition  of  trailer's  Poems,  1729,  723. 

Geoffrey,  his  Translation  of  Guicciardini' s  Istoria  d*  Italia,  1618,  324. 

Fernandez,  Diego,  his  Historia  del  Peru,  1571,  476. 

Ferrara  editions  of  Ariosto,  757.     Ditto  of  Tasso,  760. 

Ferrari,  G.  de,  his  edition  of  Guicciardini's  Istoria  d' Italia,  1564,  323. 

Ferreras,  Don  Juan  de,  his  Synopsis  Historica  Chronologica  de  Espana, 

1700,  32,  309. 

Ferrers,  John,  his  Continuation  ofBoece's  Scotorum  Histories,  1575,  263. 
Fiddes,  Dr.  Richard,  his  Life  of  Cardinal  Wolsey,  519. 
Field,  John,  Esq.  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 

Richard,  his  edition  of  the  English  Bible,  1660,  33. 

Finch,  Hon.  Mr.  his  copie  of  Hearne's  edition  of  Roper's  Life  of  More, 

219.     Of  his  History  of  Richard  II.  by  the  Monk  of  Evesham,  225. 

Of  his  Walter  of  Hemingford,  Otterburne  and  Wethamstede,   and 

Dunstaple  Chronicles,  226.     Of  the  Abbot  of  Peterborough's  Life  of 

Henry  II.  228. 

Fitzherbert,  Sir  Anthony,  his  Works,  588. 

Fitzwilliam,  Earl,  his  copy  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  York  Manual,  41. 
Fleury,  Abbe"  Claude  de,  excellence  of  his  Ecclesiastical  History,  1690 — 

1719,  99. 
Flinders,  Capt.  Matthew,  his  Voyage  to  Terra  Australis,  1814,  431.     His 

enterprises  and  confinement,  432. 
Foligno,  Vide  Numeister. 
Fontaine,  Jean  de  la,  editions  of  his  FTorks,  Paris,  1814,  766.     Barbou, 

ibid.  1789,  1811,  767.     Fables,  1/55— 59,  ibid.  Tales,  1762,  ibid. 
Fontete,  Charles  Marie  Fe*vret,  his   improvement  of  Le  Long's  Biblio- 

theque  Historique,  129,  297,  299. 

Foppens,  Joseph-Francis,  Bibliotheca  Belgica,  1739,  498. 
Forbes,  Dr.  Patrick,  Letters  and  State  Papers  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  her 

Ministers,  1740,  287- 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  86i> 

Ford,  John,  Weber's  edition  of  his  Dramatic  Works,  181 1,  820,  821. 

Fordun,  John  de,Hearne's  edition  of  his  Scotichronicon,  1722,  220.  Good- 
all's  ditto,  1759,  262. 

Forster,  George,  his  Voyage  with  Capt.  Coolie,  1777,  397. 

Rev.  John,  Essays  of,  87. 

Foriyth,  Joseph,  Remarks  on  Antiquities,  Arts,  and  Letters,  during  an  Ex- 
cursion in  Italy,  1813,  326. 

Foscolo,  Mr.  his  intended  editions  of  Italian  Poets,  750.  His  reviews  of 
the  characters  and  genius  of  Dante,  Petrarch,  and  Tasso,  751.  His 
expected  commentary  on  Petrarch,  756. 

Four  Leaves  of  the  True  Love,  651. 

Fox,  Hon.  Charles  James,  his  notice  of  Ralph's  History  of  England,  234. 
his  praise  of  Middleton's  Life  of  Cicero,  520. 

John,  Prebendary  of  Salisbury,  extracts  from  his  Sermon  of  Christ 
crucified,  15/5,  73.  Editions  of  his  Book  of  Martyrs,  105,  832,  pre- 
served in  Churches,  &c.  106. 

Fragments  of  Scotish  History,  1798,  266. 

Frainpton,  John,  his  Joy  full  Newes  out  of  the  New-found  World,  1596 
464. 

Frankenau,  G.  Ernesti,  his  praise  of  Brito's  Monarchia  Lusitania,  315. 

Franklin,  Capt.  John,  his  Narrative  of  a  Journey  to  the  Polar  Star,  1823, 
339,  341,  account  of  the  Trade  Sale  of  his  Voyage,  340. 

Fraunce,  Abraham,  his  Countess  of  Pembroke's  luy  Churohe,  1591,  589. 
His  Lawyer's  Logike,  1588,  590. 

Freher,  Heinreich  Marquard,  his  Rerum  Germanicarum  Scriptores,  1717, 
331. 

Paul,  his  Theatrum  F'irorum  eruditione  Clarorum,  1688,  498. 

Freeling,  Francis,  Esq.  his  copy  of  Antonio's  Biftliotheca  Hispana,  large 
paper,  301.  His  collection  of  Greene's  Works,  591.  His  copy  of 
Dekker's  Knight's  Coniuring,  594.  Of  Kele's  Christmas  Carolls,  661. 
Of  Cooke's  edition  of  the  Skeltonian  Salutation,  680.  Of  Church- 
yard's Choice,  687-  Of  Jordan's  separate  Poems,  713.  His  reprint 
of  Dolarney's  Primerose,  720.  His  copy  of  the  Massacre  of  Money, 
the  Scourge  of  Venus,  and  Bold's  Wit  Sporting  in  a  grove  of  Pleasant 
Fancies,  ibid.  Of  Cowley's  Poetical  Blossoms,  721.  Of  Campbell's 
Essay  on  English  Poetry,  large  paper,  737-  Of  the  first  quarto  of 
Shakspeare's  King  Lear,  806. 

Mr.  George  Henry,  his  expected  present  to  theRoxburghe  Club, 

420. 

Freron, — Histoire  de  I' Empire  d'Attemagne  1771,  332. 

Fresnoy,  Nicholas  Languet  du, — Methode  pour  e'tudier  I' Histoire,  1772, 
130.  His  character  of  Bouchard's  Chroniques  de  Bretaigne,  167-  His 
edition  of  Philip  de  Comines,  1747,  168.  Various  illustrative  refe- 
rences to,  186,  197,  200. 

Frey,  Jos.  Sam.  Christian  Fred.,  his  edition  of  John's  Hebrew  Bible,  1812, 
24. 

Friur  and  the  Boy,  657. 

Friburger,  vide  Gering. 

Frith,  John,  notice  of  his  Works,  27. 

Froissart,  Sir  John,  character  of  his  Chronicles,  160.  Illuminated  copies 
of  ditto,  162.  Early  printed  editions  of  ditto,  163,  164.  Colonel 
Johnes's  edition  of,  166.  Expected  new  edition  of,  832. 

Fructus  Temporum,  1483,  account  of  the,  170. 

Fugger,  Notices  of  the  Family  of,  495. 


870  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Fuller,  Dr.  Thomas,  Prebendary  of  Sarum,  his  notices  of  misprints  in  the 
Bible,  34-  His  Church  History  of  Britain,  1655,  111.  His  censure 
of  Edmund  Howes,  189.  History  of  the  Worthies  of  England,  506, 

— —  Mr.  His  copy  of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13. 

Fulman,  William,  his  commencement  of  the  Rerum  Anglicarum  Scriptoret 
Veter  es,  153.  His  edition  of  the  Chronicle  of  Mailros,  262. 

Fulwell,  Ulpian,  the  Flower  of  Fame,  1575,  697. 

Gaguinus,  Alexander,  Sarmatice  Europece  Descriptio,  1581,  343. 

Gaisford,  Rev.  Thomas,  Regius  Professor  of  Greek  at  Oxford,  his  edition 
of  the  Poetcs  Minores  Grteci,  1815-20,  626. 

Gale,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  edition  of  Herodotus,  1679,  132.  Histories  Britan- 
niece,  &c.  1687-91,  147,  148.  Rerum  Anglicarum  Scriptores  Veteres, 
1684-91,  153.  His  account  of  the  Annals  of  Waverley,  154.  Notice 
by,  of  the  rarity  of  Hearne's  Leland's  Itinerary,  216.  Chronicle  of 
Mailros  printed  in  his  Scriptores,  262. 

Gait,  Mr.  John,  his  Life  of  Cardinal  Wolsey,  1812,  520. 

Gama,  Vasco  di,  His  adventures  printed  in  the  Decades  of  Barros,  407. 

Gambold,  Rev.  John,  his  Translation  ofD.  Crantz's  History  of  Greenland, 
1767,  338. 

Garden  of  the  Muses,  1600,  692. 

Gardiner,  Stephen,  Bishop  of  Winchester  and  Lord  Chancellor,  his  treat- 
ment of  Sir  James  Hale,  1 15. 

Garibay,  Estevan,  Compendia  Historial  de  las  Chronicas  y  Universel  Histo- 
ria  de  todos  los  Reynos  d'Espagna,  306. 

Garlandia,  John  de,  his  Grammatical  Works,  584. 

Garnier,  John  James,  Conclusion  of  Felly's  and  Pillaret's  History  of 
France,  1786,  294. 

Robert  Kid's  English  Translation  of  his  Pompey  the  Great,  785. 

Garrick,  David,  his  collection  of  Poetry  in  the  British  Museum,  copy  there 
of  Cryste  Crosse  me  spede,  657.  Of  Cock  Lorell's  Bote,  658.  His 
copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  811.  Sale  and  price  of  ditto,  ibid. 

.  Mrs.  her  inscription  in  a  volume  of  Warburton's  Shakspeare,  793. 

Gascoigne,  George,  Notice  and  Works  of,  696,  697,  783. 

Gendre,  M.  Le,  Sale  of  his  copy  of  Brettonneau's  edition  of  Bourdaloue, 
93. 

Geneva  version  of  the  Bible,  1560,  829. 

Genevieve,  Ste.  Library  of  at  Paris,  copy  there  of  the  edit.  prin.  of  Virgil, 
627. 

Gentleman's  Magazine,  references  to,  712. 

Geoffrey  ap  Arthur  of  Monmouth,  Historiae  Regum  Britanniae,  144. 

George  III.  His  late  Majesty — his  memoranda  for  a  country  Library, 
Pref.  vii. 

Gerbert,  Martin,  his  Historia  Nigrae  Sylvae,  1783-88,  334. 

Gerson,  John,  supposed  Author  of  the  Imitation  of  Christ,  122.  His  cen- 
sure of  La  Roman  de  la  Rose,  764. 

Gesner,  Johan  Matt,  his  edition  of  Quintilianus,  1738,  583.  Ditto  of  Ho- 
race, 636.  Of  Claudian,  1759,  640. 

Gesta  et  Vestigia  Danorum  extra  Daniam,  1540,  347- 

Gesta  proxime  per  Portugalenses  in  India,  1506,  369. 

Gesta  Stephani  Anglorum  Regis,  151. 

Gibbon,  Edward,  his  praise  of  Spelman's  Translation  of  Xenophon,  135. 
ditto  of  Archbishop  Parker,  143.  Censure  of  the  Chronicles  printed 
at  Heidelberg,  145.  Praise  of  Sir  Henry  Savile,  146.  Various  illus- 
trative references  to,  154.  His  Remarks  on  the  early  English  Chro- 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  8?l 

nicies,  171.  His  character  of  Hearne,  214.  His  use  of  Hearne's 
Ductor  Historicus,  231.  His  praise  of  Muratori,  319.  Ditto  of  Leib- 
nitz's Annals  of  Brunswick,  336.  His  account  of  the  Abb6  Raynal, 
410.  His  Enquiry  into  the  Circumnavigation  of  Ajrica,  438.  His 
Autobiography,  Miscellaneous  Works  and  Letters,  1796,  529. 

Gifford,  Mr.  William,  his  edition  of  Ben  Jonson's  Works,  1816,  719,  819. 
Of  Massinger,  1805-8,  819,  821.  His  expected  edition  of  Shirley's 
Dramatic  Works,  821. 

Gilchrist,  Mr.  Octavius,  his  account  of  Gascoigne's  Works,  696.  Sale  of  his 
copy  of  ditto,  697.  His  account  of  Fulwell's  Flower  of  Fame,  ibid. 
His  comparison  of  Thomson  and  Cowper,  736.  His  intended  Review 
of  Mr.  BoswelPs  edition  of  Shakspeare,  800.  Sale  and  price  of  his 
copy  of  Shakspeare's  Othello,  first  quarto,  807. 

Gildas,  his  time  of  flourishing,  145.     Notice  of  his  works,  156. 

Gill,  Dr.  John,  Exposition  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  1746,  48,  1810 
— 12,  37.  Body  of  Practical  Divinity,  1773,  38. 

Gillies,  Dr.  John,  History  of  Ancient  Greece,  1786. 

Ginguene",  P.  L.,  his  Historic  Litteraire  dy Italic,  1812,  325.  His  praise  of 
Ariosto,  756. 

Giraldus  Cambrensis  de  Barri,  Sylvester,  Historical  Works  of,  150.  His 
works  on  Ireland,  241.  Answer  to  ditto,  by  Lynch,  245. 

Gisborne,  Rev.  Thomas,  excellence  of  his  character  and  works,  86. 

Glanvill,  Bartholomaeus  de,  his  work  De  Proprietatibus  Rerum,  583. 

Glasgow  editions  of  Milton's  works,  707. 

Glastonbury,  Abbey  of,  Hearne's  History  and  Antiquities  of,  223. 

Glenbervie,  Lord,  his  late  copy  of  Ernesti's  Homer,  616 

Gloucester,  Robert  of,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Chronicle,  1724,  221. 

Godet,  Giles,  notices  of  his  Chronicle,  179. 

Godfray,  Thomas,  his  edition  of  Chaucer's  whole  works,  1532,  672. 

Godwin,  Dr.  Francis,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  De  Praesulibus  Angliae,  1743, 
109. 

Goldastus,  Melchior  Haiminfeld,  his  Suevicarum  Rerum  Scriptores  Veteres, 
1727,  351. 

Goldsmith,  Dr.  Oliver,  character  of,  735. 

Gomara,  Lopez  de,  Historia  General  de  las  Indias,  con  la  Conquista  del 
Mexico  y  de  la  Nueva  Espana,  1553,  457- 

Goodall,  Walter,  his  edition  of  Fordun's  Scotichronicon,  1759,  262. 

Goodwyn,  Christopher,  Chaunce  of  the  Dolourous  Louer,  1520,  650. 

Googe,  Barnabe,  Zodiac  of  Palingenius,  1561,  689.  Eglogs  Epytaphes 
and  Sonettes,  ibid.  Naogeorgus*  Popish  Kingdom,  1570,  ibid. 

Gordon,  Rev.  James,  his  Histories  of  the  Irish  Rebellion,  and  of  Ireland^ 
1801,  1806,  252. 

Sir  Robert,  reference  to  his  Library  Catalogue,  6. 

Gosford,  the  Earl  of,  his  copy  of  Prynne's  Records,  278. 

Gosselin,  Paschal  Francois  Joseph,  Re'cherches  sur  la  Gtfograpihe  systema- 
tique  et  positive  des  Anciens,  1797,  440. 

Gottfried,  Jo.  Lud.  his  Account  of  the  Voyages  made  by  the  Portuguese 
and  Spaniards,  1707,387. 

Gbttwic  Monastery,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  the  Achates  Petrarch,  755. 

Gough,  Richard,  his  notice  of  editions  of  the  Scotch  Bible,  32.  Reference 
to  his  British  Topography  on  Ancient  Missals,  40.  Praise  of  Speed's 
Theatre,  197.  His  Remarks  on  Hearne's  Glastonbury  Antiquities, 
223. 

Goujet,  Claude  Pierre,  incomplete  state  of  his  Bibliotheque  Frangoise,  764, 
and  price  of  ditto,  ibid.  His  Supplements  to  Mover? &  Grand  Diction* 
wire  Hittorique,  1759,  483. 


87<2  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Goux,  le  Sieur  Franqois  de  Laboulaye  de,  Voyages  et  Observations,  1659, 
429. 

Gower,  John,  Caxton's  and  Berthelet's  editions  of  his  Confessio  Amantis, 
677- 

Grabe,  John  Ernest,  his  edition  of  the  Greek  Bible,  1/07,  25.  Latin  ditto, 
of  Bishop  Bull's  Works,  1703,  62. 

Grsevius,  John  George,  Thesaurus  Antiqmtatum  Romanorum,  1694,  137. 
Ancient  price  of,  138.  His  edition  of  Hesiod,  619.  Ditto  of  Callima- 
chus,  1697,  624. 

Grande  D'Aussy,  Jean  Baptiste  Le,  Fabliaux  et  Conies  des  XII.  et  XIII 
Siecles,  1779,  765. 

Granger,  Rev.  James,  his  censure  of  English  Commentaries,  48.  ^Notice 
of  Speed's  Portrait,  197.  Praise  of  Speed's  History,  198.  Remarks 
on  Whitelock's  Memorials,  202.  Ditto  on  Lord  Clarendon's  Portrait, 
211.  His  character  of  Samuel  Purchas,  381.  His  Biographical  His- 
tory of  Englaud,  509.  Reference  to  ditto,  559.  Remarks  on  Gas- 
coigne,  696,  697- 

Gravelot,  Henry,  Improvement  of  his  plates  by  Houbraken,  499. 

Gray,  Thomas,  Memoirs  of,  1775,  560.  Mitford's  and  Mathias's  editions 
of  his  Works,  732. 

Green,  Robert,  The  Historic  of  Orlando  Furioso,  1599,  785. 

Greene,  Robert,  his  Works,  591.  Sale  and  price  of  his  Menareon,  1589, 
646. 

Gregory,  St.  Legend  concerning,  29. 

Grenville,  Right  Hon.  Thomas,  liberal  and  kind  use  of  his  Library,  Pref. 
xxiii.  His  copies  of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13.  Of  Strype's  Annals  on 
large  paper,  118.  Of  Savile's  Scriptores  post  Bedam,  150.  Of  Ead- 
mer's  Historia,  large  paper,  158.  Of  Matthew  of  Westminster  ditto, 
ibid.  Of  Matthew  of  Paris,  ditto,  159.  Of  Arnold's  Chronicle,  1/4. 
Of  Godet's  Chronicle,  179.  His  notice  of  Grafton's  Chronicle,  182. 
Of  Stow's  ditto,  189.  Of  Polydore  Vergil's  History,  195.  Of  Sand- 
ford's  History  of  England,  208.  Of  Spelman's  Life  of  Alfred,  large 
paper,  215.  Of  Heame's  Works  on  large  paper,  232.  Of  the  Life 
of  St.  Patrick,  238.  Of  the  Lives  of  SS.  Brandon  and  Rumold,  239. 
Of  the  Florilegium  Sanctorum,  240.  Of  Colgan's  Triadis  Thauma- 
turgse,  241.  Of  Osullevanus's  Histories  Iberise  Compendium,  242. 
Of  Riverus  Regiminis,  &c.  243.  Of  Lombardus  de  Regno  Hiberniae, 
243.  Of  Carve's  Itinerarium,  244.  His  Remarks  on  ditto,  ibid.  His 
copies  of  Carve's  Lyra,  and  Lynch's  Cambrensis  Eversus,  245.  Of 
Lynch's  Alithinologia,  ibid.  Of  Walsh's  Causa  Valesiana,  Epistolis 
Ternis  Praelibata.  246.  Of  Caron's  Remonstrantia  Hiberuicorum, 
247-  His  Remarks  on  Sirinus,  Patricii  Fleming!  Collectanea  Sacra, 
247.  Of  the  Earl  of  Castlehaven's  Memoirs,  248.  Of  Cox's  History 
of  Ireland,  large  paper,  249.  Of  Keating's  General  History  of  Ire- 
land, large  paper,  250.  Of  the  Jus  Primitiale  Armacanum  in  Omnes 
Archiepiscopis,  250.  Of  Harris's  edition  of  Ware's  Works  on  Ire- 
land, large  paper,  250.  Of  Riche's  Irish  Hubbub,  254.  Of  Pam- 


Rudbeck's  Atlantica,  355,  356.  Of  the  Gesta  proxime  per  Portuga- 
lenses  in  India,  369.  Of  the  Paesi  novamente  ritrovati,  ibid.  Of 
Vesputius's  Travels,  Latin  and  French  editions,  370.  Description  of 
his  fine  copy  of  De  Bry's  Voyages,  372.  His  copies  of  Hakluyt's  do.v 
378.  Of  Coryate's  Crudities,  380.  Of  Purchas's  Pilgrims,  381.  Of 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  873 

Liasehoten's  Voyages,  383.  Of  Captain  Smith's  Travels,  384.  Of 
the  History  of  Virginia,  by  ditto,  385.  Of  Thevenot's  Voyages  cu- 
rieux,  386.  Of  Hudson's  Minor  Greek  Geographers,  402.  Of  Man- 
deville's  Travels,  404.  Of  Ludolf 's  Historia  Ethiopica,  large  paper, 
445.  Of  Bartholomaeus  De  Proprietatibus  Rerum,  583.  Of  the  Early 
Editions  of  Robinson  Crusoe,  607.  Of  the  Editio  Princeps  of  Homer, 
615.  Of  Vindeline  de  Spira's  Virgil,  on  vellum,  627-  Of  the  Edit. 
Prin.  of  Ovid,  630.  Of  the  Sweynheym  and  Pannartz  ditto,  ibid.  Of 
Catullus,  &c.  Edit.  Prin.  641.  OfTroilusand  Cressida,  printed  by 
Caxton,  670.  Of  Cartwright's  Poems,  718.  Of  the  Aldine  Dante, 
on  vellum,  753.  Of  Jenson's  Petrarch,  755.  Of  the  Ferrara  and  Mi- 
lan Arios  to,  757.  Of  the  first  folio  of  Shakspeare,  809,  810.  His 
anecdote  concerning  the  Binding  of  one,  ibid.  Of  the  first  edition  of 
Plautus,  838. 

Grenville,  William  Wyndham,  Earl,  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Oxford, 
his  Remarks  on  May's  History  of  the  Long  Parliament,  281. 

Gresset,  J.  B.  Louis,  Renouard's  edition  of  his  Works,  1811,  773. 

Greswell,  Mr.,  his  account  of  the  editions  of  Froissart,  163. 

Greswell,  Rev.  William  Parr,  his  Memoirs  of  Angelas  Politianus,  Pico  Mi- 
randula,$c.  1801,  529. 

Grey,  Dr.  Zachary,  his  edition  of  Hudibras,  1744,  722. 

Griesbach,  Dr.  John  Jacob,  his  Greek  New  Testament,  1796,  38.  Prices 
of  ditto,  39. 

Griffiths,  Mr.  W.   The  Morality  of  Shakspeare ,  818. 

Gronovius,  James,  his  edition  of  Herodotus,  1715,  132.  His  Thesaurus 
Antiquitatum  Grtecarum,  1697,  136,  137.  Ancient  price  of,  138.  His 
edition  of  Buchanan's  History,  265.  OfAulus  Gellius,  1706,  581. 

Grosier,  Abbs',  his  edition  of  Mailla's  Histoire  Gdndrale  de  la  Chine,  1777- 
85,  427- 

Grotius,  Hugo,  Character  of  his  Writings,  49.  Best  editions  of  his  Theo- 
logical Works,  52. 

Grove,  Joseph,  his  History  of  the  Times  and  Life  of  Cardinal  Wolsey, 
1742-44,  509. 

Guadalajara,  F.  Marco  de,  his  Memorable  Expulsion  yjustissimo  Destierro 
de  los  Moriscos,  de  Espagna,  1613,  307. 

Guicciardini,  Francesco,  his  Istoria  d' Italia,  various  editions  of,  321. 
.          ,  Agnolo,  his  edition  and  Additions  to  the  Istoria  d? Italia,  321. 

Guignes,  Joseph  de,  Voyage  a  Pekin,  Manille,  et  I'Isle  de  France,  1809, 
427.  D'wtionnaire  Chinois,  Fran$ais  et  Latin,  1813,  ibid. 

Gurney,  Miss  Anna,  her  Translation  of  the  Saxon  Chronicle,  1819,  142. 

G.  T.  Ouldfacioned  Lone,  1599,  651. 

Guthrie,  William,  his  General  History  of  Scotland,  271. 

Guzman,  Luis, — Historia  de  las  Missionesde  la  India  Oriental,  1601,  408. 

Hafod,  vide  Johnes. 

Haeberlin,  Francisco  Dominico,  his  Modern  History  of  Germany,  1774-91, 
332. 

Hakewill,  James,  his  Picturesque  Tour  of  Italy,  326. 

Hakluyt,  Rev.  Richard,  his  passion  for  collecting  Voyages,  377-  His  Navi- 
gations of  the  English  Nation,  1598 — 1600,  and  new  edition  of  ditto, 
378.  His  Character  by  Zouch,  379. 

Halde,  John  Baptiste,  his  Description  Ge'ographique,  Historique,  Chronolo- 
gique  dela,  Chine,  1735,  426. 

Halem, De,  his  German  History  of  Peter  the  Great,  1803-5,  362. 

Hales,  Sir  James,  curious  Pamphlets  concerning  his  Imprisonment,  115. 

3  M 


874  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Hall,  Captain  Basil,  Account  of  a  Voyage  of  Discovery  to  the  West  Coast 

of  Corea  and  the  Great  Loo-Choo' Island,  1818,  426. 
,  Edward,  his  Union  of  York  and  Lancaster,  1548,  183.     Other  editions 

of,  184. 
,  Dr.  Joseph,  Bishop  of  Norwich,  his  Virgidemiarum  Satires,  55,  698. 

His  Contemplations,  by  Dr.  Glasse,  1793,  56. 

,  Rev.  Robert,  Observations  on  his  Writings,  87. 

"•• ,  Rev.  Thomas,  reference  to  his  Loathsomnesse  of  Long  Hair,  1654, 

55. 

Ham-House,  vide  Dysart. 
Hamilton,  Duke  of,  his  copy  of  Bellenden's  Boece,  on  vellum,  264. 

..  .    . ,  Count  Anthony,  Me'rnoires  de  Comte  Grammont,  545. 

,  Dr.  Francis,  his  Account  of  the  Kingdom  of  Nepaul,  1819,  415. 

. ,  Mr.  Walter,  his  works  on  East  India,  414. 

,  William,  his  Designs  for  Bowyer's  Thomson's  Seasons,  733. 

..• ,  Mr.  William,  his  Remarks  on  several  parts  of  Turkey,  &gyptiaca, 

1809,  443. 
Hamper,  Mr.  William,  his  Notices  of  the  editions  of  Twysden's  Decem 

Scriptores,  153. 
Hanbury,  Rev.  Bernard,  his  Journal  of  a  Visit  to  some  parts  of  Ethiopia, 

1822,  445. 
Hanmer,  Dr.  Meredith,  his  History  of  Ireland. 

.,  Sir  Thomas,  his  Oxford  editions  of  Shakspeare,  794. 
Hannay,  Patrick,  sale  and  price  of  his  Nightingale,  1622,  645,  720,  842. 
Hanway,  Jonas,  his  Travels  in  Asia,  1753-54,  417- 
Harding,  Mr.  Joseph,  his  large  paper  copy  of  the  Harleian  Miscellany,  286. 

His  exertions  for  the  Portraits  of  Illustrious  Personages,  504. 
Harding,  Mavor,  and  Lepard,  Messrs.,  their  copy  of  Clarke's  Travels,  361. 
Harding,  Triphook,   and  Lepard,  late  Messrs.  Lackington,   Allen,  and 

Harding,  extraordinary  extent  of  their  Catalogues,  Pref.  xxvi. 
Hardwicke,  vide  Devonshire,  Nocturnal  Discovery  of  Old  Poetry  at,  690. 
— ,  the  Earl  of,  his  Collection  of  Miscellaneous  State  Papers,  1778, 

288. 

Captain,  his  Travels  in  the  Mountains  of  India,  415. 


Hardyng,  John,  editions  of  his  Chronicle,  180.      Harleian  Miscellany,  285. 

Abridgment  of,  ibid.     Large  Paper  of,  286.     Bale's  John  Baptist, 

printed  in  783. 

Harles, ,  his  edition  of  Valerius  Flaccus,  1781,  643. 

Harmony  of  the  Muses,  1654,  sale  and  price  of,  645. 

Harpe,  'John  Francis  de  la,   particulars  from,  concerning  Diderot,  410. 

References  to  his  Cours  de  Literature,  542,  546.     Concerning  Racine, 

768.   His  edition  of  Racine,  1807,  767.  His  Account  of  Beaumarchais* 

Voltaire,  770.     His  Remarks  on  Voltaire,  771,  772. 
Harrington,  Sir  John,  his  Nugce  Antiques,  285. 
Harris,  Dr.  John,  his  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  1744,  387.  Prices 

of  ditto,  388. 
,  Walter,  various  references  to  his  edition  of  Sir  James  Ware's 

works  on  Ireland,  1739-45,  241,  243,  249.     Particulars  of  ditto,  250. 
,  Dr.  William,  his  Regal  Biographies,  521. 

-,  Mr.  William,  references  to  his  Catalogue  of  the  Royal  Institution,^, 

136,  187,  251,  278,  302,  388,  780. 

Harte,  Walter,  his  Life  of  Gustavus  Adolphus,  King  of  Sweden,  1759,  354. 
Hartman,  J.  M.  his  edition  of  Edrisi's  Africa,  1796,  438.     His  praise  of 

Leo  Africanus,  439. 
Hartlebury  Palace,  Worcester,  Episcopal  Library  of,  56. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  875 

Hartshorne,  Mr.  Charles,  his  expected  publication  of  Old  English  Poetry, 
66£>.  His  notice  of  two  copies  of  Tottel's  edition  of  Surrey's  Poems, 
683.  His  enthusiasm  in  the  cause  of  the  Bibliomania,  664-5. 

Harvey,  Gabriel,  his  works,  5,  594. 

Haslewood,  Mr.  Joseph,  his  account  of  Barnabe  Riche's  Alarm  to  England, 
252.  His  account  of  R.  Greene's  Works,  591.  His  discovery  of  the 
Author  of  Drunken  Barnaby,  595,  689.  His  discovery  of  the  Treatise 
of  a  Galaunt,  655.  His  expected  new  edition  of  Ritson's  Bibliographia 
Poetica,  657.  Various  references  to  his  interleaved  copy  of  ditto, 
679,  686.  His  edition  of  the  Mirrour  for  Magistrates,  1815,  683,  685. 
His  Roxburghe  edition  of  Jack  Juggler  and  Thersytes,  781.  His  Ma- 
nuscript volume  of  Plays  by  William  Percy,  781.  His  knowledge  of 
Dramatic  History,  782. 

Hatfield,  Mr.  his  copy  of  Campbell's  Essay  on  English  Poetry,  large  paper, 
737. 

Haurisius,  B.  C.  Histories  Romance  Scriptores  Latini  Veteres,  1743,  137- 

Hawes,  Stephen,  Groom  of  the  Chamber  to  Henry  VII.  Sale  and  price  of 
his  Historic  of  Graunde  Amour e,  1554,  647.  Ditto  of  his  Temple  of 
Glasse,  ibid.  His  Comfort  of  Lovers,  665.  Colophon  and  supposed 
date  of  ditto,  666.  Verses  from  ditto,  667.  Original  edition  of  his 
Passt'ime  of  Pleasure,  1509,  and  verses  from  ditto,  666.  Account  of 
ditto,  681. 

Hawkes  worth,  Dr.  John,  his  Collection  of  Byron1  s  Voyages,  1773,  395. 

,  his  edition  of  Swifts  Works,  1765,  606. 

Hawkey,  John,  his  edition  of  Miltori s  Poetical  Works,  1747,  707. 

Hawkins,  Sir  John,  his  Voyages  to  the  Indies,  where  printed,  408. 

Thomas,  his  Origin  of  the  English  Drama,  Collection  of  Old 

Plm/s,  1773,  780. 

Hayes,  J.  his  Cambridge  English  Bible,  1674,  33. 

Hayley,  the  late  William,  Sale  of  his  copy  of  Montfaucon's  Antiquity's  Ex- 
plique"s,  294.  Of  Palsgrave's  Comedye  of  Acolastus,  569. 

,  his  Life  and  Writings  of  William  Cowper,  1802, 

oo2. 

Hayman,  Francis,  his  designs  to  Warburton's  Shakspeare,  784. 

Haynes,  Dr.  Samuel,  his  edition  of  Lord  Burghley's  State  Papers,  1 740, 
287- 

Hazlitt,  William,  Characters  of  Shakspeare1  s  Plays,  1817,  796. 

Headley,  Mr.  Henry,  his  praise  of  Samuel  Daniel,  200.    Of  Carew,  715. 

Health,  the  Governable  of,  verses  from,  663. 

Hearne,  Thomas,  reference  to  his  Hemingi  Chartularum,  143,  184,  221. 
Ditto  to  his  Chronicle  of  Robert  of  Gloucester,  144,  185,  221.  His 
praise  of  William  of  Newbury,  1 45. 

— — ,  his  edition  of  William  of  Malmesbury's  Antiquities  of 

Glastonbury,  1727,  147.  Various  illustrative  references  to  his  works, 
152,  154,  169,  175,  179,  187,  194,  203,  204,  205,  224,  225,  227.  De- 
scriptive list,  &c.  of  his  Historical  Works,  215.  His  notices  of  their 
increasing  value  and  rarity,  217.  His  edition  of  Roper's  Life  of  Sir  T. 
More,  219,  513.  Difficulties  in  publishing,  218,  219.  Origin  of  his  Anti- 
quities of  Glastonbury,  224.  His  character  of  Lionel  Walden,  226. 
His  Ductor  Historicus,  1704,  231.  His  Ectypa  varia,  232.  First  edi- 
tion of  Leland's  Itinerary  by,  no  large  paper  of,  832. 

Heath,  Dr.  Benjamin.  Sale  of  his  copy  of  Sir  Hans  Sloane's  Voyage  to 
Jamaica,  467.  Of  Long's  History  of  Jamaica,  468.  Of  Vega's  Com- 
mentaries concerning  the  Peruvian  Incas,  476.  His  copy  of  Barnes's 
Homer,  616.  Of  Havercamp'*  Lucretius,  629. 


876  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Heath,  James,  his  Chronicle  of  the  late  intestine  wars  in  England,  &c.  1661- 
63-75,  191. 

John,  sale  and  price  of  his  Two  Centuries  of  Epi grammes,  1610, 

645. 

Robert,  Clarastella,  1650,  720. 

Heber,  Richard,  Esq.  M.  P.  his  collection  of  Dekker's  works,  6.  Copies 
of  Arnold's  Chronicle,  175.  Of  Grafton's  do.,  184,  185.  Of  Holins- 
hed's  do.,  186,  187.  Of  Dempster's  Hiberniae  sive  Antiquioris  Scotise 
Vindiciae,  large  paper,  240.  Of  Vallega's  Lives  of  Saints,  and  Bri- 
gida  Thaumaturga,  &c.  241.  Of  Ossulevanus  Historiae  Catholicae 
Ibernise  Compendium,  242.  Of  Writ's  Mors  quam  ob  iidem  pgssus  est 
Londini,  244.  Of  Carve's  Lyra,  245.  Of  Lynch's  Life  of  Kirwan, 
246.  Of  Walsh's  Causa  Valesiana  Epistolis'Ternis  Praelibata,  246. 
Of  the  Unkind  Deserter  of  Loyal  Men,  249.  Of  Bellenden's  Chroni- 
klis  of  Scotland,  264.  Of  Patten's  Expedicion  of  the  Duke  of  Somer- 
set, 266.  Of  Muratori's  Scriptores  Italicarum,  320.  Of  Olaus's  His- 
toria  Suecorum  Gothorumque,  352.  Of  Erland's  Vita  S.  Erici,  ibid. 
Of  Le  Nouveau  Monde  d'Americ  de  Vespuce,  3/0.  Of  Pigafetta's 
Voyage,  398.  Of  his  account  of  Congo,  ibid.  Of  Cavazzi's  Descri- 
zione  dei  Congo,  &c.,  451.  Of  Charlevoix  Histoire  de  1'Isle  Espagnole, 
461.  Of  Cortez'  Epistles,  463.  Of  Whittinton's  Epigrammata,  565. 
Of  Holt's  Lac  Puerorum,  ibid.  Of  Horman's  Vulgaria,  568.  Of 
Longe  Parvula,  5/0.  Of  the  Aldine  Aristotle,  573.  Of  Bartholo- 
maeus  De  Proprietatibus  Rerum,  584.  Of  Sir  T.  Elyot's  Governor, 
586.  Of  his  Image  of  Governance,  ibid.  Of  Fitzherbert's  Works, 
588.  Of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  Lover  and  Jay,  650.  Ditto  of  his 
Spectacle  of  Lovers,  ibid.  Of  his  Chauhc'e'  of  the  Dolourous  Louer, 
ibid.  Of  Pynson's  Four  Leaves  of  True  Love,  651.  Of  De  Worde's 
Complavnt  of  them  that  be  too  soone  maryed,  ibid.  Of  his  Fyftene 
Joys  of  Maryage,  652.  Of  Skelton's  Replication.  653.  Of  the  Life  of 
St.  Werburge,  658.  Of  John  Splynter,  ibid.  Of  the  2d  edit,  of  the 
Canterbury  Tales,  670.  Of  Godfray's  edit,  of  ditto,  673.  Of  Skel- 
ton's works,  681.  Of  Curchyard's  Chippes,  687-  Of  Googe's 
Eglogs,  &c.  689.  Of  Delia,  720.  Of  Poetical  sheets  collected  by  N. 
Luttrell,  726.  Of  Pope's  and  Dryden's  Works,  first  editions,  728.  Of 
Jenson's  Petrarch,  755.  Of  the  Giunta  do.,  756.  Of  Bartoli's  Tasso, 
761.  Of  the  third  edition  of  Shakspeare's  Richard  II.,  803.  Of  the 
first  and  second  do.  Of  Richard  III.,  ibid.  Of  the  first  do.  of  Rorneo 
and  Juliet,  804.  Of  the  first  do.  of  Love's  Labour's  Lost,  ibid.  Of 
the  first  and  second  ditto  of  Henry  IV.  part  i.,  ibid.  Of  the  first  of 
Henry  IV.  part  ii.,  805.  Of  the  first  quarto  of  the  Merchant  of 
Venice,  ibid.  Ditto  of  Much  ado  about  Nothing,  ibid.  Ditto,  of  the 
Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,  ibid.  Ditto  of  King  Lear,  806  Ditto  of 
Taming  of  the  Shrew,  ibid.  Ditto  of  Troilus  and  Cressida,  807.  Ditto 
of  Othello,  ibid.  ^Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815.  Of  Latimer's 
Sermons,  first  edition,  831. 

Rev.  Reginald,  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  his  Life  of  Jeremy  Taylor,  135. 

Separate  publication  of,  1824,  831. 

Hebrew  Bibles,  vide  Synoptical  Table.     Curious  sale  of  the  first,  829. 
Hemingford,  Walter  of,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Historia  de  Rebiis  gestis 

Edmrdi  /,  //,  ///.,  1731,  226. 
Hemmingus,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Chartularium  Ecclesite  Wigormemis, 

1723,221. 
Hempel, — his  illustrated  works  on  Russia,  364. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  877 

Henault,  Charles  John  Francis,  President  of  the  Court  of  Inquests  at  Paris, 
his  Nouvel  alrdgd  Chronologique  de  FHistoire  de  France,  1768,  293. 

Hendon,  vide  Williams. 

Henry  V.  King  of  England,  The  Famous  Victories  of  Henry  the  Fifth, 
1598, 787. 

Henry,  Rev.  Matthew,  his  Exposition  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  1710, 
and  1810,  37. 

Dr.  Robert,  his  praise  of  Venerable  Bede,   105,   145.      Various 

references  to  his  History  of  Great  Britain,  1771  —  93,  147,  149,  154. 
Excellence  of,  235. 

Herberstein,  Sigismond,  Baron  of,  his  Rerum  Muscovitarum  Commentarii, 
1556,  357. 

Herbert,  Edward  Lord  Herbert  of  Cherbury,  his  Life  and  Reign  of  Henry 
Fill.  1649,  515.  His  Memoirs,  559. 

,  George,   The  Temple,  Sacred  Poems  and  Private  Ejaculations, 

1633,  702. 

,  Sir  Thomas,  his  Travels  into  Asia,  417. 

•,  William,  vide  Typographical  Antiquities,  his  copy  of  Redman's 

Bible,  32.  Reference  to  his  Typographical  Antiquities,  ibid,  144,  172, 
174,  179,  186,  188,  264,  589,  696,  783.  Sale  and  price  of  his  Dick 
and  Robin,  1641,  645. 

-,  Rev. .  .  .  his  Translation,  of  Fleury's  Ecclesiastical  History,  1 727, 

99. 

Herissant,  Louis  Antoine  Prosper,  his  improvement  of  Le  Long's  Biblio- 
theque  Historique,  129. 

Hernando,  Don,  King  of  Spain,  Chronicle  of,  305. 

Hernandez  de  Cordova,  Captain  Gonzalo,  Chronicle  of,  1584,  304. 

Herodotus,  editions  of. 

\Vesseling's,  Reitzius',  Schweighseuser's,  Gale's,  Gronovius',  132. 
Foulis,  133.  Larcher's  and  Rennell's  Translations,  132. 

Herrera,  Antonio  de,  his  Works  on  Spanish  America,  459. 

Herrick,  Robert,  Hesperides,  1648,  702. 

Hesiod,  editions  of. 

Editio  princeps,  Graevius,  Robinson's,  Loesner's,  619. 

Heylin,  Dr.  Peter,  extract  from  his  Life  of  Archbishop  Laud,  35. 

Heywood,  Thomas,  sale  and  price  of  his  True  Discourse  of  Two  Upstart 
Prophets,  1650,  646. 

Hibbert,  Mr.  George,  his  copies  of  the  Complutensian  Polyglot,  on  vellum, 
7.  Of  Walton's  do.,  8.  Of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13.  Of  Fust's  and 
Schoiffer's  do,  on  vellum,  14.  Of  Luther's  do.,  18.  Of  Marbecke's 
Prayer  Book,  43.  Of  Latimer's  Sermons,  67.  Of  Froissart's  Chro- 
nicles, 164.  Of  Lord  Berner's  Translation  of  do.,  165.  OfSauvage's 
Monstrelet,  on  large  paper,  167.  Of  Hardyng's  Chronicle,  180.  Of 
Hearne's  works,  on  large  paper,  232.  Of  Carve's  Itinerary,  244.  Of 
his  Lyra,  245.  Of  Rudbeck's  Atlantica,  355.  Of  Smith's  History  of 
Virginia,  385.  Of  Churchill's  Collection  of  Voyages,  388.  Of  the 
editio  princeps  of  Homer,  615.  Of  the  Life  of  St.  Werburge,  658. 
Of  the  Florence  Dante,  752.  Of  Jensen's  Petrarch,  on  vellum,  755. 
Of  the  Ferrara  Ariosto  of  1532,  757-  Of  the  Aldine  Ariosto,  758. 
Of  La  Harpe's  Racine,  on  vellum,  768.  Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare, 
812. 

Hibernica,  or  some  ancient  pieces  relating  to  Ireland,  1747,  251. 

Hie  Mitlier,  Apology  to  ditto,  Hie  Vir,  Sale  and  price  of,  647- 

Higden,  Ranulph,  his  Polychronicon,  172. 


878  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Hindoostan,  Acten  der  D&nische  Mission  en  Oost-Indien,  1718,  411. 

Hoare,  Sir  Richard  Colt,  his  collection  of  large  paper  Hearne's,  223,  232. 
Of  Italian  Historians,  Topographers,  &c.  318. 

Hobbes,  Thomas,  his  Translation  of  Thucydides,  133. 

Hoedo, — his  Topografia  y  Historia  general  de  Argel,  1612,  447. 

Hoffmann,  John  Jacob,  his  Lexicon  Universale,  1698,  483. 

••  Tycho,  his  Portraits  des  Homines  Illustres  de  Danemark,  1 746 
500. 

Hogenberg,  Remigius,  his  Portrait  of  Archbishop  Parker,  104,  105. 

Holbrooke,  Mr.  a  co-editor  of  the  new  edition  of  Rymer's  Fcedera,  1816 
282. 

Holland  Lord,  his  copies  of  Lafiteau's  Moeurs  des  Sauvages  Americains 
460.     Of  Charlevoix'  NouveUe  France,  461. 

Holland,  H.  his  Basiloologia  and  Heroologia,  494. 

Hollar,  Wenceslaus,  his  plates  in  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  110. 

Holinshed,  Raphael,  his  Chronicles,  185.     Continuation  of  ditto,  186.     Gi- 
raldus  Cambrensis'  Topographical  Works  in,  241. 

Hollis,  Thomas,  his  edition  of  Milton's  Discourses  on  Government.  1763, 
555. 

i  Thomas  Brand,  Memoirs  of  Thomas  Hollis,  1780,  555. 

Holmes,  Dr.  Robert,  his  edition  of  the  Greek  Bible  1797,  25. 

Holt,  John,  Lac  Puerorum,  565. 

Holy-Rood,  Chronicle  of,  262. 

Homer,  ancient  and  modern  editions  of,  614.    Translations  of,  618.     Spe- 
cimens from  the  modern  Greek  version  of,  ibid. 

Hood,  Robin,  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  Mery  Geste  of,  657. 

Hooge,  Romain  de,  character  of  his  work,  Les  Indes  Orientales,  411.     His 
plates  to  Fontaine,  764. 

Hooker,  Dr.  William  Jackson,  his  Journal  of  a  Tour  in  Iceland  in  the  sum- 
mer of  \SQ9,  1813,338. 

Hopner,  Richard  Belgrave,  his  Translation  of  Krusenstern's  Voyages,  1813, 
400. 

Herman,  William,  Vulgaria,  568. 

Home,  Rev.  Thomas  Hartwell,  references  to  his  Introduction  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, 19,  24. 

Horneman,  Frederick,  his  Journal  of  Travels  from  Cairo  to  Mourzouk,  450, 

Horsley,  Dr.  Samuel,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  his  obligations  to  Bishop  Bull's 
Works,  63.     His  edition  of  Sir  I.  Newton1  s  Works,  1779-85,  611. 

Horatius  Quintus  Flaccus,  editions  of. 

Editio  princeps,  634.     Of  A.de  Bruxella,  Aldus,  Elzevir,  635.   Vario- 
rum, Bentley's,  Gesner's,  Pine's,  Mitscherlich's,  636. 

Houbigant,  Charles  Francis,  his  Biblia  Hebraica,  1753,  23. 

Houbigant,  —  his  Moeurs  et  Costumes  des  Russes,  1817,  364. 

Houbraken,  Jacob,  his  improvement  of  Gravelot's  engravings,  499. 

Houckgeest,  Van  Braam,  his  Account  of  the  Dutch  Embassy  to  China, 
1797,  428. 

Hoveden,  Roger  de,  his  Annales,  148. 

Houel,  Jean,  his  Voyage  Pittoresque  des  lies  de  Sidle,  &c.  1782-87,  326. 

Howe,  . .  .  his  editions  of  Chaucer,  674. 

Howell,  James,  Familiar  Letters,  1645,  601.    Other  works  of  and  cha- 
racter of  his  writings,  602.    His  verses  in  praise  of  Cartwright,  718. 

Howes,  Edmund,  his  editions  of  Stoves  Annals,  189. 

Hudson,  Dr.  John  Joseph,  his  edition  of   Thucydides,  1696,  133.    His 
edition  of  the  Minor  Greek  Geographers,  1698,  401. 

Huen,  Nicolas  le,  his  Peregrinations  de  Jherusalem,  1488,  420. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  879 

Humboldt,  Frederick  Baron  von,  Eulogium  on,  472.    Descriptive  list  and 

prices  of  his  works,  ibid.  473.  Translations  and  Reviews  of  ditto,  474. 
Hume,  David,  his  General  History  of  England,  continuing  to  the  Death  of 

James  VI.  269. 

. his  History  of  England,  1754-61,  234.     Various  editions  of, 

235.     His  critique  upon  Henry's  History  of  Great  Britain,  236.     His 

remarks  on  the  Irish  Massacre,  258. 

Hunnis,  William,  Sale  and  price  of  his  HyvefuU  of  Hunnye,  1578,  647- 
Hunt,  Rev.  J.  H.  his  English  Translation  of  Tasso,  762. 
Hunter,  Dr.  Alexander,  his  edition  of  Evelyn's  Sylva,  1776,  554. 
Huntingdon,  Henry  of,  his  General  History  of  England,  148. 
Hurd,  Dr.  Richard,  Bishop  of  Worcester,  Library  founded  by  him,  56.  His 

edition  of  Addison's  Works,  1811,  605. 

Hutchinson,  Lucy,  Memoirs  of  the  Life  of  Colonel  Hutchinson,  1806,  549. 
Hutchinson,  Thomas,  his  editions  of  Xenophon's  Cyropedia  and  Anabasis, 

1727,  35,  135. 

Hutten,  J.  G.  his  edition  of  Plutarchus,  1804,  575. 
Hutter,  Elias,  account  of  his  Polyglot  Bible,  1599,  9. 
Hycke  Scorner,  657. 
Jackson,  Mr.  James  Grey,  his  Account  of  the  Empire  of  Marocco,  1809, 

448. 

. Zachariah,  Shakspeare's  Genius  Justified,  1818,  797. 

Jaggard,  John,  his  Brief  e  Chronicle  of  the  Successe  of  Times,  1611,  182. 

Jahn,  John,  his  Hebrew  Bible,  1806,  23.    Prices  of  ditto,  24. 

Jarchi,  Solomon  Ben  Isaac,  his  edition  of  the  Hebrew  Pentateuch,  1482, 

20.    Remainder  of  the  Bible,  1486-87,  21. 
Jardin,  Abbe",  his   French  Translation  of  Denina's  Revoluzioni  d'ltatia, 

1771-5,  325. 

Jay,  Rev.  William,  character  of  his  Sermons,  87. 
Ibarra,  his  edition  of  Mariana's  Spanish  History,  1 780,  309. 
Jebb,  Rev.  John,  Archdeacon  of  Emly,  his  copy  of  the  Acta  Sanctorum, 

103. 

Jerome,  St.  Vattarsius's  edition  of  his  works,  1734-40,  830. 
Jerome,  Rev.  Stephen,  extracts  from  his  Ireland? s  Jubilee,  1624,  255. 
Jerusalem,  La  Vengeance  et  Destruction  de  Hierusalem,  1539,  777- 
Jesuits,  remarks  on  their  Voyages  and  Discoveries,  430. 
Jesus,  Raphael  de,  his  Continuation  ofBrito's  Monarchia  Lusitana,  1683, — 

1729,  315. 

Illustrious  Portraits,  work  so  called,  commended,  Pref.  iii. 
Inchbald,  Mrs.  her  edition  of  the  British  Theatre,  181-18,  824. 
Inglis,  Mr.  his  copy  of  Sweynheim's  and  Pannartz's  Silius  Italicus,  639. 
Ingram,  Rev.  J.  his  Translation  of  the  Saxon  Chronicle,  1823,  141. 
Ingulphus,  Abbot  of  Croyland,  Historia  Anglorum,  148.    History  of  Croy- 

land,  154. 

Joecher,  C.  G.  his  Allgemeines  gelehrten  Lexicon,  1750,  485. 
Johnes,  Colonel  Thomas,  his  late  MS.  of  Sir  John  Froissart's  Chronicles, 

162.     Copy  of  the  Chroniques  de  St.  Denys,  163.     His  Translation  of 

Froissart,  165.     Account  of  his  publishing  other  French  Chronicles, 

166,    His  Translation  of  the  Memoirs  of  Joinville,  167. 
Johnson,  Mr.  John  Mordaunt,  Sale  of  his  editio  princeps  of  Homer,  615. 
Johnson's  Typographia,  or  the  Printer's  Instructor,  Pref.  xviii. 

i R.  his  collection  of  Caxton's,  670. 

Dr.  Samuel,  his  praise  of  Dr.  Watts,  65.     His  Translation  of 

Lobo1*  Voyage  to  Abyssinia,  445.    Remarks  on  his  Lives  of  the  Poets, 


feSO  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

510.  His  praise  of  Sir  Thomas  Browne,  608.  His  Works,  609.  His 
remark  on  Prior's  poems,  728.  His  character  as  an  editor  of  Shak- 
spectre,  797-  Price  for  his  edition  of  ditto,  798.  Character  of  ditto, 
ibid.  Publication  of  ditto,  1765,  ibid.  In  connection  with  Steevens, 
1773,  ibid. 

Johnsoni  Schediasmata  Poetica,  1615.     Sale  and  price  of,  646. 

Joinville,  John,  Sieurde,  Translation  of  his  Me'moires,  167- 

Jolly,  Mr.  his  copies  of  the  first  editions  of  Shakspeare's  Sonnets,  and 
Venus  and  Adonis,  808.  Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  811. 

Jones,  Sir  William,  his  character  and  works,  413. 

Jonson,Ben,  Variations  in  his  verses  on  Shakspeare,  810.  Gifford's  edition 
of  his  Works,  1816,  819.  Whalley's  ditto,  1756,820. 

Jonson,  Jo.  Sale  and  price  of  his  Academy  of  Love,  1641,  647- 

Jordan,  Thomas,  sale  and  price  of  his  Jewels  of  ingenuity,  645-713,  ditto. 
Of  his  Claraphil  and  Clarinda,  ibid.  713.  Names  of  other  works,  by, 
713. 

Jortin,  Dr.  John,  references  to  his  Life  of  Erasmus,  90,  518.  His-censure 
of  the  Gesta  Dei  per  Francos,  98.  Remarks  on  his  Style,  &c.  100. 
His  Remarks  on  Ecclesiastical  History,  1767,  116. 

Joseph, — Sale  and  price  of  Royal  Arbor  of  Loyal  Poesie,  646. 

Ireland,  Riche's  description  of  the  miseries  of,  253.  Titles  of  pamphlets 
relating  to  the  Massacres  in,  255-257. 

Irving,  Washington,  his  eulogy  on  Roscoe,  528.     On  a  Library,  530. 

Juan  I.  and  II.  Kings  of  Spain,  Chronicles  of,  303. 

Judicium,  a  Pageant,  778.     Characters  and  verses  from,  779. 

Jumieges,  William  .of,  De  Ducibus  Normannis,  editions  of,  150. 

Junius,  Francis,  his  work  De  Pictura  Veterum,  1694, 494. 

Juvenalis,  Decius  Junius,  Ulric  Han's  editions  of  631,  632.     Vide  Persius. 

Kaempfer,  Engebert,  his  History  of  Japan,  427. 

Kalm,  Peter,  his  Resa  til  Norra  America,  1753,  464. 

Keating,  Geoffrey,  References  to  his  History  of  Ireland,  1723,  241.  Edi- 
tion of,  by  Dermod  O'Connor,  1/23,  250. 

Kele,  Richard,  his  impression  of  Christmas  Carols,  661. 

Kelton,  Arthur,  Notice  of  his  Chronicle,  1547,  181. 

Kemble,  the  late  John  Philip,  sale  of  his  Dramatic  Library,  791.  His 
copies  of  the  first  edition  of  Shakspeare's  Romeo  and  Juliet,  804. 
Ditto,  of  his  Henry  V.  805.  Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  812. 

Kemp,  - Applauded  Merriments  of  the  Men  of  Gotehame,  1594,  787- 

Kempis,  Thomas  a,  his  Imitation  of  Christ,  121.  Controversy  concerning 
the  author  of  ditto,  122.  Editions  and  translations  of,  ibid. 

Kendall,  Timothy,  Sale  and  price  of  his  Flowers  of  Epigrammes,  1577, 
646.  Farther  notice  of,  691, 

Kenn,  Dr.  Thomas,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  his  Progress  of  Divine 
Love,  recommended,  128. 

Kennett,  Dr.  White,  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  reference  to  his  Life  of 
Somner,  1693,  153.  His  Complete  History  of  England,  205.  Mate- 
rials of  ditto,  206.  His  Attempt  towards  laying  the  foundation  of  an 
American  Library,  1713,  455. 

Kennicott,  Dr.  Benjamin,  his  State  of  the  printed  Hebrew  Text,  referred 
to,  22.  Praise  of  his  Hebrew  Bible,  1776, 23.  Prices  of  ditto,  24. 

Kerez,  Francis  de,  his  Conquista  del  Peru,  1534,  475. 

Kerr,  Mr.  Robert,  his  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  1811-17,  389. 
Price  of,  390. 

Ketelaer,  and  De  Lempt,  their  edition  of  Claudiant  640.  Rarity  of  their 
books,  ibid. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  821 

Kid,  Thomas,  Pompcy  the  Great,  his  faire  Cornelia's  Tragcdie,  151)5, 
translated  from  Gamier,  785.  First  edition  of  ditto,  called  Cornelia, 
1594,  ibid. 

Kiessling, — His  edition  of  Theocritus,  181.9,  621. 

Kimchi,  Rabbi  David,  his  edition  of  the  Hebrew  Psalter,  1477,  20. 

King's  Library,  his  late  Majesty's,  copies  there  of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13. 

Of  Pfister's  do.  ibid.     Of  Redman's  ditto  on  vellum,  32.     Of  the 

Fructus  Temporum,  170.     Of  Arnold's  Chronicle,  174.     Of  Rastell'a 

ditto,  178.     Of  Fez's  Thesaurus  Anecdotorum  Novissimus,  337-     Of 

Rudbeck's  Atlantica,  355.    Of  Ulfeldius  Legatio  Muscovitica,  357. 

Of  Guarient's  Diarium  Itineris  Muscovite,  358.  Of  Purchas*  Pilgrims, 

381.     Of  Barros'  Voyages,  407.     Of  Caxton's  JEsop,  576.     Of  Cax- 

ton's  Reynard  the  Fox,  584.     Of  Charter's  Cathon,  585.     Of  the 

Oxford  Pindar,  large  paper,  622.     Of  Apollonius  Rhodius  edit.  prin. 

on  vellum,  626.     Of  the  edit.  prin.   of  Ovid,   630.     Of  the  Aldine 

Horace,  on  vellum,  635.     Of  Skelton's  Chaplet  of  Laurel,  653.     Of 

the  Canterbury  Tales,  editio  princeps,  668.     Of  the  Aldine  Dante,  on 

vellum,  753.     Of  the  Aldine  Petrarch,  755.     Of  the  Ferrara  Ariosto, 

of  1532,  757.     Of  the  Giolito  Ariosto,  on  vellum,  758.     Of  the  first 

quarto  of  Shakspeare's  Henry  IV.  part  ii.,  805.     Ditto  of  Henry  V. 

ibid.  Ditto  of  the  Merchant  of  Venice,  ibid.  Ditto,  of  King  Lear,  806. 

Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815.     Of  the  second  ditto,  816. 

Kingsbury,  Parbury,  and  Allen,  Messrs,  their  Catalogue  of  Works  in  Orien- 
tal Literature,  435. 

Kinneir,  Mr.  John  Macdonald,  his  Journey  through  Asia  Minor,  1818, 422. 
His  Geographical  Memoir  of  the  Persian  Empire,  1813,  ibid. 

Kippis,  Dr.  Andrew,  his  Life  of  Captain  Cook,  1788,  397.  His  edition  of 
the  Biographia  Britannica,  488. 

Kirkpatrick,  Colonel  William,  his  Account  of  the  Kingdom  ofNepault  1811, 
414,  416. 

Kirwan,  Francis,  Bishop  of ,  rarity  of  his  Life  by  Lynch,  1669, 

246. 

Knave,  A  most  pleasant  and  merrie  new  Comedie  intituled  a  Knacke  to  know 
a  Knave,  1594,  787. 

Knight,  Dr.  Samuel,  Prebendary  of  Ely,  his  Lives  of  Dean  Colet  and  Eras- 
mus, 517- 

Mr.  His  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  813. 

Knolles,  Richard,  his  History  of  the  Turks,  432. 

Knowler,  Dr.  William,  his  edition  of  Lord  Stratford's  State  Papers  and 
Dispatches,  1739,  287. 

Knox,  Robert,  his  Historical  Relation  of  the  Island  of  Ceylon,  1681,  431. 

Kollarius,  Adamus  Franciscus,  his  Analecta  Monumentorum  Omnis  JEvi 
Vindobomensia,  1760,  333. 

Korbio,  J.  G.  His  Diarium  Itineris  Muscovite  magnif.  Dom.  J.  C.  de  Gua~ 
rient,  1700,  358. 

Kraft,  Jean  Laurent, — Histolre  Ge'ne'rale  de-la  Maison  tfAutriche,  1 744, 333. 

Krantzius,  Albert,  his  Vandalia  sive  Historia  de  Vandalorum,  1 580,  343. 

Krolin,  Berthold  Nicholas,  reference  to  his  Sale  Catalogue,  1796,  163. 

Krusenstern,  Capt.  A.  J.  Von,  his  Circumnavigator^  Voyage,  1810,  399. 
Englih  Translation  of  ditto,  400. 

Kuhnius,  Joachim,  his  edition  of  Pausanias,  1696,  134. 

Labat,  John  Baptist,  his  Relation  Historique  de  I'Ethiopie  Occidentale, 
1732,451. 

Labbe,  Philip,  his  Collcctio  Mamma  Conciliorum,  1672,  120. 

3N 


882  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

La  Bible  Historite,  26. 

Labillardiere,  Jacobus  Julianus,  his  Voyage  in  search  of  Pcrouse,  1 800, 

399. 
Laborde,  John  Benjamin,  his  Tableaux  de  la  Suisse,  1780-86,  326.     His 

Voyage  Pittoresque  de  VEspagne,  and  Monumens  de  la  France,  327. 
Labouchere,  Mr.  his  copy  of  Raderus'  Martial,  633.     Of  Olivet's  Cicero, 

large  paper,  634. 

Lackington  and  Co.  Messrs,  (vide  Messrs.  Harding,  Mavor  and  Co.)  their 
sale  copies  of  Rushworth's  Historical  Collections,  large  paper,  281. 
Of  Pinkerton's  Geography,  and  Kerr's  Collection  of  Voyages,  390. 
Their  Portraits  of  Illustrious  Personages  of  Great  Britain,  503. 

Lacorabe,  James,  his  Memoirs  of  Christine  Queen  of  Sweden,  1762,  353. 

Lactantius,  Lucius  Caslius  Firmianus,  quotation  from  his  Divin.  Instit.  Pref. 
vi. 

; Best  edition  and  price  of  his  works,  47. 

Ladvocat,  J.  B.  his  Dictionnaire  Historique,  1777,  486. 

Lafiteau,  Joseph  Francis,  Mosurs  des  Sauvages  Americams,  1/23,  460. 

Laing,  Mr.  Malcolm,  his  History  of  Scotland,  1819,  272. 

Lambeth,  Archiepiscopal  Library  of,  copies  there  of  Archbishop  Parker's 
Antiquitates  Britannicse  Ecclesiae,  108.  Of  Speed's  History,  196.  Of 
Prynne's  Records,  280. 

Landino,  Cristofero,  his  Commentary  on  Dante's  Commedia,  1481. 

Lang,  Mr.  Robert,  his  collection  of  French  Mysteries,  Moralities,  Ro- 
mances, and  Poetry,  774.  His  copies  of  St.  Christopher,  a  Mystery, 
775.  Of  L'Homme  Pecheur,  ditto,  776.  ^  Of  1'Homme  juste  et 
1'Homme  mondain,  ibid.  Mistere  de  la  Passion,  ibid.  Of  Le  joyeulx 
Mistere  de  trois  Rois,  ibid.  Of  Le  Mystere  du  vieil  Testament,  777- 
Mysteries  of  Octavian  and  the  Sybils,  ibid.  Of  Les  Actes  des  Apotres 
et  1' Apocalypse,  ibid.  Of  La  vengeance  et  destruction  de  Hierusalem, 
ibid.  Of  La  destruction^  de  Troy  le  Grand,  ibid.  Of  Une  chanson  sur 
le  mort  de  Hector,  ibid. 

Langebeck,  M.  James,  his  Scriptores  Rerum  Danicarum  Medii  jEmt  1772. 
92,  348. 

Langhorn,  Daniel,  his  Chronicon  Regum  Anglorurn,  193. 

Langles,  Louis,  his  new  edition  of  Chardiri's  Travels,  1811,  409.  His 
French  Translation  of  Nor  den's  Voyage  d'Egypte,  1797,  •' " 

Langtoft,  Peter,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Chronicle,  1725,  222. 

Lanquett,  Thomas,  his  Epitome  of  Chronicles,  181. 

Lant,  Richard,  his  impression  of  Steuen  Steple  to  Mast.  Camell,  663. 

Larcher,  Pierre  Henri,  his  French  Translation  of  Herodotus,  1786,  132. 
His  doubts  on  Bruce's  Discoveries,  446. 

Larry,  Isaac  de,  Histoire  d'Angleterre,  &c.  1697-1713,  200. 

Lasitzki,  John,  his  work  De  Kussorum,  Muscovitamm,  et  Tartontm  Reli- 
gione,  et  Ritibus,  1582,  357. 

Latimer,  Hugh,  Bishop  of  Worcester,  Sermons  of,  66.  First  edition  of 
ditto,  1537,  830.  Extracts  from  that  called  the  Plough,  &c.  67-72. 
Remarks  on  his  Portrait,  ibid.  Eulogy  on,  72.  Censure  of  by  Edge- 
worth,  82. 

Lawrence, — Sale  and  price  of  his  Arnalte  and  Lucenda,  1639,  647. 

Layala,  Pedro  Lopez  de,  his  Cronica  del  Rey  Don  Pedro,  1493,  303. 

Lediard,  John,  his  Life  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  1736,  531. 

Legh,  Mr.  Thomas,  his  Narrative  of  a  Journey  in  Egypt  and  the  Country 
above  the  Cataracts  of  the  Nile,  1816,  443. 

Leibnitz,  Godfrey  William  de,  his  praise  of  the  Imitation  of  Christ,  121. 
His  Scriptores  Rerum  Brunswicensium,  1 707,  336. 


442. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  883 

Lelantl,  John,  De  Scriptoribus  Britannicis  Collectanea,  Hearne's  edition  of 
ditto,  1715,  217.  References  to,  147,  176,  196,  505,  506.  Hearne'a 
edition  of  his  Itinerary,  1710-12,  215. 

Dr.  Thomas,  his  History  of  Ireland,  1773,  252. 

Leinpereur,  Martin,  his  French  Bible,  1530,  26. 

Leon,  Pedro  Ciec,a  de,  his  Chronica  de  Peru,  475. 

Lentulus,  character  of  his  Library,  Pref.  xxii. 

Lery,  Jean  de,  his  Historia  Navigationis  in  Brasiliam,  1578,  469. 

Lesley,  John,  Bishop  of  Ross,  his  work  De  Origine,  Moribus,  et  Rebus 
Gestis  Scotorum,  1578,  268. 

Leslie,  Rev.  Charles,  his  character,  61.  His  Short  and  easy  Method  with 
the  Deists,  1697,  63.  Prices  of  his  collected  Works,  1721,  63,  64. 

Letters  from  the  Bodleian  Library^  18 13,  references  to,  146,  215,  217,506. 

Lettres  curiemes  sur  divers  siijets,  1725,  character  of  Bourdaloue's  preach- 
ing in,  94. 

Lettres  e'difiantes  et  curieuses  e'crites  des  Missions  e'trang&res,  1780,  388. 

Lewicke,  Edward,  Sale  and  price  of  his  Titus  and  Gesippus,  1652,  646. 

Lewis,  Frederick,  his  fac-similes  of  Sir  T.  Lawrence's  Drawings,  502. 

Rev.  John,  his  History  of  the  Translations  of  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
taments, 31.  His  Biographical  Works,  518. 

John,  his  Ancient  History  of  Great  Britain,  1729,  233. 

— • —  Matthew  Gregory,  Esq.  M.  P.  Tales  of  Wonder,  740.  The  Monk, 
ibid. 

Leyden,  Dr.  John,  his  eulogy  on  the  Pyramids  of  Egypt,  44 \. 

UHomme  juste  et  PHomme  Mondain,  1508,  776. 

UHomme  Pecheur,  a  French  Mystery,  766. 

Liancourt,  the  Duke  de  la  Rochefoucault,  his  Travels  through  the  United 
States  of  America,  1799,  466. 

Liber  Festivalis,  partly  the  original  of  the  English  Prayer  Book,  41.  An- 
cient copy  of  the  Lords'  Prayer  from  the,  ibid. 

Liber  Niger  Scaccarii,  edition  of  it  by  Hearne,  1728,  224. 

Lichfield,  Mr.  John,  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  812. 

Lichtenstein,  Dr.  Henry,  his  Travels  in  South  Africa,  1812,452. 

Lightfoot,  Rev.  Dr.  John,  Extensive  Hebrew  and  Biblical  learning  of,  830. 
Mr.  Pitman's  expected  edition  of  his  Works,  831. 

Lilly e,  William,  his  Latin  Grammar,  565. 

Linacre,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  edition  of  Galen  De  Temperamentis,  566.  His 
Grammatical  Works,  567- 

Lincoln  Cathedral,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  Shakspeare'sRapeofLucrece, 
596. 

Lindesay,  Robert,  his  Chronological  History  of  Scotland,  1728,  271. 

Lindley  Murray,  Mr.  immense  circulation  of  his  various  works  connected 
with  the  English  Grammar,  Pref.  xiii. 

Lindley,  Thomas,  his  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  to  Brazil,  1814,  470. 

Lindsay,  Rev.  John,  his  Voyage  to  Africa  in  1758,  containing  an  account  of 
the  expedition  to  and  taking  of  the  Island  of  Goree,  by  the  Hon.  Aug. 
Keppel,  1759,451. 

Lingard,  Rev.  John,  character  of  his  History  of  England,  237. 

Linschoten,  John  Huighen  Van,  his  Discourse  of  Voyages  to  the  Indies, 
383. 

Lintot,  Bernard,  his  contract  with  Pope  for  his  translation  of  Homer,  729. 

Lithgow,  William,  his  Rare  Adventures  and  Painful  Peregrinations,  427. 

Livius,  Titus  Foro  Juliensis,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Vita  Henrici  V.t  1716, 
219. 

Livius,  Titus,  best  edition  of,  136. 

Lloyd,— his  Historic  of  Cambria,  1584,  274. 


884  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Lloyd,  Mr.  John  Arthur,  his  copies  of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13.  Of  Fust's 
and  Schoiffer's  ditto,  upon  vellum,  14.  His  Roxburghe  impression  of 
the  Cuck  Queane's  and  the  Faerie  Pastorale,  781. 

Lobo,  Father  Jerome,  his  Voyage  to  Abyssinia,  445. 

Loccenius,  John,  his  works  concerning  Sweden,  351. 

Locke,  John,  editions  of  his  works,  610. 

Locker,  Edward  Hawke,  Esq.  his  Views  in  Spain,  1824,  312. 

Lodge,  Edmund,  Esq.  Norroy  King  of  Arms,  his  Illustrations  of  British  His- 
tory, 1791,  288.  His  Biographical  Tracts  to  the  Holbein  Portraits, 
501.  His  Illustrious  Personages  of  Great  Britain,  504. 

Lodge,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  Fig  for  Momus,  1595,  699.  Rosalynde  Euphutfs 
Golden  Legacy,  1590,  ibid.  Alarum  against  Usurers,  1584,  ibid.  Life 
and  Death  of  William  Longbeard,  1593,  ibid. 

Lombard,  Dr.  Peter,  his  work  De  Regno  Hibernian,  1632,  243. 

Lomenie,  Henry  Louis  de,  Comte  de  Brienne,  Memoirs  of,  1719,  544. 

London,  gluttony  of,  condemned  by  Dr.  Drant,  76.  A  right  excellent  and 
famous  Comedy  called  The  Three  Ladies  of  London,  1584,  7^6. 

•  ,  Dr.  William  Howley,  Bishop  of,  his  copy  of  Baronius'  Ecclesias- 

tical Annals,  102. 

Long,  Edward,  his  History  of  Jamaica,  1774,467- 

— — ,  James  le,  his  Bibliotheque  Historique  de  la  France,  1719,  129. 

Longman,  Hurst,  Rees,  and  Co. :  their  great  stock  of  Elementary  Works, 
Pref.  xiii.  Their  numerous  and  richly  furnished  Catalogues,  p.  xxv. 

— - their  sale  copies  of  different  works ;  47, 

105,  175,  177,  208,  210,  219,  222,  224,  225,  229,  235,  344,  396,  454, 
511,  671.  Various  references  to  their  Bibliotheca  Anglo-Poetica,  1815, 
671,  683,  685,  686,  687,  689,  690,  694,  696,  698,  699,  bis,  700,  bis, 
701,  703,  704,  706,  711,  715,  716,  717,  721,  725,  728. 

Longueval,  James, — Histoire  de  VEglise  Gallicane,  1730,  98. 

Longueville,  Anne  Genevieve  de  Bourbon,  Duchesse  de,  her  Mdmoires, 
1738,  543. 

Lopez,  jOdoardo,  his  Relatione  de*  Reame  di  Congo  e  delle  vicine  contrade, 
1591,  450. 

Losano,  Pedro,  his  Chorographic  Description  of  Gran  Chacoy  Galambary  &c. 
1723,477. 

Loue  and  Complayntes  hytwene  Mars  and  Venus,  658. 

Lovelace,  Richard,  sale  and  price  of  his  Lucasta,  1660,  646;  1649,711. 
Posthume  Poems,  1659,  ibid.  Elegies  addressed  to  his  memory,  1660, 
ibid.  His  verses  to  Althea,  712. 

Lover  and  Jay,  Controversy  between,  1510,  649.     Opening  of,  650. 

Louis  XIII.  XIV.,  Kings  of  France,  Memoirs  of,  543. 

Lowth,  Dr.  William,  Bishop  of  London,  his  Commentary  on  the  Bible,  1731, 
36,  37.  Excellence  of  his  Writings,  63.  His  Life  of  William  of 
Wykeham,  1757,  522.  ^ 

Lucanus,  M.  Annseus,  editions  of. 

Editio  princeps,  Burman's,  Oudendorp's,  Variorum,  Strawberry  Hill, 
637. 

Luciaii,  editions  of,  837. 

Lucius,  Gratianus,  vide  Lynch. 

Lucretius  Cams,  T.  editions  of. 

Aldine,  Havercamp's,  Wakefield's,  629.     Duncan's,  Eichstadt's,  630. 

Ludolfus,  Job,  His  Historia  jEthiopica,  1695-96,  444. 

Lunn,  Mr.  his  passion  for  collecting  Wetstein's  Testaments,  39, 

Lupton,  Thomas,  A  Moral!  and  Pitifutt  Comedie  entitled  all  for  Money, 
1578,  785. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  885 

Luther,  Martin,  his  German  Bible,  1541-45,  18. 

Luton,  vide  Bute. 

Luttrell,  Narcissus,  his  collection  of  fugitive  Old  English  Poetry,  725. 

Lydgate,  John,  verses  from  his  Castle  of  Pleasure,  654.     Character  of  his 

Works,  668.     Pieces  of  printed  by  Caxton,  677,  by  Pynson,  Marshe, 

and  Tottel,  678. 
Lyllie,  John,  Campaspe,  1581,  786,  1584,  788.    Midas,  1592,  ibid.  Mother 

Bombie,   1594,  ibid,   1598,  786.     Woman  in  the  Moone,   1597,  788. 

Sappho  and  P/iao,  1591,  ibid.     Maydes  Metamorphoses,  1600,  ibid. 

Love's  Metamorphoses,  1601,  ibid.     Galathea  and  Endymion,  789. 
Lynch,  John,  Archdeacon  of  Tuara,  his  Cambrensis  Eversus,  1622,241,245. 

His  other  works  on  Ireland,  245,  246. 
Lyon,  Capt.  George  Francis,  his  Narrative  of  Travels  in  Northern  Africa, 

1821,  448.     Private  Journal  of  his  Voyage  to  the  Polar  Sea,  1824, 

Mabillon,  John,  his  Annales  Sancti  Ordinis  Benedicti,  97. 
Macarthur,  Dr.  John,  his  Life  of  Lord  Nelson,  1809,  537. 
Me.  Crie,  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas,  his  Life  of  John  Knox,  1813,  272.  Ditto  of 

Andrew  Melville,  1819,  273. 

Macdiarrnid,  John,  his  Lives  of  British  Statesmen,  509,  511. 
Machado,  Deogo  Barbosa,  his  Bibliotheca  Lusitana  Historica,  &c.  1741-59. 

313. 

Machiavelli,  Nicolo,  his  literary  character  and  works,  322. 
Mackenzie,  Sir  George  Stewart,  his  Travels  in  Iceland  during-  the  Summer 

c/1810,  1811,338. 

•-,  his  works  on  Scotland,  270. 

— ,  Dr.  George,  his  Lives  and  Characters  of  the  most  eminent  Wri- 
ters of  the  Scottish  Nation,  1708-22,  270,  507. 
Mackintosh,  Sir  James,  his  character  of  Hugo  Grotius,  49. 
Macknight,  Dr.  James,  character  and  price  of  his  works,  65. 
Maclaine,  Dr.  Archibald,  his   Translation  of  Mosheim's  Ecclesiastical  His- 

ton/,  1782,118. 
Macmation,  Hugh,  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  his  Jus  Primatiale  Armacanum 

in  Archiepiscopiis,  &c.  1728,250. 
Macpherson,  David,  his  edition  of  Wyntowrfs  Chronicle,  1795,  263. 

• ,  James,  his  Collection  of  State  Papers,  1776,  288. 

Madox,  Thomas,  his  Formulare  Anglicanum,  &c.  286. 

Magazines,  variety  and  character  of,  Pref.  xviii. 

Mailla,  Joseph  Anne  Marie  Moyriac  de,  his  Histoire  Generate  de  la  Chine. 

§  1777-85,  427. 

Mailros,  Abbey  of,  Chronicle  of,  262. 

Maintenon,  Franchise  Daubigne  de,  her  Memoirs  and  Letters,  1757,  542. 
Major,  Mr.  John,  his  editions  of  Walton's  works,  516. 
John,  his  Historian  Major  is  Britannia  tarn  Anglies  quam  Scotia, 

263. 
Maitland,  William,  his  works  on  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Scotland, 

Maittaire,  Michael  de,  reference  to  his  Annales  Typographici,  1719-41, 171. 

His  formation  of  the  Blickling  Library,  578.    His  edition  of  Anacreon, 

1725,  622.    His  letter  to  Sir  Richard  Ellys,  623. 
Maizeaux,  Peter  Des,  his  edition  of  Locke's  Works,  1759,  611. 
Malcolm,  Sir  John,  his  works  on  India,  413.     His  History  of  Persia,  1816, 

418. 

Malherbe,  Francois  de,  Ses  Poesies,  1776,  765.    Barbou,  editions  of,  ibid. 
Malherbi,  Nicole  di,  his  Italian  Bible,  1471,  19. 


886  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Mallet,  Paul  Henry,  his  praise  of  Snorro  Sturleson,  342.  His  works  on 
the  History  of  Denmark,  347. 

Malmesbury,  William  of,  his  works,  147. 

Malone,  Edmund,  his  Library  at  Oxford,  595.  His  edition  of  Dryden's 
Works,  1800,  603.  His  copies  of  Shakspeare's  Venus  and  Adonis,  696. 
Of  Mario  w's  Queen  of  Carthage,  700.  Of  his  and  Chapman's  Hero  and 
Leander,  ibid.  His  collection  of  Old  English  Poetry  at  Oxford,  721. 
Account  of,  and  Names  of  Plays,  from  his  Dramatic  Library  at  Oxford, 
784-790.  His  collection  of  Old  English  Poetry,  790.  His  edition  of 
Shahspeare,  1/90,  799.  Supplemental  volumes  to  ditto,  1780,  ibid. 
Boswell's  edition  of  his  Shakspeare,  1821,  ibid.  His  copy  of  the  first 
folioShakspeare,813. 

Mandeville,  Sir  John,  his  Travels  in  the  East,  1725,404. 

Manilius,  Caius,  editio  princeps,  Bentley's,  643. 

Mansfield,  Earl,  his  copy  of  the  editio  princeps  of  Homer,  615. 

Manstein,  General  Christopher  Hertmann  de,his  Memoirs  of  Russia,  1773, 

Mant,  Dr.  Richard,  Bishop  of  Killaloe,  his  English  Bible,  27,  36,  37.  His 
editon  of  Warton's  Poems,  1802,  735. 

Mantua,  vide  Georgius. 

Manutius,  Paulus,  his  collection  of  Viaggifatti  da  Vinetia,  alia  Tana,  in 
Persia,  in  India,  &c.  1543-45,  416.  His  edition  of  Eustratius  de  Mo- 
ribus'  Commentary  on  Aristotle,  1636,  574. 

Marbecke,  John,  his  edition  of  the  Prayer  Book,  with  music,  1550,  43. 

Marchand,  Prosper,  his  censure  of  Coreal,  460.  His  edition  of  Bayle's  Die- 
tionary,  1720,  485.  His  Dictionnaire  Historique  ou  Me'moires  Critiques 
et  Litteraires,  1758,  ibid. 

Marchand,  Stephen,  his  praise  of  Capt.  Cook,  395.  His  Voyage  aittour  du 
Monde,  1798-1800,399. 

Margaret,  Queen  of ,  Memoires  of,  543. 

Margaret  of  Valois,  Queen  of  France,  Memoires  of,  557. 

Mariana,  Juan,  his  Histories  de  Rebus  Hispanicc,  308. 

Marineo,  Lucio,  his  Memorable  Affairs  of  Spain,  1593,  305. 

Marino,  Giovanni  Battista,  his  poems  imitated  by  Milton,  717- 

Mariti,  Abbate  Edmund,  Translation  of  his  Travels  through  Cyprus,  Syria, 
and  Palestine,  1791,420. 

Markham,  Gervase,  his  works,  599.  Sale  and  price  of  his  Tragedy  of  Sir 
Richard  Grenvile,  1595,  646. 

Markland,  Mr.  James,  Hey  wood,  his  copy  of  Sandys's  Travels,  421.  Of 
Scott's  Dryden,  727-  His  Roxburghe  edition  of  the  Chester  Myste- 
ries, 778. 

— ,  Jeremy,  his  edition  of  Statius,  1728,  638. 

Marlborough,  John  Churchill  Duke  of,  his  Memoirs,  531. 

Marlow,  Christopher,  sale  and  price  of  his  Ovid's  Elegies,  645.  Eulogy  on 
him,  699.  Dido  Queen  of  Carthage,  1594,  700.  Expected  new  edi- 
tion of  ditto,  781.  His  other  works,  789,  790.  Marlow  and  Chap- 
man's Hero  and  Leander,  1606,  sold  at  Sir  M.  M.  Sykes's  Library, 
842. 

Marmol,  Carvajal  Luys,  his  Description  General  de  Africa,  1573-99,  439. 

Marot,  Clement,  Jean,  et  Michel,  ses  (Euvres,  1731,  765.  Editio  princeps, 
Hague  edition,  ibid. 

Marriage,  Complaynt  of  them  that  be  too  soone  maryed,  651.  Ditto,  of 
them  that  ben  too  late  maryed,  ibid.  The  Payne  and  sorowe  of  Evil 
Maryaget  ibid.  The  Fyftene  Joyes  of  Mart/age,  652.  A  new  and 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  887 

pleamunt  Entcrlude,  entitled  the  Marriage  of  Wytte  and  Science,  1570, 

786. 

Marsand,  Abbate  Antonio,  his  edition  of  Petrarch,  1819,  754. 
Mars  and  Venus,  by  Julian  Notary,  price  of,  at  the  sale  of  Sir  M.  Sykes's 

Library,  842. 

Marsden,  Mr.  William,  his  edition  of  Marco  Polo's  Travels,  1818,  403. 
Marsh,  Dr.  Herbert,  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  references  to  his  Lectures  on 

Divinity,  24,  38. 

Marthe,  Pere  Denis  de  Sainte,  his  edition  of  the  Gallia  Christiana,  97. 
Martialis,  Marcus  Valerius,  editions  of,  Editiones  principes,  Aldine,  Scrive- 

rius%  Variorum,  Smid's,  Raderus,  633, 634. 
Martini,  A.  Archbishop  of  Florence,  his  Italian  Bible  and  Annotations, 

1776,20. 

Martyn,  William,  History  and  Lives  of  XX  King-is  of  England,  198. 
Mary  Stuart,  Queen  of  Scotland,  names  of  Works  concerning  her,  266—268. 
Masch,  Andrew  Gottlieb,  references  to  his  Bibliotheca  Sacra,  20,  21. 
Mascrier,  Abbe"  John  Baptist  Le,  his  French  Translation  of  De  Thou's 

History  of  his  Own  Time,  1734,  296. 
Masdeu, — his  Historia  Critica  de  Espana  y  dela  Cultura  Espanola,  1783,97, 

310. 
Maseres,  Francis,  Cursitor  Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  his  Selections  from 

Duchesne's  Norman  Writers,  151.    His  edition  of  Sir  John  Temple's 

Account  of  the ^Irish  Rebellion,  1812,  258. 
Mason,  William,  his  Memoirs  of  Thomas  Gray,  1775,  560. 
Massacre  of  Money,  1602,  verses  from,  720. 
Massillon,  Jean  Baptiste,  character  of  his  Works,  92.     Editions,  &c.  of 

ditto,  93. 
Masson, — his  Secret  Memoirs  of  Catherine  IT.  Empress  of  Russia,  1800-3, 

362. 
Matthews,  Lieut.  John,  his  Voyage  to  the  River  Sierra  Leone,  on  the  Coast 

of  Africa,  1788,  451. 

Matthei,  Christian  Frederick,  his  Greek  and  Latin  New  Testament,  1782,  38. 
Mathias,  Thomas  James,  his  edition  of  Gray's  Works,  1814,  732. 
Maundrell,  Rev.  Henry,  his  Journey  from  Aleppo  to  Jerusalem,  1697,  423 ,' 
Maury,  Cardinal,  his  Collection  of  Select  Discourses,  92. 
Mau villon,  — ,  his  History  of  Charles  XI I.  King"  of  Sweden,  1764,  354. 
Mawe,  Mr.  John,  his  Travels  in  the  Interior  of  Brazil,  particularly  in  the 

Gold  and  Diamond  Districts,  1812,  472. 

May,  Thomas,  his  History  of  the  Long  Parliament,  1647,  280. 
Mazarine,  Cardinal  Julius,  Memoirs  of  him,  541. 

,  Hortensia  Mancini,  Duchesse  de,  her  Me'moires,  1675,  542. 
Mazocco,  Giovanni  and  Luigi,  their  editions  of  Ariosto,  1515,  1516,  756, 

757. 
Mede,  Rev.  Joseph,  character  of  his  Writings,  49.    Best  edition,  &c.  of 

his  Works,  52. 
Meibomius,  Marcus,  hisRerum  Germanicarum,  1688,  331.      His  edition  of 

Diogenes  Laertius,  1692,  491. 

Mellish,  —  his  Geographical  Description  of  the  United  States,  1822,  457. 
Melvil,  Sir  James,  Memoirs  of,  1683,  269. 
Melzi,  Count,  his  vellum  copy  of  Malherbi's  Italian  Bible,  19. 
Memoirs,  Collection  de  Me'moires  Particular es,  1785-86,  546.     Me'moires 

Historiques,  Litte'raires,  et  Anecdotiques,  1812-13,  547,  548. 
Memoir es  de  Guy  Joly,  1738,  541. 
Memoirs  of  Literature,  Old,  1725-27-    Various  references  to  the,  9, 16,  62. 


888  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Memoirs  of  Literature,  New,  1730,  Various  references  to  the,  92,  94,  97, 

223,  337- 
Menckenius,  Friderich  Otto,  his  Scriptores  Rerum  Germanicarum,  1728, 

331. 
Mendoza,  D.  Diego  Hurtado,  his  Life  of  Lazarillo  de  Tormes,  307.     His 

Guerra  de  Grenada,  1776,  307- 
— ,  Don  Pedro  Gonzalez  de,  his  Chronicle,  1625, 

304. 

Menezes,  Don  Fernando  de,  his  Historia  de  Tanger,  1732, 448. 
Meon,  M.  his  edition  of  Le  Roman  de  la  Rose,  1814,  765. 
Meredith,  Henry,  his  Account  of  the  Gold  Coast  of  Africa,  1812,  451. 

-,  Mr.  William,  his  copy  of  Fraunce's  Phyllis  and  Amyntas,  589. 

Merly,  vide  Willett. 

Merriments,  Penny,  some  account,  598,  600. 

M4ry,  Moreau  de  St.,  his  edition  of  Houckgeest's  Dutch  Embassy  to  China, 

1797,  428. 
Messenius,  John,  his  Chronologia  de  Rebus  Sueciee  Danias  et  Norwegice. 

1700,  344.     His  works  concerning  Sweden,  351. 
Messingham,  Rev.  Thomas,  his  Florilegium  Sanctorum,  1624,  240. 
Meun,  Jean  de,  Le  Roman  de  la  Rose,  765. 
Meuselius,  his  Bill.  Hist,  commended,  129. 
Meyrick,  Dr.  Samuel  Rush,  his  History  and  Antiquities  of  Cardiganshire, 

1810,  275. 
Mezerai,  Franqois  Eudes  de,  Singularities  of,  291.     His  History  of  France, 

292. 
Michaelis,  John  David,  his  edition  of  CasteWs  Lexicon,  1788.     His  Hebrew 

Bible,  1720,  23.     His  edition  of  Abulfeda's  Account  of  Egypt,  1776, 

438. 
Mycro-cynicon,  T.  M.,  sale  and  price  of  his  Siwe  Snarling  Satyres,  1599, 

646,  698. 

Middleton,  Dr.  Conyers,  his  Life  of  Cicero,  1741,  520. 
,  Thomas,  his  Appendix  to  Spottiswoodtfs  History  of  the  Church 

of  Scotland,  1677,  269. 

Mill,  Mr.  James,  his  History  of  British  India,  414. 
Milman,  Rev.  H.  H.,  742.     Fazio,  743.     Samor,  ibid.     Fall  of  Jerusalem, 

ibid.     Belshazzar,  ibid.     Fall  of  Babylon,  ibid. 

Millot,  Claude  Xavier,  his  Siemens  d'Histoire  Universelle,  1779,  132,  295. 
Milton,  John,  his  History  of  England,  201.     His  imitation  of  Du  Bartas, 

699,  704.     Editions  of  his  Poetical  Works,  704-9. 
Mirrourfor  Magistrates,  1559,  683. 
Mitford,  Rev.  John,  his  edition  of  Gray's  Latin  and  English  Poems,  1814, 

732.     His  expected  edition  of  Thomson,  ibid. 

, — ,  William,  his  History  of  Greece,  136. 

MittareUi,  Giovanni  Benedetto,  his  Accessiones  to  Muratori's  Scriptores 

Rerum  Italicarum,  1771,  139,  320. 
Modern  Universal  History,  reference  to,  344. 
Moleville,  Ant.  Fr.  Bertrand  de,  his  Chronological  Abridgement  of  the 

History  of  England,  1811,  237. 

Moliere,  JeanBaptiste  Pocquelin  de,  editions  of  his  Works,  768. 
Moiling,  M.  his  Views  in  Constantinople,  424. 
Monipennie,  — ,  his  Works,  concerning  Scotland,  268. 
Monk,  Rev.  Dr.  — ,  Dean  of  Peterborough,  his  editions  of  two  Plays  of 

Euripides,  840. 
Monstrelet,  finguerrand  de,  best  editions  of  his  Chronicles,  166. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  889 

Montesquieu,  Charles  de  Secondat,  Baron  de,  his  Grandeur  et  Decadence 

des  Romains,  138. 

Montfaucon,  Bernard  de,  his  works  on  History  and  Antiquity,  294. 
Montgomery  James,  Beauty  of  his  Poetry,  747. 
Monthly  Review,  Criticisms  of,  Henry's  History  of  Great  Britain,  236. 

Of  Dr.  Robertson,  and  other  Historical  Writers,  330.    Of  Bruce'9 

Travels,  446.     Of  Boswell's  Life  of  Johnson,  524.     Of  Roscoe's  Life 

of  Lorenzo  de  Medicis,  525.     Of  Gibbon's  Letters,  &c.  529. 
Montpensier,  Anne  Marie  Louise  d'Orleans,  Duchesse  de.  her  MJmoires. 

1735,  542. 
Monument  of  Matrons,  1582.     Account  of,  and  Extracts  from  the,  123, 

125,  126. 

Moorcroft,  Mr.  William,  his  Travels  in  the  Mountains  oflndia,  415. 
Moore,  Mr.  Daniel,  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  809,  810. 
-,  Mr.  Thomas,  Irish  Melodies,  741.  Lalla  Rookh,  ibid,  Character 

of  his  Poetry,  742.     His  edition  of  Sheridan's  Works,  823. 
More,  Dr.  Henry,  his  Library  at  Cambridge,  52. 
,  Sir  Thomas,  Reference  to  the  Author's  edition  of  his  Utopia,  1808, 

55,  51 1,  513,  514, 586,  599.     His  character  by  Dr.  Drant,  75.     Ditto, 

by  Erasmus,  reference  to,  91. 

MoreYi,  Louis,  his  Grand  Dictionnaire  Historique,  1759,  433. 
Morhoff,  Daniel  George,  various  illustrative  references  to  his  Polyhistor 

Litterarius  Philosophies  et  Fractious,  301,  478,  486,  493,  494,  496. 

511,512,515. 

Morier,  Mr.  James,  his  Journies  through  Persia,  fyc.  418. 
Moryson,  Fynes,  his  Ten  Years  Travel  through  Germany,  fyc.  1617,  433. 

Extracts  from  ditto,  435-436.     Reprint  of  ditto,  1735,  435. 
Moschus,  modern  edition  of,  626. 

Mosheim,  Dr.  John  Lawrence,  his  Ecclesiastical  History,  1755,  118.     No- 
tice of  him,  119. 

Motteville,  Mad.  Franchise  Bertaux  de,  her  Me'moires,  1723,  542. 
Motraye,  Aubry  de  la,  his  Voyage  en  Europe,  Asie,  et  Afrique,  1727,  422. 
Moule,  Mr.  his  Bibliotheca  rferaldica  commended,  Pref.  iii. 
Moyes,  Mr.,  his  printing  of  Mr.  Wiffen's  Tasso,  1824,  763.     Of  the  New 

Memoirs  of  Jeanne  D'Arc,  834. 
Munday,  Anthony,  Banquet  of  Daintie  Conceits,  1588,  700.      Fountayne 

of  Fame,  1580,  701. 

Mundy,  Anthony,  his  Brief  e  Chronicle  of  the  Successe  of  Times,  1611,  182. 
Muratori,  Luigi  Antonio,  Scriptores  Rerum  Italicarum,  1723-51,138,320, 

Notices  of  his  other  Works,  139,  321.     Character  and  Works  of,  319. 
Murdin,  Rev.  William,  his  edition  of  the  Burghley  Papers,  1749,  285. 
Murdock,  Patrick,  his  edition  of  Thomson's  Seasons,  1/62,  732. 
Murphy,  Arthur,  his  Translations  of  Tacitus  andSallust,  137.     His  edition 

of  Johnson's  Works,  609. 

,  James  Cavannah,  his  Antiquities  of  the  Arabs  in  Spain,  and  His- 
tory of  the  Mahometan  Empire  in  Spain,  310.     His  Plans,  fyc.  of  the 

Church  of  Batalha,  and  Travels  in  Portugal,  311. 
Murray,  Mr.  Hugh,  his  Historical  Account  of  Discoveries  and  Travels  in 

Asia  and  Africa,  1818-20,  368—457- 
>,  Mr.  John,  his  publication  of  the  Voyages  of  Captains  Franklin 

and  Parry,  340.    His  copy  of  Knolles'  History  of  the  Turks,  432.   Of 

Campbell's  Essay  on  English  Poetry,  large  paper,  737-    Of  the  first 

folio  Shakspeare,*  814. 

Muscovy,  Muscoviticarum  Rerum  Scriptores,  1600,  357- 
Museum,  the  British,  Vide  Garrick,  Library  of,  references  to  the  Catalogue 

of  the,  99,  683. 

So 


890  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Museum  Criticum,  various  illustrative  references  to  the,  573,  624,  625. 

Musgrave,  Sir  Richard,  History  of  the  Irish  Rebellion,  1743,  251. 

Mussy,  Luigi,  his  edition  of  Mac/uavell?*  Works,  1810,  322.  His  impres- 
sion of  Dante,  1809,  753. 

Myrrour  of  the  Churche,  1514,  649. 

Mysteries  and  Moralities,  French,  vide  Lang.  Le  Mlstere  de  la  Passion, 
776.  English,  vide  Markland,  Sharp. 

Nalson,  Rev.  John,  his  Impartial  Collection  of  the  Great  Affairs  of  State, 
1682,  283. 

Nashe,  Thomas,  character  of  his  Works,  5,  593.  A  pleasant  Comedle, 
called  Summer's  Last  Will  and  Testament,  1600,  786. 

Nelson,  Horatio  Lord,  Memoirs  of,  537. 

,  Robert,  his  English  edition  of  Bishop  Bull's  Works,  &c.  62. 

Nemours,  la  Duchesse  de,  Memoirs  of,  1738,  541. 

Nepos  Cornelius,  best  editions  of  his  Lives,  491. 

Nestorius,  character  of  his  Library,  Pref.  xxii. 

Neunberg,  Mr.  G.  V.,  sale  of  his  copy  of  Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs,  107-  Of 
a  Tract  concerning  Judge  Hales  and  Bishop  Gardiner,  1 18.  Of  Ful- 
well's  Flower  of  Fame,  1697. 

Newberv,  William  of, — Hlstorla  slve  Chronlca  Rerum  Angllcarum,  1719, 
145,  219. 

Newbery,  Mr.,  recent  vendor  of  Books  for  Children,  Pref.  xiv. 

Newdigate,  Sir  Roger,  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 

Newman,  Arthur,  sale  and  price  of  his  Pleasure's  Vision  ,  1619,  647. 

Newton,  Sir  Isaac,  best  edition  of  his  Works,  611. 

,  Dr.  Thomas,  Bishop  of  Bristol,  his  edition  of  Milton's  Works, 

1749-54,  611,  708. 

Niagara,  Descriptions  of  the  Falls  and  Rapids  at,  365,  366. 

New  College,  Oxford,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  Aristotle's  Works,  by 
Aldus,  on  vellum,  522. 

Niceron,  John  Peter,  references  to  his  Me'molres  des  Hommes  Illustres, 
1729-40,  151,  201,  323,  342,  370,  459,  485.  Particulars  of  ditto,  547- 

Nichols,  Mr.  John,  reference  to  his  Brief  Memoir  of  W.  Bowyer,  1778, 
156.  To  his  Anecdotes  of  Literature,  1/80,  205,  206,  558.  His 
Fragment  of  the  Sixth  Volume  of  the  Biographia  Britannica,  488.  Re- 
ferences to  his  Literary  Anecdotes,  499,  509.  Particulars  concerning 
them,  556.  His  edition  of  Swift's  Works,  1808,  606.  His  account  of 
Robert  Herrick,  702. 

Nicolson,  Dr.  William,  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  various  references  to  his  Histo, 
Libraries,  1736,  144,  145,  149,  186,  189,  193,  194,  197,  198,  199, 
207,  240,  241,  243,  244,  245,  246,  249,  250,  262,  264,  265,  269,  278. 
Editions  and  prices  of  ditto,  507. 

Nicol,  Mr.  George,  his  vellum  copy  of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13.  His  pub- 
lication of  Capt.  Cook's  Third  Voyage,  396.  His  copy  of  the  first  folio 
Shakspeare,  815. 

,  Mr.  William,  his  account  of  the  Fourth  Volume  of  Rudbeck's  At- 

lantica,  355.     Of  Hollinshed's  Chronicles,  186. 

Nicolay,  Mr.  H.  B.  his  expected  new  edition  of  Davison's  Poetical  Rhap- 
sodies, 720. 
i     -,  Nicolas,  his  Navigations,  Peregrinations,  et  Voyages,  15/6,  431. 

Niebuhr,  Carsten,  his  Description  de  I' Arable,  1773,  424. 

Nieuhoff,  John,  his  Embassy  from  the  Dutch  East  India  Company  to  the 
Emperor  of  China,  1665,  428. 

Nodal,  Bartolomeo  Garcia,  and  GonQalo,  their  Relation  del  Viage  al  descu- 
brimiento  del  estrecho  nuevo  di  S.  Vincente,  y  reconoscimiento  de  Magei~ 
lanes,  1621,  462. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  891 

Nordberg,  J.  A.  Histoire  de  Charles  XII.  Roi  de  Sue'de,  1748,  354. 

Norden,  Frederick  Louis,  his  Voyage  d'Egypte  ctde  Nubie,  441. 

Norris,  Mr.,  reference  to  his  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Liverpool,  1822,  87. 

North,  Hon.  Roger,  Origin  of  his  Examen,  1740,  206.  His  Biographies, 
1742,  520. 

Northern  Histories,  vide  Synoptical  Table.  Additional  publications  relat- 
ing to,  836. 

Notary,  Julian,  his  editions  of  Caxton's  Chronicle,  &c.  171.  His  impres- 
sion of  John  Splynter,  658.  Of  the  Loue  betwene  Mars  and  Venus, 
ibid. 

Nott,  Dr.  George  Frederick,  his  edition  of  the  Poems  of  the  Earl  of  Surrey 
and  Sir  Thomas  Wyatt,  1815,  683.  His  Reflections  on  the  Death  of 
the  former,  684.  Quotations  from  the  above,  745. 

Noitveau  Dictionnaire  Historique,  various  illustrative  references  to,  320, 
321. 

Nugent,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  English  Translation  of  Benvenuto  Cellini's  Me- 
moirs, 1771,  560. 

Nye,  Rev.  Stephen,  reference  to  his  Account  and  Defence  of  the  Canon  of 
the  New  Testament^  35. 

Ocampo,  Florian  de,  his  edition  of  Cordova's  Chronicle  of  Spain,  1541, 
305.  His  Chronica  General  d'Espanu,  ibid. 

O'Connor,  Dr.  Charles,  Librarian  to  the  Marquess  of  Buckingham,  his 
Remarks  on  Lynch's  Life  of  Kirwan,  246.  On  the  Primatiale  Arma- 
canum  in  omnes  Archiepiscopiis,  250.  His  Tracts  on  Irish  History, 
1812,  259.  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores  Veteres,  1814,  ibid. 

,  Dermot,  his  edition  of  •  Keating* s  General  History  of  Ireland, 
1723,  250. 

Octavian  and  the  Sybils,  a  French  Mystery,  777. 

Offelius, — his  Rerum  Boicarum  Scriptores,  1763,  335. 

O'Flaherty,  Roderic,  his  Attacks  on  Peter  Walsh,  246.  His  Ogygia  seu 
Rerum  Hibernicarum  Chronologia,  1685,  249. 

Ogilby,  John,  his  Africa,  1670,  439.    His  History  of  America,  1671,  460. 

Ogle,  Duncan  and  Co.  Messrs.,  their  Catalogue  commended,  Pref.  xxvi. 
References  to,  22,  23,  24,  43,  48,  54,  87, 103, 107,  111,  112,  122. 

O'Halloran,  General  Sylvester,  his  General  History  of  Ireland,  1772,251. 

Olaus,  Elricus,  his  Historia  Suecorum  Gothorumque,  1654,  351. 

Olaus  Magnus,  Archbishop  of  Upsal,  his  book  De  Gentibus  Septentrionalis, 
1555,  342. 

Oldys,  William,  various  references  to  his  British  Librarian,  1737,  163,  174, 
278,  378. 

Origen,  Adamantius,  best  edition  and  price  of  his  works,  47. 

Orleans,  Due  d',  Me'moires  of,  1685,  543. 

Ormond,  James,  Duke  of,  alluded  to  in  the  work  called  Unkind  Deserter  of 
Loyal  Men,  1676,  249,  833. 

Ortus  Vocabulorum,  1500,  570. 

Osanna, — his  edition  of  Tasso,  1584,  761. 

Osborne,  Thomas,  prices  in  his  Catalogues  for  Poleno's  Utriusque  The- 
sauri Antiquitatum,  &c.  139.  For  Holinshed's  Chronicles,  187.  For 
Heath's  Chronicle  of  the  Wars  in  England,  192.  For  Sandford's  Ge- 
nealogical History,  208.  For  Hearne's  Leland's  Itinerary,  216.  Of 
Prynne's  Records,  279.  Of  Birch's  Lives  of  Illustrious  Persons,  500. 
Of  Caxton's  Governayle  of  Health,  654.  Of  his  Fruitful  and  Ghostly 
Matters,  669.  Of  his  Life  of  St.  Wenefrid,  ibid.  Of  his  Virgil's 
^Eneid,  ibid. 


•9*  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Osburn,  Thomas,  his  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels  from  the  Earl  of  Oat- 
ford's  Library,  1745,  387,  388,  391. 

Osullevanus,  Phillippus,  his  Histories  Catholic  ce  Iber  nice  Compendium  y  1621, 
242. 

Oswen,  John,  his  Worcester  edition  of  the  Common  Prayer,  1549,  42. 

Otterbourne,  Thomas,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Rerum  Anglrarum  Scrip- 
tores  Veteres,  1/32,  226. 

Ottley,  Mr.  William  Young,  reference  to  his  History  of  Engraving,  752. 

Otridge,  Mr.  his  collection  of  Brace's  Travels,  446. 

Otway,  Thomas,  his  Dramatic  Works,  1812,  822. 

Oudin,  Pere  Casimir,  his  Commentarius  de  Scriptoribus  Antiquis,  1722,  112. 

Ovidius,  Naso,  Publius  editions  of,  630. 

Oviedo  y  Valdes,  Gonqalo  Hernandez  de,  Summaria  de  la  Historia  General 
y  Natural  de  las  Indias,  islas  y  terra  Jirma  del  mar  Ocean,  457. 

Ouseley,  Sir  William,  his  Travels  in  various  countries  of  the  East,  1819, 
418. 

Paesi  novamente  ritrovati,  1507,  369. 

Pagninus,  Sanctus,  his  Latin  Bible,  1528,  16. 

Paley,  William,  Archdeacon  of  Carlisle,  character  of  his  writings,  88. 

Pallas,  Dr.  Peter  Simon,  his  Observations  faites  dans  un  Voyage  entrepri* 
dans  les  Gouvernemens  Meridionaux  de  V  Empire  de  Russie,  1801,  363. 

Palsgrave,  John,  his  Ecclaircissemens  de  la  Langue  Frangoise,  1530,  568.  His 
Comedy  e  of  Acolastus,  1540,  569. 

Paradise  of  Dainty  Devices,  1576,  690. 

Paraineticomm  Veterum  Swiptores  VIII.  1604,  242. 

Park,  Muiigo,  his  Travels  in  the  Interior  Districts  of  Africa,  1823,  449. 

—  ,  Mr,  Thomas,  his  edition  of  the  Harleian  Miscellany,  285.  Of  Har- 
ringtoti's  Nugce  Antiques,  286.  His  account  of  Whetstone's  works, 
595.  Of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  Prophecye  of  Merlin,  649.  Of  the 
Phrenix  Nest,  691.  Of  Davies's  Works,  710,  711.  Of  Withers's 
works,  /ll. 

Parker,  Matthew,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  his  Antiquitates  Britannicas 
EcclesicB,  1572,  107.  Notices  of  his  Portrait,  108,  109.  His  editions 
ofAsser&nd  Thomas  of  Walsingham,  1574,  142.  Praise  of  by  Gibbon, 
143. 

Parliament  of  Devylles,  1509,  653. 

Paris,  Royal  Library  of,  copies  there  of  the  Complutensian  Polyglot,  /. 
Of  the  Mentz  Bible,  12.  Of  Pfister's  ditto,  14.  Of  Bishop  Taylor's 
works,  53.  Of  Renouard's  edit,  of  Massillon's  Sermons,  93.  'First 
edition  of  Bede's  Church  History,  105.  Of  Philip  de  Comines,  on 
vellum,  168.  Of  Le  Nouveau  Monde  d'Americ  de  Vespuce,  370.  Of 
De  Bry's  Voyages,  373.  Of  Holland's  Basiloologia,  494.  Of  Eustra- 
tius  de  Moribus'  Commentary  on  Aristotle,  large  paper,  574.  Of  the 
editio  princeps  of  Homer,  615.  Ditto,  of  Theocritus,  on  large  paper, 
620.  Of  early  editions  of  Virgil,  627.  Of  the  edit.  prin.  of  Ovid,  630. 
Ditto  of  Ariosto,  757- 

,  copy  there  of  the  Aldine  Aristotle,  on  vellum, 


573. 

Paris,  Matthew  of,  editions,  &c.  of  his  Historia  Major,  158,  159. 
Parry,  Capt.  William  Edward,  his  Journal  of  a  Voyage  for  the  Discovery  of 

a  North  West  Passage,  1821,  338,  341.     Account  of  the  Trade  Sale 

on   the  publication  of,  340.      His  second  voyage  to  the  Polar  Sea, 

1824,  834. 
Pasquil's  Jests  mixed  with  Mother  Bunches  Merriment,  1609,  600.     Sale  of 

at  Sir  M.  Sykes's  Library,  842. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  893 

Patrick,  St,  various  editions  of  his  Life  and  Acts,  238. 

Patrick,  Dr.  Simon,  Bishop  of  Ely,  his  English  Bible  and  Commentary \ 
1731,36,37. 

Patten,  W. ,  his  Expedition  of  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  266. 

Paul's,  St.  Cathedral  Library  of,  ancient  New  Testaments  in  the,  29.  De- 
cayed state  of  the  Bibles  there,  32. 

Pausamas,  best  editions  and  prices  of,  134. 

Payne  and  Foss,  Messrs. ;  their  Catalogues  commended,  Pref.  xxv. 

,  references  to  their  catalogue,  PASSIM  ;  14,  23,  24,  43,  44. 

48,  52,  101,  105,  107,  110,  122,  130,  153,  165,  187,  189,  195,  197, 
202,  204,  207, 208,  210,  213,  222,  223,  248,  251,  259 

Peacham,  Henry,  Complete  Gentleman,  1622,  597.  His  Worth  of  a  Penny. 
1642,598. 

Pearson,  Dr.  John,  Bishop  of  Chester,  character  of  his  writings,  49.  His 
Exposition  of  the  Creed,  51.  Editions  and  Abridgments  of  ditto,  53. 

Pedler's  Prophecie,  1595,  787. 

Peele,  George,  David  and  Bathsheba,  783,  785.     Old  Wives  Tale,  ibid. 

Peraberton,  Dr.  Henry,  his  edition  of  Newton's  Principia,  1726,  611. 

Pembroke,  Earl  of,  his  vellum  copy  of  Fust's  and  Schoiffer's  Bible,  15.  Of 
Caxton's  Eleven  Grammars,  566. 

— ,  Mary,  Countess  of,  Antonius,  or  the  Tragedy  of  Marc  Anthony, 

1595,  786. 

Penn,  William,  extracts  from  his  No  Cross  no  Crown,  56.  His  imitation 
of  Anthony  Brewer's  Lingua,  57- 

Pennant,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  Tour  in  Wales,  1778,  275. 

Pepysian  Library,  Cambridge,  copies  there  of  Purchas'  Pilgrims,  381.  Of 
Hudson's  Greek  Geographers,  402.  Collection  of  Facetiae  there,  598. 
Collection  of  Ballads  there,  662.  Of  Old  English  Poetry  there,  665. 
Copy  there  of  Lydgate's  Siege  of  Troy,  on  vellum,  668.  Of  Caxton's 
2d.  edit,  of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  670. 

Percival,  Robert,  his  Account  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  1804,  452. 

Percy,  Dr.  Thomas,  Bishop  of  Dromore,  reference  to  his  Old  Ballads, 
1794,  174.  His  English  Translation  of  Mallet's  Northern  Antiquities, 
348. 

,  William,  The  Cuck  Queanes.  The  Faery  Pastoratt,  781.  Sonnets 

to  Celia,  1594,  843. 

Pe're'nxe,  Hardouin  de,  Archbishop  of  Paris,  his  Histoire  de  Henri  le  Grand, 
1664,  557. 

Peringskiold,  John,  his  edition  of  Snorro  Stitrleson's  Chronicle,  1697,  342, 
Ditto  of  Messenius'  Chronologia,  1700,  344.  His  Notes  on  the  Scandia 
Illustrate  of  ditto,  1700,  351.  His  Monumenta  Sueo-Gothica,  1710, 
353. 

Perouse,  John  Francis  Galoup  de,  his  praise  of  Capt.  Cook,  395.  His  Voy- 
age autour  du  Monde,  1/97,  399. 

Perrault,  Charles,  his  Hommes  Illustres,  &c.  1696-1/00,  497. 

Persius  Flaccus,  Aulus,  editions  of,  632. 

Peru,  Historic  van  Coninkryh  ran  Peru,  1573,  476. 

Perry,  Mr.  James,  his  late  collection  of  Facetiae,  5.  His  copy  of  the  Ma- 
zarine Bible,  13.  Sale  of  his  pamphlets  on  the  French  Revolution, 
299.  Of  his  copy  of  Fraunce's  Phyllis  and  Amyntas,  589.  Of  De- 
foe's works,  607.  Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  814. 

Peter  I.  Czar  of  Muscovy,  various  Memoirs  of,  362. 

Petersburg,  Imperial  Academy  of,  Atlas  Russicus,  published  by,  1743,  358, 

Petrarch,  Francesco,  editions  of,  754. 


894  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Petrie,  Mr.  Henry,  Keeper  of  the  Records  in  the  Tower,  his  copy  of  the 
Acta  Sanctorum,  103.  His  researches  after  the  remaining  Manu- 
scripts of  do.  104.  His  notice  of  the  Annals  of  Waverley,  154.  His 
copy  of  Muratori's  Scriptores,  320. 

Petronius  Arbiter,  best  editions  of,  582. 

Pez,  Bernard,  his  Scriptores  Rerum  Austriacarum,  1721,  332.  His  The- 
saurus Anecdotorum  Novissimus,  1721,  337. 

Pfister,  Albertus,  notice  of  his  Latin  Bible,  13. 

Phillips,  Edward,  his  Continuation  of  Baker's  Chronicle,  1660,  193. 

Phoenix  Nest,  1593,  691. 

Physiognomical  Portraits  ;  work  so  called  commended,  Pref.  iv. 

Picedi,  Papirio,  his  Annotations,  &c.  on  Guicciardini' s  Istoria  d'ltalia, 
1564,329. 

Pickering-,  Mr.  his  Miniature  Virgil,  629.  His  edition  of  Chaucer's  Can- 
terbury Tales,  1822,  676.  Various  References  to  Tyrvvhit's  Introduc- 
tion to,  673,  6/4.  His  intended  editions  of  Italian  Poets,  750.  His 
miniature  impression  of  Shakspeare,  SOI.  His  sale  copies  of  the  first 
four  folios  of  Shakspeare,  816. 

Pigafetta,  Antonio,  his  Voyage  round  the  World,  1517,  398. 

-•  Filippo,  his  Account  of  the  Kingdom  of  Congo,  398. 

Pin,  Louis  Ellies  Du,  his  Universal  Library  of  Historians,  1/09,  13. 

Pindarus,  editions  of,  621. 

Pine,  John,  his  edition  of  Horace,  1733,  636. 

Pinkerton,  John,  reference  to  his  Vitas  Antiques  Sanctorum,  1789,  241. 
His  edition  of  Barbour's  Bruce,  1790,  262.  His  Historical  work  on 
Scotland,  272.  His  Collection  of  Voyages  and  Travels,  1808-14,  389. 
Various  references  to  ditto,  398,  399,  402,  406,  409,  411,  420,  421, 
422,  423,  427,  429,  430,  441,  447,  464,  466,  469,  4/5,  477.  His 
Geography,  1817,  389. 

Pinnock's  Catechisms ;  great  sale  of,  Pref.  xiv. 

Pinto,  Ferdinand  Mendez  de,  his  Voyages  and  Adventures,  405. 

Pistorius,  John,  his  Rerum  Germanicarum  Scriptores  aliquot  Insignea, 
1726-31,  331. 

Pitman,  Rev.  John  Rogers,  his  censure  of  the  old  editions  of  Taylor's 
works,  54.  Family  Shakspeare,  18,  818.  His  expected  edition  of 
Lightfoot's  works,  831. 

Pits,  John,  his  Relationes  Historicee  de  Rebus  Anglicis,  506. 

Plantin,  Christopher,  his  Antwerp  Polyglot  Bible,  1569-72,  9. 

Plato,  best  editions  of  his  works,  572. 

Plautus,  editions  of,  838. 

Plays?,  Volumes  of  in  the  Malone  Collection  at  Oxford,  787- 

Pliny,  C.  Csecilius  Secundus,  best  editions  of  his  Epistles,  581. 

Plowden,  Dr.  Francis,  his  Historical  Review  of  the  State  of  Ireland,  1804, 
252. 

Plutarchus,  best  editions  of  his  Parallel  Lives,  489. 

Pococke,  Dr.  Richard,  Bishop  of  Meath,  his  Description  of  the  East  and 
some  other  countries,  F/43,  421,  441. 

Poetry,  Old  English,  sale  and  prices  of,  644,  647,  669,  726,  727- 

Poetry,  various  pieces  and  fragments  of,  19,  34,  52,  125,  126,  191,  221, 
229,  262,  263,  304,  384,  385,  590,  593,  618,  619,  649,  650,  653,  654, 
655,  656,  658,  659,  660,  662,  663,  666,  667,  668,  671,  680,  681,  705, 
712,  714,  717,  718,  720,  721,  728,  745,  763,  779,  803,  810. 

Poleno,  John,  Utriusque  Thesauri  Antiquitatum  Romanarum  Grtecarumque, 
1753,  138. 

Polo,  Marco,  character  and  new  edition  of  his  Travelt,  403.  Translations 
of,  404. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  896 

Polybius,  best  edition  of,  137. 

Ponton,  Mr.  Thomas,  his  collection  of  Strype's  Biographies,  large  paper, 

517- 
Pontoppidan,  Eric,  Bishop  of  Bergen,  his  Natural  History  of  Norway, 

1755,  350. 

Poole,  Matthew,  his  Synopsis  Criticorum,  1669,  48. 
Poole,  Mr.  E.  his  intended  work  on  the  Elzevir  Press,  Pre.f  xix. 
Pope,  Alexander,  account  of  his  works,  726,  731.     His  edition  of  Shak- 

speare,  1725,  793. 

Porret,  M.  his  Voyage  en  Barbarie,  1789,  448. 
Porro,  Girolamo,  his  embellishments  to  Ariosto,  758. 
Porter,  Sir  Robert  Kerr,  his  Travels  in  Asia,  1822,  418. 
Portuguese,  Itinerarium  Portugallensium  in  Indiam  et  inde  in  Occidentem, 

1508,  369. 
Pory,  John,  his  English  Translation  of  Africanus's  Description  of  Africa, 

439. 

Possevinus,  Antonius,  prices  of  his  Muscovia,  1587,  342. 
Potter,  Dr.  John,  Bishop  of  Oxford,  his  Antiquities  of  Greece,  136. 
Poulle,  Abbs'  Louis,  excellence  of  his  Sermons,  1778,  87. 
Poullet,  le  Sieur,  his  Nouvelles  Relations  du  Levant,  1668,  430. 
Powel,  Rev.  David,  his  edition  of  Virunii  Historia  Britannica,  1585,  144. 
Praetorius,  Matthew,  his  Orbis  Gothicus,  1688,  343. 
Pray,  George,  his  works  on  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Hungary,  332, 

333. 

Prayer-Books,  early,  vide  Synoptical  Table.     Additions  to,  830. 
Priests  may  lawfully  marry,  extract  from,  28. 
Prior,  Matthew,  Poetical' Works,  1718,  727. 
Promptuarius  Puerorum,  1499,  570. 
Propertius,  Sextus  Aurelius,  Editions  of,  641. 
Prophecy  e  of  Merlin,  1510,  649. 
Prynne,  William,  his  Records,  1666-70,  278.     Destruction  of  ditto,  ibid. 

His  Observations  on  the  Sale  of  Shakspeare's  Plays,  792. 
Puerto,  Alonso  del,  his  edition  of  falera's  Cronica  de  Espana,  1482,  304. 
Puffendorf,  Samuel,  his  Commentariorum  de  Rebus   Suecicis,  1686,  353. 

His  Res  Gestce  Caroli  Gustavi,  1696,  354. 
Purchas,  Revd.  Samuel,  his  Pilgrims  and  Pilgrimage,  1625-26,  381.     His 

verses  to  Capt.  Smith,  385. 

Puteanus,  Erycius,  his  collection  of  Public  Acts,  512. 
Pyrard,  Francis,  his  Navigation  aucc  Indes  Orientales,  1615,  406. 
Quadrio,  Francesco  Saverio,  his  mention  of  Mazocio's  Ariosto,  757- 
Quarterly  Review ;  extensive  sale,  Pref.  xvii. 
Quarterly  Review,  sundry  references  to,  86,  88,  103,  273,  303,  380,  400, 

413,  414,  416,  418,  422,  426,  431,  443,  445,  448,  450,  471,  474,  520, 

532,  537,  538,  548,  554,  562,  732,  747,  751,  763,  821. 
Queen's  College,  Oxford,  Christmas  Carol  Sung  at,  659. 
Quintilianus,  Marcus  Fabius,  editions  of  his  Oratorical  Institutes,  582. 
Racine,  Jean,  editions  of  his  works,  767- 
Raderus,  Matthew,  his  Bavaria  Sancta,  et  Bavaria  Pia,  1615,  1628,  335. 

His  edition  of  Martial,  1607,  633. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  his  Relation  of  the  Discovery  of  Guiana,  1596,  464. 
Ralph,  James,  History  of  England  during  the  reigns  of  King  William, 

Queen  Ann,  and  King  George  /.,  234. 
Ramon,  Noguera  y,  his  edition  of  Mariana's  Spanish  History,  1733,  96, 

309. 


896  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Ramusio,  John  Baptist,  account  of  him  and  his  Navigation  e  Ptavri. 
1563,  370. 

Randolph,  Thomas,  his  Poems  and  Dramas,  1640,  718. 

Randulffus,  Envald  Nicholas,  his  Tula  Danica,  1644,  347. 

Rapin-Thoyras,  Paul  de,  editions  of  his  Histoire  d'Angleterre,  212.  His 
Acta  Regia,  283. 

Rastell,  John,  his  Pasty  me  of  People,  178. 

William,  his  edition  of  Fabian's  Chronicle,  1533,  176,  of  the  Sta- 
tutes, 277- 

Rawlinson,  Dr.  Richard,  references  to  his  New  Method  of  Studying  His* 
tort/,  1728,-30,  99,  102,  145,  206,  207. 

Raymond,  M.  Damaze  de,  his  Tableau  historique,  ge'ographique,  militaire, 
et  naval  de  la  Russie,  1812,  359. 

Raynal,  Abb£  Guillaume  Thomas,  his  Histoire  des  Etablissemens  et  du  Com- 
merce des  Europeans  dans  les  deux  Indes,  1770,  410. 

Raynald,  Odoric,  Epitome  of  his  Ecclesiastical  Annals,  1668,  102. 

Raynouard,  M.  ChoLv  des  Poesies  Originates  des  Troubadours,  1807,  765. 
Lais,  Fables,  et  autres  productions  de  Marie  de  France,  1820,  ib. 

Recueil  des  Historiens  des  Gauls,  &c.  1738,  &c.  139,  &c. 

Reed,  Isaac,  his  editions  of  Shakspeare,  799.  Reference  to  do.  727.  His 
edition  of  Dodsley's  Old  Plays,  1780,  780. 

Reeves,  Mr.  John,  his  editions  of  the  Bible  and  Prayer  Book,  44. 

Reineccius,  Reinier,  notice  of  his  Fovr-Tongtt&d  Bible,  1750,  10. 

Reitzius,  ...  his  edition  of  Herodotus,  132. 

Remedy  of  Love,  1600,  651. 

Renneil,  Major  James,  his  Geography  of  Herodotus,  1800,  132.  His  Me- 
moir of  a  Map  of  Hindoostan,  1785,  411,  419.  His  Bengal  Atlas,  and 
works  on  Classical  Geography,  419.  His  Memoir  on  the  Geography 
of  Africa,  449. 

Dr.  Thomas,  Dean  of  Winchester,  his  folio  copy  of  Strype's  works, 

118. 

Renneil,  Revd.  T.  late  Vicar  of  Kensington,  his  copy  of  Herbert's  Temple, 
702. 

Rennie,  Mr.  John,  his  copy  of  Fernando  de  Menezes  Historia  de  Tanger, 
448.  Of  Las  Casas  Relation  de  la  Destruycion  de  las  Indias,  458.  Of 
the  Tears  of  the  Indians,  477. 

Renouard,  M.  Antoine  August,  references  to  his  Annales  de  I'Imprimerie 
des  Aides  25,  322,  416.  To  his  Catalogue  de  la  Bibliotheque  d'un 
Amateur,  540,  541,  542,  759,  765,  767,  771.  His  edition  of  Massil- 
lon's  Sermons,  1810,  93.  Of  Corneille,  767.  Of  Boileau,  1809,  769, 
Of  Voltaire,  771.  Of  Cresset,  1811,  773.  His  account  of  the  editions 
of  Amyot's  Plutarch,  490.  His  copy  of  Brettoneau's  editio"  ^f  Bour- 
daloue,  93.  Of  the  Baskerville  Ariosto,  IbJ.  <•  '..  .v^s  Fasso, 
761.  Of  Fontaine's  Works,  762.  Of  the  first  ed.  r  tutus,  838. 

Repton,  Mr.  J  A.,  his  Fragment  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  Syr  begore,  658. 

Resenius,  Peter  John,  his  Leges  Antiques  Aulicce  Norvegorum  et  Danorum, 
1673,  347. 

Retrospective  Review ;  commendation  of,  Pref.  xviii. 

Retrospective  Review,  references  to,  91,  282,  420,  596,  602,  603,  605,  608, 
609,  611,  673,  712,  715,  719,  720, 722,  781. 

Retz,  John  Francois  Paul  de  Gondi,  Cardinal  de,  his  Memoirs,  1731,  541. 

Reviews,  Pref.  xvi. 

Reuberus,  Justus,  Veteres  Scriptores  Rerum  Germanicarum,  1619,  33 1, 
Destruction  of  the  new  edition  of,  1726,  337. 

Reynard  the  Fox,  1481,  584. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  897 

Rhodes,  J.  B.  Esq.  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  816. 

Rhuukeuius,  David,  his  edition  of  Apuleius,  1786-1823,  581. 

Ricci,  Father  Matthew,  Litercc  Chinenses,  1517,  430. 

Rice,  Rev.  J.  M.  his  copy  of  the  Four  Leaves  of  True  Love,  651.     Of 

Skelton's  Works,  681. 

Richard  II.,  King  of  England,  ancient  memoirs  of,  225. 
Riche,  Barnabe,  his  Allarme  to  England,  252.     Extracts  from,  ib.  253. 

Titles  of  his  other  works  concerning  Ireland,  254.     Extract  from  his 

Catholicke  Conference,  ibid. 
Richelieu,  Armand  du  Plessis,  Cardinal  de,  his  Diamond-letter  Bible,  1656, 

17.     Memoirs  of,  1650-67,  541. 
Ridpath,  Rev.  George,  his  Border  History,  1776,  261. 
Riley,  James,  his  Authentic  Narrative  of  the  loss  of  the  Brig  Commerce  on 

the  Western  Coast  of  Africa,  1816,  450. 
Ritson,  Joseph,  (vide  Haslevvood),  his  censure  of  Matthew  of  Paris,  158. 

Remark  on  Arthur  Kelton,  181.     Censure  of  Snorro  Stuiieson,  342, 

do.     Of  Mallet's  Northern  Antiquities,  347.     Various  references  to 

his  Bibliographia  Poetica,  1819,  678,  679,  687,  698.     Expected  new 

edition  of,  667.    To  his  Ancient  Popular  Poetry,  1791,  357.     His 

censure  of  Lydgate,  668. 
Rivington's  and  Cochrane,  Messrs,  their  catalogue  commended ;  Pref.  xxvi. 

references  to,  7,  342,  343,  345,  346, 349,  350,  493,  517,  604,  611,  830. 

Set  of  the  Bampton  Lectures,  831. 
Rivius,  Dr.  Thomas'  Regiminis  Anglicani  in  Hibernia  Defensio  adversus 

Analecten,  1624,  243. 

Roberts,  Revd.  Peter,  Chronicle  of  the  Kings  of  Britain,  1810.  275. 
Robertson,  Dr.  William,  notice  of  his  History  of  Scotland,  21  \.     Of  his 

Life  of  the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  329,  523.     His  History  of  America, 

461. 

Robinson,  Clement,  Handefutt  of  Pleasant  Delites,  1584,  691,  749. 
Robortellus,  Francis,  his  edition  of  Callimachus,  1555,  624. 
Rocha  Pitta,  Sebastian  de,  his  Historia  da  America  Portuguesa,  1730,  470. 
Roche,  Mr.  James,  his  detection  of  a  passage  in  Warton's  edition  of  Pope, 

taken  from  Bayle,  798. 

Michael  de  la,  vide  Memoirs  of  Literature. 

Rochefoucalt,  Francois,  Due  de,  Me'moires  de  M.  D.  L.  R.  sur  les  brigues 

a  la  mort  de  Louis  XI1L,  1754,  544. 
Rodrigo,  King  of  Spain,  Chronicle  of,  303. 
Roe,  Sir  Thomas,  his  Voyages  to  the  East  Indies,  408. 
Roger,  Eugene,  Description  de  la  Terre  Sainte,  1664,  420. 
Rogers,  Major  Robert,  his  Concise  Account  of  North  America,  1765,  465. 
,  ]\^.  K-inpi.xi    excellence  of  his  Pleasures  of  Memory,  738.     Orna- 

memM'ei  cfd.  739.     Ode  to  superstition,  ibid.     Epistle  to  a 

Friend,     :   .       .  timan  Life,  ibid. 
Romeus  et  Juliet,  the  Tragicall  History  of,  1562,  803. 
Rondet,  Laurent  Etienne,  his   Table  Raisonnee  to  Fleunfs  Ecclesiastical 

History,   100.     Improves  Le  Long's  Bibliotheque  Historique  de  la 

France,  129. 
Rooth,  David,  Bishop  of  Ossory,  Analecta  Sacra  Nova  et  Miray  de  Rebus 

Catholicorum  in  Hibernia,  1617,  242. 

Roper,  William,  editions  of  his  Life  of  Sir  T.  More,  219,  513. 
Roquefort,  J.  B.  B.,  Glossaire  de  la  Langue  Romain,  1808,  765. 
Roques,  Pierre,  his  Continuation  of  Saurin's  Discourses,  1728-39,  95. 

3  P 


898  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Roscoe,  Thomas,  Historical  View  of  the  Literature  of  Smith  Europe,  324. 
His  Edition  of  the  Memoirs  of  Benvenuto  Cellini,  1823,  560. 

•  William,  his  Life  of  Lorenzo  de  Medicis,  1795,  525.     His  Life  and 

Pontificate  of  Leo  X.,  1805,  526.  His  Illustrations  of  the  Life  of  Lo- 
renzo de  Medicis,  1822,  528.  Eulogium  on  him  from  the  Sketch 
Book,  ibid.  His  expected  edition  of  Pope's  Works,  728.  Sale  of  his 
copy  of  Bartoli's  Tasso,  761. 

Rose,  Mr.  William  Stewart,  his  English  Translation  of  Ariosto,  762. 

Ross,  Capt.  John,  his  Voyage  of  Discovery  for  exploring  Baffin's  Bay, 
1819,  341. 

John,  Historia  Return  An&lice,  notice  of  Hearne's  edition  of,  1716. 

218. 

Rotermund,  H.  W.  his  Supplement  to  Joecher's  and  Adelung's  AUgemein* 
gelehrten  Lexicon,  487- 

Rotuli  Parliamentorum,  276. 

Rousseau,  Jean  Baptiste,  editions  of  his  poetical  works,  1797-  Crapelet's, 
773. 

Routh,  Dr.  Martin  Joseph,  account  of  his  Reliquiae  Sacrce,  1814,  46.  His 
edition  of  Burnefs  History  of  his  own  Time,  1823,  283. 

Rowe,  Nicholas,  his  edition  of  Shakspeare,  1709,  793. 

Rowlands,  Samuel,  Sale  and  Price  of  his  Knaves  of  Clubs,  Spades,  Diamonds, 
and  Hearts,  1611-12,  647,  703.  Betrayal  of  Christ,  1598,  703.  Doctor 
Merrie-man,  1609,  ibid.  Night  Raven,  1634,  ibid. 

Royal  Institution  Library  of  the,  copy  there  of  the  Thesaurus  Antiquita- 
tum  Sacrum,  48.  Of  the  Cologne  Edition  of  Bede's  Works,  105.  Of 
Labbe's  Collectio  Maxima  Conciliorum,  120.  Of  Bertram's  Scrip- 
tores,  157.  Of  Matthew  of  Westminster,  158.  Of  Holinshed's 
Chronicles,  187.  Of  Brady's  History  of  England,  203.  Of  Prynne's 
Records,  279.  Of  Belus'  Rerum  Hispanicarum  Scriptores  Aliquot, 
302.  Of  Steevens's  Translation  of  Mariana's  Spanish  History,  308. 
Of  the  Biographia  Britannica,  488.  Of  Anthony  a  Wood's  Athenze 
Oxonienses,  508. 

Royal  Society,  Library  of  the,  copy  there  of  an  illuminated  Froissart,  162. 
Of  the  Gesta  proxime  per  Portugalenses  in  India,  369.  Of  Wickliffe's 
Translation  of  the  Scriptures,  518. 

Roxburglie  Club,  Books  printed  for  the,  420,  650,  658,  683,  687,  720,  761, 
778,  781. 

Rubris,  John  Vincent  de,  his  Pinacotheca  Virorum  Illustrium,  1643-45, 
486. 

Rudbeck,  Olaus,  his  edition  of  Ver elms' s  Index  Linguce  Scytho-Scandicee, 
352.  Particular  description  of  his  Atlantica,  355. 

Ruddiman,  Thomas,  his  edition  of  Livy,  1751,  137.  Of  Buchanan's  His- 
tory, 265. 

Ruffhead,  Dr.  Owen,  his  edition  of  the  Statutes,  1763,  277- 

Rumold,  St.,  various  editions  of  his  Life  and  Acts,  238. 

Runnington,  Mr.  Serjeant  Charles,  his  Continuation  of  Ruff  head's  Statute*, 
1800,  277-  His  edition  of  the  Statutes,  1786,  ibid. 

Rushworth,  John,  Historical  Collections  of,  281. 

Russell,  Dr.  Alexander,  his  Natural  History  of  Aleppo,  1756,  422. 

Dr.  Patrick,  his  Account  of  the  Plague  at  Aleppo,  1791,  423. 

Russia,  Description  de  toutes  les  Nations  de  I' Empire  de  la  Russie,  1776, 
358.  Leg  Peuples  de  la  Russie,  1817,  364. 

Rycaut,  Sir  Paul,  his  edition  of  Knoltefs  History  of  the  Turks,  1687,  432. 
His  English  Translation  of  Vegtfz  Royal  Commentaries  of  Peru,  1688. 
477- 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  69» 

Rymer,  Thomas,  his  Fcedera,  various  editions  of,  282.    Notice  of  hia  works 

on  Tragedy,  ibid. 

Sabatier,  Peter,  notice  of  his  Latin  Bible,  1/43,  16. 
"Sackville,  Thomas,  Lord  Buckhurst,  682.     His  share  in  the  Mirror  for 

Magistrates,  685.     Gprbuduc,  783,  785.     Ferrex  and  Porrex,  ibid. 
Sacy,  A.  J.  Silvestre  de,  his  attack  on  Savary's  Lettres  sur  1'Egypte,  442. 
St.  John's  College,  Oxford,  Library  of,  copy  there  of  Grafton's  Bible  on 
vellum,  31.     Of  Grafton's  Chronicle,   185.    Of  Chartier's  Cathon, 
585.     Of  Caxton's  second  edition  of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  669. 
Sainte  Marthe,  Scevola  et  Louis  de,  their  Sammarthanorum  Gallia  Chris- 
tiana, 1715,  97- 
Salazar,  Dr.  Pedro  de,  his  edition  of  the  Chronicle  of  Don  Pedro  Gonzalez 

de  Mendozn,  1625,  304. 
Salisbury,  Cathedral,  Library  of,  mutilated  copy  of  Walton's  Polyglot, 

there,  8.     Of  the  Salisbury  Missal,  41. 
Sallengre,  Albert  Henri  de,  his  Novm  Thesaurus  Antiquitatum  Romanarum, 

1716-19,  138. 

Sallustius  Crispus,  best  edition  of,  137. 

Salt,  Mr.  Henry,  his  Travels  and  Collections  in  Abyssinia,  445. 
Sammes,  Aylett,  his  Britannia  Antiqua  Illustrata,  1676,  232. 
Sancho  the  Brave,  King  of  Spain,  his  Chronicle,  1554,  303. 
Sanctius,  Rodericus,  his  Historia  Hispanica,  1470,  301. 
Sandford,  Francis,  Lancaster  Herald,  his  Genealogical  History  of  England t 

1677.     His  Coronation  of  Kins?  James  II. ,  1687,  208. 

Mr.  buys  a  copy  of  the  Soncino  Hebrew  Bible,  829. 

Sandys,  George,  Travels  of,  421. 

Santos,  Emanuel  dos,   his    Continuation  of  Brito's  Monarchia  Lusitania, 

1729,  315. 
Savage,  James,  various  references  to  his  British  Librarian,  276,  499,  522, 

558. 
Sauvage,  Denis,  his  edition  of  the  Chroniquesde  St.  Denys,  1559, 163, 164. 

Of  Monstrelet's  Chronicles,  166. 
Savary,  Nicole,  his  Lettres  sur  1'Egypte,  1 785,  442. 
Savile,  Sir  Henry,  his  Scriptores  post  Bedarn,  146.    Best  edition  of,  149. 

Prices  of,  150. 
Saunders,  Mr.  his  sale  of  a  first  folio  Shakspeare,  810.     Of  a  first  edition 

of  Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs,  832. 

Savoy,  Duke  of,  his  vellum  copy  of  Plantin's  Polyglot,  9. 
Sauriu,  James,  his  character,  94.     Editions  of  his  works,  95. 
Sawbridsre,  Mr.  Henry,  his  collection  of  pictures  from  Hudibras,  by  Ho- 
garth, 723. 

Saxo  Grammaticus,  his  History  of  Denmark,  344. 
Saxon  Chronicle,  (vide  Gurney,  Ingram,)  various  historical  particulars  of 

the,  154. 

Scaliger,  Joseph,  his  praise  of  Baronius's  Ecclesiastical  Annals,  102. 
Schsefer,  ....  his  edition  of  Xenophon,  135,  do.    Of  Apollonius  Rhodiut, 

1810,  626. 

Schardius,  Simon,  De  Rebus  Germanicis,  1574,  331. 
Scheffer,  John,  his  works  concerning  Sweden,  352. 
Scheuchchzer,  J.  G.,  his  translation  of  Kaempfer's  History  of  Japan,  1728, 

426. 
Schilter,  John,  his  Thesaurus  Antiquitatum  Teutonicarum  Ecclesiasticarum 

et  Literarium,  1728,  344. 

Schoenmaun,  C.T.  G.,  his  Bibliotheca  Patrum,  1792,  47. 
Schoettgenius,  Christian,  his  Diplomataria  ct  Scriptores  Historic!  Germa- 

mces  Medii  J£m,  1753,331. 


900  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Schott,  Andrew,  his  Hispania  fllustrata,  1603,  302. 

Schweighaeuser,  John,  his  edition  of  Herodotus,  1816,  132.  His  Lexicon 
Herodoteum,  ibid.  His  edition  of  Polybius,  1785-89,  137.  Of  Athe- 
neeus,  1801,577- 

Scoresby,  Mr.  William,  his  account  of  the  Arctic  Regions,  1819,  341. 
Scott,  Sir  Walter,  excellence  of  the  Poems  and  Notes  in  his  Minstrelsy  of 
the  Scottish  Border,  261,  740.     His  edition  of  Lord  Somers's  Tracts, 
1809-16,  284,  740.     Ditto  of  Dn/den's  Works,  1808,  1821,  603,  726, 
740.    Ditto  of  Swift's  ditto,  1814,  605,  740.     His  Literary  character, 
739.    Versatility  of  his  Genius,  740. 
Scourge  of  Venus,  1613.     Verses  from  720. 
Seckendorff,  Vitus  Louis  de,  his  Commentarius  Historicus  Apologeticus  de 

Lutheranismo,  1694,  527. 
Second  Maiden's  Tragedy,  780. 
Sedan  New  Testament,  unique  copy  of  the,  40, 
Selden,  John,  his  notices  of  misprints  in  the  Bible,  35.     His  edition  of 

Eadmer,  1623,  157.     His  notes  on  Drayton's  Polyolbion,  717 
Seneca,  Lucius  Annaeus,  best  editions  of  his  works,  16/2,  580. 
Senkenberg,  Baron  H.  C.  de,  his  Continuation  of  Hieberlin's  Modern  His- 
tory of  Germany,  1804,  332. 

Sepulveda,   John  Genes  de,  allusion  to  his  Vindication  of  the  Cruelties  of 
the  Spaniards  against  the  Indians,  459. 

-,  Lorenzo,  his  Romances  de  la  Cronica  de  Espana,  1580,  459. 

Serassi,  Pietro  Antonio,  his  observation  on  Osanna's  Tasso,  761. 

Sermons,  Modern,  Vide  Synoptical  Table.     Additions  to,  831. 

Serra,  Jose  Correa  de,  his  Collecao  de  Livros  ineditos  de  Historia  Portu- 

gueza,  1790,  317- 

Serrarius,  Nicholas,  his  Res  Moguntince,  1722,  336. 
Servetus,  Michael,  notice  of  his  Latin  Bible,  16. 
Shakspeare,  William,  account  of  all  the  earlier  and  some  late  editions  of 

his  Plays,  781—817- 

Sharp,  Dr.  John,  Prebendary  of  Durham,  bequeaths  a  Library  to  Barn- 
burgh  Castle,  8. 

,  Mr.  Thomas,  his  expected  edition  of  the  Coventry  Mysteries,  779. 

Sharpe,  Rev.  John,  his  expected  Translation  of  William  of  Newbury,  145. 

His  Translation  of  William  of  Malmsbury,  1815,  148. 
Shaw,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  Travels  and  Observations  in  several  parts  of  Bar- 

bary  and  the  Levant,  448. 
Shepherd,  Rev.  William,  his  account  of  the  editions  of  the  Life  of  Poggio, 

324.     His  Life  of  Poggio  Bracciolini,  1802,  529. 
Sheridan,  Richard  Brinsley,  his  Dramatic  Works,  by  Moore,  182,  823. 
Shirley,  Sir  Anthony,  his  Travels  in  the  East,  416. 
Ship  of  Safeguarde,  1569,  690. 

Shirley, — Mr.  Gifford's  expected  edition  of  his  works,  821. 
Sherwen,  John,  M.D.  Vindicatio  ShaJtspeariana,  expected  publication  of, 

818. 

Shore,  Jane,  her  person  and  character  described  by  Sir  T.  More,  513. 
Silius  Italicus,  C.  editions  of,  639.    Drakenborch's,  640. 
Silva,  Mendez,  his  Poblacion  General  de  Espana,  &c.  1645,  304. 
Singer,  Mr.  Samuel  Weller,  his  copy  of  Las  Casas'  Relation  de  la  Destruy- 
cion  de  las  Indias,  458.     His  edition  of  Spence's  Anecdotes  of  Books 
and  Men,  1820,  561.     Reference  to  ditto,  729. ,     His  edition  of  Hall's 
Satires,  1824,  698.     Of  Fairfax's  Tasso,  1807,  762.    Of  the  Life  of 
Cardinal  Wolsey,  837. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  901 

Sirinus,  Thomas,  his  Patricii  Fleming  Hiberni,  Sfc.  Collectanea  Saci'a,  Sec. 
1667,  247. 

Sismondi,  J.  C.  L.  Sismonde,  his  History  of  France,  298.  His  praise  of 
Machiavelli,  322.  His  History '  of  the  Italian  Republics,  325,  526. 

Sixtus  V.,  Aldine  Bibles  called  by  his  name,  16. 

Skelton,  John,  Poet  Laureate  to  Henry  VIII. — Nigramansir,  652.  Rrpli- 
cacyon,  653.  Chaplet  of  Laurel,  1523,  ibid.  His  character  by  Camp- 
bell, 678.  Account  of  his  Tunning  of  Elynoure  Kummyne,  679.  Verses 
from  ditto,  68!).  Verses  supposed  by,  ibid.  His  Works,  1568,  681. 
Prices  of  several  of  his  Pieces  at  the  sale  of  Sir  M.  Sykes's  Library,  843. 

Skottowe,  Augustine,  Life  of  Shakspeare,  818. 

Slatyer,  William,  The  history  of  Great  Britain,  198. 

Sledmere,  vide  Sykes. 

Sloane,  Sir  Hans,  his  Voyage  to  the  Islands  of  Madeira,  Barbadoes,  Nieves, 
St.  Christopher  and  Jamaica,  1 707,  25,  467- 

Smirke,  R.  R.  A.  his  Paintings  to  illustrate  Shakspcare,  802. 

Smith,  Drs.  John  and  George,  their  edition  of  Bede's  Church  History. 
1722,  104. 

,  Capt.  John,  his  Travels  and  Adventures  in  Europe,  &c.  1630,  384. 

His  General  History  of  Virginia,  1624,  385. 

— — ,  William,  his  Translation  of  Xenophon's  Affairs  of  Greece,  135. 

Smollett,  Dr.  Tobias,  his  Continuation  of  Hume's  History  of  England,  &c. 
2oo. 

Snorro,  Sturleson,  his  Chronicum  Regwn  Norwegorum,  1697,  342.  His 
Son's  Historia  Reg-urn  Norvegicorum,  1778,  349. 

Somers,  John,  Lord  and  Baron  of  Evesham,  Lord  Chancellor,  his  Collection 
of  Tracts,  1748. 

Soncino,  Hebrew  Bible  published  there,  1488,  21,  829. 

Sonnerat,  M.  P.  his  Voyages  aux  Indes  Orientales  et  a  la  Chine,  1782,  427. 

Sonnini,  C.  S.  his  Voyage  dans  la  Haute,  et  la  Basse  Egypte,  1799,  443. 

Sophocles,  various  editions  of,  839. 

Sotheby,  Mr.  William,  his  Translations  of  Virgil's  Georgics,  and  Wieland's 
Oberon,  747. 

Soubiaco,  Monastery  of,  Second  Book  printed  in  Italy,  executed  there,  47. 

Sousa,  Antonii  Cajetani  de,  his  Historia  Genealogica  da  Casa  Real  Portu- 
gueza,  1735,  47  :  and  Supplement  to  ditto,  1739,  316. 

— -,  Manuel  Faria  de,  his  Asia  et  Europa  Portuguesa,  408. 

Southwell,  Robert,—^.  Peter's  Complaint,  1596,  704.  Mcenonia,  1595, 
ibid.  Triumphs  over  Death,  1595,  ibid. 

Southey,  Robert,  LL.D. ;  &c.  his  article  on  the  Spanish  Inquisition  in  the 
Quarterly  Review,  103.  His  copy  of  the  Acta  Sanctorum,* ibid.  His 
Criticism  on  the  Spanish  Chronicle  of  the  Cid,  303.  His  History  of  the 
Peninsular  War,  311.  His  Letters,  written  during  a  short  residence  in 
Spain  and  Portugal,  313.  His  History  of  Brazil,  1810-23,  471.  His 
Life  of  Nelson,  536,  537-  Ditto  of  Wesley,  ibid.  His  Review  of 
Huntingdon's  Works,  538.  Ditto  of  Evelyn's  Memoirs,  554.  His 
Thalaba,  Curse  of  Kehama,  Roderic,  and  Madoc,  737.  Specimens 
of  the  later  English  Poets,  ibid.  His  supposed  Review  of  Montgo- 
mery's Poems,  747. 

Souza,  Fr.  Louis,  his  History  and  Description  of  the  Church  ofBatalha, 
1792-96,311. 

Spain  and  Portugal,  Prices  of  several  histories  relating  to,  from  the  sale  of 
the  library  of  Don  Antonio  Conde,  834—836. 

Sparke,  Joseph, — Histories  Anglicance  Scriptores  varii,  1723,  155. 

Sparmann,  Dr.  Andrew,  his  Voyage  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  1 786,  452. 


003  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Sparrow,  late  Mr.  Thomas  of  Worlingham,  vide  Gosford.  His  copies  of 
Walton's  Polyglot,  8.  Of  the  Elzevir  French  Bible,  17.  OfLempe- 
reur's  ditto,  27.  Of  Hayes's  Cambridge  ditto,  33.  Of  Dugdale's  Mo- 
nasticon,  large  paper,  109.  Of  Buck's  and  Daniel's  Bible  and  Prayer 
Book,  large  paper,  34.  Of  Erasmus's  works,  90.  Of  Eustratius  de 
Moribus'  Commentary  on  Aristotle,  574.  Of  Taylor's  Poetical  works, 
719. 

Spectacle  of  Louers,  650. 

Speed,  John,  Historic  of  Great  Britaine,  editions  of,  196.  Theatre  of 
Great  Britaine,  197. 

Spelman,  Edward,  his  Translation  ofXenophon's  Expedition  of  Cyrus,  135. 
-,  Sir  Henry,  commences  the  Concilia:  Magnce  Britannlce  et  Hiber- 
nian, 1737,  120.     His  jest  concerning  Speed,  197.   His  Life  of  Alfred, 
by  Hearne,  1/09,  215. 

Spence,  Rev.  Joseph,  his  Anecdotes  of  Books  and  Men,  1820,  561. 

Spencer,  Right  Hon.  George  John,  Earl,  his  copy  of  the  Mazarine  Bible, 
13.  Of  Fust's  and  Schoiffer's,  on  vellum,  14."  Of  Pagninus'  ditto,  16. 
Of  the  Aldine,  and  Sabatier's  ditto,  ibid.  Of  the  Elzevir,  and  Edin- 
burgh ditto,  17.  Of  Luther's  New  Testament,  on  vellum,  18.  Of 
Jarchi's  Hebrew  Pentateuch,  20.  Of  Jahn's  Hebrew  Bible,  on  large 
paper,  24.  Of  Greek  Bibles  at  Althorp,  25.  Of  the  first  Scotch 
Bible,  32.  Of  Grafton's  and  Oswen's  Prayer  Books,  42.  Of  the  first 
edition  of  St.  Austin's  City  of  God,  47.  Of  Renouard's  edition  of 
Massillon,  on  large  paper,  93.  Of  the  Gesta  Dei,  per  Francos,  99.  Of 
Archbishop  Parker's  De  Antiquitate  Britannicse  Ecclesiae,  108.  Of 
Dugdale's  Monasticon,  large  paper,  109.  Of  Burnet's  History  of  the 
Reformation,  large  paper,  114.  Of  a  volume  of  Catholic  Prayers, 
128.  Of  Kuhnius'  edition  of  Pausanias,  unique  and  large  paper,  134. 
His  enquiries  after  the  MSS.  of  Richard  of  Cirencester,  157.  His 
copy  of  Matthew  of  Paris,  large  paper,  159.  Of  French  Chro- 
nicles, 163.  Of  Caxton's  Chronicle,  and  the  Description  of  Bri- 
tain, 169.  Of  the  Fructus  Temporum,  170,  171.  Of  other  editions 
of  Caxton's  Chronicle,  171.  Of  the  Polychronicon,  172.  Of  Ar- 
nold's Chronicle,  174.  Of  Fabian's  ditto,  176.  Of  Rastall's  ditto, 
179.  Of  Godet's  ditto,  ibid.  Of  Holinshed's  ditto,  187.  Of  Lord 
Clarendon's  History  illustrated,  211.  Of  Rapin's  History  of  England, 
fine  paper,  214.  Of  Hearne's  Works  on  large  paper,  232.  Of  Carve's 
Lyra,  245.  Of  Walsh's  Causa  Valesiana  Epistolis  Ternis  Prselibata, 
246.  Of  Bellenden's  Chroniklis  of  Scotland,  264  Of  Caxton's  im- 
pression of  the  Statutes,  275.  Of  Wynkyn  de  Worde's  ditto,  ibid. 
Of  Pynson's  ditto,  276.  Of  Prynne's  Records,  279.  Of  Mezerai's 
History  of  France,  large  paper,  292.  Of  Buckley's  edition  of  De 
Thou's  History  of  his  Own  Time,  large  paper,  296.  Of  Sir  Charles 
Stuart's  privately  printed  Account  of  the  Capture  of  Constantinople, 
300.  Of  Ibarra's  and  Ramon's  editions  of  Mariana's  Spanish  History, 
309.  Of  Raderus'  Bavaria  Sancta,  335.  Of  Pontoppidan's  Natural 
History  of  Norway,  large  paper,  350.  Of  Rudbeck's  Atlantica,  355. 
Of  De  Bry's  Voyages,  377.  Of  Purchas's  Pilgrims,  381.  Of  Lin- 
schoten's  Voyages,  383.  Of  the  French  Circumnavigators,  399.  Of 
Hudson's  Minor  Greek  Geographers,  large  paper,  402.  Of  Marco 
Polo's  Travels,  editio  princeps,  403.  Of  Sir  John  Mandeville's  ditto, 
404.  Of  Camoens'  Lusiad,  edit.  181,  407-  Of  Nicolay's  Navigations, 
432.  Of  Hoffmann's  Portraits  des  Homraes  JUustres,  large  paper, 
501.  Of  Bale's  Scriptores,  506.  Of  Lord  Herbert's  Life  of  Henry 
VIII.  large  paper,  515.  Of  King  Henry  VIII.  De  Septem  Sacra- 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  903 

mentis,  on  vellum,  568.  Of  Herman's  Vulgaria,  ibid.  Of  the  Promp- 
torius  Puerorum,  1499,570.  Of  the  Book  for  Travellers,  571.  Of 
the  Aldine  Plato,  572.  Of  Serranus'  edition  of  Plato,  large  paper, 
ibid.  Of  the  Aldine  Aristotle  on  vellum,  and  paper,  573.  Of  the 
Spanish  edition  of  Esop,  1489,  576.  Of  Bartholomaeus  de  Proprieta- 
tibus  Rerum,  584.  Of  Caxton's  Reynard  the  Fox,  ibid.  Of  Alain 
Chartier's  Cathon,  585.  Of  Wilson's  Epistola,  588.  Of  Burton's 
Anatomy  of  Melancholy,  599.  Of  Todd's  Milton  on  large  paper,  612. 
Of  the  editio  princeps  of  Homer,  615.  Of  the  editioprinceps  of  Theo- 
critus, 620.  Of  the  Aldine  Pindar,  on  vellum,  621.  Of  the  Oxford 
Pindar,  large  paper,  622.  Of  Apollonius  Rhodius,  editio  princeps  on 
vellum,  626.  Of  editions  of  Virgil,  627,  628,  635.  Of  the  sale  of  the 
Spencer  Duplicates,  vide  Cassano.  His  Brescia  Lucretius,  629.  Co- 
pies  of  Ovid,  editio  princeps,  630.  Of  the  Aldine  Ovid,  ibid.  Of 
Ulric  Han's  Juvenal,  631.  Of  the  Aldine  Martial  on  vellum,  633.  Of 
A.  de  Bruxella's  Horace,  635.  Of  the  Aldine  ditto,  on  vellum,  ibid. 
Of  Sweynheim  and  Pannartz's  Silius  Italicus,  639.  Of  Gamaliel  Rat- 
sey,  646.  Of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  edit.  prin.  668.  Of  Caxton's 
Fruitful  and  Ghostly  Matters,  669.  Of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  2nd 
edition,  6/0.  Of  Pynson's  edition  of  ditto,  6/1.  Of  the  Earl  of  Sur- 
rey's Poems,  683.  Of  Churchyard's  Ovid  de  Tristibus,  687.  Of  the 
Ship  of  Safeguarde,  690.  Of  Cartwright's  Poems,  718.  Of  the  Jesi 
Dante,  751.  Of  the  Naples  ditto,  752.  Of  the  Florence,  ibid.  Of 
the  Aldine  Dante,  on  vellum,  753.  Of  Bodoni's  and  Mussi's  ditto, 
ibid.  Of  his  illuminated  ditto,  754.  Of  Jenson's  Petrarch,  755.  Of 
the  Aldine  ditto,  ibid.  Of  Mazocco's  edition  of  Ariosto,  757-  Of  the 
Ferrara  ditto,  ibid.  Of  the  Pisan  ditto,  760.  Of  Cresset's  Works  on 
large  paper,  773.  Of  Steevens's  Shakspeare,  illustrated,  799.  Of  the 
first  folio  Shakspeare,  811.  His  unrivalled  Collection  of  early  editions 
of  Terence,  838. 

Spenser,  Edmund,  Chronicle  of  Ireland,  1633,  243.  Order  of  Publication 
of  his  Poems,  693.  Prices  of  several  copies  of  his  Minor  Poems  at  the 
sale  of  Sir  M.  Sykes's  Library,  843. 

Splynter,  John,  a  men/  gest  and  a  true  how  he  made  his  Testament,  658. 

Spotiswood,  John,  his  History  of  the  Church  and  State  of  Scotland,  269. 

Sprott,  Thomas,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Chronica,  1719,  220. 

Staden,  Hans,  his  Wahrhaftige  Historia  und  Beschreibung  einer  Landschaft 
der  wilden  nacketen  gnmmig  Menschenfresserleuten  in  der  newen 
Welt,  America,  gelegen  (Brasilien)  durch  einen  Erfahrung,  1556,  469. 

Stafford,  Marquess  of,  his  Manuscript  Tract  on  the  Cales  Voyage,  379. 
His  copy  of  Nashe's  Terrors  of  the  Night,  593.  Of  Chaucer's  Canter- 
bury Tales  in  Manuscript,  675.  Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 

Thomas,  his  Pacata  Hibernia,  1633,  243. 

Stanbridge,  John,  his  Grammatical  Works,  564. 

Standish,  Mr.  his  copy  of  Virgil,  edit,  prin.,  627.  Of  the  Aldine  Virgil,  on 
vellum,  628.  Of  the  Brescia  Lucretius,  629.  Of  an  ancient  edition  of 
Tibullus,  642. 

Stanhope,  Rev.  George,  Dean  of  Canterbury,  his  Translation  of  the  Imita- 
tion of  Christ,  122. 

Stanihurst,  Rev.  Richard,  De  Rebus  in  Hibernia  gestis,  1584,  241. 

Statius,  P.  Papinius,  editions  of,  637. 

Statutes,  account  of  the  ancient  editions  of  the,  275. 

Staunton,  Sir  George  Leonard,  his  Account  of  the  Embassy  of  the  Earl  of 
Macartney  to  China,  1797,  426. 


904  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Stebbing,  Samuel,  Somerset  Herald,  his  edition  of  Sandfortfs  History  of 

England,  1707,  208. 
Steele,  Sir  Richard,  his  Works,  606. 
Steinheim,  .  .  .  .  ,  his  Chronica  Slavorum,  1581,  343 
Steuart,  Dr.  Henry,  his  Translation  of  Sallust,  1806,  137. 
Steuen  Steple  to  Mast.  Cornell,  663. 
Stevens,   John,  his  Supplement  to  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  1722-23,  109. 

Price  of  ditto,  110. 
,  Capt.  John,  his  English  Translation  of  Mariana's  Spanish  History, 

308.     His  ditto  of  Herrera's  Fill.  Decads  of  General  History,  459. 

His  ditto  of  Leon1  s  Chronicle  of  Peru,  475. 
Stewart,  Dugald,  his  edition  of  Robertson's  History  of  Scotland,  1806,  271. 

,  Mr.  William,  his  late  copy  of  Redman's  Bible,  31. 

Still,  John,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  Gammer  Gurton's  Needle,  783,  786. 
Stillingfleet,  Dr.  Edward,  Bishop  of  Worcester,  opposed  to  Baxter,  50. 

His  remark  on  John  Lynch,  245. 

Stockdale,  Percival,  his  edition  of  trailer's  Poems,  1772,  725. 
Stockholm,  Library  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  at,  copy  there  of  Rudbeck's 

Atlanta,  356. 

Stothard,  Thomas,  Esq.  R.  A.  his  illustrations  of  Rogers's  Poems,  739. 
Stow,  John,  his  character  of  Thomas  Walsingham,  143.     His  Summarie  of 

English  Chronicles,  182.     His  Chronicle,  &c.  188. 
Stowe,  ride  Buckingham. 
Strafforde,  Thomas  Wentworth  Earl  of,  his  State  Papers  and  Dispatcher , 

287. 

Strawberry  Hill,  copy  of  Baskerville's  Prayer  Book  there,  43.   Lord  Whit- 
worth's  Account' of  Russia  printed  at,  359.     Edition  of  Graminont's 

Memoirs,  545.     Ditto  of  Lord  Herbert's  Memoirs,  559.    OfLucan, 

1/60,  637. 
Strittems,  John  Gotthelf,  his  Memories  Populorum  olim  ad  Danubium,  &c. 

1771-79,  344. 

Strutt,  Joseph,  his  Chronicle  of  England,  1777,  194. 
Struvius,  Burcardus  Gotthelfius,  his  Bibliotheca  Historica  Selecta,   1705, 

129.     His  Corpus  Historicum  Germaniee,Jen&,  &c.  331. 
Strype,  Rev.  John,  Anecdote  by,  concerning  Fox,  106.     His  Memorials, 

1721,  117.      His  Annals,  1709-25,  118.     Biographical  Works  of,  ibid. 

517.     His  account  of  Archbishop  Parker's  edition  of  Asser's  Life  of 

Alfred,  143.    His  reprint  of  Stew's  Annals,  188.     His  Life  of  Arch- 
bishop Cranmer,  516. 
Stuart,  Sir  Charles,  French  Ambassador,  his  Library,  and  Books  privately 

printed,  300.     His  copies  of  Las  Casas'  Brevissima  Relatione  de  la 

Destrucyon  de  les  Indias,  458. 
Stubbes,  Philip,  his  Anatomy  of  Abuses,  1583,  596. 
Stuttgart,  copy  there  of  Walton's    Polyglot,   8.    Of  Malherbi's  Italian. 

Bible,  19.    Of  Tuppo's  Dante,  751. 

Sturzius,  Frederick  William,  his  Lexicon  Xenophonteum,  1804,  135,  575. 
Suetonius,  editions  of  his  Lives  of  the  Cessars,  491. 
Sully,  Maximilien  de,  Bethune  Due  de,  M^moires  of,  1638,  540. 
Summaris,  his  Tables  to  Mariana's  Spanish  History,  309. 
Sunannoi,  .  .  .  ,  his  Me'moires  de  Pierre  le  Grand,  1740,  362. 
Surrey,  Henry  Howard,  Earl  of,  his  Poems,  1557,  682.     Other  editions  of^ 

683.     His  Translations  of  Virgil' s^Eneid,  1557,  ibid. 
Sussex,  H.  R.  H.  Duke  of,  his  copies  of  the  Mazarine  Bible,  13.  Of  Hearne'a 

Thomas  of  Elmhara,  large  paper,  224. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  905 

Sutherland,  Mr.  his  illustrated  copy  of  Lord  Clarendon's  History,  211. 

Sweden,  names  of  anonymous  works  relating  to,  351. 

Swift,  Dr.  Jonathan,  Dean  of  St.  Patrick's,  Dublin,  his  edition  of  Temple's 
Works,  1720,  602.  His  works,  605.  His  censure  of  the  Duke  of 
Maryborough,  606. 

Sydney,  Letters  and  Memorials  of  State,  by  Sir  Henry,  Sir  Philip,  and  Sir 
Robert  Sydney,  1748,  288. 

Sykes,  the  late  Sir  Mu.k  Masterman,  his  copy  of  the  Mazarine  Bible, 
13.  Of  Fust  and  Schoiffer's  ditto  on  vellum,  14.  Of  the  Aldine  ditto. 
16.  His  copy  of  Erasmus*  New  Testament  on  vellum,  25.  Of  Bishop 
Wilson's  Bible  on  large  paper,  37.  Of  the  Recueil  des  Hist.  de9 
Gaules,  138.  Of  Sauvage's  Monstrelet,  167.  Of  the  Polychronicon, 
172.  Of  Vicar's  Parliamentary  Chronicle,  190.  Of  Tindall's  edition 
ofRapin,  214.  Sale  and  price  of  ditto  832.  Of  Prynne's  Records, 
279.  Of  Bayle's  Dictionary,  large  paper,  485.  Of  France's  Phillis 
and  Amyntas,  589.  Of  Horace,  edit.  prin.  634.  Of  W.  de  Worde's 
Castle  of  Pleasure,  654.  Of  the  Loue  bytwene  Mars  and  Venus,  658. 
Of  Hawes's  Pastime  of  Pleasure,  666.  Of  Skelton's  works,  681.  Of 
the  Earl  of  Surrey's  Poems,  683.  Of  the  Shepherd's  Calendar,  edit, 
prin.  693.  Of  Spenser's  Minor  Poems,  694.  Of  Chester's  Love's 
Martyr,  701.  Of  the  Aldine  Petrarch,  756.  Of  Steevens's  Shakspeare 
large  paper,  799.  His  commission  for  the  Duke  of  Roxburghe's  first 
folio  Shakspeare,  812.  List  and  prices  of  a  few  of  the  rarer  poetical 
articles  from  the  Sale  of  his  Library,  840-844. 

Sylvester,  Joshua,  his  translation  of  Du  Bartas,  probably  imitated  by  Mil- 
ton, 699,  704.  His  verses  descriptive  of  the  end  of  the  world,  705. 
Poetical  epithets  used  by,  706. 

Symes,  Major  Michael,  his  Account  of  an  Embassy  to  the  Kingdom  of  Avat 
1800,  425. 

Symmons,  Dr.  Charles,  his  edition  of  Milton9 s  Prose  works,  1806,  611. 

Syr  Degore,  658. 

Tacitus,  best  edition  of,  137. 

Tanner,  Dr.  Thomas,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  his  Bibliotheca  Britannica  Hi- 
bernica,  508,  509. 

Tartini,  J.  M.  his  Continuation  of  Muratori's  Scriptores  Rerum  Italicarum, 
1748-70,  320.  His  Antiqultates  Italic*  Medii  JEvi,  1738-42,  321. 

Tasso,  Torquato,  editions  of  his  Jerusalem  Delivered,  760.  Translations 
of,  Fairfax's,  Hunt's,  762.  Wiffen's,  763. 

Tatham,  Rev.  Dr.  Edward,  his  Bampton  Lectures,  1789,  831. 

Tavernier,  Bernier  John  Baptist,  his  Travels  in  Turkey,  409. 

Taylor,  Jeremy,  Bishop  of  Down  and  Connor,  character  of  his  writings, 
49.  Fine  copy  of  his  works,  53.  New  and  best  editions  of  ditto,  54. 
His  life  by  the  Rev.  R.  Heber,  55. 

John,  his  Poetical  Works,  1630,  719. 

Taxatio  Ecclesiastica,  1802,  276. 

Tellez,  Bartholomew,  his  Historia  General  de  Ethiopia  alta,  445. 

Temple,  Sir  John,  his  account  of  the  Irish  Rebellion,  258. 

Sir  William,  his  Works,  602. 

Temple  of  Glass,  654.     Ditto  of  Brass.    Error  concerning,  ibid. 

Templeman,  Dr.  Peter,  his  English  Translation  of  Nor  den's  Travels,  1757, 
441. 

Tena,  Ludovic,  Commentaries  upon  St.  Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  1661, 
48. 

Tenison,  Dr.  Thomas,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  his  edition  of  Sir  Thomat 
Browne's  tcorks,  1686,  608. 

3    Q 


906  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Terentius,  editions  of,  838. 

Teresa,  Giuseppe  di  San,  his  Descriptio  totius  Brasilia,  1698,  470. 

Tertullian,  best  edition  of  his  works,  47. 

Testament,  Le  tres  excellent  et  Sainct  mystere  du  Vieil  Testament,  1542, 

Textus  Roffensis,  Hearne's  edition  of  the,  1720,  220. 
Theocritus,  ancient  and  modern  editions  of,  620. 
Thevenot,  John,  his  Travels  in  Asia,  1689,  409. 

Melchisedec,  his  Relation  des  Divers  Voyages  Curieux  1663-96, 

384. 
Thevet,  Andrew,  his  Vrais  Pourtraits  et  Vies  des  Hommes  Illustres,  164ST, 

496. 

Thomas,  William,  his  works,  589. 

Thomson,  James,  similarity  between  a  passage  in  his  Seasons,  and  one  in 
Penn's  Works,  57.  Murdoch's  edition  of  his  Seasons,  1762,  732. 

Thomas,  Esq.,  Editor  of  the  Parliamentary  Record  publications 

of  Scotland,  271. 
Thompson,  Aaron,  his  Translation  of  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth's  History,  1718, 

145. 
Thorkelin,  Dr.  Grime  Johnson,  Royal  Librarian  at  Copenhagen,  his  Poema 

Danicum  dialecto  dnglo-Saxonico,  1815,  348, 

Thorpe,  Mr.  his  sale,  references  to  his  catalogues,  Pref.  xxvi.  7, 24,  37, 216, 
219,  220,  222,  229,  240,  241,  256,  267-  Historic  of  Cambria,  274.  Of 
Casiro's  Bibliotheca  Arabico-Hispana,  301,  303,  304,  305,  320,  380, 
405,  435,  463,  494,  572,  647,  648,  685,  693,  694,  703,  706,  716,  721, 
793,794,795,813,816,817- 

Thou,  James  Augustus  de,  his  Historiarum  sui  Temporis,  296. 
Thucydides,  best  editions  and  prices  of,  133. 
Thurloe,  John,  his  Collection  of  State  Papers,  1742,  287. 
Thyer,  Robert,  his  edition  of  Butler's  Remains,  1759,  723. 
Tibullus,  editions  of,  641. 

Tickell,  Thomas,  his  edition  of  Milton's  Poetical  Works,  1720,  707. 
Tieffenthaler,  Father  Joseph,  his  Beschreinung  von  Hindustan,  1785,  411. 
Tillemont,  his  Works  on  Ecclesiastical  History,  101. 
Tillotson,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  his  Works,  1748,  52. 
Tindall,  Nicholas,  his  Translation  of  Rapin's  History  of  England,  212. 
Todd,  Rev.  Henry  John,  references  to  his  Life  of  Brian  Walton,  7,  33. 
Vindication  of  the  Translation  of  the  Bible,  1819,  32.     References  to 
his  edition  of  Spenser,  1805,  593,  594.    Excellence  of  ditto,  694,  695. 
References  to  his  edition  of  Milton's  Poetical  Works,  612,  704,  707, 
713.     References  to  his  Lives  and  Writings  of  Gower  and  Chaucer, 
1810,  673,  6/5.    His  remarks  on  the  editions  of  the  Paradise  Lost, 
706. 

Tomlins,  Sir  Thomas  Edlyne,  his  edition  of  the  Statutes,  1804-10,  277. 
Tonson,  Jacob,  his  editions  of  Milton's  Poetical  Works,  707.   Of  Denham's 
and  Donne's  Poems,    1719,722.     Of  Waller's  ditto,  1711,  724.     Of 
Tasso,  1724,  761.     Of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  1750,  821. 
Tonstall,  Cuthbert,  Bishop  of  Durham,  his  character  and  works,  567. 
Tooke,  Rev.  John  Home,  sale  of  his  copy  of  Lord  Surrey's  Poems,  683. 

William,  his  Life  of  Catherine  II.  Empress  of  Russia,  362. 

Torfseus,  Thermodus,  his  works  on  Danish  History,  345. 
Tormes,  Lazarillo  de,  editions  of  his  Life,  307. 
Torquemada,  F.  J.  de,  his  Monarquia  Indiana,  1730,  460. 
Torrez,  Diego  de,  his  Relations  des  Voyages  de  Fez  et  de  Maroc,  1636, 
445. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  907 

Tottel,  Richard,  his  impression  of  Lydgate's  Daunce  of  Machaubree,  1554, 
678.  Of  Lord  Surrey's  Poems,  1557,  682. 

Tournefort,  Joseph  Pitton  de,  his  Voyage  au  Levant,  1717,  424. 

Towers,  Dr.  Joseph,  his  British  Biography,  1773,  488. 

Towneley,  Rev.  James,  references  to  his  Illustrations  of  Biblical  Literature, 
1813,  16,  18,22. 

Colonel  John,  his  French  Translation  of  Hudibras,  1757,  723. 

Townsend,  William,  his  Travels  in  Spain,  311. 

Toye,  Elizabeth,  her  presents  to  the  Stationer's  Company,  661.  Titles  of 
Ballads  printed  by  her,  662. 

Tragedies,  The  Tragedy  of  Soliman  and  Perseda,  1599,  784.  The  La- 
mentable Tragedy  of  Locrine,  1595,  786.  A  Lamentable  Tragedie 
containing  the  Life  of  Cambises  King  of  Persia,  ibid.  The  first  part 
of  the  Tragicall  raigne  of  Selimus,  1594,  ibid. 

Travellers,  The  Book  for,  5/0.     Extract  from,  571. 

Treatise  made  of  a  Galaunt,  verses  from,  655. 

Trepperel,  Jean,  and  his  widow,  Mysteries  printed  by  and  for,  776,  777- 

Trevelyan,  Mr.  W.  C.  particulars  from  concerning  a  copy  of  Walton's 
Polyglot,  8. 

Trevisa,  John  de,  his  Translation  of  Higden's  Polychronicon,  1482,  172. 

Treuttel  and  Wurtz,  Messrs,  their  copy  of  Laborde's  Tableaux  de  la  Suisse, 
326.  Their  magnificent  work  on  Constantinople,  424. 

Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  Capel  Closet  in  the  Library  of,  copy  there  of 
O'uld  facioned  Love,  651.  Of  the  Remedy  of  Love,  ibid.  Of  TottePs 
edit.^  of  Surrey's  Poems,  683.  Of  Turbervile's  Epitaphs,  &c.  688. 
Of  his  Heroical  Epistles  of  Ovid,  689,  Of  the  original  manuscript  of 
Capell's  Shakspeare,  795.  Original  Manuscript  of  Milton's  Masque 
of  Comus  there,  705. 

Triphook,  Mr.  Reference  to  his  Catalogue,  Pref.  xxvi.  His  sale  copies  of 
different  works,  16.  Ditto,  23,  26,  48,  107,  131,  166,  170,  196,  232, 
233,  279,  287,  372,  421,  513,  717,  815. 

Trokelowe,  John  de,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Annales,  1729,  225. 

Troy,  La  Destruction  de  Trwje  le  Grand,  777- 

Trussell,  John,  his  Continuation  of  Daniel's  Collection  of  the  History  of  Eng- 
land, 200. 

Tuckey,  Capt.  James  Kingston,  his  Narrative  of  an  Expedition  to  explore 
the  River  Zairs,  commonly  called  the  Congo,  in  South  Africa,  1818,  450. 

Tudela,  Rabbi  Benjamin  of,  editions  of  his  Travels  in  Asia,  402. 

Turbervile,  George,  Epitaphs,  Epigrams,  Songs,  and  Sonnets,  688.  He- 
roical Epistles  of  Grid,  ibid.  Eclogs  of  the  Poet  B.  Mantuanus,  ibid. 
1689.  Tragicall  Tales,  ibid. 

Turner,  J.  M.  W.  his  Picturesque  Tour  of  Italy,  326. 

• -,  Capt.  Samuel,  his  Account  of  an  Embassy  to  the  Court  of  Teshoo 

Lama,  in  Tibet,  1800,  415,  425. 

,  Mr.  Sharon,  his  account  of  Bishop  Asser,  142.     His  censure  of 

Gildas,  145.     His  History,  fyc.  of  the  Anglo-Saxons,  236.  His  History 
of  England,  ibid. 

,  Mr.  Dawson,  Commendation  of  his  Library,  Pref.  xid. 
Twysden,  Sir  Roger,  Histories  Anglicance  Scriptores  Decem,  1652,  152. 

Prices  of  ditto,  153. 
Tyndall,  William,  excellence  of  his  works,  27.    His  edition  of  the  English 

Pentateuch,  1534,  29. 

Tyrrell,  James,  his  General  History  of  England,  1696—1704,  203. 
Tyrwhitt,  Thomas,  his  censure  of  editions  of  Chaucer,  6/3.     His  denial  of 
the  Plowman's  Tale,  674.  His  censure  of  Urry's  Chaucer,  ibid.  Excel- 
lence of  his  own  edition  of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  675.  Publication  and 
prices  of  ditto,  6/6.    His  edition  of  the  Poetics  of  Aristotle,  1/94, 675. 


908  INDEX  OF  BOOKS, 

Vaillant,  Frangois  le,  Voyage  dans  I'lntfrieur  de  VAfrique,  1796,  452. 

Valentyn  Franc.  Description  of  Old  and  New  East  India,  1726,  412. 

Valera,  Don  Diego  de,  Cronica  de  Espana,  304. 

Valerius  Flaccus,  editions  of,  643. 

Valiancy,  Colonel  Charles,  Collectanea  de  Rebus  Hilernicis,  1786,  251. 

Vallegas,  Rev.  J.  Alfonso,  his  Spanish  Lives  of  Saints,  241. 

Valliere,  Louis  Caesar  la  Baume  le  Blanc,  Due  de  la,  sale  of  his  copies  of 
Verard's  Froissart,  163.  Of  Denina's  Revoluzioni  d' Italia,  325.  Of 
Rudbeck's  Atlantica,  355.  His  Collection  of  Memoirs  of  Mazarine,  542. 

Vancouver,  Capt.  George,  his  Voyage  of  Discovery  to  the  North  Pacific 
Ocean,  1798,  396.'  Price  of  ditto,  398. 

Valor  Ecclesiasticus,  1816-17,  276. 

Vasaeus,  Johannes,  his  Rerum  Hispamce  Memorabilium  Annales,  306. 

Vasari,  Giorgio,  his  Lives  of  the  Painters,  1568,  493. 

Vatican,  Library  of  the  Palace  of  the,  copies  there  of  the  Complutensian 
Polyglot,  on  vellum,  7-  Of  Asulanus'  Greek  Septuagint,  25. 

Vega,  Garcilasso  de  la,  his  works  concerning  Peru,  476. 

Velly,  Paul  Francois,  his  works  on  the  History  of  France,  294. 

Venice,  St.  Marc's  Library  at,  copy  there  of  Homer's  Odyssey,  on  vellum, 
615.  Of  Jenson's  Petrarch,  on  vellum,  754. 

Verelius,  Olaus,  his  works  relating  to  Sweden,  352. 

Vergil,  Polidore,— Historia  Anglica,  1534,  195. 

Vertot,  D'Aubreuf  Rene",  Aubert  de,  his  Histoire  des  Revolutions  de  Suede, 
1734,  354. 

Vesputius,  Americus,  earliest  account  of  his  Voyages,  369.  French  Trans- 
lations of  ditto,  370. 

Ugolinus,  Blasius,  Thesaurus  Antiquitatum  Sacrum,  1744-69,  48. 

Vicars,  John,  Parliamentary  Chronicle,  1643-46,  190.     Verses  by,  191. 

Vienna,  Imperial  Library  at,  copy  there  of  the  Soncino  Hebrew  Bible,  22. 
Of  Apuleius,  first  edition,  on  vellum,  581.  Of  Aulus  Gellius,  first 
edition,  on  vellum,  ibid.  Of  the  Florence  Dante,  752. 

Villaret,  Claude,  his  Continuation  of  Velly' 's  History  of  France,  294. 

Villebrune,  Le  Fevre  de,  his  French  Translation  of  J.  J.  Ulloa's  Noticias 
Americanos,  1787,  468. 

Villeroy, — Memoirs  of,  544. 

Vincent,  Dr.  William,  late  Dean  of  Westminster,  his  Voyage  ofNearchus 
and  Periplus  of  the  Erythrcean  Sea,  1809,  400.  His  Annotations  on 
Gibbon's  Enquiry  into  the  Circumnavigation  of  Africa,  438. 

Vincenti,  Oggeri,  his  Continuation  of  Muratori's  Annali  d' Italia,  1790,  321. 

Vinsaufe,  Geoffrey,  excellence  of  his  Works,  154. 

Virgilius  Maro,  Publius,  editions  of,  626 — 628. 

Virginia,  names  of  ancient  Tracts  concerning,  464.     Voyage  to,  in  De  Bry's 
.   Set  of  Voyages,  836. 

Virunnius,  Ponticius,  Historia  Britannica,  abridged  from  Geoffrey  of  Mon- 
mouth,  144. 

Ulfeldius,  —  his  Legatio  Muscovitica,  1608,  357. 

Ulloa,  Alphonso  de,  Italian  Translation  of  Zarute's  History  of  the  Discovery 
and  Conquest  of  Peru,  476. 

— ,  Antonio  de,  Physical  and  Historical  Discourses  on  East  and  South 
America,  1772,  461. 

,  Jorge  Juan  de,  Relacion  Historica  del  Viage  a  la  America  Meridional, 

S$c.  468. 

Universal  Review,  Pref.  xvi.     Notice  in  of  Boaden's  Enquiry  into  the  Por- 
traits of  Shakspeare,  796. 
Unkind  Deserter  of  Loyal  Men,  1676,  249,  833. 

Volney,  C.  F.  Voyage  en  Syrie  et  en  Egypte  1783,  423. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  909 

Voltaire,  Francis  Maria,  Arouet  de,  his  Histoire  de  Charles  XII.  354.  His 
Life  of  Peter  the  Great,  362.  Editions  of  his  Works,  Beaumarchais, 
770.  Basle,  771.  Didot's,  ibid.  Renouard's,  ibid.  Of  his  Pucelle, 
1789,  1797,  772. 

Upcott,  Mr.  William,  Sub  Librarian  of  the  London  Institution,  his  ac- 
count of  the  publication  of  Evelyn's  Diary,  550.  His  Collection  of 
Autographs  and  List  of  ditto,  551. 

Upsala,  Library  of  the  University  of,  copy  .there  of  Rudbeck's  Atalantica, 
356. 

Upton,  Rev.  John,  his  edition  of  Spenser's  Faerie  Queene,  1758,  693. 

Urry,  John,  William,  and  Dr.  Timothy  Thomas,  their  edition  of  Chaucer, 
1721,  764. 

Usher,  Dr.  James,  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  character  of  his  Writings,  49, 
51,  52.  Best  editions  and  prices  of  his  Works,  53. 

Utterson,  Mr.  Edward  Vernon,  his  private  impression  of  the  Life  of  Vir- 
gilius,  174.  His  copy  of  Fabian's  Chronicle,  176.  Of  Godfrey's  edit, 
of  the  Canterbury  Tales,  673.  Of  Lovelace's  Lucasta,  711-  Of  Scott's 
Dryden,  727.  Of  Warburton's  edition  of  Pope's  Works,  730.  His 
Collection  of  French  Poetry,  765.  His  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shak- 
speare,  813. 

Waddington,  Mr.  George,  his  Journal  of  a  Visit  to  some  parts  of  Ethiopia, 

Wagelinus,— his  Thesaurus  Rerum  Suevicarum,  1756,  335. 

Wakefield,  A  pleasant  conceited  Comedie  of  George  a  Greene,  the  Pinner  of 
Wakejield,  1599,  786. 

— ,  Edward,  his  Account  of  Ireland,  Statistical  and  Political,  1812, 

252. 

— ,  Gilbert,  his  Memoirs,  1792,  560.     His  editions  of  Lucretius, 

629,  630.     Ditto  of  Pope's  Works,  1806,  729.     Notes  to  ditto,  1794, 
730. 

Walchius,  John  George,  references  to  his  Bibliotheca  TJieologica  Selecta, 
1757-65,  92,  120.  His  praise  of  Bingham,  112. 

Waller,  Edmund,  Poems,  various  editions  of,  724. 

Walpole,  Memoirs  of  Sir  Robert  and  Horatio,  531. 

Walsh,  Father  Peter,  his  Causa  Palesiana  Epistolis  Terms  Prel'ibata,  1684, 
246. 

Walsingham,  Thomas,  his  Ypodigma  Neustrite,  SfC.  142. 

Walter,  William,  The  History  of  Titus  and  Gesyppus,  656. 

Walton,  Dr.  Brian,  Bishop  of  Chester,  his  Polyglot  Bible,  1657.  Republi- 
can copies  of  ditto,  8. 

,  Izaak,  his  Lives  of  Donne,  Wotton,  Hooker,  Herbert,  and  Sounder- 
son,  515. 

Warburton,  Dr.  William,  Bishop  of  Glocester,  his  edition  of  Pope's  Works, 
1751,  730.  His  edition  of  Shakspeare,  1747,  793.  Price  paid  him 
for  ditto,  794. 

Ware,  Sir  James,  illustrative  references  to  his  Irish  Writers,  293,  247.  His 
other  Works  on  Ireland,  1658,  1664,  250. 

Warner,  Dr.  Ferdinand,  his  History  of  Ireland  and  the  Rebellion,  1763-67, 
250 

Warrington,  Rev.  William,  his  History  of  Wales,  1786,  274. 

Warton,  Joseph,  his  criticism  on  Hall's  Satires,  55.  His  edition  of  Dry- 
den's  Works,  1811,  726.  Of  Pope's  ditto,  1797,  730.  His  Essay  on 
the  Writings  and  Genius  of  Pope,  1762,  ibid. 

,  Dr.  Thomas,  his  observation  upon  Fabian's  Chronicle,  176.     His 
Life  of  Sir  Thomas  Pope,  1772, 523.    His  edition  of  Theocritus,  1770, 


910  INDEX' OF  BOOKS, 

620.  His  censure  of  Skelton,  678.  His  edition  of  Milton's  Poetical 
works,  1785,  702.  Various  references  to  his  History  of  English  Poetry, 
649,  654,  683, 689,  690, 691,  698.  Expected  new  edition  of,  657.  Dr. 
Mant's  edition  of  his  Poems,  735. 

Watson,  Rev.  John,  his  Memoirs  of  the  Earls  of  Warren  and  Surrey,  1782, 
552,  554.  Dr.  Richard,  Bishop  of  Llandaff,  his  praise  of  Boyle's  Col- 
lection of  Lectures,  62. 

Watt,  Dr.  Robert,  various  references  to  his  Bibliotheca  Britannica,  Pref. 
xix.  5,  99,  190,  2/1,  346,  388,  405,  429,  593,  594. 

Watts,  Dr.  Isaac,  character  of  his  works,  65. 

Wavcrley,  Annals  of,  notices  of  the,  154. 

Weber,  Henry,  his  edition  of  Beaumont's  and  Fletcher's  Works,  1812,  820. 
Of  Ford's  ditto,  1811,  ibid. 

Welwood,  Dr.  James,  his  edition  of  WhitelocWs  Memorials,  \  709,  202. 

Werburge,  St.  Metrical  Life  of,  1521,  658. 

Westminster,  Matthew  of,  editions  of  his  Flores  Historiarum,  158. 

Wetsten,  John  Jacob,  his  Greek  New  Testament,  1751,  38. 

Wetenhall,  Dr.  Edward,  Bishop  of  Kilmore  and  Ardagh,  extract  from  his 
Scripture  authentic,  and  Faith  uncertain,  1686,  33. 

Wethamstede,  John,  Hearne's  edition  of  his  Rerum  Anglicarum  Scriptores 
Veteres,  1732,  226. 

Whalley,  Rev.  Peter,  his  edition  of  Ben  Jonson's  works,  1756,  820. 

Wharton,  Rev.  Henry,  biographical  and  literary  notices  concerning,  113. 
Ditto,  of  his  death  and  portrait,  114.  References  to  his  Anglia  Sacra, 
1691,  147,  262. 

Whetstone,  George,  his  works,  595. 

Whitelock,  Bulstrode,  his  Memorials  of  English  Affairs,  1682,  201,  202. 

Whitby,  Dr.  Daniel,  his  Commentary  on  the  Scriptures,  1731,  36,  37- 

White,  Dr.  Joseph,  late  Arabic  Professor  at  Oxford,  his  edition  of  Abdolla- 
tiph's  Compendium  Rerum  Egypti,  1800,  438.  His  Egyptiaca,  1801, 
443. 

Whittaker,  Dr.  Thomas  Dunham,  his  review  of  Warburton's  Works,  88. 
Of  Chalmers*  Caledonia,  273. 

Whittingham,  Mr.  his  impression  of  JEsop's  Fables,  576.  Of  Shakspeare, 
1823,800.  1814,801. 

Whittinton,  Robert,  his  Grammatical  Works,  564. 

Whitworth,  Charles,  Lord,  his  account  of  Russia,  1710,  359. 

Wiflfen,  Mr.  J.  H.  his  English  Translation  of  Tasso,  and  verses  from  ditto t 
762. 

Wilbraham,  Mr  Roger,  his  copy  of  the  Fructus  Temporum,  171.  Of 
Arnold's  Chronicle,  174.  Of  Slatyer's  History  of  Britain,  199.  Of 
Mandeville's  Travels,  404.  Of  Nicolay's  Voyages,  432.  His  copy  of 
Burchard's  Historia  Arcana,  527.  Of  the  Ortus  Vocabulorum,  5/0. 
Of  the  Promptorius  Puerorum,  ibid.  Of  Pynson's  edit,  of  the  Canter- 
bury Tales,  672.  Of  Marino's  Adamo,  713.  Of  the  first  folio  Shaks- 
peare,  813. 

Wilkin,  Mr.  his  expected  new  edition  of  Sir  T.  Brown's  Works,  609. 

Wilkins,  Rev.  David,  concludes  the  Concilia  Magnte  Britannia  et  Hiber- 
nian, 1737,  120.  Excellence  of  his  edition,  283. 

Williams,  Mrs.  Helen  Maria,  her  English  Translation  of  Humboldfs  Tra- 
vels, 474. 

.  — ,Rev.  Theodore,  his  impression  of  Lewis'  MS.Life  of  Fisher,  Bishop 
of  Rochester,  519. 

Wilson,  Rev.  Bernard,  his  Translation  of  De  Thotfs  History  of  his  Own 
Time,  297. 


PERSONS,  AND  THINGS.  911 

Wilson,  Robert,  The  Collets  Prophecie,  1594,  785. 

,  Sir  Thomas,  his  works,  588. 

,  Dr.  Thomas,  Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man,  his  English  Bible,  36,  37. 
,  Mr.  T.,  his  collection  of  Houbraken's  Engravings,  499,  500.    Of 

Hayman's  plates  to  Shakspeare,  794.  His  sumptuous  copy  of  BoydelPs 

Shakspeare  illustrated,  802. 

,  his  Description  of  America,  1739,461. 
Winterbottom,  Dr.  Thomas  Masterman,  his  Account  of  the  Native  Africans 

in  the  neighbourhood  of  Sierra  Leone,  1803,  451. 
Winwood,  Sir  Ralph,  his  Memorials  of  State  Affairs,  1725,  287. 
Wither,  George,  references  to  lists  of  his  works,  711. 
Wodrow,  Rev.  Robert,  his  History  of  the  Sufferings  of  the  Church  of  Scot" 

land,  1721,270. 
Women,  A  Warning  for  Faire  Women,  1599.     The  Bewte  and  good  pro- 

perties  of  Women,  787. 
Wolsey,  Cardinal  Thomas,  New  Life  of,  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Singer, 

837. 
Wood,  Anthony  a,  vide  Bliss,  his  account  of  the  Boar's  Head  Carol,  659. 

Remark  on  Lovelace,  711.     On  Carew,  714. 
reference  to  his  History  and  Antiquities  of  the  College* 

and  Halls  of  Oxford,  1786-92,  146.     His  Athen*  Oxonienses,  507. 

,  Robert,  his  Ruins  of  Palmyra  and  Baalbeck,  1753,  1757,  422. 

Worcester,  Florence  of,  editions  of  his  Chronicle,  158. 

WTordsworth,  Dr.  Christopher,  references  to  his  Ecclesiastical  Biography, 

106,  176.     Remarks  on  ditto,  1 19. 

,  William,  Lyrical  Ballads,  &c.  738. 

Worlingham,  vide  Gosford — Sparrow. 

Wormius,  Olaus,  his  works  on  Danish  History  and  Antiquities,  345. 
Worral,  John,  his  Law  Catalogue,  276. 
Wotton,  Sir  Henry,  his  praise  of  Baker's  Chronicle,  193. 
Wrangham,  Rev,  Francis,  Archdeacon  of  Cleveland,  Pref  xxii.    His  edi- 
tion of  Langhorne's  translation  of  Plutarch,  489. 
Wright,  James,  his  English  Epitome  of  DugdalJs  Monasticon,  1718,  109, 

Price  of  ditto,  110. 
. ,  Dr.  Sale  of  his  collection  of  Nashe's  works,  593.     Of  Churchyard's 

Chippes  and  Choice,  687.    Of  Marlow's  Dido  Queen  of  Carthage,  789. 

Of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  811. 

Wren,  Christopher  and  Stephen,  their  Parentalia,  1750,  558. 
Wyatt,  Sir  Thomas,  editions  of  his  Poems,  682. 
Wynn,  Mr.  C.  W.  his  copy  of  the  first  folio  Shakspeare,  815. 
, ,  John  Huddlestone,  his  History  of  the  British  Dominions  in  North 

America,  1763,73,465. 

Wyntown,  Andrew  of,  his  Scottish  Chronicle,  1795,  263. 
Ximenes,  Cardinal  Francesco,  his  Complutensian  Polyglot,  1514-427.  Greek 

New  Testament  to  ditto,  1516-24,  38. 
York  Minster,  Library  at,  copy  there  of  Erasmus's  New  Testament,  on 

vellum,  25.     Missal  of,  1516;  Breviary,  1493;  Manual,  1509 ;  40. 
Young,  Dr.  Edward,  editions  of  his  Night  Thoughts,  734.   Blake's  Illustra- 
tions of,  ibid.     Satires,  735.     Passage  cited  from  his  Complaint,  745. 
.  Mr.  John,  his  Series  of  Portraits  of  the  Emperors  of  Turkey,  433 

Youth,  The  Enterlude  of  Youth,  1557,  787- 
Ysabel,  Donna,  Queen  of  Spain,  Chronicle  of,  305. 
Zanetti,  Francis,  his  Greek  Bible  >  1586,  25. 

Zarate,  A.  de,  Historia  del  Descubrimiento  y  Conquista  del  Peru,  476. 
Zarotus,  Antonio,  his  edition  of  Virgil,  1472,  628.    Ditto  of  Petrarch 

1473,  755. 


913  INDEX  OF  BOOKS,  &c. 

Zatta,  Antonio,  his  edition  of  Ariosto,  1772,  758. 

Zeiner,  Johan,  his  edition  of  ^Esop,  576,  577- 

Zell,  Ulric,  reference  to  his  Cologne  Chronicle,  1499,  12. 

Zeno,  Apostolo,  his  praise  of  the?  errara  Anifesto,  757. 

Zeunius,  Charles,  his  edition  of  Xemphon,  184.    Ditto  of  Horace,  1788. 

121.  <* 

Zotti,  Romoaldo,  his  edition  of  Dante,  1811,  755.    Price  of  ditto,  756. 
Zouch,  Dr.  Thomas,  Prebendary   of  Durham,  his  character  of  Richard 

Hakluyt,  379.     His  biographical  works,  515.     His  Life  of  Sir  Philip 

Sidney,  1808,  536. 


ERRATA. 


Page  xx,  Note,  line  15,  for  engraved  by  Vaughan,  read  without  the 
name  of  engraver. 

-  •   '  •    15,  line  3  from  bottom  -     for  Suffolk      read  Norfolk. 

30,  line  6  of  note  -  -     SUFFIELDS       HOBARTS. 

39,  line  3,  Wetstein,          Wetsten 

— —  43,  line  13  of  note,  scored  pricked. 

•'         45,  line  4  and  5  ditto,  Lord  Le  Despencer  and  Sir  F.  Dashwood 
one  and  the  same. 

-  56,  line  4  of  note,  -  Hartelby  Hartlebury. 

-  •  •  63,  last  line  but  2  of  note.    Paley  is  here  classed  among  Bishops. 

Let  me  hope  the  error  is  venial.  In  the  group  where  he  is 
placed,  it  were  difficult  (except  by  an  awkward  periphrasis) 
to  make  an  exception. 

—  106,  Note,  last  line  but  3.  Mr.  Douce's  copy  of  Fox's  Martyrs  is 

of  the  first  edition  of  1563. 

127,  Note,  line  2,  Charade  Acrostic. 

251,  Note,  line  6,  -  1743  1798. 

Ibid.  -  -     1801,8vo.         1800,4to. 

335,  Note,  line  5,  -  -    WAGBLIMES  WAGELINDS. 

• 393,  line  12.    Insert  "also" before  the  two  last  words  of  thi» 

line. 

—  680    line  16  of  note,  -  shroppe,         shop. 


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